In this Torah section, we see the transition of the Biblical account from Abraham to Isaac. After Sarah died and was buried at Machpelah in Kiriath Arba, the account shifts immediately to the story of Isaac. Abraham is the most famous individual of the ancient world and if this were a normal historical account of his life, there would be much more detail of his life following Sarah’s death. Later, we do have a brief account of his marriage to Keturah and his death and burial. This is not just a historical account, it is Biblical revelation, so the subject shifts immediately to the next instrument of revelation, Isaac.
Sarah died at the age of 127. Abraham was 137 and Isaac was 37 years old. Abraham had become a rich man with many flocks and servants. Burials would typically be in caves, so Abraham sought to buy the field and cave belonging to Ephron the Hittite. The plot was sold to him for 400 shekels of silver. This is one of the oldest accounts of a financial transaction for land purchase in the land of Israel. Later, Jacob would buy land at Shechem (Genesis 33:19) and David would buy the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite (Jerusalem – II Samuel 24:24). These three sites connect the people of Israel to the land of Israel for 4000 years. These three sites are in the area of the mountain ridge running from Shechem to Hevron. Within this area the vast majority of Biblical revelation has occurred.
After Sarah’s death, the father (Abraham) and his son (Isaac) were alone in the land of Israel (from the perspective of Biblical revelation). God had promised Abraham that he would have a multitude of descendants through Isaac, so he sought of obtain a bride for his son. He commissioned his eldest servant to travel to Mesopotamia to seek a bride for Isaac. The servant went to the area of Abraham’s family, to city of Nahor. There he met Rebecca the daughter of Bethuel and granddaughter of Abraham’s brother Nahor. God blessed Abraham’s servant by leading him to the young woman that God had chosen for Isaac. Rebecca confirmed her election by directly answering Abraham’s servant’s prayer. She demonstrated that she was a willing servant and was willing to leave her home and family as a faith assignment. She immediately followed Abraham’s servant and traveled to the land of Canaan. There she met Isaac and they were joined in marriage.
There are a few unique points revealed in this section of the Torah that demands extra attention. When Abraham committed his servant to the mission of finding a bride for Isaac, he had him make a vow by “placing his hand under his master’s thigh” (Genesis 24:9). Today, we might ask someone to place his hand on a Bible to make such a vow. As strange as it seems to me, the circumcision was the only visible sign of covenant with Abraham, and thus is the reason for this procedure.
At the home of Rebecca’s family, it seems as if Laban, Rebecca’s brother, spoke with authority in the place of his father Bethuel. Laban obviously took the lead before his father Bethuel. This speaks to the nature of Laban who Isaac’s son, Jacob, would have to deal with in the future.
When the caravan approached “Beer-lahai-roi” in the southern part of Canaan, Rebecca met Isaac. Earlier, when Isaac was weaned, Abraham gave a great celebratory party. We will assume that many guests participated in the celebration. I would expect even a greater celebration at the wedding of Isaac and Rebecca. There was no party. The Bible simply states that “Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebecca, and she became his wife…” (Genesis 24:67a). Some see this account prophetic of the Holy Spirit seeking a bride for Messiah Jesus. If so, then this speaks of the secret (private) union of Jesus and the His followers at His coming.
One final point should be observed. Abraham was very careful to ensure that Isaac not return to the land of Mesopotamia. We can only speculate as to the reason for this concern. Perhaps Abraham knew that the “special son of promise” must always be associated with the ‘land of promise”. Isaac never left the land of Israel. Perhaps, Abraham was concerned that his son would assimilate into his natural family in Nahor and never return to the land of Israel. It seems as if Abraham was very careful not to allow any incumbrance that would render Isaac’s mission more difficult.
Leave a Reply