Genesis Vol 3.pdf - College Press

2 3 : 1-2 5 : 1 8 GENESIS
lievers, according to 1 Pet. 3:6, and so deserving of some
such distinction” (EG, 640). (For Kiriath-arba, cf, Num.
13:28; Josh. 15:13-14, 21:ll; Judg. 1:20). Abraham
mourned and wept for her: “a reference to formal rites,
which has no bearing, one way or another, on the survivor’s
personal feelings; just so, a Nuzi adoption document pro-
vides that ‘when A dies, B shall weep for him and bury
him’ ” (ABG, 69). But “such demonstrations of grief are
as natural and as proper to the Oriental as is our greater
measure of restraint to us” (EG, 642) ; and we must there-
fore believe that this mourning and weeping was the expres-
sion of deep and sincere sorrow on Abraham’s part.
(2) Negotiations for a Burying-place (vv. 3-16).
As burial within one day’s time after death was the rule
in this land, Sarah’s death made necessary the purchase of
a burial ground. Hence we now have the story of how
Abraham becomes the owner of the field and cave of
Machpelah, by formal purchase from the Hittites, and
there proceeds to bury his dead. Although the land had
been promised to Abraham and his seed, up to this time
God had “given him none inheritance in it, no, not so
much as to set his foot on’’ (Acts 7:5). Now, however,
the sanctity of the desired burying-place demanded that it
be his own. “Abraham acquires proprietary rights in
Canaan: the promise of the Land, 12:7, 13:1S, 15:7, is
beginning to be fulfilled” (JB, 39). Abraham enters into
negotiations with “the sons of Heth,” that is, the Hittites.
The transaction was conducted “with punctilious regard to
all the necessary formalities, and these are recited in detail”
(UBG, 292). “Abraham wanted to purchase a burying-
place in Canaan, and to have the claims t
tained, that he and his nearest relatives m
dust laid there apart from the heathen natives; and might
have it as a pledge and earnest to confirm their faith in
God’s promise of their possession of the whole country in
His due time, cf. 25:9, 47t29-30, 49:31, 50:13, 24-26”
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