Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 1 · Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII. Verſ. 1. And Sarah was an hundred, &c.]
IT is obſerved by Divines, that God thought not fit to tell us of the length of the life of any woman in Script…e, but Sarah, to humble that ſex, that becauſe they were firſt in bringing in death, deſerved not to have the continuance of their lives recorded by Gods Pen.
Verſ. 2. And Sarah died] The Jews would perſwade us that the Devill repreſented to her the offering of Iſaac, whereat ſhe took a conceit and dyed. This is but a meer conceit of theirs; for Abraham then dwelt at B…orſheb…, now at Hebron. [And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah,] So ſhe was the firſt, that we read of, mourned for at death; and it is mentioned as an honour to her. Solons Mors m…a ne carea… luchrymis, is to be preferred before, Hin… foreign, & Juſta defunctorum. Teſtamentum Auguſti praeleg it tanto ſimulato gemitu, u… non medò …x, ſed & ſpirit… deficere… foreign. Dio Eumſe l…gere ſimulaban… quem nec…vera…t. Dio in Claud. Gen. 37.35. Jer. 31.15.Ennius his Nemo me decoret lachrymis. It is one of the dues of the dead, to be lamented at their funeralls; and the want of it is threatned as a curſe in many Scriptures. It is a practiſe warranted by the beſt in all ages; and mourn we may in death of friends, ſo we mourn 1. In truth, and not fainedly. 2. In meaſure, and not as men without hope. For the firſt, how groſſely did Tiberius diſſemble at the death of Auguſtus, and at the funerall of Druſus? Whereupon Tacitus makes this note, Vana & irriſ… vero & honeſto fidem adimunt. So when Julius Caeſar wept over Pompey's head preſented to him in Egypt, they that ſaw it, laughed in their ſleeves, and held them no better then Crocodiles tears. So the mourning that Nero and his mother made over the Emperor Claudius, whoſe death they had conſpired and effected, was deep diſſimulation. This is no leſs hatefull, then to mourn heartily, but yet immoderately, is unlawfull. Here Jacob forgat himſelf, when ſo overgrown with grief for his Joſeph, and Rachel for the reſt of their children, that they would not be comforted. So David for his Abſolom: Alexander the Great for his friend Hepheſti…n; when he not onelyonly clipped his horſe and mules hair, Plutar. in vita …lop.but plucked down alſo the battlements of the walls of the City, &c. The Souldiers of Pelopidas were no leſs exceſſive, when for grief of his death they would neither unbridle their horſes, nor untie their armor, nor dreſs their wounds. Something here may be yeelded to nature, nothing to impatiency. Immoderate ſorrow for loſſes paſt hope of recovery, is more ſullen then uſefull: Our ſtomach may be bewrayed by it, not our wiſdome. The Egyptians mourned ſeventy dayes for Jacob: Joſeph (who had more cauſe, but withall more grace) mourned but twenty dayes. Mark. 5.38. foreign. ut Iam. ….1.God flatly forbad his people thoſe heatheniſh cuſtomes, of ſhaving their heads, and cutting their fleſh, Lev. 21. intoken of mourning for the dead. We read in the Goſpel of minſtrels and people making a noiſe at the terming-houſe, as they call it, Matth. 9.23. And the Jews that were comforting Mary, Perinde ac … intercute laberantes ſalſamenta comederent. Cartwr.when they ſaw her riſe up haſtily, and go forth, followed her, ſaying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there, Joh. 11.31. Such cuſtomes, it ſeems, they had in thoſe dayes amongſt them, to provoke themſelves to weeping and lamentation; which was (ſaith One) as if they that have the dropſie, ſhould eat ſalt meats. How much better Father Abraham here, who came indeed from his own tent to Sarahs, to mourn for her (as good reaſon he had) but exceeded not, as the Jews think is ſignified by that one letter leſs then ordinary in the Hebrew word for weep (Libcothah) uſed here in the text. Baal-turim gives but a bald reaſon of it, parùm flevit; erat enim vetula. Abraham wept not much for her, ſhe being but an old-wife, and paſt her beſt. Buxtorfe gives a better, p…tiùs quià luctus ejus fuit moderatus. And therefore alſo in the next verſe it is ſaid, that he ſtood up from before his dead (where in likelyhood he had ſitten a while on the earth, as was the manner of mourners to do, Job 2.12, 13. Eſa. 47.1.) to take order for her buriall, as having good hopes of a glorious reſurrection. Excellent for our purpoſe is that of St. Hierome, Lugeatur mortuus, ſed ille quem Gehenna ſuſcipit, quem Tartarus devorat, in cujus poenam aeternus ignis aeſtuat. Nos, quorum exitum Angelorum turba comitatur, quibus obviam Chriſtus occurret, &c. gravemur magis, ſi diutiùs in tabernacul… iſt… habitemus. Mourn for none, but ſuch as are dead in their ſins, killed with death, as thoſe, Rev. 2.23.
