:

posited in others, however, the floor it- | same, built sixe sepulchres in the temself is excavated for the reception of the ple, by the names of Abraham, Sara, dead, in compartments of various depths, Isaac, Rebecca, Iacob, and Lia (Leah). and in the shape of a coffin. Some of And the inhabitants now tell the pilthe bodies were placed in stone coffins, grimes that they are the monuments of provided with sculptured lids; but such the patriarkes; and great summes of sarcophagi were by no means in gene-money are offered there. But surely, ral use; the bodies, when wound up in to any Iew coming thither, and offering the grave-clothes, being usually deposit- the porters a reward, the cave is shewed without any sort of coffin or sarco-ed, with the iron gate opened, which phagus. The vaults are always dark, the from antiquitie remayneth yet there. only opening being the narrow entrance And a man goeth down with a lampwhich is usually closed by a large stone light into the first cave, where nothing rolled to its mouth; although some of is found, nor also in the second, untill he a superior description are shut by stone enter the third, in which there are the doors, hung in the same manner as the sixe monuments, the one right over doors of houses, by pivots turning in against the other; and each of them are holes in the architrave above and in the engraven with characters, and distinthreshold below. Some of these vaults guished by the names of every one of consist of several chambers, one within them after this manner,-Sepulchrum another, connected by passages. The Abraham patris nostri, super quem pax innermost chambers are usually deeper sit; and so the rest, after the same exthan the exterior, with a descent of se-ample. And a lampe perpetually burnveral steps. When there is more than one chamber, the outermost seems to have been a sort of ante-room, the walls being seldom occupied with sepulchral niches or shelves. This cave of Machpelah became, after the purchase by Abraham, the family sepulchre of the Hebrew patriarchs; and it is rea sonable to conclude that it was of supe-curious account agrees pretty well the ior size, and contained more than one apartment, The Spanish Jew, Benjamin of Tudela, visited the place about 650 years ago; and as his account is precise and interesting, we quote it from Purchas his Pilgrimes,' 1625. 'I came to Hebron, seated in a plaine; for Hebron, the ancient metropolitan citie, stood upon an hill, but it is now desolate. But in the valley there is a field, wherein there is a duplicitie, that is, as it were, two little valleyes, and there the citie is placed; and there is an huge temple there called Saint Abraham, and that place was the synagogue of the lewes, at what time the country was possessed by the Ishmaelites. But the Gentiles, who afterwards obtayned and held the

eth in the cave, day and night; the officers of the temple continually ministering oile for the maintenance thereof. Also, in the self-same cave, there are tuns full of the bones of the ancient Israelites, brought thither by the families of Isreal, which even untill this day remayne in the self-same place.' This

above general description. The word Machpelah means 'double,' applied rather the field containing the cave, than to the cave itself. Benjamin's mention of the two valleys forming, as Purchas translates, 'the field of duplicity,' explains the application which has perplexed Calmet and others. Sandys, who was there early in the seventeenth century, and who describes the valley of Hebron as 'the most pregnant and pleasant valley that ever eye beheld,' mentions the 'goodly temple' built by the empress Helena, the mother of Constantine, and afterwards changed into a mosque, as a place of much resort to Moslem pilgrims. John Sanderson was there in the summer of 1601, and the

account he gives agrees, as far as it goes, with that of the Spanish Jew; but access to the cave was more restricted than it seems to have been in the time of the latter. He says, 'Into this tombe not any are suffered to enter, but at a square hole through a thick wall they

laces of the patriarchs in the cave underneath; and that, instead of conducting them into the crypt, these tombs above ground are shown to ordinary visiters.'-Pict Bible. The accompanying cut from Maundrell will give a tolerably correct idea of the ground-plan of

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may discern a little light of a lamp. The the excavated sepulchres of the East. lewes do their ceremonies of prayer there without. The Moores and Turkes are permitted to have a little more sight, which is at the top, where they let down the oyle for the lampe; the lampe is a very great one, continually burning.' For upwards of a century only two or three Europeans have been able, either by daring or bribery, to obtain access to the mosque and cave. Ali Bey, who passed as a Mussulman, has given a description of it; but his account is so incompatible with all others, and with the reports of the Turks, that it is difficult to admit its accuracy. According to all other statements, the sepulchre is a deep and spacious cavern, cut out of the solid rock; the opening to which is in the centre of the mosque, and is seldom entered even by Moslems: but Ali Bey seems to describe each separate tomb as a distinct room, on the level of the floor of the mosque. These rooms have their entrances guarded by iron gates, and by wooden doors plated with silver, with bolts and padlocks of the same metal. He says, 'All the sepul- As the sacred story proceeds, we see chres of the patriarchs are covered more and more of the simple manners with rich carpets of green silk, magnifi- of those ancient times, but we see also, cently embroidered with gold; those of what is far better, the deep regard which their wives are red, embroidered in like | Abraham had to the word and promise manner. The sultans of Constantino-of God in all his transactions. He carple furnish these carpets, which are re-ries the great principle of Faith into all newed from time to time. I counted his domestic arrangements, and has a nine, one over the other, upon the sepulchre of Abraham. The rooms also which contain the tombs are covered with rich carpets.' We can only reconcile this with other statements by sup posing that the Turks have put these monuments upon the level of the floor, immediately over the supposed resting

CHAPTER XXIV.

single eye intent upon one object, whatever he does. By the death of Sarah, the care and anxiety that naturally gathered about the dear object of their common affection becomes, of course, much increased to the surviving parent. Isaac was now arrived at man's estate, and it was fit that the heir of the prom

CHAPTER XXIV.

