that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to 9 Ephron the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a burying-place amongst you. 10 a And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the 11 gate of his city, saying, Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead. 12 14 16 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead. ach. 34. 20, 24; Ru. 4. 4. b see 2 Sam. 24. 2124; Is. 32. 8. ch. 14. 21. dEx. 30. 13; Eze. 45. 12. ch. 43 21; Jer. 32. 9; Zech. 11. 12. 50. 13; Ac. 7. 16. And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abrahamweighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred 17 shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. And the field of Ephron ch.25.9; 49-30-32; which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders 18 round about, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.' 19 And after this, & Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Mach20 pelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying-place by the sons of Heth. Abraham sends to Haran for a wife for Isaac. 24 AND Abraham was old,' and well stricken in age: and the LORD had 2 blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said 'unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, "I pray thee, thy hand under 3 my thigh: and I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daugh4 ters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. 5 6 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither 7 again. The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, 'Unto thy seed will I give this land; "he shall send his angel before 8 thee, and thou shalt take wife unto my son from thence. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from, this my oath: 9 only bring not my son thither again. And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter. 10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand:7 and he arose, and went to 11 Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. And he made his camels to kneel down 1The various particulars of this transaction show considerable progress at that early period in commerce, law, and civil institutions. There is silver used as a standard of value, balances for weighing it, and forms of sale and conveyance of property before witnesses, though without written title-deeds or regularly coined money. 2 A burying-place was the only portion of land Abraham possessed in Canaan: yet it was a sort of earnest of the future possession of the land by his posterity, and would tend to endear it to them. 3 One hundred and forty years of age: Isaac being forty. 4 Probably Eliezer of Damascus. As in the following narrative, the effect of good example, good instructions, and the worship of God in a family, will generally be shown in the piety, faithfulness, prudence, and affection of its various members. 5 A solemn form of attestation. In this chapter we have a representation of customs very different from ours, 8 ch. 25. 9, 10; 49. 2932; 50. 13 A see Rn. 4. 7-10; i eh. 18. 11; 21. 5. ! ch. 15. 2. ver. 10; ch. 39. 4-6. "ch. 47. 29; 1 Chr. 29. 24; Lam. 5. 6. ch. 14. 22; Deu. 6 13; Jos. 2. 12. P ch. 26. 35; 27. 46; 28. 2; Ex. 34. 16; Deu. 7. 3, 4; 2 Cor. 6. 14, 15. 9 ch. 28. 2. ch. 11. 31; 12. 1; 22. 20-23. ch. 12. 1-7. teh. 12. 7; 13. 15: 15. Ex. 23, 20, 23; 33. 2; y ver. 2. but for the most part accordant with the present habits of the Arabs. The important commission given to the chief servant; his anxiety for a providential sign; the present of the nose-jewel and armlets, of no little weight; the prompt invitation of Laban, and the part which, as Rebekah's brother, he takes in the transaction; the refusal of the servant to partake of hospitality till the business was settled; the decision of the question without reference to Rebekah's inclinations; her sudden separation from her parents and country, and her mode of presenting herself to her destined husband; with the important assurance that he loved her' who thus became his wifeare all lively pictures of eastern life, made the more interesting by the peculiar aspect in which they present the piety of Abraham and of his servant. 6 Not to Ur, but to Charan, where Abraham's brother had remained. See chap. xi. 31; xii. 1—5. 7 Or, and all the best things of his master with him.' 12 without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time "that women go out to draw water. с a Ex. 2 16; 1 Sam. 9. 11; John 47. b ver. ; ch. 15 1; 26. 24; 28. 13; 32.9; EL. 3. 6, 15. Ne. 1. 11; Ps. 37.5; 90. 16, 17; 127. i. d ver. 43. And he said, 'O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good 13 speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, "I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to 14 draw water and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Letch. 29.9; Ex. 2. 16. down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed 15 22 for thy servant Isaac; and thereby1 shall I know that thou hast showed kindness ch. 15 8; see Judg. unto my master. R 6. 17,37; 1 Sam. 6. 7; 14. 9, 10; 20. 7. & Job 22. 27, 28. i ch. 11. 29; 22. 23. m vers. 12, 56. "Ex. 32. 2, 3; Is. 3. 19 -21; Eze. 16. 11, 12; 1 Pet. 3 3 ⚫ ch. 22. 23. And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, (who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's 16 brother,) with her pitcher upon her shoulder. And the damsel * was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to 17 the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. And the servant ran to meet her, 18 and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. And she said, 1Pet. 3. 6; 4. 9. Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and 19 gave him drink. And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will 20 draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw 21 water, and drew for all his camels. And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit3 whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring" [or, jewel for the forehead] of half a shekel weight, and two 23 bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; and said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge 24 in? And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, 25 which she bare unto Nahor. She said moreover unto him, We have both straw 26 and provender enough, and room to lodge in. And the man bowed down his P ver. 52; Ex. 4. 