CPCC Bible Study: Genesis 23 and 24

      The quote is chapter Twenty-Three's:

"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." (American Standard Bible)

1 - 2
      Discussion: From the text, it appears that Abraham wasn't living in Hebron, where Sarah was, when she died as verse 2 states that he came to "saphad" (lament / intense (nearly theatrical) mourning) for her.
      The name of the city is listed as "Qiryath Arba / Qiryath Haarba" (city of Arba (four giants))

3 - 16
      Abraham got up to speak to the 'sons / children of Cheth'...
      The people "Cheth / Heth" (terror) were the decedents of Canaan from Genesis 10 : 15. While some academics believe that the Cheth became the Hittites, there is archaeological evidence that the kingdom that was to become the Hittite Empire, based in what is now central Turkey, which rivaled both Egypt and Assyria was up and running before 1750 BC. Which makes it rather unlikely that they moved north from Canaan and became established and that powerful in a fairly short span of time.
      ... he calls himself a "ger" and a "toshab" 'among you'. The words have the same idea, with slightly different overtones. "ger" is a traveler who is a stranger, a 'sojourner', while "toshab" is a traveler who is now staying for a longer period of time in a place, something along the lines of a 'resident alien'.
      Then Abraham asks for a "qeber" (grave (literally: place of burial of the dead)) and the final phrase implies that he wants to bury Sarah where he isn't constantly faced with her grave. Which, again, suggests that he was living elsewhere.
      Abraham doesn't want a gift, just as he told the King of Salem to keep his stuff several chapters earlier. If he pays for the cave (we'll come back to where that may be in a moment), then it is his, and, he knows, when he assumes room temperature, Isaac can put in there as well.
      The names used in connection with the owners of the cave are used both as place names as well as the names of individuals. All in the general area of today's Hebron.
      This back and forth discussion about the price of a hole in the ground is more of a statement about the culture of the time than anything else. And we'll touch on that again before we move on.

      The cave of Makpelah / Machpela (fold) is an area around Hebron where multiple naturally occurring caves have been found. Many of them used for burials going back to ancient times. One such "double cave" is located below multiple layers of structures going back to an elaborate tomb complex built by King Herod the Great during the time of Christ. Since then it has been rebuilt into a Christian Church, an Islamic Mosque, and today, a tourist trap called the Cave of the Patriarchs. See links below.
      Is the cave under Herod's building the cave Abe bought from the local guy at the time? Surprisingly enough, it could well be. Relics from the period, as well as multiple ancient, even prehistoric, burials, have been found in it, and in some of the other local formations. Another claim, which you can see for yourself at the HebronFund.org page linked below, is going a bit far.

      According to those that claim to know this sort of thing, 400 Shekels was about four and a half kilograms, or, Ten Pounds, of Silver. See link below for a look at that land deal and the price paid.

17 - 20
      Again we have the details of where the field is, and who was there when Abraham bought it as witnesses of the transaction.
      The text also specifies, again, that it became 'miqnah' (a possession / property (the same word is used to describe household slaves in chapter 17)).
      And then Abraham buried his wife there. And a restatement of where it is.
      And a restatement that Abe owns the graveyard. Which simply confirms what GOD said in chapter 15 about him being buried when his time came.

      NOTE: Exactly none of the Words for GOD that have been used so far in Genesis occurred in the chapter above. Why that would be, we have no idea. But it is interesting.

- end 23 -

Chapter 24
      The text specifies that Abraham is OLD. And that YHWH had blessed him in all things. This isn't news. But again, in this form of Hebrew poetry, repetition for emphasis is important.
      The servant that Abe sends back home on a mission is stated to be his "zaqen" (oldest / eldest (another form of the same word was just used to describe Abraham himself)) who "mashal" (governed / ruled over) Abraham's household. In some cultures, this man would be a Eunuch, however, that is not stated here.
      As to making the servant take an oath by swearing on Abraham's testes, that action seems outlandish to us. However, at the time, it was effectively the same as "taking a blood oath" in our own recent past. A promise that which, if not carried out, forfeited the life of the one taking the vow. The act is seen again in the passage such at Genesis 47, and implied elsewhere.
      This entire section was set up by the "news from home" that Abe got a couple of chapters ago. The servant and an entire caravan, heads north east some 500 miles (900 km) depending on the actually starting point, from the region of Beersheva to Haran. We know he didn't go alone because 'his men' are mentioned in verse 32.

