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In the last article we read about Abraham's "faith-test" that was given to him by the Lord. This test dealt with Abraham being told by God to offer up his only son as an offering unto Him. Abraham would set out to obey God, without hesitation, even though he loved Isaac with all his heart. But when Abraham was about to make the fatal blow to his son, the Lord stepped in and stopped him. The Lord would commend Abraham when it came to his obedience and faith. Needless-to-say, Abraham was able to keep Isaac alive, being that the Lord had already had a ram, that was caught in a bush nearby. So we now have reached a point from within our journey, were we'd learned that the Scriptures have now informed us that Abraham had received some good news about Milcah his sister in-law. Understand that Milcah was married to Abraham's brother Nahor, and had borne unto him two sons. "Uz the firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel (the father of Aram), Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph and Bethuel." -- (Genesis 22:21) Now the reason why the Sacred Record this little bit of genealogy information, is added for sake of Rebekah, Rachel and Leah; for these women would play pivotal roles in the future generations of Abraham and the nation of Israel. Now understand that Bethuel the fifth son born unto Nahor and Milcah; would have children borne unto him one day and out of those children, he would have a daughter named Rebekah. Now Rebekah would eventually become the wife of Abraham's son Isaac. Bethuel would also have a son borne unto him and he named him Laban. Now Laban, would have two daughters borne unto him, in which he named them, Rachel and Leah. Now Rachel and Leah would eventually become the future wives of Isaac's son Jacob, who was also known as Israel. However, some time will pass and people will come and go, for we must understand that the Scriptures have just set the foundation for the next couple of generations that were to come from Abraham. But shortly after, we're also told about the passing of Abraham's wife Sarah, in which she died at the age of one-hundred and twenty-seven. Sarah died in the land of Canaan at a place called Kirjath-arba, or, The City of Arba -- which was named after a great man that lived and ruled in that part of the land. In the meantime, we find that Abraham had went over to the tent that Sarah laid peacefully in, and he mourn and wept over her, for Abraham loved her with all his heart. Shortly after, Abraham rose from Sarah's bedside and went out to speak to the Hittites which were the descendant's of Canaan's son Heth: "I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead." But the Hittites would reply back: "Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead." Then Abraham rose and bowed before the Hittites and said to them: "If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you." But Ephron who was either a chief or ruler within the land was sitting among his people. After hearing what Abraham had to say, he replied back to Abraham so that all the Hittites could hear that stood by the gate of his city: "No, my lord! Listen to me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Go and bury your dead." So once again Abraham bowed down before the Hittites and he replied back to Ephron to where all could hear: "Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there." But Ephron would reply back to the great patriarch: "Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of sliver, but what is that between me and you? Go and bury your dead." Finally Abraham would agree to Ephron terms and then we find that Abraham weighed out for Ephron the price he had named at the hearing of the Hittites; four-hundred shekels of sliver, according to the weight current among the merchants. So Abraham had legally purchased the field that belonged to Ephron which was located in Machpelah near Mamre. Now this meant that Abraham owned both the field and the cave that was in land, along with all the trees within the borders of the field. All of this was deeded to him as his property in the presence of all the Hittites that were standing by the gate of the city. Later on, Abraham would go and bury his wife Sarah in the cave that was located in the field of Machpelah that was near Mamre which was located in the land of Canaan. This would also be the place that Abraham would be buried at when the good Lord calls him home, right next to his wife Sarah. As of today, "The Cave of Machpelah" is also known as the, "The Tomb of the Patriarchs" and is considered by the Jews the second most holiest place right after the "Temple Mount." This place is the burial site for not only Abraham and Sarah, but it also houses the resting places of Issac and Rebecca, and of Jacob and Leah. Now there are three above ground monuments that are dedicated solely to Abraham and Sarah - Issac and Rebecca - Jacob and Leah that are located within "The Tomb of the Patriarchs." Personally I find it amazing that this building is still standing completely intact after having been built thousands of years ago. What's even more amazing, is that it is still fully functional, in which it is still being used for its intended purpose to this very day.
**YOUR CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES WOULD BE HERE** Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 16) Abimelech Angry with Abraham 18) Hagar & Ishmael - Sent Away 20) Abraham & The Well of Oath 21) Abraham & The Great Sacrifice 22) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 25) Rebekah gets Permission to Leave 28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael 
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