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| THE CAVE OF MACHPELAH - The Tomb of the Patriarchs - Ma'arat HaMachpelah |
Genesis 23 (NKJV)
"Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah.So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, “I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”
And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, “Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.”
Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.”
Now Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, all who entered at the gate of his city, saying, “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that is in it; I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!”
Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land; and he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, “If you will give it, please hear me. I will give you money for the field; take it from me and I will bury my dead there.”
And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, “My lord, listen to me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that between you and me? So bury your dead.” And Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, currency of the merchants.
So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.
And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place."
H1 - 100% Arab - The Palestinian Police Forces (PPF) exercise full control over "H1", while the IDF are not allowed to enter, unless escorted by Palestinian security forces.
H2 - 30,000-35,000 Palestinians and approximately 400 Jews - Israel maintains military presence and PPF are only present when they participate in joint patrols led by the IDF.
Kiryat Arba - Jewish town.
Abraham Sanctuary - Cave of Machpelah (burial place of Jewish Patriarchs & Matriarchs) Abraham is also the Patriarch of the Arab people, being the father of Ishmael.
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| Bethlehem - Beit Lechem beit means house and lechem means bread literally - house of bread |
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| sheep and goats |
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| shepherd tending his flock |
In driving around Judea and Samaria (known to many in the world as the "West Bank") you will see many of these red signs at the entrance to Arab villages - including Bethlehem and Jericho reading, "This road leads to area A under the Palestinian Authority. The entrance for Israeli citizens is forbidden, dangerous to your lives and is against the Israeli law."
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| Arab town |
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| Arab town |
We met the soldiers at Kiryat Arba, the city bordering Hevron as mentioned in the scripture above (and shown on the map above). We were told by the battalion commander that he would drive in the lead car, we would drive in the middle, and two other soldiers in a military vehicle would follow us - sandwiching us in as a caravan.
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| before us |
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| and behind us |
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| With Abraham being the father of both Isaac and Ishmael this site is both a synagogue and a mosque. |
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| Our first view of the Cave. |
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| Two of our escorts. |
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| Jim with our escorts and translators. |
This was an interesting sign. "Welcome to Hebron. The Jewish Community of Hebron." What we realize is that while there is a Jewish community in Hevron, all are welcome to visit this sight. The Arab community would not have welcomed us. Since the Islamic conquest in the 7th century, and thus under Islamic control, this site had been restricted to mainly Muslim worshippers. Since 1967, and with the protection of the IDF, it has become possible for Jews to be allowed to go inside - as well as the continued allowance of Muslim worshippers.
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| Security check - because of our escorts, we went right through. |
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| Herod "the great" built this structure 2,000 years ago over the Cave. |
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| Arab town surrounding the site. |
There was a special service going on while we were there, so we weren't able to look about so freely. We chose not to take very many pictures, but we were able to find some of the names of those buried there.
We did, however, get to reverently experience the holiness ascribed there. Note the Torah (Bible) scroll and the men wearing teffilin (Deuteronomy 11:18 - "Fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.") Tefillin (also called phylacteries) are a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, worn on the forehead and arm.
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| The sign reads: Avraham Avinu - in English, Our Father Abraham |
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| The sign reads: Ya'akov - in English, Jacob |
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| The sign reads: Sarah Imanu - in English, Our mother Sarah |
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| The sign reads: Ya'akov Avinu - in English, Our father Jacob |
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| The sign reads: Leah Imanu - in English, Our mother Leah |
This picture, they explained to us, shows three of the holy places in Israel one should visit - the Tomb of Joseph, the Temple Mount, and The Cave of the Patriarchs.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
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| A beautiful mezuzah (contains Torah/Bible verses) on the doorpost of the Cave. |
After touring us through the Cave, the soldiers had brought drinks and pastries to serve us in the courtyard. What a treat and what an honor! During this time we got to know each other a little better.
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| Battalion commander showing Jim pictures of his family. |
We then headed back down to the vehicles to go to the army base. There was a group of soldiers at the bottom of the stairs getting ready to go on their routine patrol. We were able to thank them for their service, and for putting their lives in danger so others can be safe.
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| They let us take a picture with them before we left. |
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| And away they went... |
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| One last look... |
The commander drove us through the neighboring town of the Cave. It's a pretty deserted area. Our understanding is that it was necessary to evacuate the neighborhood during the 2nd intifada (Palestinian uprising during 2000-2004) and for safety reasons, it's been kept this way.
Just two weeks after we visited Hevron, a soldier was shot and killed by a Palestinian sniper while guarding Jewish worshipers visiting the Cave. The main task of the IDF in "H2" (see map at beginning) is the protection of the Jewish community. This task is achieved through a number of security measures imposed on the Palestinian population, such as observation posts on rooftops, checkpoints, intensive identity checks, and restrictions of traffic. This incident is an example of why these measures are necessary.
Now we're driving to the nearby base.
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| Palestinian houses. |
We have now arrived at the base.
