Genesis By The Slice

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Gen 21:13-14a

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†. Gen 21:13 . . As for the son of the slave-woman, I will make a
nation of him, too, for he is your seed.

Abraham certainly must have been worried what would become of Ishmael;
so God reassured him his boy would be just fine.

I think it's significant that God didn't refer to either Hagar or to Ishmael by
name, probably because the emphasis here is upon Divine purpose instead
of upon people.

†. Gen 21:14a . . Early next morning Abraham took some bread and a
skin of water, and gave them to Hagar. He placed them over her
shoulder, together with the child, and sent her away.

The Hebrew word for "bread" is lechem (lekh'-em) which just simply means
food (for man or beast), which therefore includes grain. So Abraham didn't
necessarily send the poor woman out on her own with a ration of bread and
water like some sort of hardened criminal, but very likely provisioned Hagar
and his son Ishmael with enough camper-grade food stuffs to keep them
going for a while.

But it's puzzling why Abraham didn't provide them with an escort; at least
until they reached the safety of a village or a town. That suggests to me that
Abraham fully believed God's promise to "make a nation of him" which
implies that God Himself would look out for them from here on in.

The phrase "sent her away" is from the Hebrew word shalach (shaw-lakh')
which is a word used of divorce as well as for the emancipation of slaves.

I would have hated to observe that scene. Abraham didn't dispatch a servant
or a butler to equip Hagar. He did it himself. And he didn't just bring the
provisions out to her and set it down at her feet. No. He put them up on her
shoulder himself. You have to stand close to someone to do that; close
enough to look them right in the eyes.

There's no record of ever any ill will between Hagar and Abraham, nor any
between him and his boy Ishmael either. Those three were truly family in
every sense of the word-- mom, dad, and child. There couldn't have been a
dry eye nor a cheerful face at any time during this excruciating farewell. If
you've ever experienced something so upsetting as to make you nauseous
and lead-bellied, then you know what I'm talking about. Anybody who can
read their story without feeling the slightest twinge of compassion for any
one of those three; has got to be the most insensitive clod on earth.

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Gen 21:14b-16

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†. Gen 21:14b . . And she wandered about in the wilderness of Beer
sheba.

The wilderness of Beer-sheba is about 50 miles south of Hebron.

The Hebrew word for "wandered about" is from ta'ah (taw-aw') which means
to vacillate. Webster's defines "vacillate" as: to waver in mind, will, or
feeling; viz: to hesitate in choice of opinions or courses. (cf. Jas 1:8)

As often as Hagar traveled up and down the land of Palestine with Abraham
over the years, she no doubt knew her way around; so she's not blundering
through the woods like a lost hiker. At this point, Hagar is thoroughly rattled
and doesn't really know what to do next or even how she and Ishmael are
going to survive in a land where no State programs for unemployed single
mothers existed. And to top it off; she's a freed slave who now has to make
all her own decisions and fend for her child and for herself on her own rather
than simply comply with the demands of a master who provided for all her
daily necessities.

Slavery has its pluses and minuses; its upsides and its downsides; and it's
not always to a slave's benefit to give them their walking papers. There's a
provision in the old covenant that allows for a slave to remain a slave for life
of their own free will. The law would apply to anyone living as a citizen in the
land of Israel, whether Jew or Gentile. (Ex 21:2-6, Lev 24:22)

Many of the slaves that were liberated after the American Civil War found
themselves in the throes of instant poverty: unable to either read or to
write, with no place to live, and zero prospects for gainful employment. I'm
not saying slavery is a good thing. I'm only saying that, all things
considered, it might be the better option for some people.

†. Gen 21:15-16 . .When the water was gone from the skin, she left
the child under one of the bushes, and went and sat down at a
distance, a bowshot away; for she thought: Let me not look on as
the child dies. And sitting thus afar, she burst into tears.

The word "child" is misleading. The Hebrew is yeled (yeh'-led) which can
also mean: a lad. Webster's defines a lad as: a male person; of any age
between early boyhood and maturity; viz: boys and/or youths. (or as Cousin
Vinny would say: yoot.) Ishmael was hardly what modern America might call
a child. He was near to eighteen years old at this time; if he was circumcised
at fourteen and Isaac was weaned at three. (cf. Gen 16:16, Gen 21:5, Gen
21:8)

One can only guess at the grief in Hagar's heart. Her life had come down to
this: a lonely, impoverished, homeless death out in the middle of nowhere.
In her distress Hagar had forgotten about 'Ataah 'Eel R'iy the god who sees
people and knows their troubles. And she had forgotten all the predictions
He made back in Gen 16:10-12 concerning Ishmael's future. There is just no
way her yoot can be allowed to die at this time.

When God's people lose confidence in His testimony, they usually always get
themselves into trouble. If only Abraham had trusted God, Ishmael would
never have been born in the first place because he wouldn't have listened to
Sarah and slept with Hagar.

If only Hagar had trusted God's testimony, she wouldn't have despaired
regarding Ishmael's life. He was perfectly safe. Don't you see? He had to live
so God could keep His promise to multiply him; and so he could become a
wild-burro of a man, and so he could live near the people of Israel like God
predicted.

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Gen 21:17-21

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†. Gen 21:17a . . God heard the cry of the boy,

I don't think Ishmael, at near eighteen, was bawling his eyes out like a little
girl. Rather; his "cry" was a plea for help. Exactly what he said is unknown.
But God heard him and responded. I strongly suspect that in those
seventeen or so years with Abraham, Ishmael learned how to pray; and very
likely he prayed at bedtime with his mom Hagar. She knew Abraham's god
too-- at first hand.

†. Gen 21:17b-19 . . and an angel of God called to Hagar from
heaven and said to her: What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God
has heeded the cry of the boy where he is. Come, lift up the boy and
hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him. Then
God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went and
filled the skin with water, and let the boy drink.

Now we're back on personal terms; and the angel speaks to Hagar by name
rather than by her previous status as a slave; which would now be
inappropriate because she's emancipated.

This particular angel wasn't an apparition but rather just a voice-- granted a
very unusual voice. First it spoke for God, then it spoke as the Yhvh who
would make good on the promise that God made to Hagar at Gen 16:10
-11 and the one made to Abraham at Gen 21:13.

I bet the water was right there all the time but Hagar was so exhausted and
distraught that she hadn't seen it. Everybody gets that way once in a while.
Sometimes the answer to our problem is right under our noses but
oftentimes can't see it because we're just too upset at the time.

†. Gen 21:20a . . God was with the boy and he grew up;

I don't know why so many Christians and Jews have such a low opinion of
Ishmael. How many of his detractors are able to boast that God was with
any of them as they grew up?

†. Gen 21:20b . . he dwelt in the wilderness and became a bowman.

Archery must have become a traditional skill in Ishmael's family. One of his
male progeny, Kedar, produced a clan of bowmen who used their skills not
only in hunting, but also in warfare. (Isa 21:16-17)

†. Gen 21:21a . . He lived in the wilderness of Paran;

The Wilderness of Paran encompassed a pretty big area. It was south of the
Negev, on the Sinai peninsula, roughly between Elat on the east and the
Suez canal on the west.

To look at that region today you'd wonder what appealed to Mr. Ishmael;
but apparently it was a whole lot more pleasant in his day 3,900 years ago;
which wouldn't surprise me since the Sahara itself was at one time pluvial
and inhabited.

†. Gen 21:21b . . and his mother got a wife for him from the land of
Egypt.

A girl from Egypt was apparently a better choice than the girls of Canaan;
from among whom Abraham would later not want a wife for his son Isaac
(Gen 24:3-4).

I wonder how Hagar traveled to Egypt. Did she go on to become prominent
in the caravan business? I bet you one thing. She was very careful that her
boy did not get himself hitched to a Sarah-type personality. And no way
would Hagar ever have one for a mother-in-law either.

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Gen 21:22-34

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†. Gen 21:22a . . At that time

While Hagar and Ishmael were busy re-inventing their lives; a seemingly
trivial event occurred in Abraham's life. I don't have any idea why Genesis
records this incident. It doesn't seem to mean anything.

†. Gen 21:22b . . Abimelech

It is very possible that Abimelech is a royal title rather than a personal
name, sort of like Pharaoh or Caesar, since in the title of Psalm 34 the name
Abimelech is applied to the king of Gath, who is elsewhere known by his
personal name Achish. (1Sam 27:2-3)

†. Gen 21:22c . . and Phicol, chief of his troops,

Phicol's name sounds funny in Hebrew. It's Piykol (pee-kole') which means:
mouth of all. His name, like Abimelech's, could also have been a title;
especially since it implies that he was a spokesman. I'm sure you've heard
people say: "And I think I speak for all when I say this; yada, yada, yada;
etc, etc, etc." Maybe that's what his name "mouth of all" implies. At any
rate, he was Abimelech's chief of staff and apparently his right hand man-- a
military man, and trusted.

†. Gen 21:22d . . said to Abraham: The gods are with you in
everything that you do.

Abimelech knew first hand that Abraham could do no wrong. And even when
he did, his god was right there to bail him out. That is an extremely envious
position. What if you knew that God would protect you no matter how dumb,
stupid, and clumsy you were in life-- that in spite of your bad investments,
accidents, poor judgment, bad decisions, worthless friends, failed romances,
and overspending, you still came out on top? Well . . that is just how it went
for Abraham. He was bullet proof.

†. Gen 21:23a . .Therefore swear

(chuckle) Ol' Abimelech is nobody's fool. He was burned once by Abraham
and wasn't about to be suckered again. From now on he will accept
Abraham's word only if he gives his oath on it first. You know; trust is an
easy thing to lose, and very difficult to regain.

†. Gen 21:23b . . to me here by the gods

The Hebrew word for "gods" is a nondescript label for any number of
celestial beings; both real and imagined. But I kind of suspect the one
Abimelech referred to was the god who appeared to him in the dream; in
other words; Abraham's god: Yhvh.

†. Gen 21:23c . . that you will not deal falsely with me or with my
kith and kin, but will deal with me and with the land in which you
have sojourned as loyally as I have dealt with you.

It's a non aggression pact. But why would Abimelech go to all the trouble?
And why would he, a king, travel to Abraham's camp rather than summon
him to appear? Did he fear that Abraham, a man befriended by a supreme
being, might become so powerful that he would attempt to conquer
Abimelech's kingdom? I think so. Abraham's medicine was strong. He had a
connection in the spirit world to a god with the power to destroy Sodom and
Gomorrah, and to strike people with serious maladies. It would be perfectly
human for Abraham to take advantage of his supernatural affiliation and use
it to advantage.

With a man like Abraham, Abimelech probably figured a preemptive strike
would be out of the question. It is better to strike a treaty while conditions
permit. After all, Abraham owed Abimelech one for letting him off after lying
to him about Sarah. Good time to call that in.

†. Gen 21:24 . . And Abraham said: I swear it.

NOTE: there are Christians who would soundly condemn Abraham for
swearing based upon their understanding of Matt 5:33-37.

