†. Gen 25:8c . . and he was gathered to his kin.
"gathered to his kin" isn't recorded only of special people; not when Ishmael,
Isaac, Jacob, Aaron, and Moses are all recorded to have been gathered to
their kin too. An analysis of the contexts in which the phrase is found reveals
that it is to be distinguished from burial because "gathering" always happens
prior to interment. The phrase is employed of Abraham, Aaron, and Moses,
none of whom were buried with their forefathers in the same grave nor even
in the same graveyard.
Burials always follow the phrase "gathered to his kin". So the gathering
happens as soon as the person dies; and prior to their funeral. The
difference between gathering and burial is quite distinct in Jacob's case; who
was interred no less than forty days after his passing, yet was gathered to
his kin immediately upon expiring. (Gen 49:33-50:3)
It would seem, therefore, that the employment of this idiom-- like the
corresponding figure of speech: to lie down with one's fathers --refers to an
ancient belief that despite Man's mortality, he possesses a rather durable
component that survives beyond the death of his body. In other words:
assassins may terminate the life of a human body; but they cannot
terminate the life of a human soul. Not that it's impossible; it's just that only
man's maker has the power to pull that off.
†. Mtt 10:28 . . Don't be afraid of them which kill the body, but are not able
to kill the soul: but rather be afraid of Him which is able to destroy both soul
and body in hell.
†. Luke 12:5 . .Yes; I say unto you: be afraid of Him.
†. Gen 25:9a . . His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him
Isaac and Ishmael were by far the oldest of all the boys. At the time, they
lived reasonably close to each other and I would not be surprised if Ishmael
came up to visit his dad quite often and was fully aware of the old boy's
health. Abraham was 86 years old when his first son was born; so Ishmael
would be going on 90 when his dad died. (cf. Gen 16:16, Gen 25:7)
Like Isaac, Ishmael was an only child; that is until Isaac came along. But at
first, he had his dad all to himself for at least fifteen years. Both of these
guys were older and wiser men by this time. I'm sure Ishmael understood
that it was no fault of Isaac's that he lost his birthright and had to leave
home. And Isaac harbors no ill will towards his half-brother for anything he
may have done as a kid. After all, grown-ups are no longer the kids they
grew from. The kids they were are long gone. So it's not a good thing to
hold grudges against people for the things they did when they were
underage and didn't know any better.
†. Gen 25:9b-10 . . in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron
son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre, the field that Abraham had
bought from the Hittites; there Abraham was buried, and Sarah his
wife.
No doubt when Abraham negotiated for this property, he anticipated his own
eventual interment. Well, this cave is big enough to become a family crypt.
Later, more of his progeny would follow him there.
Cont.
/
"gathered to his kin" isn't recorded only of special people; not when Ishmael,
Isaac, Jacob, Aaron, and Moses are all recorded to have been gathered to
their kin too. An analysis of the contexts in which the phrase is found reveals
that it is to be distinguished from burial because "gathering" always happens
prior to interment. The phrase is employed of Abraham, Aaron, and Moses,
none of whom were buried with their forefathers in the same grave nor even
in the same graveyard.
Burials always follow the phrase "gathered to his kin". So the gathering
happens as soon as the person dies; and prior to their funeral. The
difference between gathering and burial is quite distinct in Jacob's case; who
was interred no less than forty days after his passing, yet was gathered to
his kin immediately upon expiring. (Gen 49:33-50:3)
It would seem, therefore, that the employment of this idiom-- like the
corresponding figure of speech: to lie down with one's fathers --refers to an
ancient belief that despite Man's mortality, he possesses a rather durable
component that survives beyond the death of his body. In other words:
assassins may terminate the life of a human body; but they cannot
terminate the life of a human soul. Not that it's impossible; it's just that only
man's maker has the power to pull that off.
†. Mtt 10:28 . . Don't be afraid of them which kill the body, but are not able
to kill the soul: but rather be afraid of Him which is able to destroy both soul
and body in hell.
†. Luke 12:5 . .Yes; I say unto you: be afraid of Him.
†. Gen 25:9a . . His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him
Isaac and Ishmael were by far the oldest of all the boys. At the time, they
lived reasonably close to each other and I would not be surprised if Ishmael
came up to visit his dad quite often and was fully aware of the old boy's
health. Abraham was 86 years old when his first son was born; so Ishmael
would be going on 90 when his dad died. (cf. Gen 16:16, Gen 25:7)
Like Isaac, Ishmael was an only child; that is until Isaac came along. But at
first, he had his dad all to himself for at least fifteen years. Both of these
guys were older and wiser men by this time. I'm sure Ishmael understood
that it was no fault of Isaac's that he lost his birthright and had to leave
home. And Isaac harbors no ill will towards his half-brother for anything he
may have done as a kid. After all, grown-ups are no longer the kids they
grew from. The kids they were are long gone. So it's not a good thing to
hold grudges against people for the things they did when they were
underage and didn't know any better.
†. Gen 25:9b-10 . . in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron
son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre, the field that Abraham had
bought from the Hittites; there Abraham was buried, and Sarah his
wife.
No doubt when Abraham negotiated for this property, he anticipated his own
eventual interment. Well, this cave is big enough to become a family crypt.
Later, more of his progeny would follow him there.
Cont.
/
