Bible Studies
Parshat Chayei Sarah
“Sarah’s lifetime was one hundred years, twenty years, and seven years; the years of Sarah’s life.” Genesis 23:1 (Stone)
“Abraham rose up from the presence of his dead, and spoke to the children of Heth, saying: ‘I am an alien and a resident among you; grant me an estate for a burial site with you, that I may bury my dead from before me.’…He spoke to them saying: ‘If it is truly your will to bury my dead from before me, heed me, and intercede for me with Ephron son of Zohar. Let him grant me the Cave of Machpelah which is his on the edge of his field; let him grant it to me for its full price, in your midst, as an estate for a burial site.’…And Ephron replied to Abraham, saying to him: ‘My lord, heed me! Land worth four hundred silver shekels; between me and you—what is it? Bury your dead.’ Abraham heeded Ephron, and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the price which he had mentioned in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred silver shekels in negotiable currency.” Genesis 23:3-4, 8-9, & 14-16 (Stone)
Four hundred shekels is a ridiculous amount to pay for such a field and cave. This would not be so high if this were a plot of land that had been in Ephron’s family, but Ephron was a Hittite (verse 10), not a native. This was something Ephron had gotten recently. But there are several things about the cave at Machpela that are special. Is it possible that this is a down payment on the entire land of Canaan? If Abraham understood that his descendants would inherit the entire land, why would he worry about paying more than this field was worth? machpela comes from kaphal, which means “double” or “double portion.” Abraham bought a double-portion of the land.
Machpela was in Hebron. khevron comes from the root word khavar, meaning “unite,” “join” or “bind.” Sarah died at the place of binding, and when Abraham bought the land it was a binding covenant with Father and with the people of the land, that this belonged to Abraham.
“Thus, the field with the cave that was in it, was confirmed as Abraham’s as an estate for a burial site, from the children of Heth.” Genesis 23:20 (Stone)
Though Abraham owned the land, it was not confirmed as his as a burial site until he buried Sarah there.
“And I will have you swear by HASHEM, God of heaven and God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell.” Genesis 24:3 (Stone)
Abraham could not have objected to Canaanite women because they worshipped idols, because Abraham’s family in Haran also worshipped idols. So why did Abraham reject the Canaanite women? Perhaps it is because Father told him, “Know for sure that your seed will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs,” Genesis 15:13 (HNV) and that if they married Canaanites, they would actually belong in the land, and so would not be foreigners.
“HASHEM, God of heaven, Who took me from the house of my father and from the land of my birth; Who spoke concerning me, and Who swore to me saying, ‘To your offspring will I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there. But if the woman will not wish to follow you, you shall then be absolved of this oath of mine. However, do not return my son to there.” Genesis 24:7-8 (Stone)
Abraham first speaks of this as a certainty, and then says “if.” Abraham knew, he believed in Father that Eliezer would find a woman to marry Isaac. He only said “if” to satisfy Eliezer. It was by Abraham’s faith that Eliezer’s action was profitable. What Eliezer believed or did didn’t matter because Abraham had faith. “And everything you ask for in prayer and believe, you will receive.” Matt. 21:22 (Younan) This is reconfirmed when Eliezer says, “HASHEM, God of my master Abraham, may You so arrange it for me this day that You do kindness with my master Abraham.” (Stone) in verse 12.
“So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him regarding this matter.” Genesis 24:9 (Stone)
The word “thigh” is the word jry (yarek). By putting his hand under Abraham’s thigh, Eliezer was swearing on Abraham’s testicles. In Exodus 25:31 it says, “You shall make a menorah of pure gold. Of hammered work shall the menorah be made, even its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it.” (HNV)
The word “shaft” is actually jry. In Exodus 40:22 it says, “And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.” (KJV)
The word “side” is actually jry. The table was placed opposite the lampstand. So on one side of the sanctuary is the thigh, and on the other is the thigh again. The sanctuary is this place that Eliezer swore on. It is also interesting that in Numbers 5 in the test of jealousy, the priest would sweep the floor of the sanctuary and put the dust in water for the woman who was being tested to drink.
Genesis 24 is yet another water covenant, the covenant between Eliezer and Father about finding a wife for Isaac, in verses 12-14. Also the covenant Rebecca and Isaac starts in verse 58. Also, it is the covenant between Bethuel and Eliezer, as in verses 50&51. This all begins at the well, or the spring of water. It is a free gift from Father. Does this show that a spouse is a free gift from Father?
Genesis 25:1, “Abraham proceeded and took a wife whose name was Keturah.” (Stone)
Some say that Keturah was the same as Hagar. However, in I Chronicles 1, Keturah is mentioned after Isaac and Ishmael, which makes it seem that Keturah is definitely not Hagar. Likewise, in verse 12 of Genesis 25, Hagar is mentioned by the name Hagar, not Keturah. But, in I Chronicles 1:32 it says, “Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan.” (KJV) It calls Keturah Abraham’s concubine, not his wife. This would seem to show that either Keturah was Hagar, or else she was another concubine until Sarah died, when Abraham took her as his wife.
The Readings: Parshat Chayei Sarah, Genesis 23:1-25:18. Haftarat Chayei Sarah, I Kings 1:1-31. Tehillim Chayei Sarah, Psalm 45. B’rit Chadesha Chayei Sarah,
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