Verſ. 3. And Abraham ſtood up from before his dead] So ſhe is called eight ſeverall times in this Chapter; Pareus in loc.to note that death makes not any ſuch divorce between godly couples and friends, but that there remains ſtill a bleſſed conjunction betwixt them, which is founded in the hope of a happy reſurrection. Jobs children were ſtill his, even after they were dead and buried. How elſe could it be ſaid, that God gave Job twice as much of every thing as he had before, Iob. 4….10, 13.ſith he had afterwards but his firſt number of children, viz. Seven Sonnes, and three daughters?
Verſ. 4. That I may bury my dead out of my ſight] She that had been the deſire of his eyes, Ezek. 24.16. the ſweet companion of his life, is by death ſo defaced, that he loathed to look on her. This we are to think on in our mourning for the dead; to bewail the common curſe of mankinde, the defacing of Gods image by death through ſin, &c. And yet to comfort our ſelves in this, that theſe vile bodies of ours, ſhall once be conformed to Chriſts glorious body (the ſtandard) in incorruption, Phillip. 3. ult.agility, beauty, brightneſs, and other moſt bleſſed and unconceivable parts and properties.
Verſ. 6. Thou art a Prince of God amongſt us] That is, excellent or proſperous, as Gen. 21.22. and it was their ingenuity and candor to acknowledge it. Gods people are Princes in all lands, Pſal. 45. Kings they are in righteouſneſs and peace: but ſomewhat obſcure ones, as was Melchiſedec, and therefore little ſet by, 1 Joh. 3.1, 2. Ʋnkent, unkiſt, as the Northern Proverb is. So was Chriſt the heir of all. But we know that when he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him; that's enough for us. In the mean ſpace, the righteous is more excellent then his neighbour (let him dwell by whomſoever) and ſhall be more proſperous, if it may be for his good.
Verſ. 7. Abraham ſtood up and bowed himſelf, &c.] It is very comely in Chriſtians to ſalute willingly; and in words and geſtures to ſhew civill reſpect even to wicked men. Abrahams behaviour to theſe Hittites may ſhame the moſt Chriſtians; yea the very Hittites themſelves, D. Hall.may teach them good manners. Even the ſavage Cannibals (ſaith a grave Divine) may receive an anſwer of outward courteſie. If a very dog fawn upon us, we ſtroke him on the head, and clap him on the ſide. Much leſs is the common band of humanity untied by grace. If Eliſha bad his man, or our Saviour his Diſciples, ſalute no man by the way, that was for haſte ſake; they ſhould not hinder themſelves in their journey by overmuch courteſie. Our Saviour was ſweet and ſociable in his whole converſation, and the proud Phariſees upbraided him with it. He never refuſed to go to any mans table when invited, yea to Zacheus he invited himſelf: Not for the pleaſure of the diſhes, but for the benefit of ſo winning a converſation. Corn. Nepos in vita Atti…i.Courteſie allureth mens minds, as fair flowers do their eyes. Pomponius Atticus ſo carried himſelf at Athens, Harpocrat. in voce foreign.ut communis infimis, par principibus videretur. Alexander the Great, got the hearts of his Foot-ſouldiers, by calling them foreign, his fellow-footmen. Ariſtotle, the better to inſinuate into his hearers, read not to them (as other Philoſophers uſed to do) from a lofty ſeat or desk, but walking and talking with them familiarly, as with his friends, foreign. Di…g.in Apollo's porch, he made them great Philoſophers. Veſpaſian was as highly eſteemed by the people for his courteſie, as Coriolanus contemned and condemned of all for his ruſticity. With one churliſh breath Rehoboam loſt ten tribes, whom he would, and might not recover with his blood. But whatſoever David did, pleaſed the people. What a deal of courteſie paſſed betwixt Boaz and his reapers? The Lord be with you, ſaid he; The Lord bleſ… thee, ſaid they, Ruth 2.4. The Turks ſalutation at this day is, Salaum al…ek Peace be to thee; the reply is, Aleek ſal…um, Peace be to thee alſo. Blounts voyage into the LevantThe Romans had their foreign and their foreign, anſwerable to our Good-morrow, and Good even. That finger next to the thumb they called Salutaris, Dio in vita Adriani Becman. de Origin. in verbo Digitus.becauſe they put that finger to their mouth (as at this day the Roman Dames do) when they ſaluted any. Charles the fifth is renowned for his courteſie: when he paſſed by John Frederick the Elector of Saxony, he ever put off his hat and bowed to him, though he were his priſoner, and had been taken by him in battle. Parei Hiſt. proſan. Medul. 90…And when he had in his power. Melancthon, Po…eran and other Divines of the Reformed Religion, he courteouſly diſmiſſed them. As hee's the beſt Chriſtian that's moſt humble; Peachams Compl. Gentle.ſo is he the trueſt Gentleman, that's moſt courteous. Your haughty upſtarts, the French call Gentle▪ villains.