31. 27 head, and worshipped the LORD. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth; I being in the way, the LORD' led me to the house of my master's brethren. 28 And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things. And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the 30 man, unto the well. And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, 31 he stood by the camels at the well. And he said, Come in, "thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and 32 room for the camels. And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his 33 feet, and the men's feet that were with him. And there was set meat before him to eat but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on. 2 c And he said, I am Abraham's servant. And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and camels, and asses. 36 And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and 37unto him hath he given all that he hath. And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, 38 in whose land I dwell: but thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my 39 kindred, and take a wife unto my son. And I said unto my master, Peradven40 ture the woman will not follow me. And he said unto me, The LORD, & before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou 41 shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house: then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if 42 they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath. And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do 43 prosper my way which I go: behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, 1 Heb., 'by her.' show that the arts necessary to the obtaining and refining 2 Many wells are inclosed, and reached by a long flight of metals were already known and practised. See also of steps, as the well of Siloam at Jerusalem. 3 That is, to know.' 4 Rather, nose-ring;' an ornament common in some countries. The bracelets are made to slip over the hand, and are worn on the arms. This and other allusions Job xxviii. 1–11. 5 The language of the Arabs, to the present day, often expresses a piety and a generosity to which, like Laban, they are really strangers. 6 That is, Laban, either personally or by his servants. m1 Sam. 1. 13. 44 Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink; and she say to me, "Eze. 16. 11, 12. • ver. 26. ch. 47. 29; Jos. 2. 14. Ps. 118. 2; Mt. 21. 42; Mk. 12. 11. 8 eh. 31. 24. tch. 20. 15. u ver. 26. Ex. 3. 22; 11. 2; 12. 35. 2 Chr. 21. 3; Ezra 1.6. Z vers. 56, 59. 50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said,The thing proceedeth from the 61 3 2 "Judg. 14. 8. Tit. 2. 10. ech. 35. 8. ⚫ ch. 22. 17. 8 Jos. 1. 8; Ps. 1. 2; 77 12; 119. 15; 139. 17, 18; 143 5 h Jos. 15. 18. And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and fol62 lowed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the south country. ch. 16. 14; 25. 11. 63 And Isaac went out & to meditate [or, to pray] in the field at the eventide and 64 he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac," she lighted off the camel. 65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a 66 vail, and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had 67 done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, see ch. 25. 20. 'and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac " was comforted after his mother's death.1 i i 1 Cor. 11. 5, 6, 10; 1 Tim. 2. 9. Eph. 5. 22, 23. ch. 38. 12. Abraham's other sons; his death and burial; Ishmael's family and death. 25 THEN again3 Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And "she "1 Chr. 1. 32 bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, 4 and Letushim, and Leummim. And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanock, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. • ch. 24. 36. 5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. But unto the sons of the con- 7 6 8 And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an 8 hundred threescore and fifteen years. Then Abraham gave up the ghost," and 'died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his 9 people. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; Judg. 6. 3. ch. 15. 15; 19 29; Job 5. 26. ch. 35. 29; 49. 33. 1 ch. 35. 29; 50. 13. 5 Rather, also.' The age which Abraham's sons by Keturah had attained at his death, makes it likely that Keturah was a secondary wife (called in Scripture a concubine) during the latter part of Sarah's life. 6 Rather, south-east.' Moses' father-in-law was of these people. 7 An old English phrase for expired. 10 the field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham 11 buried, and Sarah his wife. And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi. 12 y Now these are the generations of Ishmael,' Abraham's son, " whom Hagar the 13 Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham: and these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn 14 of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, and Mishma, and 15 Dumah, and Massa, Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah: these are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their 17 castles; twelve princes according to their nations. And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the 18 ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people. And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest towards Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren. 19 Family history of Isaac; Esau sells his birthright. #ch. 23. 9-20. ch. 49. 31. ch. 17. 19; 22. 17. 61 Chr. 1. 29. cor, Hadad; 1 Chr. 1.30. ch. 17. 20. ever. & 1 Sam. 15. 7. 8 ch. 16. 12. Abraham begat Mt. 1.2 í ch. 22. 23 * ch. 24. 29. see ch. 17. 19. AND these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: 20 Isaac and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21 And Isaac 'intreated the LORD for his wife," because she was barren: "and 1 Sam. 1.11; L.k. 18. 1. 22 the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? 