Genesis 23:1-20 Glory of

Machpelah

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

• Context
• Importance of God’s promise
• Geographical observation of
Machpelah
• Character’s Role & Contrast
• Moral guidelines for us

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Genesis 23:1-20
Glory of
Machpelah
Context
God 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
Genesis 23:1-20
Glory of
Machpelah
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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Genesis 23:1-20 Importance of God’s
Glory of
Machpelah
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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Genesis 23:1-20
Geographical observation of
Glory of
Machpelah
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
Genesis 23:1-20
Glory of Machpelah
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
Genesis 23:1-20
Glory of
Machpelah
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
Genesis 23:1-20
Glory of Machpelah
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 &
Genesis 23:1-20
Glory of Contrast
Machpelah
Old Testament New Testament
Abraham, paid full
Genesis 23:15 (New Christ’s ransom
International become full price for
Version)
15 money for purchase of church, (& also for
"Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred
purchase
shekels [a]
of of Gentiles)
silver, but what as the meaning
is that between of Bury
me and you?
Machpelah
your dead." for Machpelah represents Double (as
Sarah, because a symbol of Grace Covenant)
Genesis
(Act 7:5) 23:15 (New American Standard Bible)
 15 "My Princes
Sarah, lord, listen to me;
who a piece
The Bride ofwho
land acknowledge
worth four hundred
the
(A
)
shekels of silver, the
acknowledge what is that between
promise me and
through you?Jesus
Lord So bury
Christ
your dead."
promise through
Genesis
Abraham23:15 (Amplified Bible)
15
My lord,
Promise oflisten to me. The
Abraham The land
Graceis worth 400 shekels
of Almighty of silver;
has to
whathasistothat between
transfer toyou and me? So
transfer tobury your dead.
Gentiles by our Savior
Gentiles,
Genesis in the
23:15 (ContemporaryJesus Christ.
English(Rom 4:16, Gala
Version)
division of land by 3:13, 28, 29)
14-15
"But sir," the
Joshua to Caleb. 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)
Hebron was also a For us also Savior has become a
 15 ‘Camp
My lord,of
hearken
Refuge’to me. A field of
‘Camp offour hundred
Refuge’ forshekels of
spiritual
silver, what
for the is that between
Fleshly me and thee?
Israelites. (Heb bury therefore
6:17-18, thy
11:13,
dead.
Israelites.Reasonedtruth.com
39, 40)
Genesis 23:1-20
Glory of
Moral guideline for us
Machpelah

• 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)

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