Today's passage: Genesis 23:1-20
Helpful thoughts:
- Two major events occur in this chapter:
- First, the death of Sarah at the age of 127.
- Second, the first piece of land that is officially owned by Abraham. Abraham and his descendants now have a claim to a piece of land in Canaan.
- Abraham made the purchase at the city gate before the elders as was the custom for official business.
- Abraham asked all the elders first before addressing Ephron. This gave the leadership of the area the ability to show their approval of the idea of Abraham (A foreigner) to become a land own among them.
- Ephron and Abraham exchanged great pleasantries, but they were doing business as usual. Ephron, in offering to give the land to Abraham, also informed Abraham what the lands value was before the elders. He named his price and Abraham paid it.t
- Had Abraham accepted the land as a gift, his claim to the land could have been in question. The purchase made it incontrovertible.
Questions to consider:
- What seemed to be Abraham's reputation among the people of Hebron? What did they call this nomadic wealthy man who often camped near their city?
- Why might these details be given in the book of Genesis? Why is it important that Abraham made a legal purchase of land? Through this purchase, what process has begun?
- In what way was God beginning to fulfill His promises? How would this cave continue to be a picture of what Israel would one day become to those who believed the promises of God (Genesis 49:28-33)?