I can almost hear Abimelech and Phicol start breathing again. I think both of
those men were more than just a little worried about their safety on
Abraham's turf.

That settled, Abraham has a matter of his own to discuss; and now's a good
time for it, seeing as those men were being very humble; at least for the
moment.

NOTE: there are well-meaning folk who feel it's wrong for God's people to be
confrontational; and base their reasoning on Matt 5:3, Matt 5:5, Matt 5:9,
and Matt 5:39. But other than Isaac, I don't think you could find a more
gracious man in the Old Testament than Abraham. He didn't have a hair
trigger temper, a spirit of vengeance, nor did he declare war over every little
disagreement. Abraham picked his battles with care, and conducted them
intelligently-- same with Moses, of whom the Old Testament says: was very
meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth (Num 12:3).
Jesus was meek too (Matt 11:29 and Matt 21:5) but could be very
confrontational when the circumstances called for a heavy hand. (Matt 23:13
36)

†. Gen 21:25-26 . .Then Abraham reproached Abimelech for the well
of water which the servants of Abimelech had seized. But Abimelech
said: I do not know who did this; you did not tell me, nor have I
heard of it until today.

Abraham may have previously reported the incident to a bureaucrat, who
then tossed the complaint in a file cabinet somewhere and soon forgot about
it because this is the very first time Mr. Abimelech has been made aware of
the problem. Sometimes you just have to cut through the red tape and go
straight to the top.

†. Gen 21:27-29 . . Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to
Abimelech, and the two of them made a pact. Abraham then set
seven ewes of the flock by themselves, and Abimelech said to
Abraham: What mean these seven ewes which you have set apart?

This was not a local custom; whatever it is, because Abimelech is totally
puzzled by it.

†. Gen 21:30 . . He replied: You are to accept these seven ewes from
me as proof that I dug this well.

A reasonable assumption is that Abraham-- thoroughly disgusted with
Gerar's bureaucracy, and having no confidence in Abimelech's oath -
shrewdly purchased a water right so the government's thugs would have to
step off and leave him be.

†. Gen 21:31-32 . . Hence that place was called Beer-sheba [well of
seven], for there the two of them swore an oath. When they had
concluded the pact at Beer-sheba, Abimelech and Phicol, chief of his
troops, departed and returned to the land of the Philistines.

Abraham swore to live peaceably with Abimelech. And he in turn swore to let
Abraham keep the well that he dug. Did Abimelech swear by a god or just
give his word? Genesis doesn't say. But only Abraham's god is named in this
pact. Possibly they both swore by that one.

†. Gen 21:33 . . Abraham planted a tamarisk at Beer-sheba, and
invoked there the name of The Lord, the Everlasting God.

Actually, that verse is supposed to read like this: "and invoked there the
name of Yhvh, the everlasting god."

NOTE: some people think that because of Ex 6:2-3, Abraham wasn't
supposed to have known the name Yhvh; but obviously he did.

The word for "tamarisk" is 'eshel (ay'-shel) which can mean a tamarisk tree;
and it can also mean a grove of trees; of any kind. The grove was probably
somewhat like a private garden where Abraham could have some solitude in
prayer and meditation. Groves were popular as places of religious devotion
and worship and of public meetings in both Canaan and Israel. It was in a
garden where Jesus prayed his last great prayer in John 17 just before being
arrested.

Backyards can serve as "gardens" too. Here in the part of Oregon where I
live, row houses have become a common style of residential housing
construction; which is really sad. The people living in them don't have any
backyard to speak of like my wife and I do in an older home. When we look
out the big windows on the east side of our house, we see trees and shrubs
and grass and an old mossy playhouse I built for my son and his friends
many years ago; and lots of urban wildlife too: birds, raccoons, skunks,
huge banana slugs, and squirrels and such. That backyard gives us a feeling
of escape and privacy: it's very soothing; like a week-end getaway except
that it's every day.

The planners of New York City's central park had the very same idea in
mind. Opponents of the park groused about the valuable real estate that
would be lost to public recreation; but many of the residents of Manhattan
wouldn't trade their park for all the thousands and thousands of diamonds
the De Beers company is hoarding in their vaults.

Not long ago one of Manhattan's abandoned elevated rail lines was
converted into a park and it's already immensely popular as an escape.
Human beings need their tamarisks; even holy human beings need them.
(cf. Mark 6:46 and John 6:15)

†. Gen 21:34 . . And Abraham resided in the land of the Philistines a
long time.

It wasn't actually the Philistines' land in Abraham's day; but was theirs
during the times when one of the authors of Genesis edited this chapter.

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Gen 22:1-2c

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†. Gen 22:1a . . Some time afterward, God put Abraham to the test.

This particular section of Scripture deals with an ancient incident known in
sacred Jewish literature as The Akedah (the binding of Isaac). The Akedah
portrays the very first human sacrifice ever performed in the Bible by
someone who is extremely important to the people of Israel.

†. Gen 22:1b-2a . . He said to him: Abraham. And he answered: Here
I am. And He said: Take your son, your favored one, Isaac, whom
you love,

The Hebrew word for "favored one" is yachiyd (yaw-kheed') which means
sole. So then, Isaac wasn't just Abraham's favored son; he was also
Abraham's only son because when the old gentleman emancipated Ishmael's
mom Hagar, he automatically gave up his right to legal kinship with her
children. Abraham is still Ishmael's natural father, but on the books, he isn't.

"Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had received
the promises was offering up his only begotten son" (Heb 11:17)

The koiné Greek word for "only begotten" is monogenes (mon-og-en-ace')
which always, and without exception, indicates a parent's sole biological
child. Examples are located at Luke 7:12, Luke 8:42, Luke 9:38, John 1:14,
John 1:18, John 3:16, John 3:18, and 1John 4:9.

Monogenes never identifies children with biological siblings; only children
with zero biological siblings.

According to common sense; Ishmael is one of Abraham's biological sons;
but on the page of scripture; he isn't. The page of scripture is what counts
rather than common sense because faith believes what's revealed to it
rather than only what makes sense to it.

Isaac was about three to five years old when Hagar and Ishmael moved out.
Some time has gone by; and in this chapter, Isaac is now old enough to
shoulder a load of wood, and to ask an intelligent question based on
experience and observation. If Sarah's reported age at death-- 127 years -
which follows in the record after this incident, can be used, then Isaac was
37 years of age at the time of the Adedah since he was born when Sarah
was 90 (Gen 17:17). Thirty-seven is, of course, an educated guess, because
there's no way to determine the chronology of Gen 23:1-2.

Why did God say; whom you love? I think it's so we'd know how Abraham
felt about Isaac. There can be no doubt that he would sorely miss this boy if
ever something should happen to him.

When people truly love their kids, they will die protecting them. They'll quite
literally run into a burning building if need be and/or step in front of a bus.
Normal parents are very protective like that when they truly love their kids.
People who love their kids don't drown them to please a boy friend, don't
leave them unattended in the car and go inside a bar for a drink; don't let
them go off with strangers, and don't let them go to the mall or to the
playground all by themselves when they're little.

†. Gen 22:2b . . and go to the land of Moriah,

The word for "Moriah" is from Mowriyah (mo-ree-yaw') and/or Moriyah (mo
ree-yaw') which means: seen of Jah.

There are only two places in the entire Old Testament where the word
Moriah appears. One is here in Genesis and the other in 2Chrn 3:1.

According to tradition, Genesis' land of Moriah is the same as 2Chronicles'
mount Moriah-- the site of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem --which is
bordered by the world famous Wailing Wall. Some justification for the
tradition is found in verse 14, where Abraham named the location Adonai
yireh, from which came the expression; "On the mount of the Lord there is
vision". However, Jerusalem's temple site isn't a three day trek on foot from
Beer-sheba; nor would it have been necessary for Abraham to pack in his
own wood since Jerusalem's locale was well-forested in his day. In reality;
the precise geographic location of the land of Moriah remains to this day a
total mystery.

†. Gen 22:2c . . and offer him there as a burnt offering

The Hebrew word for "burnt offering" is 'olah. There's some controversy
regarding its meaning. Some say the offering shouldn't be translated "burnt"
and others say it should.

No doubt the best translator of 'olah within the context of the Akedah is the
prophet Abraham himself. The very fact that he hewed wood, took a source
of fire with him up the mountain, constructed an altar, put the wood on the
altar, and then bound and positioned Isaac upon the wood and the altar;
tells me that Abraham fully understood that when his divine master said
'olah He meant for the man to cremate his son.

The evidence that Isaac also fully understood that 'olah implied incineration
is when he asked his dad: "Father; here are the wood and the fire: but
where is the sheep?"

There are some who insist that Abraham misunderstood God. They say he
was only supposed to take Isaac along with him up on the mountain and
they together were to offer a burnt offering. What's the appropriate
response to that?

Well; as I stated: Abraham was a prophet (Gen 20:7). Also; Abraham had
three days to think about what he was asked to do. Had Abraham the
prophet any misgivings about human sacrifice-- any at all --he surely would
have objected and/or at the very least requested a clarification. I'm
confident that's true because of his rather impudent behavior recorded in the
last part of the 18th chapter of Genesis.

God ordered Abraham to offer his son as a burnt offering. That means he will
have to slit Isaac's throat; and then cremate his remains. Why isn't Abraham
recoiling and getting in God's face about this with a vehement protest? The
inference is quite obvious. Abraham didn't believe human sacrifice wrong. In
other words: for Abraham, human sacrifice was a non-issue or he would
have surely objected to it.

A technical point that is often overlooked in the "human sacrifice" issue is
that in every instance banning the practice, it is underage children that are
condemned as offerings-- innocent children; viz: babes; and in particular,
one's own. (e.g. Lev 18:21, Lev 20:2-5, Deut 12:31, Deut 18:10, cf. 2Kgs
16:3, 2Kgs 17:31, 2Kgs 23:10, 2Kgs 21:6, Ps 106:34, Ezk 20:31, Ezk
23:37, Jer 7:31, Jer 19:4, Jer 32:35). But I have yet to encounter an
instance where God expressed abhorrence at sacrificing a consenting adult.

The primary reason that human sacrifice is illegal under the terms and
conditions of the covenant that God agreed upon with Yhvh's people at
Horeb and Moab is that human sacrifices simply aren't stipulated; and since
Deut 4:2, Deut 5:29-30, and Deut 27:26 preclude the possibility of
amending the covenant to include human sacrifices in the Levitical qorbanot
system, then it's pretty much a given that the covenant God agreed upon
with Yhvh's people at Horeb and Moab will never include them.

Now the trick is: according to Gal 3:15-16, Bible law isn't retroactive; ergo:
the covenant that God agreed upon with Yhvh's people didn't become
binding law till several centuries after Abraham's passing. In other words;
human sacrifice wasn't illegal in Abraham's day.

