Reading:
Genesis 23:1-24:9
As we open this week's Parsha, Sarah passes away and Abraham approaches the local people to purchase a cave (Gen. 23:3) to use for a tomb in which to bury her. In Genesis 23:3-20 we are given a fascinating glimpse into the customary bargaining practices of the time. In verses 8-9, Abraham asks to purchase a cave from a local man named Ephron. In verse 11, Ephron offers to give Abraham the entire field and the cave that is in it (Abraham had only requested to buy the cave). Both the Bible Knowledge Commentary and the IVP Bible Background Commentary point out that this was standard bedouin bargaining practice. By offering not only the cave but the field as well, Ephron was indicating that he would not sell just the cave by itself. In verse 13, Abraham insists on paying the full price for the field with the cave, whatever that price may be. The IVP Bible Background Commentary also points out that if Abraham had not paid for the field but taken it as a gift, Ephron's heirs could have legally reclaimed the land after his death.
In Genesis 23:15, Ephron casually mentions an amount, a culturally polite way of naming his price, and in verses 16 and following, Abraham pays the amount (one that many commentaries agree is quite high) and the transaction is completed. A few other points are interesting to note during this exchange. First, in Genesis 23:6 we see that Abraham has a good reputation among the local people, being referred to as "a prince among us." Now this may just be empty flattery and another part of the negotiating process, but had Abraham not had some sort of decent reputation, I doubt they would have wanted him to own any of their land. In fact, the Bible Knowledge Commentary points out that people of that time customarily buried their dead in their native land; so by purchasing this land, Abraham was staking his hope on this new land in faith, becoming forever tied to it.
It is also interesting that Abraham is both familiar with the local way of conducting business, and willing to work out the transaction according to their customs. This again shows Abraham's trust in G-d and his commitment to G-d's plan. Abraham is willing to interact respectfully with his neighbors in purchasing land, demonstrating his intent to continue to live alongside them and his trust in G-d to care and provide for him in the transaction's outcome. He also insists on paying the full price for the land (Gen. 23:13), sealing his commitment to the land and trusting the L-rd to fulfill His promise to give the entire area to Abraham's descendants in His way. Abraham's hope and faith were no longer in his own ability to manipulate situations for his benefit, but in G-d who had always proven faithful in keeping His promises.
Finally, in the beginning of Genesis 24, Abraham commands his servant to find a wife for Isaac among Abraham's people. In verses 3-4, Abraham impresses upon his servant the importance of Isaac's future wife being one of Abraham's people, as opposed to a local Canaanite woman. While this attitude may seem incongruous to our modern sensibilities, it is likely that the reason behind it was to protect Isaac (and thus Abraham's family line) from turning to idolatry. While Abraham's own relatives may not necessarily have been following the G-d of Abraham, a woman from Abraham's own family would be more likely to adhere to the monotheism in which Isaac was raised. A Canaanite woman, on the other hand, would be close to her own family and have ample pressure/enticement to continue local idolatrous practices and possibly even corrupt Isaac.
So here again we see evidence of Abraham's faith. Abraham and G-d had made a covenant. Abraham does everything in his power to see that his offspring continue to be faithful to G-d, and trusts G-d to fulfill His promises regarding Abraham's descendants. When, in verse 5, the servant questions whether he should take Isaac back to Abraham's native country if the prospective bride will not leave her land, Abraham again demonstrates his commitment to G-d. He insists that Isaac not leave the land promised to him under any circumstances, trusting G-d to provide a suitable wife for Isaac, that Abraham's family line might continue.
My prayer today is that I would seek G-d's will and walk the path He sets before me in faith, leaving the details up to Him.
Next: Genesis 24:10-52
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