Abraham burying Sarah gives us the Hope and Picture of The True Israel
Abraham burying Sarah gives us the Hope and Picture of The True Israel
Essential Background information:
The True Jew (thethirdheaventraveler.com)
So-called Star of David Confounds Dr. Andy Woods (thethirdheaventraveler.com)
The spirit of TRUTH and the spirit of ERROR. Doctrine Matters (thethirdheaventraveler.com)
Genesis 23 in Context as compared to Genesis 12 and 13.
We have here a profound irony, perhaps even a paradox.
Why does Abraham in Chapter 23 PAY for and ask for a plot of land to bury Sarah that was given to him by God?
We know in Genesis 12:7 that God - who is Jesus Christ - in HIs first "clear" appearance to Abram (later named Abraham) to leave his homeland and go to the land he promises called Canaan. In verse 10 we read of a great shift from the promised land to enter into Egypt (type and picture of the world) where Abram shows us his flawed humanity, verse 13, In Chapter 13 we see everything Abram received in Egypt later causes him trouble. Especially Hagar the Egyptian maid servant that Pharoh gives Abram. But it is here in Chapter 13 verse 14 that the Lord (Jesus) tells Abram that the promised land will be given to Abram and his descendants FOREVER. And that Abrams heir will be "his own."
And in Genesis 23 when Sarah dies at the age of 127, Abraham negotiates with the Hittites to purchase a cave located on a plot of land near Hebron to bury Sarah. The land is offered for free but Abraham insists on paying the 'exorbitant price' 400 shekels of silver. ($128,000. USD). This no doubt is a tremendous sign of Abraham fulfilling the promise in the physical sense in this realm, but I personally believe it is a stunning HOPE and PICTURE of TRUE ISRAEL.
Additional Notes:
- Abraham wants to pay the full price because he wants to be a legal owner among them, a politically recognized entity, not an alien stranger borrowing space in their private graveyards. They politely deflect his direct request to buy property, showing their reticence to accept him as one of their own, in typical indirect Asian communication style. (I'm Korean, this is so typical.)
- Ephron doesn't want to really sell one little cave at the edge of his field, so he expands Abraham's request for one cave into the whole field- "I give you the field." This is now too big to accept as any gift, a whole field with trees in it and a cave is a significant plot. Abraham knows he is being set up by Ephron to pay more than he had expected for more than he initially wanted.
- Abraham accepts his enlarged terms, "I will give thee money for the field, take it of me." And Ephron is amendable and sets the price at the exorbitant price of 400 shekels. (That is half of a king's ransom, Abimelech paid 1000 shekels to cover Sarah's honor, Gen 20:16). Recognizing this is the cost for an alien to own land among them and he has no leverage, Abraham pays it.
Abraham wants only a burial site (and so avoid the legal obligation of the service) while Ephron wants to sell all of his property (and so be free of the obligation). The deed requires Abraham to be in service to the Hittite king, an obligation Abraham could refute on the basis he only purchased the cave as a burial site (regardless of the Hittite deed).
As Manfred R.Lehmann states:
We have thus found that Genesis 23 is permeated with the intimate knowledge of intricate subtleties of Hittite laws and customs, correctly corresponding to the time of Abraham and fitting in with the Hittite features of the Biblical account. With the final destruction of the Hittite capital of Hattusas about 1200 B.C.E., these laws must have fallen into utter oblivion. This is another instance in which a late dating must be firmly rejected. Our study again confirms the authenticity of the "background material" of the Old Testament, which makes it such an invaluable source for the study of all aspects of social, economic and legal aspects of the periods of history it depicts.
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If we look at the current political state of Israel occupying the Holy Land as Tenants (Read my study on the parable of the Householder - The Husbandmen of Matthew 21), it will not be until JESUS CHRIST PHYSICALLY TOUCHES DOWN ON MOUNT OLIVES at the 2nd Advent will the TRUE ISRAEL - NEW JERUSALM be established. In any ancient and modern transaction, a contract is always consummated with a physical act.