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Parenthesis

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Rabbis are quite divided as to the true meaning of Gen 22:2. Some feel
Abraham was supposed to kill Isaac, and some feel he wasn't. There are
some who feel that the angel stopped Abraham at this point because he was
making a big mistake-- that Abraham misunderstood the instructions God
gave to him back in verse 2; which were: And He said, “Take your son, your
favored one, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer
him there as a burnt offering

Targums, which were commonly taught in the synagogues prior to, during,
and after Jesus' day, paraphrased that verse to mean just exactly what it
implies: that Isaac was supposed to die.

T. And He said: Take now thy son, thy only one whom thou lovest, Izhak,
and go into the land of worship, and offer him there, a whole burnt offering,
upon one of the mountains that I will tell thee. (Targum Jonathan)

The verb "offer" is from 'alah (aw-law') which means: to ascend. Yosef
Hallel, a rabbi who lived one or two generations before the Common Era,
noted that 'alah is the same verb used with reference to a qorbanot offering,
and does, in fact, imply "to slaughter" (e.g. Lev 17:8).

Another rabbi, Zalman Sorotzkin, who lived in pre war Poland and post war
Israel, said: "Abraham's going joyfully to slay his son [pre] atoned for his
descendants refusal to go to the Holy Land." There are Midrash
commentaries very similar to that line of thought.

Some ancient Jewish commentators did in fact credit the father, Abraham,
for slaying his boy and they also credited the son, Isaac, for not only
willingly offering his body, which was implied turned to ashes, but also for
offering ¼ of his blood too. (Midrash HaGadol on Gen 22:19), (Sifra, 102c;
b. Ta'anit 16a) and also (Mekhilta d'Rashbi, p.4; Tanh. Vayerra, sec.23)

For what, or for whom, did Isaac willingly offer his body and blood? Was it
for himself? Was it for his father Abraham? According to the Targums, it was
for his future progeny, the people of Israel.

T. And Abraham prayed in the name of the Word of the Lord, and said: Thou
art The Lord who seest, and art not seen. I pray for mercy before Thee, O
Lord. It is wholly manifest and known before Thee that in my heart there
was no dividing, in the time that Thou didst command me to offer Izhak my
son, and to make him dust and ashes before Thee; but that forthwith I arose
in the morning and performed Thy word with joy, and I have fulfilled Thy
word.

. . . And now I pray for mercies before Thee, O Lord God, that when the
children of Izhak offer in the hour of need, the binding of Izhak their father
Thou mayest remember on their behalf, and remit and forgive their sins, and
deliver them out of all need. That the generations who are to arise after him
may say, In the mountain of the house of the sanctuary of the Lord did
Abraham offer Izhak his son, and in this mountain of the house of the
sanctuary was revealed unto him the glory of the Shekinah of the Lord.
(Jerusalem Targum)

in another Targum:

T. Now I pray for mercy before You, O Lord God, that when the children of
Isaac come to a time of distress You may remember on their behalf the
Binding Of Isaac their father, and loose and forgive them their sins and
deliver them from all distress. (Fragmentary Targum)

The same thought is also carried over in a prayer, still included in the
additional service for the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah, which culminates
with these words: Remember today the Binding Of Isaac with mercy to his
descendants.

The rabbis attested that the final resurrection of the dead would take place
"through the merits of Isaac, who offered himself upon the altar." (Pesikta
deRav Kahana, 32)

NOTE: That comment asserts Isaac was consenting; which is probably very
true.

Some, completely ignoring Tradition, Midrashim, and the Talmud, have
really gone off the deep end by claiming Gen 22:2 should be translated like
this: And He said; “Take your son, your favored one, Isaac, whom you love,
and go to the land of Moriah, and offer [with] him there a burnt offering."

Doctoring the Scripture by inserting the word "with" impugns Abraham's
intellect as a man whom God testified in Gen 20:7 to be a prophet. Abraham
no doubt understood his Master perfectly and knew just what he was
expected to do. He had three days to pray about it and ask for confirmation.
Abraham was supposed to kill Isaac, and that is exactly what he tried to do.

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Gen 22:2d-6a

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†. Gen 22:2d . . on one of the heights that I will point out to you.

Precisely where the land of Moriah was, and the specific height God chose, is
impossible to tell for sure. Abraham knew where the land was but he
wouldn't know the exact spot until he got there. It's just as well to keep it a
secret or otherwise somebody would turn it into a shrine; sort of like the so
called Garden Tomb, where people come from all over the world and make
fools of themselves kissing the ground. Some would even take home
souvenir jars of dirt too; so that by now, likely so much dirt would be gone
that the site of Moriah would look more like a quarry than a high place.

†. Gen 22:3a . . So early next morning, Abraham saddled his burro
and took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac.

The Hebrew word for "saddled" is ambiguous. It doesn't necessarily indicate
a device meant for transporting personnel; more likely tackling for cargo.

Whether or not the servants were armed, Genesis doesn't say. And why only
two I don't know either. But that was enough to look after the burro while
Abraham and Isaac were gone. And it's not wise to leave one man all alone
in the outdoors; especially in the wild country of early day Palestine what
with no phone service nor radios, nor cars to flag down for help in that day.

†. Gen 22:3b . . He split the wood for the burnt offering,

It wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that the servants did the actual wood
cutting with Abraham supervising.

†. Gen 22:3c-4 . . and he set out for the place of which God had told
him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place from
afar.

Apparently everyone hiked on foot. The burro was just used as a pack
animal to haul food, water, tents, supplies, and the wood.

Though it's stated Abraham "looked up" it doesn't necessarily mean the site
was elevated above him. When Lot surveyed the Jordan valley, he was said
to have "lifted up" his eyes. But the valley was about three thousand feet
down below his vantage at the time. Lifting up one's eyes just simply means
to look around, and survey the scene.

Those three days gave Abraham plenty of time to think about what God
expected him to do. Abraham must surely have been giving Isaac's future
some serious thought. And he no doubt pondered the promises God made
concerning the great nation that was to issue from his boy. It was very likely
at this time that Abraham's faith in God's promises sustained his
determination to obey and take Isaac's life.

"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had
received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said
"In Isaac your seed shall be called" concluding that God was able to raise
him up, even from the dead," (Heb 11:17-19)

In other words: Abraham was so confident that God was going to somehow
make of his son's progeny a great nation that he assumed, quite correctly,
that though he slay Isaac and cremate his remains, the lad wouldn't stay
dead for very long.

†. Gen 22:5 . .Then Abraham said to his servants: You stay here with
the burro. The lad and I will go up there. We will worship and we will
return to you.

Worship can be defined as respect paid to a better-- like when Abraham ran
and bowed to the three men who came to his tent in chapter 18, and up
ahead when he will bow to the sons of Heth in chapter 23.

When we let a senior citizen go through a door ahead of us, we are saying
we regard that person as better than we are. And when we move aside for a
presidential motorcade, we say the same thing. That's a kind of worship. It's
not an attitude of equality nor one of parity. True worship is an attitude of
humility, inferiority, subordination, submission, and admiration.

The God of the Bible is so superior and respectable that the seraphs in His
throne room cover their faces and dare not gaze upon God. True worship
recognizes God's supremacy and respects the sanctity of His person. Sinners
are never allowed to barge in like drunken sailors, to gape and swagger,
unwashed and uninvited. No, they crawl in, recognizing the depravity of Man
and the extreme dignity of God. The burnt offering shows that Man not only
risks death and incineration in God's presence: he fully deserves it.

There exists adequate proof that Abraham was capable of dishonesty, so it's
difficult to tell at this point if he was actually predicting their return, or
misleading everyone with a fib so nobody would become alarmed and throw
a monkey wrench into the works. It was Abraham's full intention to slay
Isaac but I'm sure you can understand why he wouldn't want anyone to
know that. However, Abraham was confident that Isaac wouldn't stay dead;
that much is known for certain so I vote to give Abraham the benefit of the
doubt and say he really did believe that he and Isaac come back together.

†. Gen 22:6a . . Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and
put it on his son Isaac.

Were Isaac not quite a bit grown up at this time I don't think Abraham would
have made him carry the wood.

But why not let the burro haul the wood to the site? Well; if you have never
heard a burro bray up close and personal, I guarantee you would not want
one to do it during a solemn church service. They are LOUD!

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Gen 22:6b-9a

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†. Gen 22:6b-7 . . He himself took the firestone and the knife; and
the two walked off together. Then Isaac said to his father Abraham:
Father! And he answered: Yes, my son. And he said: Here are the
firestone and the wood; but where is the sheep for the burnt
offering?

Oops! That's kind of like going out to a picnic and forgetting the hot dogs
and hamburger buns. The Tanakh's translation of the Hebrew word 'esh
(aysh) as firestone was probably an educated guess. 'Esh just simply means
fire, with no stone implied. A convenient way to transport fire in those days
was with a portable oven; viz: a fire pot (cf. Gen 15:17). So rather than a
stone, which implies striking sparks, they most likely just brought along the
camp stove, which held a receptacle for live coals. Fire pots in those days
were the equivalent of modern propane-fueled camping equipment.

Since Abraham was the patriarch, it was his prerogative, as well as his
responsibility, to actually kill the burnt offering and set it afire; so he quite
naturally took custody of the weapon and the coals; as Isaac no doubt fully
expected him to.

The word for "sheep" is either she (seh) or sey (say) which means: a
member of a flock, which can be either a sheep or a goat. Neither the age
nor the gender mattered in this instance because Scripture up to this point
in time had not yet specified age or gender for a burnt offering. Abraham
could have used kids and lambs, or ewes, nannies, or rams; it made no
difference. Actually, Abraham might have offered birds too. Noah did in
chapter 8-- but there was something special about this instance that Isaac
somehow knew required something quite a bit more substantial than a bird.

†. Gen 22:8a . . And Abraham said: God will see to the sheep for His
burnt offering, my son.

Little did Isaac know the sheep of that day was to be him. Ol' Abraham and
his half truths are at it again.

†. Gen 22:8b . . And the two of them walked on together.

This is now the second time Genesis says they walked together. Neither one
led, nor brought up the rear, as in the case of so many husbands who leave
their wives dragging along behind at the malls. Incidentally, the dialogue
that took place between Isaac and his dad in verses 7 and 8 are the only
words they ever spoke to each other recorded in the whole Bible.

Arguments from silence insist that if something isn't clearly stated in the
Bible, then it's inferred from the silence that there was nothing to state. In
other words: according to the logic of an argument from silence, verses 7
and 8 are the only words that Isaac and Abraham ever spoke to each other
their entire lives: which of course is highly unlikely.

†. Gen 22:9a . .They arrived at the place of which God had told him.

When did that happen . . God telling him? Genesis doesn't say. Jewish
tradition says the site had an aural glow which Abraham and Isaac were
enabled to see from a distance.

Anyway it was now time to tell Isaac the real purpose of their pilgrimage.

I can almost hear Isaac ask; "Dad, if I'm dead, then how will God make of
me a great nation whose numbers exceed the stars of heaven? You told me
He promised you that". Yes; God did promise Abraham that in Gen 15:4-5,
and Gen 17:18-21.

