Two Deaths and a Wedding

We have been studying the life of Abraham, what a man he was. Known as the friend of God. A man who staggered not at the promises of God. A man who negotiated with God. Who had tremendous promises from God. A man of faith, perseverance, and greatness. Tonight we are going to look at a few points at the end of his life.

Two deaths and a wedding.

The Death and Burial of Sarah 23:1-20

A chapter covering the death of a woman in the OT is unusual, but this is about Sarah, the ancestral matriarch of the Promised People.

Sarah was a tremendous woman of faith and perseverance.

Sarah you remember was Abraham's wife and Isaac's mother. She was named Sarah by God in place of the archaic form Sarai. In Hebrew it means "princess" or "noblewoman"

Sarah and Abraham were married in Ur before they migrated to Canaan. She is identified in Gen. 11 as the daughter-in-law of Terah. Later we find Abraham referring to her as his half-sister having the same father but different mother (20:12)

Two separate times Abraham placed Sarah in a potentially adulterous situation to save his own life. Chapter 12 Abraham and Sarah went to Egypt due to a famine and there he had Sarah tell them she was his sister, and similarly in chapter 20 they go to Gerar in a situation involving King Abimelech.

Sarah's barrenness was probably a deep personal tragedy for both Abraham and Sarah. In the Ancient Near East it was essential that male offspring be born in order to keep the family name and legacy.

This situation was even more severe in that there was also a spiritual dilemma. God had promised Abraham innumerable descendants who would possess the land of Canaan. Even with these promises Sarah remained barren, preventing the fulfillment of the promises.

It was probably due to this dilemma that Sarah gave Hagar her personal servant to Abraham as a second wife. According to ancient Near Eastern custom, any children born to Hagar and Abraham could be counted as Sarah's own offspring. It seems that instead of solving the problem this just created more. Hagar apparently proud of her fertility, behaved in a rude manner towards Sarah provoking her to send her away at least temporarily. Although it would become permanent later on with the birth of Isaac.

The Plan and Promise of God was for the child to come through Abraham and Sarah. Sarah was first specified by God as the mother of the promised on in 18:10. When she was ninety God's promise was overheard by Sarah who laughed. When confronted she denied that she laughed. At the age of 91 Sarah gave birth to laughter as that is what Isaac means.

Sarah and Abraham became the first ancestors of God's chosen people Israel.

Abraham and Sarah seemed to have had a long and happy relationship. There were some bumps in the road, but the care and concern Abraham and Isaac show toward Sarah tells me there was a genuine loving relationship in the home. [1]

Our passage tonight begins with the death and burial of this great matriarch of the children of Abraham.

"Sarah died at the age of 127; Abraham was 137 at the time and Isaac 37. The family had moved back to the Hebron area from Beersheba;" [2]

Abraham even at the age of 137 did not possess any land. He was still, "an alien and a stranger" in Canaan (23:4) With his wife deceased, it is now necessary, not only for custom but for promissory purposes to now purchase a proper place of burial.

"He purchased a field with its cave near Hebron from Hittite settlers from the north for four hundred shekels of silver. The scene with Ephron and the Hittites may seem odd to us because we are not accustomed to such negotiations. Their polite bargaining before the witnesses at the city gate (v. 10) was actually a formal business transaction, and quite typical in ancient Near Eastern times. Before the witnesses, Ephron offered to give both the field and cave of Machpelah to Abraham, who had requested the cave only. Abraham insisted that he would pay full price. Ephron politely mentioned the value of the property, but seemed almost ashamed to appear so mercenary: "What is that between me and you?" (v. 15). Everyone knew what was happening here; they all knew the procedure. Abraham paid the full asking price for the property, which may be the only surprise in the transaction.[3]

While we do not know that much about property values in this time, four hundred shekels of silver seems an enormous amount. It is possible that the field the cave was in was large. It is also possible due to the form of haggling, that Ephron was actually expecting about half that amount as a fair price, and Abraham rather than negotioating, just paid the inflated price. Perhaps as a sign of good will. It also must be uncontested property. Notice the author is very clear where this cave and property was, in the land of Canaan.

