The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: A Novel

Chapter 14

Canaanite soil

Abraham and Isaac returned to Beersheba, and the son reunited with his 110-year-old mother Sarah. Eventually, they moved on north to Kiriath-arba.

After some years, Abraham and Isaac are right by Sarah in bed. She is struggling to move. Death is now coming for her. "Oh my wife," cries Abraham.

"Abraham," she mutters to the old man, "Isaac," she also mutters to her 37-year-old son, "it is well."

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400 silver shekels—a standard price, right?

Abraham had bought a field and cave from the sons of Heth, natives of Canaan. Really, as if he bought a piece of real estate, he pays with 400 silver shekels. "That's just how it's worth," said the owner—now ex-owner—Ephron son of Zohar.

Throughout the conversation, Abraham can never ever forget how the natives referred to him. "My lord," they said, "you're a mighty prince—a prince of your God—living among us!"

What respect!

The transaction of the Machpelah field was publicly made, so no question can be made. That field, and the double cave in it, are now of Abraham.

Now Abraham, Isaac, and others bury the beloved Sarah in the cave, for she had died time ago. This grief will go on for days.

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"Eleazar!" calls the nearly-140-year-old Abraham. He's in his tent. He's an old man. But he's still thinking about his unmarried son Isaac.

Abraham does not want to marry Isaac to some foreign woman who would lead him away from God. He had told Isaac of this earlier, and Isaac was content. "I'll commit the matter to you," said the bearded Isaac, "for surely God himself will direct in the choice to be made."

What a good son.

Eleazar finally arrives. "Ah, my old servant," says the patriarch.

"Yes, my lord Abraham?"

Abraham signals for Eleazar to approach. Eleazar is truly a man of piety and experience. "Now, put your hand under my girdle—I will make you swear by Yahweh God of heaven and earth, not to wed my son with a woman of Canaan, but instead to go to my country and family to take a wife for my son Isaac."

"All the way there?"

Abraham nods. "All the way there."

"Oh, forgive me, but say the woman refuses to follow me to this land." A pause. "Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?"

Abraham quickly answers, "Oh, no way! Yahweh, the God of heaven who took me from my father's house and from my family's land—the God who spoke and swore to me to give the land to my offspring—, he will send his Angel before you. And you, Eleazar, shall take a wife for my son from there."

The old man chuckles and sits down.

Eleazar kneels.

"Of, but if the woman doesn't want to follow you here, then you'll be free from this oath you're about to make. Only do not take my son back there."

"Of course," says Eleazar. So he makes the solemn oath.

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The servant of Abraham takes ten of Abraham's camels. Camels were a gift from the Pharaoh back when Abraham was there—and that shameful episode of Sarah. This must be a luxury, since camels aren't native in Canaan.

He, Eleazar, also loads them with expensive gifts. He also takes some other servants. All know the errand.

Isaac approaches just as they're about to leave. "I'll be in Beer-lahoi-roi. Alert me that you're on your way here, and I'll hurry here as soon as possible."

Beer-lahoi-roi.

The Well of the Living One who sees me.

"Thanks, Isaac," smiles Eleazar. Then he turns to the servants going with him. "Are we all ready for the trip to Haran?"

They agree in the affirmative.

Isaac places his hand over Eleazar's shoulder. "I'll be praying for you—and for that this mission will not fail."

Eleazar nods. "Thank you."

So the caravan departs. Eleazar does turn around and wave goodbye to Isaac.

The team hurries up north. But they can only go up to 20 miles a day. And the trip takes up about 550 miles taking the routes.

When that started, the guy who planned out the mapping and the cities they would cross—Salem, Damascus, Hamath—and the rivers they would cross—the Jordan, the Euphrates—turned to Eleazar. "You are on the fastest route; you should reach your destination after 22 and a half days."

"Thanks," said Eleazar in a deadpan voice. "Thanks a lot for that."

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Eleazar was praying as often as possible. This is a big mission commissioned him from Abraham.