 |  |
fenced; if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the
Lord said" (Josh. 14: 12).
This city, given to Caleb as a reward for his faithfulness, became one of the cities of
refuge (Josh. 21: 11). When the time came for David to reign as King over Judah it was
this city of Hebron that he chose to be his capital, and it was here that he was anointed
King over all Israel (II Sam. 2: 1-4, 11).
It was to this spot that Abraham was directed when he sought a burying-place, "for a
possession" (Gen. 23: 9, 20).
The Hebrew word for "possession" is achuzzah and it is rather remarkable, yet
nevertheless consistent with the truth, that this word occurs in but three passages, as
follows:
(1) The Possession by Promise.
"I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the
land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession: and I will be their God" (Gen. 17: 8).
(2) The Possession by Hope.
"For as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a burying place
amongst you" (Gen. 13: 9, 10).
These are the two occasions where achuzzah is used of Abraham and his possessions,
the one other occurrence is found in the twenty-second chapter where Isaac, the heir,
was spared, because of the ram which was offered up for a burnt offering "in the stead of
his son".
(3) The Possession by Atonement.
"And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram `caught' (achaz) in
a thicket by his horns" (Gen. 22: 13).
In case any reader should notice the word "possession" in Gen. 23: 18 and think
that it had escaped our notice, we just remark, that it represents a different Hebrew word,
miqnah, which means "something bought with money".
The very full account of the buying of the cave and the field which we find in
Gen. 23:, must be considered in the light of a legal document.
We observe that Abraham recognizes his true position when he said:
"I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying place
with you."
The children of Heth replied:
"Hear us my Lord: thou art a mighty prince among us."