It is here where Isaac's great faith is revealed; but not so much his faith in
God: rather, faith in his dad. Abraham's influence upon Isaac was
astonishing; so much so that no doubt the lad believed right along with his
dad that his death would only be temporary. Isaac was convinced that God
would surely raise him from the dead in order to make good on His promises
to Abraham.

That young man really had guts; and incredible trust in his dad too. I'll tell
you what: those two men deserve our deepest admiration. What an
incredible display of faith and courage; both on the part of Abraham and on
the part of his son Isaac.

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Gen 22:9b-10

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†. Gen 22:9b . . Abraham built an altar there; he laid out the wood;

This was a place where, apparently, Abraham had never worshipped before
because he had to build an altar.

†. Gen 22:9c . . he bound his son Isaac;

If Isaac was old enough, and strong enough, to shoulder a load of firewood
(Gen 22:6) then he was old enough, and strong enough, to get away from
Abraham, who, at the time, was way past 100 years old. If they had not
already talked it over, then when Abraham pulled out his rope and assayed
to bind Isaac; the lad would surely request an explanation; don't you think?

Had Isaac not consented to the ritual, then he could have easily escaped
because Abraham was alone; he had no one to assist him to restrain Isaac:
the servants having remained behind with the burro. Besides, Isaac had to
agree or the whole affair would disintegrate into a ritual murder instead of a
sacred burnt offering.

Binding was for Isaac's own good. No doubt he was willing enough to die;
but nobody is comfortable with injury. When the knife would begin to make
an incision in Isaac's neck to sever his carotid artery, he might reach up and
grab his father's hand, the meanwhile twisting and thrashing in a natural
response to pain and fear-- similar to what most anybody would do in a
dentist's chair without Novocain. The binding would help keep him still and
avoid collateral damage; otherwise, Abraham might accidentally cut off
Isaac's nose or poke him in the eye and quite possibly disfigure him horribly
instead of succeeding in killing the lad in a humane fashion.

†. Gen 22:9d . . he laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

That may seem impossible for a man of Abraham's age, but no specifications
for altars existed at that time. They could be two feet high, ten, or just a
rudimentary hearth of stones laid right on the ground like a campfire or in a
shallow excavation like a wood pit barbecue.

At that moment, even before Isaac was dead, and even before the tiniest
spark of a fire was kindled: Abraham's offering of his son was complete. In
other words: had God not wanted Abraham to sacrifice his son, He would
have stopped the proceedings before Abraham laid his son on the wood
because once that happens the offerer relinquishes control over his offering.
From that point on; the offering belongs to God; and it becomes His
prerogative to do with it as He pleases-- to kill Isaac or not to kill him was
God's exclusive right and privilege. Bottom line is: it wasn't necessary for
Isaac to be dead in order to count as a sacrifice: he only had to be laid on
the wood of the altar to count.

"Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when
he offered his son Isaac on the altar?" (Jas 2:21)

It's easily seen from that passage in James that not all human sacrifice is
evil. In point of fact, in certain cases; it's the right thing to do.

I just don't know why it is that people think that the 22nd chapter of Genesis
teaches God's supposed abhorrence for all manner of human sacrifice when
it is so obviously meant to convey the quality of Abraham's confidence in
God's promise made at Gen 15:2-6. In other words: if Abraham was to go
on to generate a posterity through his son whose numbers would be too
many to count; then God would have to restore Isaac to life in order to
make good on the promise; and according to Heb 11:17-19 Abraham was
counting on that very thing. In other words: according to Jas 2:21-23,
Abraham's willingness to kill his son validates Gen 15:2-6 where it's stated
that Abraham believed God.

†. Gen 22:10a . . And Abraham picked up the knife

Abraham didn't just pick the knife up and hold it in his hand in some sort of
symbolic gesture. No, he picked it up with the full intention of using it on his
boy; as these next words of the narrative fully indicate.

†. Gen 22:10b . . to slay his son.

Do you think Abraham was messing around? I guarantee you he was NOT.
He fully intended to slit Isaac's throat.

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Gen 22:12

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†. Gen 22:12a . . And he said: Do not raise your hand against the lad,
or do anything to him.

There are some who feel that the angel stopped Abraham at this point
because he misunderstood the instructions God gave to him back in verse 2;
which were: "Take your son, your favored one, Isaac, whom you love, and
go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering"

But an interpretation of that nature impugns the quality of Abraham's
spiritual acumen as a man whom God said in Gen 20:7 was a prophet.
Abraham no doubt understood his Master perfectly and knew just what he
was expected to do. He had three days to pray about it and ask for
confirmation. Abraham was supposed to kill Isaac, and that is exactly what
he tried to do, and would have done; had not the angel stopped him in the
nick of time. And the angel stopped him not because it was wrong. No. The
angel stopped Abraham from killing Isaac because He had seen enough.

†. Gen 22:12b . . For now I know that you fear God, since you have
not withheld your son, your favored one, from Me.

The angel first speaks about God, and then he speaks for himself. In other
words: if the angel isn't God; then he is certainly a very close approximation
of God.

Someone usually wants to know how a supposedly omniscient God didn't
know till then that Abraham would go through with it. Well; in the Bible; the
word "know" isn't limited to academic information. It often refers to
experiential knowledge; like when a man knows his wife; viz: sleeps with
her.

By omniscience, God has seen the future already even before it takes place.
It's all laid out before him like an open road map. He can see every avenue
and every city all in one glance. However; like a traveler; God hasn't actually
been to each place yet. David, in Psalm 139, said God's spirit is
omnipresent, but I have yet to see a scripture that proves God has the
ability to travel in time.

He no doubt already knew ahead of time every single thing that would take
place the day Abraham and Isaac were on that mountain. None of that took
God by surprise. He saw it all ahead of time-- but God had yet to be there
and take part when it actually happened. Afterwards; God not only knew in
His head that Abraham feared him; but God knew it in His heart too via
personal experience.

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Gen 22:13-24

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†. Gen 22:13 . .When Abraham looked up, his eye fell upon a ram,
caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the
ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son.

The covenant that God agreed upon with Yhvh's people at Horeb and Moab a
few centuries later would not have allowed Abraham to substitute a ram for
Isaac. (Lev 27:28-29, cf. Jgs 11:30-35)

According to a documentary I recently watched on NetFlix; approximately
2,000 Muslim butchers assemble for Mecca every year and slaughter
something like 700,000 to 800,000 sheep to commemorate the ram that
Abraham sacrificed in his son's stead. Islam of course believes the son was
Ishmael instead of Isaac.

The animals aren't consumed by the hajis. Instead; they're processed,
packaged, and shipped to poor people around the world. Well; it would be
nice if some of the people of Somalia and North Korea got a number of those
sheep because they could sure use them. Ironically, Islamic militants have
been thwarting efforts to get aid to the Somalian people. Where's the spirit
of Mecca in that?

†. Gen 22:14 . . And Abraham named that site Adonai-yireh, whence
the present saying: On the mount of God there is vision.

One of Webster's definitions of "vision" is: unusual discernment or foresight.
For example: it was men of vision who crafted the United States
Constitution, and men of vision who built railroads, and more men of vision
who pushed for construction of New York City's central park, and a man of
vision who persuaded the Oregon legislature to preserve all of Oregon's
beaches as public domain so nobody could fence portions of it off for their
own private use. Men of no vision prepare only for the here and now; while
men of vision prepare for the future.

†. Gen 22:15-18 . .The angel of God called to Abraham a second time
from heaven, and said: By Myself I swear, God declares; because you
have done this and have not withheld your son, your favored one, I
will bestow My blessing upon you and make your descendants as
numerous as the stars of heaven and the sands on the seashore; and
your descendants shall seize the gates of their foes. All the nations
of the earth shall bless themselves by your seed, because you have
obeyed My command.

Abraham obtained God's oath because "you have obeyed My command".
What command was that? The command to offer his son as a burnt offering
(Gen 22:2). See? Abraham didn't make a mistake. He understood God
perfectly; and would have slit Isaac's throat and burned him to ashes had
not God pushed the stop button in the final moments.

Far from being scolded for offering a human sacrifice, Abraham is highly
commended for complying; and the promises God made in previous chapters
are now reaffirmed. He lost nothing; but the rather, gained a spiffy bonus:
the Almighty's oath.

Concerning those promises: the first time around, God merely gave His word
(which is normally good enough, and in and of itself quite immutable).
Another time He passed between the pieces; thus notarizing the promises
(double whammy). But this time, God anchored the promises with an oath
(grand slam). That is extremely notable.

Would Abraham have failed to obtain the promises had he refused to offer
his son? No. He would still have obtained them because the original
promises-- made prior to the oath --are unconditional and guaranteed by the
immutability of God's integrity. What Abraham would have failed to obtain
was the oath. So then, God has gone to every possible length to assure
Abraham's seed of the certainty of those original promises with: 1) His
testimony, 2) His passing between the pieces, and 3) His oath. You won't
find God taking oaths very often in the Bible.

This particular oath is part and parcel of the covenant that Yhvh's people
agreed upon with God as per Deut 29:9-15.

†. Gen 22:19 . . Abraham then returned to his servants, and they
departed together for Beer-sheba; and Abraham stayed in Beer
sheba.

Isaac isn't specifically named in either the return or the departure, except
that the words "departed together" are highly suggestive of the very same
togetherness of verses 6 and 8. And back in verse 5, Abraham told the
servants that he and Isaac would both return. If Isaac had not been with
Abraham on the return trip, the servants would have surely asked where he
was.

The Targums have a pretty interesting postscript at this point.

T. And the angels on high took Izhak and brought him into the school
(medresha) of Shem the Great; and he was there three years. And in the
same day Abraham returned to his young men; and they arose and went
together to the Well of the Seven, and Abraham dwelt at Beira-desheva. And
it was after these things, after Abraham had bound Izhak, that Satana came
and told unto Sarah that Abraham had killed Izhak. And Sarah arose, and
cried out, and was strangled, and died from agony. (Targum Jonathan)

†. Gen 22:20 . . Some time later, Abraham was informed: Milcah too
has borne children to your brother Nahor:

Just exactly how much time had passed after The Akedah until this
announcement is uncertain.

Nahor was one of Abraham's brothers; and Milcah was Abraham's niece
through Haran, another brother: who was also Lot's dad. Milcah was Nahor's
real wife. He also had a concubine named Reumah.

†. Gen 22:21-24 . . Uz the first-born, and Buz his brother, and
Kemuel the father of Aram; and Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and
Bethuel”-- Bethuel being the father of Rebecca. These eight Milcah
bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother. And his concubine, whose name
was Reumah, also bore children: Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and
Maacah.

Bethuel and Rebecca are the only two who really stand out in that list.
However, Genesis records everybody because God, apparently for reasons of
His own, thinks they're all important in some way.

