Genesis 23
Summary for Gen 23:1-20: 23:1-20 a When Sarah ... died, Abraham acquired a parcel of land for a burial place. This transaction was the first sign that a permanent transition had taken place, as people were normally buried in their ancestral homeland (cp. 49:29–50:13 b). In burying Sarah, Abraham detached from his just-mentioned ancestral home (where his relatives still lived, 22:20-24 c); his future would be in Canaan, where his descendants would realize the promise.Summary for Gen 23:1-2: 23:1-2 d Sarah was 127 years old: Isaac was 37 at this time (cp. 17:17 e).
• Hebron: See study note on 13:18.
Summary for Gen 23:3-4: 23:3-4 f Abraham bargained with local Hittite elders for a piece of land for a burial site. These Hittites had apparently migrated south to Canaan from the great Hittite empire in eastern Asia Minor (modern Turkey; cp. 10:15 g).
• Abraham was a stranger and a foreigner among these people; his hope was in God’s promise that he would eventually possess the land.
Summary for Gen 23:5-6: 23:5-6 h my lord, you are an honored prince: Either Abraham was highly regarded by these people, or they were politely appealing to his generosity.
• Choose the finest... . No one here will refuse: They were willing to accommodate his request, especially if they could legally obligate him to themselves (23:11 i).
Summary for Gen 23:7-16: 23:7-16 j Abraham wanted to buy Ephron’s cave at Machpelah, but Ephron wanted him to buy the entire field.
23:9 k This would be a permanent burial place for Abraham’s family. The site was near Mamre (23:19 l), where Abraham lived (see 13:18 m; 14:13 n; 18:1 o). Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah would all be buried in this cave (23:19 p; 25:9 q; 35:27-29 r; 49:29-31 s; 50:13 t), their permanent place in the Promised Land.
23:11 u Ephron did not intend to give the cave to Abraham; Abraham was expected to “give” the full price in return. Ephron wanted to sell as much as he could to avoid responsibility for caring for the cave and to receive as high a price as possible.
Summary for Gen 23:12-13: 23:12-13 v Abraham didn’t want the whole field, but he was willing to take it to get the cave.
23:15 w 400 pieces of silver was a very high price. Ephron’s politeness was typical of the bargaining process.
Summary for Gen 23:16-20: 23:16-20 x Abraham paid the amount and finalized the transaction, avoiding indebtedness by accepting no gifts from the people (cp. 14:21-24 y). The Hittite elders witnessed the transaction, ensuring that no one could challenge Abraham’s full ownership of the land. The transaction took place at the city gate, where public legal and business dealings were conducted (cp. 19:1 z). The land became Abraham’s permanent possession, a down payment on God’s promise to give him the land. Abraham knew that God’s promise was not fulfilled (12:7 aa) by this acquisition, so he planned for the future. By buying land for his dead, he declared that God’s promises do not end with this life. This is the hope of all who die in faith.
Genesis 24
Summary for Gen 24:1-67: 24:1-67 ab Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah ensured that God’s plan would continue into the next generation. God showed covenant faithfulness by working through his faithful people (24:12 ac, 27 ad, 49 ae).Summary for Gen 24:1-9: 24:1-9 af Confident in the Lord’s promise, Abraham had his chief servant (probably Eliezer, 15:2 ag) swear to find a wife among Abraham’s relatives in his homeland, some 450 miles away. Abraham was faithful to the covenant by preparing for Isaac’s future.
24:2 ah Putting his hand under Abraham’s thigh (cp. 47:29 ai), the servant took a very solemn oath, assuming the burden of completing this mission.
24:3 aj Isaac knew how wicked and threatening the local Canaanite people were, so he maintained separation from them (cp. 26:34-35 ak; 27:46 al; 28:8-9 am).
Summary for Gen 24:6-8: 24:6-8 an Under no circumstances was the servant to take Isaac from the Promised Land to seek a wife. Abraham ensured Isaac’s safety and secured God’s promises in the land of blessing.