23 And she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, 24 0 And two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in 25 her womb. And the first came out red, 'all over like an hairy garment; and 26 they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and "his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob. And Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. And the boys grew and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and 28 Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he 29 did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: 30 and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: and Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his 31 name called Edom [i. e. red]. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this 33 birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto 34 him and he sold his birthright' unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. e Isaac at Gerar; his treaty with Abimelech; Esau's first wives. 26 AND there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2 *And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell 3 in 'the land which I shall tell thee of: " sojourn in this land, and "I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, "I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy 4 father and I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of 1 This account of Ishmael is here added to close the history of Abraham, and to show that God's promise respecting him (chap. xvii. 20) was fulfilled. 2 Heb., 'fell;' most probably meaning, had his portion (referring to chap. xvi. 12). That is, the Ishmaelites had their portion in the presence of all their brethren. They intermixed themselves with the Arab tribes (see chap. x. 26-29); and it is now reckoned more honourable to be descended from Ishmael than to be of pure Arab blood. 3 Isaac is now the head of the chosen family, and heir of the great promise. 4 Or, Is it so' (usually)? How she inquired of the Lord we know not: the ancients supposed it was through Abraham. The answer prophesies the future history, not of her sons, but of their descendants; and is used by the apostle Paul (Rom. ix. 12) to show God's sovereignty in the choice of the Jews to be his nation. 5 The Hebrew word is usually rendered 'perfect.' The phrase means 'a mild man, dwelling at home.' 6 Heb., 'with that red, red.' Lentiles or pulse, boiled with oil and garlic, make a dark red pottage, still used among the Arabs. 7 So far as this birthright consisted of the temporal advantage of a double share in the family property, Jacob does not appear ever to have received it. But the more important religious distinction of inheriting the Divine promise, which Esau profanely despised (Heb. xii. 16), was subsequently conferred upon Jacob; first by his father's blessing (chap. xxviii. 4), and then by immediate Divine communication (chap. xxviii. 13-15, etc.) 5 the earth be blessed; because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. 6 tch. 18. 19; 22. 16, 18; Ps. 128. 1. 2, 13. * Pro. 29. 25. y ch. 24 16. And Isaac dwelt in Gerar: and the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said ch. 12. 13, note; 20. he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to 8 look upon. And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, 9 Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? 10 And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have 11 lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us. And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death. see refs. ch. 12. 18,19. a ch. 20. 9. Ps. 105. 15. M. 13, 8; Mk. 4. 8. d ver. 3; ch. 24. 1, 35: Job 42. 12; Ps. 37. 19; Is. 65. 13. eh. 24. 35; Ps. 112. 3; Pro. 10. 22. feb. 37. 11: Ecc. 4. 4. 12 Then Isaac sowed' in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: 17 19 A Ex. 1. 9. 2 Ki. 3. 19. j ch. 21. 31. And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing 20 water. And the herdmen of Gerardid strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, ch. 21. 25. The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Ezek [i. e. Contention]; 21 because they strove with him. And they digged another well, and strove for that 22 also: and he called the name of it Sitnah [i. e. Hatred]. 'And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth [i. e. Room]; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. 23 And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, "I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for "I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's 25 sake. And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well. 26 y Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, 'and 27 Phichol the chief captain of his army. And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore 28 come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a 29 covenant with thee; that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in 30 peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD. "And he made them a feast, and 31 they did eat and drink. And they rose up betimes in the morning, and 'sware one to another and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water. 33 And he called it Shebah [i. e. an oath]: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba [i. e. the well of the oath] unto this day. 32 34 : And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of 35 Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.3 Jacob fraudulently obtains Isaac's blessing. Ps. 120. 7. meh. 17. 6; 28. 3; 41. 52: Ex. 1. 7; Ps. 118. 5. n see refs. eh. 15. 1: 17. 7: 24. 12; 28. 13; Ex. 3. 6; Ac. 7. 32. eh. 15. 1; Ps. 27. 13: Is. 41. 10, 13, 14; Heb. 13. 6. P vers. 3, 4. 4 ch. 12. 7; 13. 18. Ps 116. 17. ch. 21. 22. t Judg. 11. 7. vers 14, 16. ch. 21. 22, 23; Is. 45. 14. y Pro. 16. 7; Rev. 3. 9. 27 AND it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that ch, 48. 10; 1 Sam. he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son and 1 This change in Isaac's habits seems to have alarmed the Philistines, as showing a design to settle in their land. 12 These women were Canaanites; and Esau's marriage with them was a further proof that he disregarded the peculiar blessings of his family. 3.2. 3 This shows how little Isaac was at home with the people in the midst of whom he sojourned. 4 The ages of Isaac and his son are inferred from a comparison of the following passages: chap. xxx. 25; xxxi. 38, 41; xli. 46, 53, 54; xlv. 6. Supposing Jacob to have been twenty years in Charan, he will be now |