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Gen 23:1-10a

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†. Gen 23:1-2a . . Sarah's lifetime-- the span of Sarah's life --came to
one hundred and twenty-seven years. Sarah died in Kiriath-arba
--now Hebron --in the land of Canaan;

This is the only woman in the entire Old Testament for whom an age is given
at the time of her death. Isaac was 37 at this point, having been born when
Sarah was 90 (Gen 17:17) and Abraham was 137 since he and Sarah were
ten years difference in age (Gen 17:17). She lived in Canaan with her
husband for 62 years and they never once owned their own home. They
moved there when he was 75 and she was 65 --and Abraham at this point
has 38 years on the clock yet to go.

†. Gen 23:2b . . and Abraham proceeded to mourn for Sarah and to
bewail her.

Some people think it's weak and unspiritual to mourn for the dead.
However; it is the very best way to let them go. People shouldn't stifle their
heartbreak, nor steel themselves against it. I would rather see people get
angry and withdrawn at the loss of their loved ones than to blow it off as
just another passing phase of life.

Sarah had quite a life you know. She was a tough pioneer woman-- taken
into the palaces of a Pharaoh and a King. And she was selected by Almighty
God to be the mother of the people of Israel, and of Messiah: Israel's
ultimate monarch. Sarah was also a biological path to the seed promised Eve
back in Gen 3:15. We can't just put her in the ground as if she was a
commoner no different than anybody else.

†. Gen 23:3a . .Then Abraham rose from beside his dead, and spoke
to the Hittites,

Who is the most famous Hittite in the Old Testament? Give up? It's Uriah,
Bathsheba's first husband; whom David murdered in a scheme to cover up
his indiscretion with the man's wife.

†. Gen 23:3b-4 . . saying: I am a resident alien among you; sell me a
burial site among you, that I may remove my dead for burial.

Abraham had no ancestral claim upon the land. So he had to appeal to the
Hittites' sensibilities; and beg for some property. They, on the other hand,
were in a straight because the land was their heritage and selling off some of
their holdings would diminish the inheritances to be received by their heirs,
and plus, the land would be lost forever; and to an alien yet.

†. Gen 23:5b . . And the Hittites replied to Abraham, saying to him:
Hear us, my lord: you are the elect of God among us.

The word for "God"-- 'elohiym --is not really in that verse; an editor took the
liberty to insert it. And the word for "elect" is from nasiy' (naw-see') which
doesn't mean elect at all but means an exalted one; viz: a king or sheik. The
Hittites had great respect for Abraham; and in their estimation he earned
the right to a potentate's reception.

†. Gen 23:5b . . Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places;
none of us will withhold his burial place from you for burying your
dead.

By donating a sepulcher, instead of selling the land, the Hittites would retain
ownership of the real estate and thus none would be lost to their posterity.
In the future, they could pave over it for a mall, or dig up the whole thing
with earth-moving machinery for a residential sub division.

†. Gen 23:7 . .Thereupon Abraham bowed low to the people of the
land, the Hittites,

How many Jews today would bow to a Hittite, or to any other Gentile for that
matter? Abraham was indeed a very humble man who never let his
connection to God go to his head nor give him a superiority complex. Pride
and Prejudice are two of the Jews' most widely known attributes in modern
times; but they didn't get it from their ancestor; that's for sure.

†. Gen 23:8 . . and he said to them: If it is your wish that I remove
my dead for burial, you must agree to intercede for me with Ephron
son of Zohar.

The sons of Heth (who were Hittites themselves) would act as the mediator
between Ephron (a fellow Hittite) and Abraham (an Eberite: thus an
outsider). It was only a formality, but nonetheless, an important cultural
protocol in those days.

†. Gen 23:9 . . Let him sell me the cave of Machpelah that he owns,
which is at the edge of his land. Let him sell it to me, at the full
price, for a burial site in your midst.

The location is favorable for Ephron because it's at the edge of his property
line, so Abraham won't need an easement to access the site, nor will it be an
eyesore stuck out in the middle.

†. Gen 23:10a . . Ephron was present among the Hittites; so Ephron
the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, all who
entered the gate of his town,

Ephron didn't have to answer personally; but chose to of his own volition.

People who actually lived in a town's proper, were the upper crust-- the
merchants, bankers, judges, city managers, the mayor, and like that. It was
important that those "who entered the gate of his town" be involved in a
decision regarding property sales because of the potential impact upon their
own interests.

In those days, land owned by a clan like the Hittites defined the boundaries
of their territory; and each family within a clan owned parcels of it. So when
one of the families, like Ephron's for example, sold some of their parcel to a
foreigner, the whole community suffered a permanent loss of territory.

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Gen 23:10b-20

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†. Gen 23:10b-11 . . saying: No, my lord, hear me: I give you the
field and I give you the cave that is in it; I give it to you in the
presence of my people. Bury your dead.

Ephron's generosity was no doubt sincere, but merely one more formality
towards closing a deal on the property. Not wanting to appear a greedy
beast profiteering on the loss of a man's wife, he first offered it to Abraham
for free. That was actually a very kind show of respect for Abraham's grief.
Abraham will pay for the property, and I have no doubt both men fully
expected a monetary settlement; but not before Ephron first has an
opportunity to make certain everyone in town sees him pay his respects for
the dead of one of the most, if not the most, highly respected men in all of
Canaan.

†. Gen 23:12-15 . .Then Abraham bowed low before the people of the
land, and spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land,
saying; If only you would hear me out. Let me pay the price of the
land; accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there. And Ephron
replied to Abraham, saying to him; My lord, do hear me. A piece of
land worth four hundred shekels of silver-- what is that between you
and me? Go and bury your dead.

The shekel of Abraham's day wasn't coinage; but rather, a unit of weight
equal to 20 gerahs (Ezk 45:12) which is equivalent to 10 English
pennyweights or 1/2 ounce troy. So it would take two of Abraham's shekels
to equal one troy ounce of silver.

The average value of a troy ounce of silver as of April 17, 2015 was around
16 US dollars and 50 cents. So 400 full shekels would be worth about 3,300
of today's US dollars (3,056 Euro)

No doubt Ephron had mixed feelings about the property. On the one hand,
he, as well as his countrymen, would prefer it not be sold to a non Hittite.
Yet they all admired Abraham and didn't want to disappoint him, especially
during a time of bereavement. Ephron didn't actually ask for four hundred
shekels. He merely told Abraham what the property was worth, but that its
value meant nothing between friends; as if Abraham could have it for free.
But it was really a subtle way of naming a price without actually coming
right out and naming it; know what I mean?

†. Gen 23:16 . . Abraham accepted Ephron's terms. Abraham paid out
to Ephron the money that he had named in the hearing of the
Hittites-- four hundred shekels of silver at the going merchants' rate.

In those days they used a balance scale to weigh out precious metals for
trading purposes. Merchant rates are typically less than consumer rates. So
Abraham's 400 shekels would have been weighed out with a lighter set of
counterweights than normal in order for him to be given a discount.

†. Gen 23:17-18 . . So Ephron's land in Machpelah, near Mamre-- the
field with its cave and all the trees anywhere within the confines of
that field --passed to Abraham as his possession, in the presence of
the Hittites, of all who entered the gate of his town.

Abraham's purchase of Hittite territory was done in the presence of a goodly
number of blue-blooded Hittite witnesses so there would be no basis for
anyone to contest his rightful ownership. Abraham didn't purchase just the
cave, but also the wooded grounds around it so that Sarah's gravesite was
originally a very nice cemetery.

But if you want to visit her burial site today, be forewarned. The region in
and around Hebron is a political strife zone these days. The monumental
shrine erected over the cave in which Abraham was buried makes this one of
the great sights for visitors with an interest in scriptural history; but since
there are frequently violent clashes between Arabs and Israelis in Hebron it
is essential before visiting the town to check up on the current situation with
the tourist information office in Jerusalem.

Sarah's gravesite today (if indeed anybody knows where it really is) is
covered by an Islamic structure called Al-lbrahimi Mosque; in honor of
Abraham, Ishmael's dad. It should be pointed out that the Mosque isn't
intended to promote Judaism's Yhvh, but rather, Islam's Allah.

†. Gen 23:19-20 . . And then Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the
cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre-- now Hebron --in the
land of Canaan. Thus the field with its cave passed from the Hittites
to Abraham, as a burial site.

Not only a burial site, but also as a permanent real estate holding-- the
people of Israel's very first piece of their very own country; which gives
them legitimate roots there even prior to the Exodus; and way ahead of the
Muslims.

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[WebersHome]

Gen 24:1-3b

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†. Gen 24:1a . . Abraham was now old, advanced in years,

Abraham was 100 when Isaac was born (Gen 21:25). The lad was 40 when
he married Rebecca (Gen 25:20). So that makes Abraham 140 at this point
in the record. But although Abraham was worn; he wasn't worn out.
Abraham still had plenty of vigor left in him and would go on to live another
35 years and even father more children. As far as the Scriptural record goes,
Abraham enjoyed excellent health at this point in his life and still had his
wits about him too.

†. Gen 24:1b . . and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.

The "all things" at this point in the narrative would pertain to Abraham's
economic prosperity because that's how his steward will represent him at
verse 35.

†. Gen 24:2a . . And Abraham said to the steward of his household,
who had charge of all that he owned,

It is impossible to identify the steward because his name isn't disclosed
anywhere throughout chapter 24. It could be the Eliezer of Gen 15;
however, many years have gone by since then. Abraham was eighty-six
when Ishmael was born in chapter 16, and he is 140 in this chapter; so it
has been more than 54 years since the last mention of Eliezer. The steward
at this point in Abraham's home may even be Eliezer's son by now, but
nobody really knows for sure.

Abraham's steward is going to act as an ambassador-- not for Abraham, but
for Isaac. Abraham, for reasons undisclosed, can't leave Canaan to do this
himself. So the steward is dispatched as a proxy for Abraham to act in his
son Isaac's best interests.

†. Gen 24:2b-3a . . Put your hand under my thigh and I will make
you swear

Some Bible students construe Jesus' words at Matt 5:33-37 to mean that
taking an oath is intrinsically a sin. But that's not the tenor of his words at
all. What he really said in that passage is that taking an oath sets you up for
a fall because for one thing; people are too quick to swear, and for another
human beings cannot guarantee that unforeseen circumstances won't
prevent them from making good on their oath.

In other words: the nature of promises is that they are immutable and
immune to changing circumstances. So unless you can see the future, then
if at all possible, make your promises without sealing them with an oath
because if you drag God into your promise; He's going to expect you to
make good on it come hell or high water or risk getting called on the carpet
to explain why you think so little of His name.

"If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a
bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeds
out of his mouth." (Num 30:2)

Anyway: if taking an oath were intrinsically a sin, then God himself would be
a sinner (e.g. Gen 22:15-18, Ps 89:3-4, Ps 89:35-37, Ps 110:4, Isa 14:24,
Isa 45:23, Isa 54:9, Heb 4:3, et al). Jesus too would be in contradiction of
his own teachings because he testified under oath that he was the Messiah;
God's son. (Matt 23:63-65)

†. Gen 24:3b . . by Yhvh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth

Exodus 6:3 makes it appear that Abraham wasn't supposed to be aware of
the name Yhvh. But here in Gen 24, Abraham made his steward swear by
that very appellation; so there can be no doubt he was fully aware of it.

