Genesis 23,1-25,18
1 Kings 1,1-31
In a stunning historic development this week (17-23 November 2019 – 5780 Bible Calendar) the attention of the World has been drawn to the Original Bible Land – the much contested ‘Judea and Samaria.’ as being the legal right of the Jews to possess. This occurred when the President of the USA shocked the World with this declaration early in this week (Nov. 2019) that the Trump administration had determined that Israel’s West Bank settlements do not violate international law.
What does this mean? All of a sudden the Israeli Minister of Tourism is promoting the building of Hotels in this, until now, much discarded by the Israeli Govt, area of Israel – the true Original Heartland of the Bible Nation. The USA govt. plans to finance tourism to the historic Biblical Sites of the entire stretch from Dotan in the North (where Yoseph was sold into slavery by his brothers) to Hevron in the South, where the Patriarchs of the Israel Nation lie buried.
This stretch features the three indisputable areas which prove Israel’s right to the Land, viz. firstly and mainly, Hevron in the South, Shechem (where Yoseph’s bones lie buried, which the Israelites in Exodus, coming the first time into the Promised land, brought with them at his request) and of course, Jerusalem, Eternal City of the God of Israel.
Avrahams Blessing Genesis 17:7-10
“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God. 9 Then God said to Abraham. ‘As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.”
This historic event may well herald the End Time revealing and return to the Promised land – that land that was shown to Abraham from the top of the Mt. of Blessings (Gen. 12) , the Land that would house Avraham’s innumerable descendants from among all nations where they had been exiled for nearly 3 millennia, i.e. the Return from exile of both the House of Judah (Jews) and the House of 10-Israel, exiled beyond identification amongst the nations. Since the exile (which started in successive series since 2700 years ago) this Bible Heartland, territory of the 10-Tribed Northern Kingdom of ‘The House of Israel’ disappeared from the headlines that it used to hold as the economic hub of the Mighty World Empire of Solomon (a historic fact hidden by the academics). To the Southern Kingdom of Judah this became ‘pagan land’ as the 10 Tribes deteriorated into paganism, having rejected the spiritual guidance of Judah. Until their final departure by 720 BCE these 2 Houses were mostly at war with each other. With the 10 Tribes gone and the replacement of the Israelite nation with foreigners by the new rulers of the occupying nations, the area of Samaria became forgotten Bible Land to Judah (the Jews).
This situation ruled to this day, in fact, to this week of Parashat Chayei Sarah. The Original Bible Land to the North (above Jerusalem and Hebron) was regarded until now by the modern Govt. of Israel and its Jews, generally as “foreign land”. This does not discredit or ignore the blessed ‘occupying’ of Judea and Samaria by some 300 000 ‘zealous Zionist zealot settlers’. These were regarded by most regular Israelis as ‘trouble makers’ for the country. It was as if HaShem had thrown a Cloak over this area, hiding it and awaiting revealing in the ‘End Times’.
Pres. Trump, hailed by Rabbis as a King Cyrus like Mashiach has now lifted this Curtain, this week – on par with Parashat Chayei Sarah, – beyond the notice of most Parashot readers and commentators! Such ‘co-incidental’ lining-up of the ancient Parashot Jewish Torah Reading program with current leading News Events is a popular occurrence.
The facts in this regard, as hidden in this Parashah, are saddening yet excitingly and blessedly revealing. For this we will turn to the commentaries on this Parashah by erudite Rabbis. Be sure to follow the links to the various full commentaries which we will now mention briefly only below in this Blog:
Avraham’s Very Hard Day
CHAYEI SARAH (GENESIS 23:1-25:18)
Nov 17, 2019 | by Rabbi Yissocher Frand
*Extract only
DISCLAIMER – the authors and promoters of the articles and videos that we place here are mostly not connected in any way to KOL HATOR and may well not share our views and interpretations. We do however thank them for their insight and pointers that confirm our understanding and often broaden our insight.
“According to tradition (Avos 5:3), God put Avraham to the test ten times, and he passed them all with flying colors. It is generally accepted that the ten tests were progressively harder, that once he proved himself in a lesser test, Hashem presented him with a more difficult test until he proved himself to have the highest level of faith. It is also generally accepted that the tenth and most difficult test was the Akeidah. After all, what could be more challenging than to be commanded to sacrifice the treasured child born to him in his old age? [The long awaited Child they received in old age, the child who would have to secure the Divine Blessing to Avraham of a multitudious decendancy to inherit the Land]
Rabbeinu Yonah in Avos (ibid.), however, lists the Akeidah as the ninth test. What was the tenth? When Avraham could not find a place to bury Sarah, he was forced to buy a plot from Ephron for an exorbitant sum.
The question springs out from the pages. True, it must have been exceedingly frustrating for Avraham to be forced to pay anything at all, let alone an exorbitant sum, for land Hashem had promised him as an everlasting birthright. True, it must have been difficult to deal with this frustration in his bereavement over the death of his wife Sarah. But still, is this at all comparable to the test of the Akeidah? Does this even begin to come close to being asked to sacrifice a son on the altar?
When Avraham came back from the Akeidah, he had reached a level of achievement so exalted that the Jewish [Israelite] people throughout history are sustained by its merit. It undoubtedly took every last ounce of spiritual courage and fortitude he could muster to withstand such a horrific ordeal. And he did it! Avraham found those hidden reservoirs of strength and faith, and he showed himself ready to sacrifice his son if Hashem so commanded. And in the end, everything had worked out for the best. He had proved himself, and his son’s life had been spared. Avraham returned home with a sense of boundless relief, ready to share his experience with his wife. One can imagine his shock when he found her dead, and his frustration when he encountered so many difficulties in bringing her to eternal rest
Consider the situation. Avraham finds himself forced to conduct business dealings with the wily and duplicitous Ephron. He is exceedingly frustrated both by his own circumstances and by Ephron’s opportunistic behavior. [Even at this late stage in his life, still no sign of owning the Land and now even having to pay enormous amounts for a burial corner in ‘The Promised Land’].
How does he conduct himself?”
[He set a great example for the world: He persisted in his Faith on the Promises of God, unconditionally/]
Be sure to see the enlightening video regarding the importance of Hebron for the restoration of the Original Bible Land to serve as the territory for the establishment of the Universal Kingdom of the Creator, God of Israel. Though comprehensive and in-depth, this video commentary also sheds light on several other intricate and little understood topics of the Bible. A MUST SEE.
Abraham’s acquisition of the Cave of Machpelah
DISCLAIMER – the authors and promoters of the articles and videos that we place here are mostly not connected in any way to KOL HATOR and may well not share our views and interpretations. We do however thank them for their insight and pointers that confirm our understanding and often broaden our insight.
Finally, for fuller understanding of this great End Time development be sure to read Rabbi Sack’s Commentary with further similar confirmation:
A Journey of a Thousand Miles
Independent research scholar. He works tirelessly as an activist promoting Israel and settlement of the Land of Israel, and as Webmaster and co-ordinator of Kol HaTor. Read More.