Verſ. 8. If it be your minde that I ſhould bury my dead] Alexander the Great, lay unburied thirty dayes together. His conqueſts above ground purchaſed him no title for habitation under ground. So Pompey the Great,
Nudus paſcit aves, jacet en qui poſſidet orbem,Ciaudiau.
Exiguae tellu… is i…ops —
Ʋt cui modò ad victoriam terra defuerat, d…eſſet ad ſepulturam, ſaith Paterculus. So Wil. the Conquerors corps lay unburied for three dayes; Daniels Chron. fol. 50.his interment being hindered by one that claymed the ground to be his. Abraham therefore doth well to make ſure of a place of Sepulture for him and his; and this at Hebr…n, which ſignifieth ſociety or conjunction▪ for the…e lay thoſe reverend couples, Abraham and Sara, Iſaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Leah, &c. Theſe dyed upon the promiſed Land, and being there buried, kept poſſeſſion, as it were, for their poſterity; as thoſe that are dead in Chriſt do of heaven, Veieres ſepulchrum mortuorum domicilium credebant, & portum corporis appellabant. Turn…b. foreign.for the Saints that ſurvive them. Sepulchr…s are ſymbols of the communion of Saints, and of the Reſurrection of the dead. Hence the Hebrews call Churchyards Beth-chajim the …ouſe of the living. Job alſo calls the grave the Congregation houſe of all living, Job 30.23. As the Apoſtle, after him, calleth Heaven the Congregation-houſe of the firſt-born, Heb. 12.23. The Hebrews call it gu…lam hammàliachim, the world of Angels; and the Author to the Hebrews ſaith that the Saints are come by Chriſt to an in…umerable company of Angels. Heb. 12.When godly mo… dye they are ſaid to be gathered to their people. They do no more then repatriaſſe, as Bernard hath it; they are not put out of ſervice, but removed onelyonly out of one room into another, out of the out houſes into the Preſence-chamber; D Preſ….They change their place, but not their company, as that good Doctor ſaid upon his death-bed: they are gathered by Chriſts hand, as Lillies, Cant. 6.2. and tranſplanted into the Paradiſe of God. And this, Plotinus the Philoſopher had a notion of, foreign. Syneſ. Epiſt. 139. foreign.when breathing his laſt, he ſaid; That in me, that is Divine. I reſign up to the firſt Divine, that i… to God. As for the body it is but the caſe, the cabinet, the ſuit, the ſlough, the ſheath of the ſoul, as Daniel calleth it, Scaligeri quodr…liquum eſt, was Julius Scaligers Epitaph. It returns to its originall duſt. and is ſown as ſeed in the ground till the Reſurrection▪ 1 Cor. 15.35.
Verſ. 9. For a poſſeſſion of a burying-place] It is remarkable, that the firſt purchaſe of poſſeſſion mentioned in Scripture, was a place to bury in, not to build in. The Jews alſo had their Sepulchr… h…wn out long before their deaths, to minde them of their mortality. Joſeph of Arimathea had his tomb in his garden, to ſeaſon his delights with the meditation of his end. The Egyptians had a deaths-head carried about the table at their feaſts. The Emperors of Conſtantinople had a Maſon came to them on their Coronation day with choice of Tomb-ſtones, and theſe Verſes in his mouth,
Elig… ab his ſaxis ex quo (invictiſſime Caeſar)
Ipſe tibi tumulum me fabricare velis.