The word for "thigh" is from yarek (yaw-rake') and has a couple of
meanings. It can be the actual thigh (e.g. Gen 32:26, Song 7:1) and it can
mean a man's privates. (e.g. Gen 46:26, Num 5:21)

In those days, men didn't always raise their right hands to take an oath with
each other-- sometimes they held sacred objects in their hand like we do
today when a swearer puts their hand upon a Bible or a Torah Scroll. In this
particular case in Genesis, the object held in the hand was a holy patriarch.
Only twice in the entire Old Testament is an oath recorded taken in this
manner. The first is here, and the other is Gen 47:29.

The similarities between the procurement of Isaac's bride, and that of the
bride of Christ are remarkable. Neither of the fathers of the grooms go
themselves to woo the brides; but rely upon a nameless servant who can be
trusted to faithfully look out for the grooms' best interests. Guided by
providence, the servants locate candidates, give them some gifts, explain
their missions, tell of the wealth of the fathers, tell of the inheritances of the
grooms, tell the candidates something of the grooms' genealogies; and are
especially careful to explain the circumstances of the grooms' miraculous
births.

The candidates never see any photos or pictures of their potential husbands,
are given no information disclosing the grooms' personalities, and are
permitted to know only certain general details about the grooms and nothing
more-- at first. At this point, the servants then press for a response, and
proceed no further until the candidates make their decision. However, no
one can force the bridal candidates to accept the grooms. The candidates
must consent to join him of their own volition.

After the candidates consent to go and be with the grooms, the servants
then cull the candidates from their native people, and from their native
lands, and safely escort them to the lands and peoples of the grooms. The
grooms, upon receipt of the candidates, accept them just as they are, give
them a nice home, and love and care for them right to the end.

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[WebersHome]

Gen 24:3c-10

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†. Gen 24:3c-4 . . that you will not take a wife for my son from the
daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell, but will go to the
land of my birth and get a wife for my son Isaac.

The words "land of my birth" can also mean "to my country and to my
relatives." That is exactly how the steward understood them because that is
how he will narrate Abraham's instructions in Gen 24:38.

I just bet Abraham was fully aware of the fate of the men of God who
married the daughters of men back in the early parts of Genesis. Those men
of God all died in the Flood right along with their impious wives.

The influence of a non God-fearing spouse could prove fatal to Isaac's
future. If he's going to serve and worship his dad's god, then he is going to
have to marry a girl who fully appreciates and supports the prophecies
regarding Abraham's progeny.

Spouse hunting demands a level head and cold steel discernment or there is
real risk in ending up like Solomon, one of the greatest of God's men, who
was ruined by his marriages to women who didn't share his religious beliefs.
(1Kgs 11:1-10)

†. Gen 24:5-6 . . And the servant said to him: What if the woman
does not consent to follow me to this land, shall I then take your son
back to the land from which you came? Abraham answered him: You
must not, for any reason, take my son back there!

I think Abraham knew only too well just how much like sheep men are.
When they fall in love, they'll literally sacrifice their lives to keep a woman;
which is exactly what Jacob did. Rachel was a good girl; but she cost Jacob
fourteen years of his life away from home in a foreign land with a bad
influence: uncle Laban.

Suppose Isaac went up north and feasted his glims on Rebecca? Well, up
ahead we're going to find out that she was young, cute, and filled out in all
the right places. I've seen what that does to men. I worked with a married
man once who kept a young love on the side. He often used his wages to
buy that girl jewelry while his wife and two little kids were housed in a
ramshackle rental unit.

It was too risky to let Isaac go up there. He might be tempted to remain
with Rebecca if she refused to live so far off from her family. Isaac's future
was in the land deeded to Abraham on oath; not up there in Mesopotamia;
and his bride's place was with him and Yhvh; not with her family and
Laban's idols.

†. Gen 24:7 . .The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my
father's house and from my native land, who promised me on oath,
saying "I will assign this land to your offspring" He will send His
angel before you, and you will get a wife for my son from there.

The identity of the angel to be sent is a complete mystery. Some feel it's a
personification of God's providence. Others feel it might be Metatron; the
angel in sacred Jewish literature whose name is his Master's. But it's far
more likely to be God's spirit-- the eye of Ps 32:8-10 --secretly manipulating
circumstances to serve God's best interests. There is not one single square
inch of the cosmos of which God's eye is unaware (Ps 139:7-12, Amos
4:13).

†. Gen 24:8-10a . . And if the woman does not consent to follow you,
you shall then be clear of this oath to me; but do not take my son
back there. So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master
Abraham and swore to him as bidden. Then the servant took ten of
his master's camels

Nobody is quite sure exactly when camels were domesticated. The earliest
depiction of them in relief and cuneiform text as beasts of burden and
transportation is sometime around 1100 BC.

†. Gen 24:10b . . and set out, taking with him all the bounty of his
master;

The servant will need to demonstrate to the bride, and to the bride's family,
that she'll be well taken care of. The servant of course didn't take along
everything Abraham owned in total, but merely an adequate representation
of his abundant wealth; which by inheritance, would all be Isaac's some day;
and, by association, his future wife's too.

Additional men accompanied the servant (Gen 24:32) who were very likely
all armed (Gen 14:14); not only for the caravan's protection, but for the
bride's as well. No doubt included among the camel's burdens were tents,
victuals, provender, water, and appropriate accommodations for the bride's
comfort on the journey back to Canaan. It was at least five hundred miles
from Hebron up to Abraham's people in Mesopotamia, so the return trip
couldn't possibly be made in a single day on camels and would necessitate
overnight bivouacs in rugged country.

†. Gen 24:10c . . and he made his way to Aram-naharaim, to the city
of Nahor.

The Greek translation renders naharaim in dual form meaning, "two rivers",
and from that arose the name Mesopotamia-- the land between the two
rivers. Some feel that the name naharaim really means "the land along the
river" or "the land within the river".

It's a territory bounded approximately on the east by an imaginary
north/south line drawn from Ar Raqqah Syria to Urfa Turkey. The southern
and western borders are delineated by the Euphrates as it runs from Ar
Raqqah Syria towards Gaziantep Turkey: an area within which at one time
lay the kingdom of Mitanni. This is called Naharain in the Egyptian texts, and
Naharima in the El-Armana letters.

The details of the journey are passed over. It would have been fun to hear
about the caravan's adventures. How they had to dodge a flock of ostriches
that ran out in the road, and maybe how a lion came around at night and
spooked everybody, or how one of the men fell asleep at the wheel and his
camel ran off the road and hit a tree; stuff like that. But Genesis has
priorities; and the journey's details were not one of them. In a blink, the
caravan arrives; a trip that took maybe two weeks or so; and Rebecca
rapidly becomes the prime focus. This chapter, after all, about the bride;
rather than the groom.

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[WebersHome]

Gen 24:3c-10

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†. Gen 24:11 . . He made the camels kneel down by the well outside
the city, at evening time, the time when women come out to draw
water.

"evening time" is from an ambiguous term that indicates any time between
high noon and sunset as opposed to "morning" which can indicate any time
between sunrise and high noon.

†. Gen 24:12 . . And he said: O Lord, God of my master Abraham,
grant me good fortune this day, and deal graciously with my master
Abraham:

This steward was truly a God-fearing man, and truly faithful to the one who
sent him on this errand. His prayer is not self centered, but centered upon
the best interests of his master's son. Incidentally, this is the very first
prayer recorded in the Bible of an individual clearly requesting Divine
providence.

†. Gen 24:13-14 . . Here I stand by the spring as the daughters of
the townsmen come out to draw water; let the maiden to whom I
say "Please, lower your jar that I may drink" and who replies "Drink,
and I will also water your camels"-- let her be the one whom You
have decreed for Your servant Isaac. Thereby shall I know that You
have dealt graciously with my master.

This man didn't beat around the bush, nor begin reading from a siddur, nor
a missal, nor did he chant by rote, nor blather in tongues. He gets right
down to business and spells out his concerns in plain language. Let me say
something very clearly: If you are the kind of person who has to pray in
tongues because you don't have enough command of your own native
language to express yourself in any other way, then maybe you should go
back to school for a while.

Of great interest is the steward's apparent lack of concern regarding the
prospective bride's looks. Only God truly knew who would be right for Isaac,
and Abraham's steward is not going to select a bride for his master's son like
as if she's flesh on the line the way the sons of God did back in Gen 6:2. No;
she must be hand-picked by God alone because He alone knows what's in a
heart. If the girl that God chooses for Isaac is attractive; well that will be a
bonus, but absolutely not the deciding factor.

†. Gen 24:15 . . He had scarcely finished speaking, when Rebecca--
born to Bethuel, the son of Milcah the wife of Abraham's brother
Nahor --came out with her jar on her shoulder.

As fortune would have it, the very first girl to arrive is Becky. Although she's
related to Abraham, at this point Abraham's steward doesn't know who she
is yet. In fact he's probably expecting to conduct many tiresome interviews;
testing one girl after another until the right one shows up.

†. Gen 24:16a . .The maiden was very beautiful,

Some chafe at that passage and refuse to believe Genesis is talking about
Becky's physical assets. However, later on, in Gen 26:6-7, Isaac will attempt
his dad's old trick and say Becky is his sister; in order to save his skin. The
reason Isaac gives for the lie is he believed the men of Gerar would be
tempted to kill him because Becky was attractive. It is highly unlikely pagan
men would take Becky away from Isaac just because she had a beautiful
personality. Ancient men didn't kill to obtain the nice girls; they killed for the
alluring ones.

When men talk about a woman's beauty, I guarantee they are not talking
about her character; no, they are talking about her looks. Even bad girls can
be beautiful.

"Like a gold ring in the snout of a pig is a beautiful woman bereft of sense."
(Prv 11:22)

With women like that, beauty is wasted. They look great on the outside, but
on the inside they're swine. However, our girl Becky is no pig I guarantee
you. There is not one snobby, stuck up, ill tempered, over-sensitive, thin
skinned, defensive, contentious, lazy, self absorbed, conceited, vain, self
centered, complaining, man-hating, carping, door-slamming, militant, fault
finding confrontational bone in her body. Becky is not only a looker; she's
industrious, energetic, personable, courteous; and very intelligent to boot--
the veritable Barbie of the Bible. Unfortunately, in spite of her great looks,
fashion tastes, and her many talents, Mattel's Barbie is over fifty years old
now and has yet to find a husband and have a family of her own. But that is
not going to happen to Ms. Becky.

†. Gen 24:16b . . a virgin

Becky is three girls in one: a maiden, a virgin, and a virgin. What the heck
you say? How is she two virgins?