Summary for Gen 24:10-60: 24:10-60 ao The servant faithfully carried out the mission, and he glorified God in displaying faithful covenant love for Abraham’s family by bringing all the details together. God sovereignly worked behind the scenes to accomplish his will through the circumstances of those acting responsibly in faith.
Summary for Gen 24:10-27: 24:10-27 ap The servant obeyed his master’s instructions and trusted God to lead him to the right woman. 24:10 aq Aram-naharaim (“Aram of the two rivers”) was also called Paddan-aram (“the field of Aram,” cp. 25:20 ar). It was a two-week journey in each direction, so the servant had ten ... camels for provisions and gifts (24:22 as, 53 at).
24:14 au Abraham’s future daughter-in-law manifested hospitality and industry like Abraham’s (see 18:1-8 av). Ten thirsty camels could drink 250 gallons of water, so a woman who would work that hard for a stranger was certainly not lazy, but generous and hospitable.
Summary for Gen 24:15-22: 24:15-22 aw The servant received a precise, immediate answer to his prayer for guidance.
24:22 ax The servant showed his gratitude by giving the girl expensive jewelry.
Summary for Gen 24:23-24: 24:23-24 ay God led the servant to Abraham’s family.
24:25 az Rebekah again showed kindness by offering lodging for the servant and food for his camels.
24:26 ba The servant bowed to the ground and worshiped the Lord for his loyal love and faithfulness in guiding him to the exact family he sought.
24:27 bb The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master: These words express this chapter’s message (cp. 24:48 bc). Believers can trust the Lord’s leading because he is sovereign in all things. He never leaves his people to their own resources in carrying out his covenant work.
Summary for Gen 24:29-31: 24:29-31 bd Laban ... ran: He was not going to miss the chance to marry his sister off and receive more gifts. Laban’s response to the servant’s wealth foreshadows his avaricious character (see 24:54-56 be and study note; 29:21-27 bf; 30:27-36 bg; 31:1-13 bh).
Summary for Gen 24:33-48: 24:33-48 bi The servant was not diverted from his mission; he insisted on telling his story before he would eat. He recounted his mission and acknowledged God’s providence in directing him to Rebekah before attending to his personal needs. The servant wanted everyone to know that this was God’s work, not a chance or humanly arranged meeting.
24:48 bj The way that God directed this event from behind the scenes is different than in most of Genesis, but it is true to how the life of faith normally works. Faith, expressed in personal prayer and obedience, looks for evidence of God’s working. Believers usually have to make wise choices and remain faithful to the covenant, trusting that God will guide them through the circumstances of life to accomplish his will.
Summary for Gen 24:50-51: 24:50-51 bk Following his testimony about God’s guidance, the servant secured the family’s blessing and permission to take Rebekah to his master’s son Isaac.
24:53 bl The servant gave expensive gifts to Rebekah, her mother, and her brother to conclude the arrangements.
Summary for Gen 24:54-56: 24:54-56 bm It was hard for Rebekah’s family to let her go so suddenly, and Laban may have hoped to gain more wealth. However, the servant had sworn an oath and would not rest until it was completed. There was no reason for him to stay.
Summary for Gen 24:57-58: 24:57-58 bn Rebekah’s decision to leave immediately to be with her new husband settled the impasse. Rebekah submitted to the Lord’s obvious leading. Young women were normally eager to marry (not to marry was a catastrophe), and later accounts of Laban suggest why Rebekah preferred to leave (cp. 31:14-15 bo). Rebekah displayed faithful love to the servant, Abraham’s family, and Isaac by going to be Isaac’s wife.
24:60 bp At Rebekah’s departure, her family invoked the blessing that she would be a mother of many millions and that her descendants would conquer ... their enemies. Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac was part of God’s plan to bless all humankind (12:1-3 bq).
24:62 br Isaac lived in the Negev, in the southern part of Canaan.
24:67 bs Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah (25:20 bt), so Abraham was 140 (21:5 bu).
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