Our firſt parents (ſaith One) made them garments of Fig-leaves: D. Playſ.But, God miſliking that, gave them garments of Skins. So in the Goſpell he curſed the Fig-tree, which did bear onelyonly leaves to cover our ſin, but commended the Baptiſt who did wear Skins to diſcover our mortality.
Verſ. 11. The field give I thee, &c.] A brave ſpeech of a bountifull ſpirit, to a ſtranger eſpecially; and in that reſpect beyond that of Araunah the noble Jebuſite to David his liege Lord, All theſe things did Araunah as a King give to the King, 2 Sam. 24.23. Indeed, to give is a Kingly employment; making men like, to the Father of lights, from whom comes every good gift and perfect giving. Kings are ſtiled Benefactors; Jam. 1.17. foreign. Diodo… Sic. l. 1. foreign. Epicur.and of the ancient Kings of Egypt, it is recorded, and was rehearſed amongſt other of their prayſes, that they were, foreign, willing to diſtribute, ready to communicate, which are the Apoſtles two words, 1 Tim. 6.18. Gyrus took more delight in giving then poſſeſſing, as his Souldiers could ſay of him in Xenophon. It is not onelyonly better, but ſweeter to do good, then to receive good, ſaid Epicurus. It is a more bleſſed thing, ſaith our Saviour. Titus would ſay, when he had done none good, he had loſt a day, & moleſti…s erat Severo Imperatori nihil peti, quam dare. Our Generall Norrice, like that Biſhop of Lincoln, never thought he had that thing, which he did not give. Few ſuch now adayes.
Verſ. 13. I will give thee money] Full money, as he had ſaid, verſ. 7. or as much money as it is worth. Such is the care of the conſcientious, that they had rather loſe of their own, then uſurp of anothers. And that he gives a juſt price for the field, was an act of great wiſdome; for hereby he provided that his poſterity might not hereafter be put beſide it.
Verſ. 16. In the audience of the ſons of Heth] Whom he takes to witneſs, and ſo provideth for his ſecurity and quietneſs afterwards; as did alſo Jeremy in the purchaſe of his Uncles field. Wiſdome and circumſpection is to be uſed in Contracts and Covenants. [Currant with the Merchant] It may well be ſaid of Money-hoarders, they have no Quick-ſilver, no currant money.
Verſ. 19. And Abraham buried Sarah his wife] The laſt office of love to bring the deceaſed Saints honourably to their long home, to lay them in their laſt bed, Eccleſ. 12.5. Eſa. 57.2. Iob. 14.14.to put them into the grave as into a haven and harbor, where they may reſt from their labours, till their change ſhall come. This is to deal kindly with the dead, Ruth. 1.8. To ſhew mercy to them, 2 Sam. 2.5. eſpecially when the mourners go about the ſtreets, Eccleſ 12.5. when there is a great mourning made over them, as for Steven, Act. 8.2. and a great burning for them, as for Aſa, 2 Chron. 16.14. Of whom alſo it is further added, as an honour, that he was buried in his own. Sepulchre which he had digged for himſelf among the Kings of Iſrael in the City of David, and laid in the bed that was filled with ſweet odours, &c. Of Joram, Joas, and Ahaz, it is expreſly noted in the Chronicles, that they were buried in the City of David, but not in the Sepulchres of the Kings of Judah. A worſe place was thought good enough for them, unleſs they had been better. As of Tiberius the Emperour it is ſtoried, that he was ſo hated for his tyranny, S…lae Gemonia. Quidam etiam Terram matrem orarent, &c. Pareus. Cornel Nepos in vita Dionis. Dionyſ. Lambin. in Annot. ad locum.that when he was dead▪ ſome of the people would have had him thrown into the River Tiber; ſome, hang'd up at ſuch another place as Tiburn. Others alſo made prayer to mother Earth, to grant him, now dead, no place but among the wicked. Contrarily when Dio died, the people of Syracuſe would have gladly redeemed his life with their own blood; which becauſe they could not, they buried him very honourably in an eminent place of their City. Whereas anciently (as Lambinus well noteth) Kings and Princes, in Homer and other Poets, are not read to have been buried, but without the gates, ſomewhere in the fields and gardens; as the Patriarchs alſo were, looking for the return of that everlaſting Spring.