The word for "virgin" in 24:16 is bethuwlah (beth-oo-law') which can
indicate a virgin, a bride; and also a city or state. Technically, bethuwlaw
doesn't necessarily indicate a girl who's never slept with a man. The primary
denotation is chronological, and the word simply indicates a mature young
woman of marriageable age whether she is married or not; e.g. Joel 1:8,
where a bethuwlah laments the husband of her youth.

†. Gen 24:16c . . whom no man had known.

That kind of wording says that Becky is not only all grown up, but she's a
bethuwlah who still has her virginity. We have before us a gorgeous peach,
not living with a man, neither has ever slept with a man. In other words,
Rebecca was a square and wouldn't fit very well into a typical vulgar
television sit-com like Seinfeld, Friends, or Sex In The City; nor would she
be a likely candidate for a cover picture on Playboy, Maxim, or Cosmo. Becky
is easily among the finest of young female role models in the entire Bible.

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[WebersHome]

Gen 24:16d-22

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†. Gen 24:16d . . She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and
came up.

The "spring" in this case was a small pool of water fed by an aquifer, which
is different than an artesian well. Artesians gush, while aquifers seep.

Some of the shafts of ancient man-made wells in that part of the world
resemble mini open-pit mines; with steps hewn into the sides to facilitate
access to the water for dipping jars and buckets. Becky's spring was likely
constructed like that.

†. Gen 24:17a . .The servant ran toward her

The Hebrew word for "ran" is the same word used in Gen 18:2 and 18:7 to
describe Abraham's movement when the three men appeared in his camp.
Abraham was about 99 years old at the time and it's very doubtful he was
able to move his legs all that fast. It's far more likely he just hastened. In
any case, it was nevertheless essential that Abraham's steward not waste
any time because Becky had strong legs and would surely be gone away
home in a blink.

†. Gen 24:17b . . and said: Please, let me sip a little water from your
jar.

It's amazing that a gorgeous young girl like Becky would allow a total
stranger to approach her without protest or without screaming for help. Was
she naïve? Was she foolish? Well . . maybe in that day, and around her
town, you could trust people. But it would not be wise to do that in some
parts of New York or Los Angeles. A seemingly honest appeal for assistance
could very well be a distraction while an accomplice sneaks up behind you.

Although Becky arrived first, ahead of the other girls, by now there may
have been several others milling around the spring because that was the
time of day for them to be there. In groups, they could all watch out for
each other. Genesis doesn't tell about any of the others though because the
spotlight is totally on Isaac's future bride.

†. Gen 24:18a . . Drink, my lord: she said,

Women back then often called senior men lords. Sarah called Abraham lord
in Gen 18:12, and Rachel called her dad lord in Gen 31:35. The word for
that kind of lord is 'adown (aw-done') and means nothing more than a title
of respect like sir, mister, master, your lordship, etc.

†. Gen 24:18b . . and she quickly lowered her jar upon her hand and
let him drink.

The word for "quickly" is from mahar (maw-har') which means: to be liquid
or flow easily; viz: nimble (the opposite of that would be the sluggishness of
molasses in January) and implies to act promptly. I really like the way Becky
responded. When people do things grudgingly, they often stonewall, perform
slowly, and drag their feet just to show you they're annoyed. But Becky
didn't hesitate. She gave water to the man whole-heartedly, sharply, and
immediately.

Whether she actually let him drink out of her hand is doubtful. Lowering the
jar upon her hand merely indicates it was previously up on her shoulder or
maybe on top of her head. Becky probably just supported it from underneath
with one hand while tilting the top with the other so the contents would pour
out and Abraham's steward could slack his thirst.

†. Gen 24:19-20 . .When she had let him drink his fill, she said: I will
also draw for your camels, until they finish drinking. Quickly
emptying her jar into the trough, she ran back to the well to draw,
and she drew for all his camels.

Flo-Jo Becky-- flying all over the place like a US Navy SEAL trainee in hell
week. No time to waste if she was going to water all those camels before
dark.

The Arabian camel can drink more than twenty gallons of water in one sitting
when it's very thirsty. I hope that man gave them some water earlier
because he had ten camels and Becky could be hauling as much as 200
gallons. If her pitcher held five gallons, the weight would be about 41
pounds of water for each one of the forty trips she would have to make
down and back up out of that spring. Wow that girl was fit! Well, she did it--
and all without any grousing about it.

†. Gen 24:21 . .The man, meanwhile, stood gazing at her, silently
wondering whether The Lord had made his errand successful or not.

That man must have been totally awe struck. The very thing about which he
prayed barely five minutes ago was occurring right before his eyes and all so
brisk and sudden too. This was just too easy and just too unbelievable.
Could this really be of The Lord? He dared not let himself enjoy any success
yet until he knew for sure.

†. Gen 24:22 . .When the camels had finished drinking, the man
took a gold nose-ring weighing a half-shekel, and two gold bands for
her arms, ten shekels in weight.

The word for "nose-ring" is nexem (neh'-zem) which just means ring, or
jewel. Without a modifier, there is no way of knowing for sure if the ring is
for the nose or the ear. However, in verse 47 up ahead, Abraham's steward
will say he installed the ring in Becky's nose.

The half shekel was a unit of weight and a media of exchange in those days.
It weighed about 6.019 grams which is equal to about 92.87 grains. Typical
.22 caliber lead bullets weigh approximately 40 grains apiece, so it would
take at least two and a third of them to equal the weight of the ring. That's
really not much, but if it's stuck in your nose or hanging on your ear I guess
it would become noticeable after a while.

The combined weight of the two bands was ten shekels, which is twenty
times the weight of the ring; or about 1,857 grains; which is equivalent to
forty-six .22 cal lead bullets.

1,857 grains + 93grains = 1,950 grains; which is equivalent to 4.06 troy
ounces of gold. ( a troy ounce is equal to 480 grains) As of April 22, 2015
the commodity value of gold was roughly 1,186 US dollars per troy ounce.
So to date, Becky's gold, in commodity value, was worth roughly 4,815 US
dollars. (5,167 Euro)

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[WebersHome]

Gen 24:23-33

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†. Gen 24:23-25 . . Pray tell me; he said: whose daughter are you? Is
there room in your father's house for us to spend the night? She
replied: I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she
bore to Nahor. And she went on: There is plenty of straw and feed at
home, and also room to spend the night.

That did it. The identity of Becky's family was the final chop that felled the
tree. Abraham's steward had no more doubts about the Lord's providence.
At this point, he put the ring in Becky's nose and the bands on her arms.

†. Gen 24:26-27 . .The man bowed low in homage to The Lord and
said: Blessed be The Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has
not withheld His steadfast faithfulness from my master. For I have
been guided on my errand by The Lord, to the house of my master's
kinsmen.

How utterly astounded Becky must have been that this stranger would give
her all that gold for doing nothing more than watering him and his camels;
and then his prayer to boot. I'm guessing that at this point, Becky began to
suspect that something was up. There were men with Abraham's steward
who were no doubt all intently observing this scene and gauging Becky's
reactions throughout the whole incident. Looking at them, looking at the
man, looking at his camels loaded down with all manner of stuff, and that
there were more saddled camels than men to ride them; I think Becky
began to get nervous because right then she took off out of there for home
like a United passenger with scarcely seconds to spare to catch their
connection from Chicago to Seattle.

†. Gen 24:28 . .The maiden ran and told all this to her mother's
household.

Becky told the story to her mom's side of the family, which suggests that her
dad Bethuel may have kept a concubine as well as a wife.

Here's a possible scenario of what happened next.

Becky's mom (whose name isn't given) has become anxious-- it's getting
late, and her baby hasn't returned yet with the evening water supply. Then,
WHAM! as sudden and unexpected as a California earthquake: an excited,
out of breath Becky-girl comes crashing through the door with a shriek and a
squeal; dropping her jug on the floor with a thud, sloshing water over the
floor, accompanied by the incomprehensible jabbering of a flock of magpies
- gasping for air, lungs burning; she spits her tale as arms flash with gold,
and the ring in her nose sparkles like a glimmering salmon lure every time
she turns her head; which is quite often.

At first, in dazed silence, everyone is paralyzed and nobody moves. Then,
BOOM! the whole place erupts and people start scrambling. Chairs get
knocked over, tables bumped out of their places, lamps teeter, and doors
slam with the whump and concussion of incoming mortar rounds. People out
in the courtyard are barking orders to the servants at the tops of their
voices; as everyone bolts off from ground-zero in ten different directions like
panicked North Koreans making emergency preparations to put Kim Jong Il
up for the night.

Meanwhile, Becky's brother Laban (who just happens to be infected with a
severe case of unbridled avarice) ignites the afterburners and sails out the
door at Mach 2 on his way to fetch Abraham's steward.

†. Gen 24:29-30a . . Now Rebecca had a brother whose name was
Laban. He ran out to the man at the spring when he saw the nose
ring and the bands on his sister's arms, and when he heard his sister
Rebecca say: Thus the man spoke to me.

There's no record that Laban ever actually met Abraham in person, but
Bethuel surely must have talked about him around the dinner table-- how
the god of Noah had called uncle Abram to leave Mesopotamia and head
south to the frontier. And caravans arriving from Egypt surely passed
through Abraham's region, picking up news and information about the great
sheik's exploits and the fact that Abraham's camp was very large; a
community of at least a thousand people. Then; Shazaam! Abraham's
steward seemingly materializes out of nowhere-- totally unexpected like
Forrest Gump's friend Jenny after a long absence --with samples of
Abraham's prosperity. That must have been really exciting: akin to news
from early-day Texas oilfields.

†. Gen 24:30b-31a . . He went up to the man, who was still standing
beside the camels at the spring. He said: Come in, O blessed of The
Lord;

The word for "Lord" is actually yhvh and is the very name of deity the
steward used in his prayer. Laban didn't actually worship Yhvh nor serve
Him either. The steward's god was Yhvh; so for now, Yhvh would be Laban's
god too. Becky's brother was a flexible, clever manipulator. By feigning
respect for the steward's god; Laban no doubt hoped it would work to
advantage. Later we're going to discover that Laban's own personal religion
was actually idolatry. He kept a supply of divine figurines in his home-- little
statuettes called teraphim.

†. Gen 24:31b . . why do you remain outside, when I have made
ready the house and a place for the camels?

Unlike Abraham's home, where Abraham ruled supreme, the daddy in
Becky's home doesn't seem to have much voice or power in it. Bethuel's
son, is the principle spokesman. He and his mom together seemed to run
the place. Some husbands are happy with that kind of an arrangement so
what the hey, if it works for them? It could be too that the daddy's health
was not all that good and so he preferred letting his family manage the
home.

†. Gen 24:32 . . So the man entered the house, and the camels were
unloaded. The camels were given straw and feed, and water was
brought to bathe his feet and the feet of the men with him.

In those days, when somebody "entered the house" they actually entered a
gateway into a courtyard bordered by living quarters and stables.

