“Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. She died at Kiriath Arba in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. Then Abraham … spoke to the Hittites. ‘I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.’ The Hittites replied to Abraham, ‘You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs.’ He said to them, ‘…intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah… for the full price as a burial site among you.’ Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave… So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site. (v1-6,8,9,19,20 abr)
A quick recap on the who the Hittites are – they are descendants of Noah->Ham->Canaan->Heth. They are one of the people groups who inhabit the land of Canaan, part of which is the promised land of Abraham’s descendants (Israel) (Gen 15:18-21, Ex 23:31). Abraham, in purchasing land from the Hittites, is beginning to fulfill God’s promise that he and his descendants will own this land (though it takes several more generations before it’s somewhat finalized).
This is the earliest Bible reference I can find of someone using a cave for burial. The tradition was to have family crypts – not so different from what we still have today. Each member of the family would have their own “shelf” or space in the family tomb, and the older remains would be moved further to the back when more recent members passed. These tombs would be generational, usually in proximity to a permanent family settlement. This is most likely why Abraham purchased the entire field that the cave bordered – to have a plot of family farmland adjacent to the cave. It was traditional for family members to visit the tomb of their ancestors, just as we will still return to grave sites and leave flowers in memory of those who passed.
I don’t have much of a takeaway from this chapter, other than tradition – there is something to be said for and against tradition. God designed us in His image, which means He has some desire for tradition – the exact phrase “God of Abraham” appears 14 times in the Bible, 12 of which are outside of Genesis. Of the 12 references outside of Geneses, 11 are extended to “the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”. That’s a lot of tradition – God does not want His people to forget who He is, by consistently referring to their ancestors.
However, after the book of Acts, that reference disappears, and new references are used such as “God of peace”, “God of love”, “God of Jesus Christ”, “God of heaven”, “God of all grace”, “God of glory”, and “God of the living”. Why the change? Was tradition no longer important? Tradition was still important, however, with the New Covenant (which officially begins in Acts) there were new traditions. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor 5:17) “Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ ” (Rev 21:5a)
Sure, some traditions carried on after the New Covenant began, but many traditions changed – and when God brings change through His moral will, it is always a good thing.
Father God, thank you for making all things new. We are a new creation in in the tradition of Jesus Christ, no longer under the old tradition of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I praise you in advance for the new heaven, new earth, and New Jerusalem as we are being prepared for the passing away of all former things of this current, cursed world. There will be no more pain, no more death, nor sorrow or crying and every tear shall be wiped away. Thank you for helping us to be overcomers, as your children, so that we may inherit all things through You. (2 Cor 5:17, Rev 21:1-7 par)
~ Conqueror in Training