Here at the end of Abraham's life he holds a well in Beersheba (21:22-34) and a cemetery as downpayments on God's promise." [4]

The life of Abraham is coming to a close, Sarah his wife of many years has already passed, there remain only a few final things, related to the patriarchal family: a suitable wife for Isaac, and the passing of Abraham.

Finding a Bride for Isaac 24:1-66 - This is an interesting chapter, and the longest in Genesis in the English translations. [5]

This chapter, the longest in Genesis in English translations

Paul Kissling, The College Press NIV Commentary – Genesis, Volume 2, ed. Terry Briley and Paul Kissling, (Joplin, Missouri: College Press Publishing Company, 2004), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 209.

A different style and tone from the previous chapter. It is a chapter of joy, hope, and expectancy. The previous chapter is one of sadness, grief, and loss. As Von Rad has seen, the narrative easily divides into four scenes, each featuring a different combination of characters: (1) vv. 1 - 9, Abraham and the unnamed servant; (2) vv. 11-27, the servant and Rebekah; (3) vv. 28 - 61, the servant and the kinsmen of Rebekah; (4) vv. 62 - 67, Isaac and Rebekah. I want to split this passage into sections - and we may not make it through all of this tonight -

Servant Sent 1-9 - Shows us how Abraham as an intensely determined and utterly believing man.

We are not told the servant's name, although Eleazer is often used. If this chief servant was Eliezer, he showed great loyalty and grace in serving the heir who displaced him. Kidner calls Eliezer "one of the most attractive minor characters in the Bible, with his quiet good sense, his piety and faith, his devotion to his employer and his firmness in seeing the matter through" (Kidner, 146).

Kenneth O. Gangel and Stephen J. Bramer, Holman Old Testament Commentary – Genesis, ed. Max Anders, (Nashville, TN: Broadman Holman, 2003), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 201.

A very serious covenant was put in place. Abraham wanted to be assured that Isaac would not marry any of the women around them.

Abraham told Eliezer: Put your hand under my thigh. Most scholars recognize this in its most literal sense, with a connection between future offspring and the reproductive organ. Westermann says, "The rite of touching the generative organ when taking an oath occurs elsewhere only in Gen. 47:29 where the circumstances are the same, namely, imminent death. The one who is facing death secures his last will by an 'oath at the source of life'" (Westermann, 384).

Kenneth O. Gangel and Stephen J. Bramer, Holman Old Testament Commentary – Genesis, ed. Max Anders, (Nashville, TN: Broadman Holman, 2003), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 201.

Servant's Journey Nahor 10-14 - This section is enveloped by prayer and then the thanksgiving for answered prayer in 26-27, indicating that the prayer was answered.

Takes 10 camels (and obviously food, and treasures) Servant Meets Rebekah 15-28 -

She was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother She had her pitcher on her shoulder Was beautiful, *Was a virgin, neither had any man known her. The servant gave her quite a gift - a golden earing of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold. Servant Meets the Family 29-53

Genesis 24:40 (ESV)

40 But he said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father’s house.

Rebeca's Choice - 54-61 I Isaac Take Thee Rebekah 62-67

Abraham Remarries 25:1-18

Genesis 25:5-11 (ESV)

5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac.

6 But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.

7 These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years.

8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.

9 Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre,

10 the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife.

11 After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.

Curtis G at 8/6/2017 10:59 PM

[M] Adapted from: P. J. Scalise, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, ed., International Standard BIble Encyclopedia, Revised Edition – Volume Four: Q-Z, (Chicago, IL: Howard-Severance Company, 1915; repr., Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1979), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 335-336. [M]

Vos, Howard F.. Genesis- Everyman's Bible Commentary (Everyman's Bible Commentaries) (Kindle Locations 1756-1757). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition. [M]

Bill T. Arnold. Encountering the Book of Genesis (Encountering Biblical Studies) (Kindle Locations 2376-2384). Kindle Edition. [M]

Ibid [M]

Paul Kissling, The College Press NIV Commentary – Genesis, Volume 2, ed. Terry Briley and Paul Kissling, (Joplin, Missouri: College Press Publishing Company, 2004), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 209.----------------------------------