““Listen to us, sir. You are God’s chosen one among us. Bury your dead in the finest of our tombs. None of us will withhold his tomb for burying your dead.””
Genesis 23:6
BSBGo deeper on this verse (3)
- Genesis 23: The Only Land Abraham Ever Owned Was a Grave
- Cave of Machpelah: Why Abraham Paid 400 Shekels for a Tomb
Why does Genesis call Ishmael's sons princes?
Genesis calls them princes because God had promised Abraham exactly that, and the Hebrew title is the one Israel used for the heads of its own twelve tribes. Princes in Genesis 25:16 is nasi (H5387), from nasa (H5375), to lift up: one who is raised up over a people. It is the same word God used in Genesis 17:20, "He will become the father of twelve rulers" (Genesis 17:20). The Hittites had once given Abraham the title himself, nesi Elohim, which the BSB translates "You are God's chosen one among us" (Genesis 23:6).
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How to Hear God’s Voice: A Practical Guide for BelieversScripture is the record of a God who speaks. This guide covers how to hear Him today and keep what He says.Engage with Genesis 23:6 in a fresh way
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