      And now we have a bit of a rub.
      Eliezer is mentioned in Chapter 15 as the head of Abraham's house, and is his only heir, see verse 2. And it is Eli that is usually thought of as the one to complete this assignment for the old man.
      But. We have no idea if this is the same servant. The guy that makes the trip with the camels is not named in the entire chapter. One would think that if it were the same ranking servant that had been previously mentioned he would be named again. But maybe not.

      We see the prayer about the water jug, and how it is fulfilled.
      It is also interesting to note that Rebekah's brother uses the word YHWH in verse 31, so we can gather that Nahor's family were also believers.

      A lot of ink is used in telling us, yet again, that Abe is loaded. And now he has a son. And a restatement of the mission. And WHO is going to make sure that the mission is completed.
      ... and a complete restatement of the action at the well.

      Beginning in verse 50 we see confirmation that Rebekah's brother and the others recognize the name of YHWH and accept the story they've been told.
      There is a golden opportunity in the narration to name "Abraham's Servant" in our verse 52. And yet the man is still unnamed.
      Then he brings out the goodies, and gives them as gifts to Rebekah and her brother and mother. It is interesting to note that the brother is speaking for the family and their father is not mentioned.

      They do ask "Ribqah" (Rebekah (means "to fetter" (by an ankle / fetlock chain)) if she wants to go 'with this man'.
      At the time, and we saw it with Sarah, the wife became the property of her husband. If Rebekah leaves, she stops belonging to her brother, and will belong to Abraham by proxy, until she is handed over to Abe's son.
      Then we see that Rebekah also didn't travel light, as she left with the woman who had been her wet-nurse. The word in verse 59 that is translated as 'nurse', "yanaq", means exactly that.

      This part of the story ends with the family saying goodbye to "our sister" and then the blessing that she she may become the mother of thousands and that they may own the cities of those that hate them. See chapter 22 verse 17.

      Isaac is staying someplace named "Beer Lachay Roi" (the well of a 'living God') in the Negev.
      In verse 63 we see something new. Isaac goes out in the evening to "suach" (meditate / ponder). This is the only use of the word in the OT, and implies that it is a different activity than prayer... or anything else.
      Rebekah puts on a "tsaiph" (wrap / veil (first use of the word in the OT) (KJV: vail)).
      The still unnamed servant tells Isaac the story. And....
verse 67
      he brings her to Isaac in "ohel" (tent / home) of Sarah 'his' "em" (mother), and "laqach" (accept / marry / take / etc) Ribqah "hayah" (became / came to pass / etc) his "ishshah" (woman / wife) - and "aheb" (love / loved (same word used to describe Isaac to Abraham in chapter 22)) her, and "nacham" (comfort / put at ease) after his mother's death.
      So Isaac stayed where Sarah had been living, while Abraham was elsewhere. And the servant knew where Isaac would be, so he went there with her instead of back to the old man.

References and links: Outside links will open in new tab/window.
The Interlinear: Hebrew - English https://biblehub.com/interlinear/genesis/23.htm

"The Christian and Moslem conquerors of the Land of Israel over the Centuries built and added on their own religious structures to Herod’s monumental building. The Christian Byzantines built a large basilica and Church over the Cave of the Patriarchs, incorporating the Herodian structure into their structure. Jews were officially forbidden from living in the holy city. In the year 638, the Moslem Arabs conquered Hebron and turned the church into a mosque. At this stage, the Muslim authorities were tolerant of Jewish prayer at the site. .....
.... "Since then, the site has been open to people of all faiths to visit and to pray at holy grave of the fathers and the mothers of the Jewish people, who brought the God of Israel to the world."

From: www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org

The Cave of Machpelah in Hebron is the world’s most ancient Jewish site and the second holiest place for the Jewish people, after the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The cave and the adjoining field were purchased—at full market price—by Abraham some 3700 years ago. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah are all later buried in the same Cave of Machpelah. These are considered the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Jewish people. The only one who is missing is Rachel, who was buried near Bethlehem where she ied in childbirth.
The double cave, a mystery of thousands of years, was uncovered several years ago beneath the massive building, revealing artifacts from the Early Israelite Period (some 30 centuries ago). The structure was built during the Second Temple Period (about two thousand years ago) by Herod, King of Judea, providing a place for gatherings and Jewish prayers at the graves of the patriarchs.

"So did Abraham overpay for the Cave of Machpela or did he get a good deal?"
https://theisraelbible.com/did-abraham-overpay-for-the-cave-of-machpela/#:~:text=According%20to%20archaeologists%20in%20Israel,it%20was%20worth%20much%20more.

The Genesis Study Index Page

NOTE: The Bible Study Lesson presented above is posted as a reference document to begin a conversation of the topic. And that's it. Please accept it at such.

http://centralparkchurchofchrist.org