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2 And Abraham said unto his

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AND Abraham was old and well elder servant of his house, that a rulstricken in age: and the LORD ed over all that he had, Put, I b had blessed Abraham in all things. pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

a ch. 18. 11. & 21. 5. b ch. 13. 2. ver. 35. c ch. 15. 2. d ver. 10. ch. 39. 4. 5, 6. Ps. 112. 3. Prov. 10. 22. * ch. 47. 29. 1 Chron. 29. 24. Lam. 5. 6.

ise should be established in a family of en in age. Heb. 1 N coming, or his own. This becomes no w the going, into days; i. e. into years, as the great theme of the patriarch's solicitude, word days often signifies.

and the chapter before us details with 2. His eldest servant of his house the most simple and interesting minute- Heb. 7: ay his servant, the elness the steps taken to bring about the der of his house. So also the Gr. ro wished-for event. The narrative affords παιδι αυτου τῷ πρεσβυτερω της οικίας a striking instance of the sovereignty of avrov, his servant the elder of his house, inspiration. The Holy Spirit is not gov-allusion being probably had to Eliezer, erned by human estimates of the relative of whom see Gen. 15. 2. The scriptuimportance of events. The great revo- ral usage in respect to both these terms, lutions which take place in the world, servant and elder, is important, as they the rise and overthrow of secular king- are of frequent occurrence in the New doms, are disregarded by God as com- Testament, and belong to that class of paratively unworthy of notice, while words whose import deserves to be fixthe most trivial things that appertain to ed with the utmost precision. This can his church and people are often re- only be done by a comparison of the corded with the most minute exactness passages in which they occur, and the We have here a whole chapter, and that result of such a comparison will clearly one of the longest in the Bible, taken evince that they are both, in many casup with an account of the marriage of es, titles of office, with which the idea of Isaac, an incident which might as well, subordinate or ministerial ruling is closeto all appearance, have been narrated in ly connected. Thus, wherever mention a few words. But nothing is trivial in is made of the 'servants' of a king or God's eyes which can serve to illustrate prince, the term is for the most part to the operations of his grace or tend to be understood of counsellors, ministers, the edification of his church; and he or other officers pertaining to the court. may deem it no less important for men The leading idea is not that of servitude, to be brought to recognize and admire as understood among us at the present his providence in the most inconsidera-day. Thus, Gen. 40. 20, Pharaoh made ble affairs of life than in the most mo- a feast unto all his servants; i. e. unto mentous. It is perhaps for this reason all his officers. Ex. 12. 30, Pharaoh that we have here such a detailed ac- rose up in the night, he and all his sercount of the incidents and conversation vants;' i. e. all his officers. In this sense connected with Eliezer's expedition, Moses is emphatically called 'the servwhile in other things involving the deep-ant of the Lord,' Deut. 34. 5; Heb. 3.5, est mysteries, the greatest brevity is from being intrusted with administration studied.

of divine things. Retaining this sense 1. Abraham was old. As he was an of ministerial rather than of servile agenhundred when Isaac was born. ch. 21. 5, cy, the term is used in the New Testa and Isaac was forty when he married, ment with nearly the import of steward, ch. 25. 20, it follows that he was now and with prevailing reference to officeone hundred and forty. Well strick-bearers in the church, rather than ordi