Who took care of the animals? Probably servants. Which would indicate that
Bethuel had done pretty well for himself in life. His home was spacious
enough to shelter the servant and his detachment; plus he had enough
provender and bedding for at least ten camels. Hmmmm. Makes you wonder
why Becky was out there fetching water. Why did she have to do it if they
had servants? Well, I don't think she really had to; but Isaac's future bride
was no narcissistic prima donna: she was one of those people who don't
mind pitching in and getting their hands dirty. Privileged or no privileged;
that girl was something.

†. Gen 24:33a . . But when food was set before him, he said: I will
not eat until I have told my tale.

Always one for business, the man got straight to the point.

†. Gen 24:33b . . He said: Speak, then.

Who was it said: speak? Well, the nearest antecedent is Laban. You know,
that boy reminds me of Sonny Corleone; the eldest brother in Mario Puzo's
book "The Godfather". Sonny was headstrong, outspoken, and a slave to his
passions; just like ol' Laban.

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[WebersHome]

Gen 24:34-53

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†. Gen 24:34 . . I am Abraham's servant: he began.

I think it's commendable that this man, so far from home, didn't introduce
himself by his own name but rather by the name of the one whom he
represented.

†. Gen 24:35 . .The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has
become rich: He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold,
male and female slaves, camels and burros.

I love the way this man gives credit to Yhvh for Abraham's good fortune
rather than to idols, heathen deities, dumb luck, brute force, fortuitous
circumstance, and/or Abraham's business skills.

It was important that the man tell Becky's family about Abraham's religion,
and about his wealth, because in a moment he's going to drop a 2,000 lb
bunker buster that will change their lives forever.

†. Gen 24:36a . . And Sarah, my master's wife, bore my master a son
in her old age

Oddly, he doesn't mention Sarah's passing. But then, the Scriptures don't
record every word that people ever spoke-- just excerpts really. Back in
verse 30, Becky's entire experience at the spring is recounted in a very
simple phrase: "Thus the man spoke to me."

If Becky wasn't listening before, you can just bet your equity line that her
little ears perked up like a NORAD radar station at the mention of Abraham's
son. And not just a son, but a son born in Sarah's old age; which would
mean that Abraham's boy was relatively young, or at least age-appropriate
for her liking-- and maybe available too.

Americans don't take marriage serious enough. It was life or death in those
days. Ancient women didn't have the advantages of modern careers, open
promiscuity, and independence like the women in twenty-first century
America. Family life was all that really mattered to the women of old. It was
their career goal and it was their old age security. Single women were
failures and most likely headed for poverty. And some even felt it was an
evidence of Divine disfavor to become an old maid-- which only served to
aggravate their despair even more. So when those women got married
and/or had a baby; it was a very big cause for celebration.

†. Gen 24:36b . . and he has assigned to him everything he owns.

It's no doubt obvious by now to everyone in the house where the servant is
going with his narrative. Why else would he tell of the son's inheritance if
not to impress Becky's family in order to secure her for the son's bride?

†. Gen 24:37-41 . . Now my master made me swear, saying: You
shall not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites
in whose land I dwell; but you shall go to my father's house, to my
kindred, and get a wife for my son. And I said to my master: What if
the woman does not follow me?

. . . He replied to me: The Lord, whose ways I have followed, will
send His angel with you and make your errand successful; and you
will get a wife for my son from my kindred, from my father's house.
Thus only shall you be freed from my adjuration: if, when you come
to my kindred, they refuse you--only then shall you be freed from my
adjuration.

The "kindred" who might refuse the servant, includes the potential bride
herself because Abraham said so at Gen 24:8.

In the ancient East, daughters were often given in arranged marriages
without their consent. And normally, if Becky's kin were to say she was
going to marry Isaac, well then she was going to marry Isaac and that was
the end of discussion. Up ahead, we'll see that very fate befall Becky's
nieces: Rachel and Leah. But Abraham didn't want Isaac's bride to be
purchased. No. In this case, Abraham broke with tradition and mandated the
prospective bride herself cast the deciding vote. So if Becky refuses, the
servant can't be blamed for dereliction of duty; and nobody is going to
handcuff Becky and ship her off to Palestine via UPS ground. Abraham wants
her to come down there of her own volition; and if not, then he'll look
elsewhere . . . and no hard feelings about it.

†. Gen 24:42-48 . . This portion is pretty much what went on before except
that in this version, the family is told how Becky came to have the nose ring
and the arm bands.

Becky hadn't known till just now that the servant prayed for special
providence prior to her arrival at the spring-- the part concerning drinking
the maiden's water, and her serving the camels. Becky must have been
totally astonished to think that the actual True God led that man, not just to
her doorstep, but right smack dab to her footsteps. Wow!

But she had no say in the negotiations at this point. Proposals were made to
the senior members of the family in those days, not to the girl.

†. Gen 24:49-51 . . And now, if you mean to treat my master with
true kindness, tell me; and if not, tell me also, that I may turn right
or left. Then Laban and Bethuel answered: The matter was decreed
by Yhvh; we cannot speak to you bad or good. Here is Rebecca
before you; take her and go, and let her be a wife to your master's
son, as the Lord has spoken.

Actually Bethuel himself didn't say anything. Laban spoke in proxy for him in
the same way that the steward was now speaking as Abraham in Isaac's
best interests. Bethuel and Laban may have had a quiet pow-wow off to the
side and then Laban came forward and announced their decision.

At this point, Becky would have normally become legally engaged to marry
Isaac. But Abraham would not permit the marriage to be set in stone until
the girl actually consented for herself. So it's not over yet.

†. Gen 24:52 . .When Abraham's servant heard their words, he
bowed low to the ground before the Lord.

Abraham's steward is one of the most pious men in the Bible, and people
like him can be very influential for God. If you've ever been in the presence
of someone like him you know what I'm saying. All the prayers I learned as
a child were rote; just a memorized litany of chant-like mantras. The first
time I overheard someone pray candidly, from the heart, it was very
moving.

†. Gen 24:53 . .The servant brought out items of silver and gold, and
garments, and gave them to Rebecca; and he gave presents to her
brother and her mother.

The gifts were a good-faith token that the servant meant what he said; and
I've no doubt that had Becky ultimately refused, he would not have
demanded them back.

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[WebersHome]

Gen 24:54-61a

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†. Gen 24:54-55 . .Then he and the men with him ate and drank, and
they spent the night. When they arose next morning, he said: Give
me leave to go to my master. But her brother and her mother said:
Let the maiden remain with us some ten days; then you may go.

Their request was reasonable. After all, this was all so sudden. They didn't
even have a chance to announce the engagement nor organize a bridal
shower. Becky's friends would all want to come over to the house and ooo
and ahhh the jewelry and go nuts over the exotic fashions from Canaan. And
they would all want to give her one last hug and wish blessings on her new
life. What's so wrong with that? There's nothing wrong with that; but
Abraham's wishes have to take priority in this matter. (cf. Luke 9:61-62)

†. Gen 24:56-57a . . He said to them: Do not delay me, now that The
Lord has made my errand successful. Give me leave that I may go to
my master.

Abraham probably had a pretty good idea how long his servant should be
gone; and if the return was delayed, Abraham might begin to become
anxious and wonder what was going on up there in Haran what with no
internet email, text messaging, telephones, HAM radio, telegraph, nor even
any way to send a post card back home.

Becky has now agreed to be Isaac's bride. She made that decision the
moment she accepted clothing and jewelry that were offered to her in
Isaac's name. The big question now is: how much longer does she wish to
remain a maiden before becoming a married woman with a home of her
own?

†. Gen 24:57b-58 . . And they said: Let us call the girl and ask for her
reply. They called Rebecca and said to her: Will you go with this
man? And she said: I will.

Exactly what so strongly motivated Becky to agree to leave home on such
short notice is open to speculation. Some feel it was because, unknown to
the writer of Genesis, she had been praying for The Lord's providence in this
very matter of finding the right man. The events of the previous evening
were enough to convince Becky that this was truly divine providence; and
she wasn't about to procrastinate now and louse up her chances for God
given happiness and security. That man was leaving, and the soon-to-be
Mrs. Isaac ben Abraham was not going to miss her ride; uh-uh, no way!

†. Gen 24:59a . . So they sent off their sister Rebecca

The word for "sister" is from 'achowth (aw-khoth') and isn't limited to
siblings. It applies to all manner of female kin-- sisters, daughters, aunts,
nieces; even to a lover, as in Song 4:9-12.

You can imagine the flurry that went on in that house getting Becky's bags
packed on such short notice. You can bet there was no joy around there that
morning. An air of sadness marked her departure. Everyone was no doubt
well aware they would likely never see Becky ever again. In those days,
when somebody moved 500 miles away, they might just as well have gone
to Pluto.

†. Gen 24:59b . . and her nurse along with Abraham's servant and
his men.

The word for "nurse" is from yanaq (yaw-nak') and implies wet nursing. This
may be an indication that, for reasons unspecified, Rebecca's mom was
unable to breast feed her children. In Mesopotamia, wet nurses frequently
had the additional duties of bringing up the child and acting as their
guardian; viz: a nanny. The nurse (whose name is Deborah; Gen 35:8) was
probably either Becky's first choice as personal assistant, or Deborah herself
just couldn't part with her little Becky and volunteered to go along as a
chaperon. It's not unusual for mentors, like Helen Keller's tutor Anne
Sullivan, to become permanently bonded and dedicated to their charges.

†. Gen 24:60 . . And they blessed Rebecca and said to her: O sister!
May you grow into thousands of myriads; may your offspring seize
the gates of their foes.

That prophetic bon voyage was undoubtedly an acknowledgement of the
promises God made to Abraham following the Akedah (Gen 22:15-18).
Abraham's steward spent the night in Becky's home; and while eating dinner
and chatting, no doubt shared many wonderful events from Abraham's and
Isaac's lives to which Becky's family must have listened just as spellbound
as all of us who study Genesis in our own day and age. The Akedah surely
must have been to them almost beyond belief that God would ask Abraham
to sacrifice the very son in whom all the promises would be fulfilled. No
wonder Becky was so ready to go. She just had to get on down there and
see this man in whom God had taken such a particular interest.

†. Gen 24:61a . .Then Rebecca and her maids arose, mounted the
camels, and followed the man.

The word for "maids" is from na'arah (nah-ar-aw') and means a young,
underage girl. A Bible maid is just a lass, not really a grown up adult
woman. She could be a pre teen or a late teen and any age in between. It
wasn't unusual for a woman from a family of means to have a retinue of
young girls in attendance. Becky's maids possibly were the children of her
home's adult servants.

Then too, young girls were often indentured into maid service. Sometimes it
was because of parental greed, but often it was because the family was in
poverty and desperate. In the last decade alone, many families in
Afghanistan were forced to sell their children just to survive the Taliban ruin
of their country. Sometimes young girls were fortunes of war in Becky's day
and could be bought and sold at market; for example the Jewish damsel in
2Kgs 5:1-3 who helped Naaman get his leprosy cured.

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