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| Soldier salutes the battalion commander as we enter. |
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| Soldiers made this, which is their battalion symbol. Each battalion has their own unique symbol. |
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| Love this!!! |
Unlike most army bases in America, Israeli bases are more temporal - transient. The battalions move every few months around the country to become familiar with all the terrains and needs of the different areas of Israel. They live in very "MASH-like" type quarters. As you can see below, many of the buildings are simply shipping containers or pre-fab structures.
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| A memorial to fallen soldiers from the battalion. |
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| Military ambulance. |
We were invited to spend some time with the battalion commander and the two soldiers translating for us - once again with drinks and snacks. This is the time we really look forward to. Everyone kind of relaxes, and they want to hear about us - why are we in Israel from the Nations? Why would we leave our friends, family and homeland to volunteer to serve the Jewish people? Why do Christians want to help the Jews? Why do we want to help the military? Why??
It makes no sense to them - from their perspective, everyone hates Israel and is against Her. No one believes they have a right to this Land or to even be here. The world seems to be on the side of the Palestinian cause, wanting Israel to give up land and divide Jerusalem, without concern for Israel's security. The leaders of most Arab nations continue to speak lies and hatred, constantly looking to harm Israel and the Jewish people. Terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah continue to vow to erase Israel from the map - not to mention Iran... In a newspaper, it may appear to be simply a disagreement, but here it's real.
How could it be that there are people who are FOR them, people who agree with their Biblical right and heritage to this Land - especially the Christians??? Not only are Christians (some) the ones that have persecuted them - and with forced conversions, but they are the ones that are now siding with the Palestinian cause both verbally, and with boycotts and divestment.
We wonder how Romans 11:11 can be so misunderstood. We're instructed to provoke to jealousy - to introduce something to them that belongs to them. How can it be that provoke has been misdefined as an action word to persecute?? It's a stumbling stone for the Jewish people - and one of many that we hope to remove.
Another question they ask is why is everyone against them? Our answer, is that we believe it's not really them...but the God of Israel, that people are against. Either we believe God's Word to be true concerning the promises He's made regarding Israel and the Jewish people, or we don't. We either side with what God says, or we don't. This perspective allows us the confidence to know how to pray, and how to respond to some of the political issues. What does God say about it? It's quite amazing to hear of the hypocritical rhetoric coming from leaders who have no clue about the situation - how can they claim to know if they don't take God's words into consideration. An Ivy League degree does not make one an expert. We need to not be people pleasers - but GOD pleasers!
And so now we get to share our hearts with these Jewish soldiers. We tell them that there are Christians today from all over the world who are praying for them - and for their safety. That we believe in the SAME God they do - the one TRUE God - the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We tell them that we believe God is Adonai Tzva'ot - Lord of Hosts (armies). We also believe that they are the physical guardians of Israel - and God works through them even as He did with David and his armies. We share that our organization prays every week as a staff for Israel and the borders and the soldiers - and we pray for miracles like in the Bible, and for God to give them discernment of the enemies plans before they happen so they can stop them.
We explain that we believe the Bible to be true, and that when God said He would bring the Jewish people back to their Land never to be uprooted again, He meant it - and that time is now! We tell them our organization also supports aliyah (Jews coming back to Israel), Holocaust survivors, and victims of terrorist attacks. We explain that there are many Christians all over the world that want help Israel and the Jewish people - so they send money to help provide for their needs. Needs like the dri-fit shirts we were delivering that day for their battalion, so they can stay cool in the hot summer months and warm in the cold winter months.
We share that it is our honor to assist in any way we can. That we truly respect them and are grateful for their willingness to be in harm's way to protect the people and the Land God gave them. We tell them that we couldn't be here if it wasn't for them.
And so what is their response? To be honest, they are many times speechless - they are so not used to hearing things like this, they don't know how to comprehend it. They then state how very, very grateful and appreciative they are - not just for the supplies, but mostly for the support and prayers that we give. And we say - it's our honor to help you! And they say -no, it's our honor to serve and protect you! They've told us that meeting people like us MAKE them want to serve better, that it is such an encouragement to them. Many of the bases Jim has visited have asked him to please come back any time to visit - there is such a camaraderie and strong relationship formed.
Friends of Israel are a rare commodity - and Christian friends of Israel are even rarer - and this is why our founders chose this name for our organization. We want the Jewish people to know that we are not just friends, but we are Christian Friends of Israel. Part of our mandate in serving the Jewish people is to be the face of Jesus that He always wanted us to be.
And now after so many years of poor Jewish - Christian relations, we desire to make a difference - to show what true Christianity should have always looked like. It is God's desire that we would be one in Him as Jesus said: John 17:20-22 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one."
Think about what Jesus is saying....
"I do not pray for these alone" - these were Jewish men and women He was speaking of....
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"but also for those who will believe in Me through their word" - that's US!!!!
Bought and paid for.....
"that they also may be one in Us,
that the world may believe that You sent Me."
John 17:21
"that they also may be one in Us,
that the world may believe that You sent Me."
John 17:21
