Beside Dead Heth Hittites Presence Riseth Rose Saying Sons Spake Speaketh Spoke Stood Wife
23:3 And Abraham {a} stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,
(a) That is, when he had mourned: so the godly may mourn if they do not pass measure, and the natural affection is commendable.
23:1-13 The longest life must shortly come to a close. Blessed be God that there is a world where sin, death, vanity, and vexation cannot enter. Blessed be his name, that even death cannot part believers from union with Christ. Those whom we most love, yea, even our own bodies, which we so care for, must soon become loathsome lumps of clays, and be buried out of sight. How loose then should we be to all earthly attachments and adornments! Let us seek rather that our souls be adorned with heavenly graces. Abraham rendered honour and respect to the princes of Heth, although of the ungodly Canaanites. The religion of the Bible enjoins to pay due respect to all in authority, without flattering their persons, or countenancing their crimes if they are unworthy characters. And the noble generosity of these Canaanites shames and condemns the closeness, selfishness, and ill-humour of many that call themselves Israelites. It was not in pride that Abraham refused the gift, because he scorned to be beholden to Ephron; but in justice and in prudence. Abraham was able to pay for the field, and therefore would not take advantage of Ephron's generosity. Honesty, as well as honour, forbids us to take advantage of our neighbour's liberality, and to impose, upon those who give freely.
Abraham Children Dead Heth Hittites Presence Riseth Rose Speaketh Stood Wife
Abraham Children Dead Heth Hittites Presence Riseth Rose Speaketh Stood Wife