THE SPIRITUAL being REALIZED in the NATURAL.
127 in the bible:
Symbolism of Number 127 in Hebrew Meaning:
Fertile ground Representing God’s provision and abundance.
Specific plot of land Emphasizing the sacredness of the land and its connection to God’s people
Whole inhabited earth Highlighting God’s sovereignty over all creation and His redemptive plan
Psalm 127King James Version
127 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Psalm 127
This is a family-psalm, as divers before were state-poems and church-poems. It is entitled (as we read it) "for Solomon," dedicated to him by his father. He having a house to build, a city to keep, and seed to raise up to his father, David directs him to look up to God, and to depend upon his providence, without which all his wisdom, care, and industry, would not serve. Some take it to have been penned by Solomon himself, and it may as well be read, "a song of Solomon," who wrote a great many; and they compare it with the Ecclesiastes, the scope of both being the same, to show the vanity of worldly care and how necessary it is that we keep in favour with God. On him we must depend, I. For wealth, ver 1, 2. II. For heirs to leave it to, ver 3-5.
Genesis 23
King James Version
23 And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah.
2 And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron* in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
(*Hebron = Israel has four holy cities: Jerusalem, Tiberias, Safed and Hebron. Hebron is the only one where Jewish people currently comprise but a small portion of the population, yet it holds a special place in the hearts of the Jewish people.
22 Facts About Hebron Every Jew Should Know - Chabad.org )
3 And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,
4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
5 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,
6 Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.
7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.
8 And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,
9 That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.
10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,
11 Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.
12 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.
13 And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.
14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,
15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
16 And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.
17 And the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure
18 Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.
19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.
20 And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the sons of Heth.
Commentary from Sister Kristianna
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• 1 day agoPsalms 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Amen! Acts 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, A type and shadow of the true church which Jesus Christ builds, verses the false, contrived artificially with hands of man. The “builders.” Ie 501c3 corpse-erations. And the stone the builders do always reject, is the chief corner stone of Jesus Himself, the Word of God (John 1, Rev. 19)
These thoughts are brief indeed, but sufficient to illustrate the work of the Holy Spirit in this dispensation in visiting the Gentiles, “to take out of them a people for his name”, Acts 15. 14. It is being accomplished through the preaching of the Gospel, “calling" men and women to the “obedience of faith" in Christ. It is not enough that we read and understand these great chapters of the Old Testament. The questions we must all face are: Have I from the heart responded to the message? Has the One of whom it speaks captivated my heart, so that with Peter we can say, “whom having not seen, ye love"? And has the Holy Spirit sealed me as one with Him for ever?
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• 7 hours agoThen a picture of an “ensample” from the past, yet depicting today, right before the Blessed Hope of the remnant soon redemption from this earthly place. Of the bride: “---and so shall they ever be with the Lord. the political, ruled of the god of this world. 2 Kings 17:17 Context 14Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. 15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them. 16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. 17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. 19 Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. 20And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.” 2 kings 17:19 All we can do in these days is share the Truth, Good news of the gospel, (in 1 Cor 15:1-4) sprinkle the seed, and wait upon the Lord, watch and pray, encourage one another, ect Bearing precious seed Psalms 126:6 “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” To God be all the Glory, Amen Maranatha dear saints. Be not weary in well doing, dear brother Andrew and the remnant, for our Kinsman Redeemer is coming soon. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning! Much love to you, to any who read this. p.s. as i don't count myself to have apprehended, always welcome input and if anything i write is off path, please don't hesitate to share, and let me know. Love and God bless you.
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• 7 hours agoAll praise and Glory to God, and to our Kinsman Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ An antidote to the darkness of these days: Hebrews 11:16 “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (New Jerusalem) Hebrews 11:8-10 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Psalm 127:1 Isaiah 65:23 (time of the millennial reign?) “They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.” Acts 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
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