Wednesday 21 November 2012

Background

Sarah, the wife of Abraham, dies in Hebron at the age of 127years (verse 2). Abraham who is still a stranger in the land,decides to buy a piece of property in which he may bury his wife.He negotiates with the Hittites, one of the groups of people inCanaan at this time, who offer him the choicest of tombs (verse 5).But Abraham refuses to accept, insisting instead on paying for apiece of ground where he may bury his dead (verses 7-9). Ephron theHittite, offers Abraham a piece of land worth four hundred shekelsof silver (verse 15). Abraham agreed to Ephrons' terms: "So thefield of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, thefield with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were inthe field, throughout its whole area, passed to Abraham as apossession in the presence of the Hittites, in the presence of allwho went in at the gate of his city" (vv. 17-18).

Abraham buried his wife, Sarah, there, and it was the only pieceof land that he owned. It was the piece of land where later Abraham(Genesis 25:9), Isaac (Genesis 35:29), Rebekah and Leah (Genesis 49:31) and Jacob (Genesis 50:13) are to be buried.

Today I believe a mosque stands on the traditional site of thecave at Hebron. Throughout the years Christians, Muslims and Jewshave honoured Abraham, who features highly in these three greatworld religions.

To Ponder

• To what extent is a 'sacred space' important to you?

• What areas of commonality have Christians, Muslims andJews?