Genesis 23:1-20 Glory of Machpelah A Piece of the Promise.

Genesis 23:1-20

Glory of Machpelah

A Piece of the Promise

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Inside

• Context • Importance of God’s

promise • Geographical observation

of Machpelah• Character’s Role & Contrast• Moral guidelines for us

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ContextGod promised Abraham many things i.e. Gen 12: 1-2, 17:16, 13:3

• Promised land for him and his people forever • A son in old age• Abundance of Richness

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Importance of God’s promise

Definition

• prom’-is (most frequently in the Old Testament dabhar, "speaking," "speech,“& in the New Testament epaggelia,

• Promise holds an important place in the Scriptures and in the development of the religion that culminated in God & Christ. The Bible is indeed full of "precious and exceeding great promises"

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Importance of God’s promise Contd…

Aspects of Promise:

• the promise to Noah no more to curse the ground, etc. (Ge 8:21,22; 9:1-17)

• the promise to David to continue his house on the throne (2Sa 7:12, 1Ki 2:24)

• the promise of restoration of Israel, of the Messiah, of the new and everlasting kingdom, of the new covenant (Isa 2:2-5; Jer 31:31-34)

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Geographical observation of Machpelah

• Machpelah, meaning “The Double”, cave near Hebron; also called the “Cave of Patriarchs”, “Cave of the tomb of Couples”

• The distance would be 31 kms from Jerusalem to Hebron

• It’s the second most important place in Jerusalem after the ‘Dome of the Rock’!

• Today both Jews and Muslims regard the cave

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Geographical observation of Machpelah

Contd…

• Burial place for 04 couples i.e. 1) Adam & Eve, 2) Abraham &

Sarah, 3) Isaac & Rebekah, & 4) Jacob & Leah

• Upper masque remains exclusive property of Muslims

• Both Jewish & Muslim service are held

• Only for 10 days in a year visitors are allowed

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Geographical observation of Machpelah

Contd…

Significance of Hebron:

• The name signifies an “Alliance” (Gen 13)

• The David anointed as a King (2 Sam 2:1-4)• David first born Son (2 Sam 3:2)• Hebron become a possession of Caleb

(meaning: Dog), the Gentile through Joshua (Savior) (Josh 14:13-14)

• It is also one of the cities of refuge (Josh 20:7)

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Geographical observation of Machpelah

Contd…

Significance of Mamre:

• Mamre meaning bitterness/rebellious • 2 kms North West towards Hebron• 3 kms East towards Machpelah• Abraham dwelt, when Lord made him

key promise of Land (Gen 13:15-18)• Abraham served angels and promise

of son is made (Gen 18:1-2)

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Character’s Role & Contrast

Old Testament New Testament

Abraham, paid full money for purchase of Machpelah for Sarah, because (Act 7:5)

Christ’s ransom become full price for purchase of church, (& also for Gentiles) as the meaning of Machpelah represents Double (as a symbol of Grace Covenant)

Sarah, Princes who acknowledge the promise through Abraham

The Bride who acknowledge the promise through Lord Jesus Christ

Promise of Abraham has to transfer to Gentiles, in the division of land by Joshua to Caleb.

The Grace of Almighty has to transfer to Gentiles by our Savior Jesus Christ. (Rom 4:16, Gala 3:13, 28, 29)

Hebron was also a ‘Camp of Refuge’ for the Fleshly Israelites.

For us also Savior has become a ‘Camp of Refuge’ for spiritual Israelites. (Heb 6:17-18, 11:13, 39, 40)

The mighty full price of 400 silver shekels

(400X360 = 1, 44,000) (Different translation for more clarity on 400)

As it represent also a full number of Church class.

Genesis 23:15 (New International Version)15 "Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels [a] of silver, but what is that between me and you? Bury your dead."

Genesis 23:15 (New American Standard Bible)

 15"My lord, listen to me; a piece of land worth four hundred (A

)shekels of silver, what is that between me and you? So bury your dead."

Genesis 23:15 (Amplified Bible)15My lord, listen to me. The land is worth 400 shekels of silver; what is that between you and me? So bury your dead.

Genesis 23:15 (Contemporary English Version)14-15"But sir," the man replied, "the property is worth only four hundred pieces of silver. Why should we haggle over such a small amount? Take the land. It's yours."

Genesis 23:15 (Darby Translation)

 15My lord, hearken to me. A field of four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.

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Moral guideline for us

• Faith and Promise goes hand in hand (Rom 4:16)

• The promise of the Spirit is spoken of by Jesus as "the promise of my Father" (Lu 24:49; Act 1:4),

• The New Testament promises include manifold blessings and hopes, among them "life," "eternal life" (1Ti 4:8; 6:19; 2Ti 1:1; Jas 1:12), the "kingdom" (Jas 2:5), Christ’s "coming" (2Pet 3:9, etc.), "new heavens and a new earth" (2Pet 3:13)