nary members. With a view accord-stituted in the Christian Church consists ingly to this import of stewards or upper not merely or mainly in the administraservants, Paul and the other Apostles fre- tion of discipline or the determination quently denominate themselves the of controversies, but in the exercise of servants of Jesus Christ. So in like a salutary moral influence, especially manner, in the parable of the servants by admonition and example, upon those receiving the talents, Mat. 25. 14-30, who are the subjects of it. reference is chiefly had to ministers of 2. Put, I pray thee, thy hand under mý the Gospel, who are stewards in the thigh. Great obscurity rests upon the household of God. So too Rev. 1. 1, design of the act here prescribed by The revelation of Jesus Christ which Abraham to his servant. No allusion God gave unto him to show unto his to a similar formality is found anywhere servants the things which must shortly else in the sacred volume, except Gen. come to pass;' i. e. to show unto his 47. 29, where Jacob requires the same. ministering servants, the pastors and ceremony from his son Joseph; nor is teachers of the churches, for whom the there any evidence from history that prophetic mysteries of this book were this was a customary rite in taking or principally designed, simply for the rea- administering oaths among any known son that they might naturally be ex- ancient people. How then is the action pected to possess means and advantages to be explained? We cannot perhaps for understanding and expounding them, advance beyond a probable conjecture which would not ordinarily fall to the in making the attempt. The phrase lot of other Christians.-The dominant 'come out of the thigh' is equivalent to usage of the term 'elder' is strikingly being born of or descended from one, analogous to that of 'servant.' Though Gen. 46. 26: Ex. 1. 5. Again, a name originally and properly a designation of written on the thigh was an emblem of age,as the office of ruling or administering power and authority, as Rev. 16. 16, and the affairs of a community was generally 'girding the sword upon the thigh,' Ps. intrusted to men of mature years, whose 45. 3, is to be considered as a symbolijudgment was sound and their deportment cal action of the same import. Connectgrave, yet it gradually came to denote ing therefore the ideas of generation and the office itself, apart from the conside- dominion with the word thigh, and bearration of age, and therefore is repeated-ing in mind the very peculiar and unly used as synonymous with ruler or wonted title which Abraham here gives governor. Thus, Gen. 50. 7, ' And with to the Most High, 'the Lord, the God of him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, heaven and the God of the earth,' the elders of his house, and all the elders may we not suppose that the patriof the land of Egypt;' i. e. the rulers, arch did in fact require his servant the governors of his house, and of the to swear by Him who was to descend provinces. Ruth, 4. 2, 'And he took from his loins, and who was to be inten men of the elders of the city;' i. e. vested with kingly dignity and dominof the magistrates of the city. Thus in ion ?-in other words, by the very Perthe New Testament, 1 Tim. 5. 17, 'Let sonage who is elsewhere described as the elders that rule well be counted wor- having 'on his vesture and on his thigh thy of double honor.' The kind of rul-a name written, King of kings and Lord ing imported by this term is not that of of lords.' It is not unlikely that there lordship, force, or despotic coercion, but is something euphemistic in the phrase, the mild influence of moral suasion, and that as Abraham's circumcision was founded upon the revealed truths of in-a seal of his faith in the divine promise, spiration. The true spiritual ruling in-the ceremony had a special relation to

3 And I will make thee fswear | thou shalt not take a wife unto my by the LORD, the God of heaven son of the daughters of the Canaanand the God of the earth, that ites among whom I dwell :

fch. 14. 92. Deut. 6. 13. Josh. 2. 12.

sch. 26. 35. & 27. 46. & 28 2. Exod. 34. 16 Deut. 7. 3.

that part of the person which bore the and the establishment of his true wor mark of this ordinance. This is the ship on earth. To what purpose then opinion of most of the Jewish commen- was he called from among Chaldean tators, which is confirmed by the Arabic version.-'Put thine hand upon my compact, or covenant;' i. e. upon the token of the covenant.

idolaters, if his son were to join affinity with those of Canaan? Was there not every probability that Isaac might eventually be led to renounce the God of his 3. I will make thee swear. Heb. father, and adopt the abominations of washbiaka, I will swear thee; i. e. his new kindred? Without any speI will adjure thee; I will bind thee by cial distrust of the general firmness of the solemnity of an oath. The term Isaac's principles, he was still too well has a reference to the act which was acquainted with the infirmities of our about to be performed. The swear- nature not to be aware, that there was ing on the part of the servant was not more likelihood of even the son of Abraverbal, but consisted in performing the ham's being perverted by an idolatrous rite required by Abraham. Thus he wife, than of such a wife's being brought was sworn as a witness is sworn before to the true faith by a believing husband. a magistrate, when he has the oath ad- But even should Isaac retain his integministered to him, and lifts his hand or rity, there was some hazard that his posapplies his lips to the holy volume in terity, partly deriving their origin from token of his assent. Thou shalt not these heathen races, and mingled among ¶ take a wife, &c. Upon comparing this them, should gradually conform to their injunction with the general conduct and idolatrous practices. He would therecharacter of Abraham, we see in it fore erect the strongest possible safeanother striking instance of his prevail-guard around the pure faith of his seed; ing faith. His great anxiety was that and to this he was still more strongly Isaac should not connect himself with urged, by knowing that the inhabitants the people among whom he was so-j of Canaan were devoted to destruction. journing; and why? Had he contracted He saw them filling up the measure of an unreasonable prejudice against them? their iniquities, and he feared lest his beFar from it. From what is related in the loved Isaac and his descendants, becompreceding chapter, it is evident he had ing partakers of their evil deeds, should no objection to exchange with them the share also in their punishment. The common civilities of life. He could es- measure proposed, therefore, was every timate their hospitality and kindness as way worthy of this great pattern of bethey deserved. He had no ground to lievers. Throughout the whole, there complain of their treatment of him, appears not the least taint of worldly but he cannot be insensible to their policy, or any of those motives which alienation from God; and to take their usually govern men in the settlement of daughters in marriage, he is convinced their children No mention is made of would be a sure way to corrupt his own riches or honors or natural accomplishfamily. The grand design of God in ments. The patriarch, with the solicigiving the land to Abraham's posterity, tude of a good father, is desirous of was the ultimate overthrow of idolatry, matching his son rather prudently and