This sheet on Genesis 23 was written by Rino Tzror for 929 and can also be found here
"I am a resident alien among you" (Genesis 23:4). This is how Abraham introduced himself to the Hittites, the people of Hebron.
Thus, before he proposed the purchase deal in detail, he defined himself as a “resident alien.” There are countless wise interpretations that can be found on how to understand this pair of words “resident alien” even though each individual word is clear on its own. An “alien” (or “stranger”) is a person who comes from somewhere else. A “resident” is someone who dwells here.
So, first of all, why does he introduce himself that way? He is the head of a nation, known and famous to those around him. After having spent time in Canaan, being exiled to Egypt, returning with great wealth, defeating the kings, saving Lot, and being considered among the people to be "the elect of God" (Genesis 23:6), why does he introduce himself as a resident alien in the first place?
Because this is his identity.
I am one who came from another country and dwell with you.
Abraham presents the signs of his identity immediately upon introducing himself and his requests.
Why does he mention his alien status? Because this is the first obligation in any negotiation, to acknowledge what makes him different, exceptional, handicapped, relatively disadvantaged, first and foremost. This is a moral duty, and Abraham is the first to teach us this.
At the moment that Abraham presents his identity, “I am a resident alien among you,” he also expresses a wish that his wanderings will come to an end and that he will finally be able to set down some roots.
To move from being an alien to being resident, he requests: "Sell me a burial site among you, that I may remove my dead for burial" (23: 4).
The request: "Sell/give me."
The goal: "A burial site among you."
The alien asks for the right to settle in the company of the Hittites, and he also wishes to acquire this right for full price. The Hittites agree in return for money. This teaches us to respond to a stranger, and in this case those who responded did so affirmatively: "You are the elect of God among us," they replied. "Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places" (23:6).
Thus, before he proposed the purchase deal in detail, he defined himself as a “resident alien.” There are countless wise interpretations that can be found on how to understand this pair of words “resident alien” even though each individual word is clear on its own. An “alien” (or “stranger”) is a person who comes from somewhere else. A “resident” is someone who dwells here.
So, first of all, why does he introduce himself that way? He is the head of a nation, known and famous to those around him. After having spent time in Canaan, being exiled to Egypt, returning with great wealth, defeating the kings, saving Lot, and being considered among the people to be "the elect of God" (Genesis 23:6), why does he introduce himself as a resident alien in the first place?
Because this is his identity.
I am one who came from another country and dwell with you.
Abraham presents the signs of his identity immediately upon introducing himself and his requests.
Why does he mention his alien status? Because this is the first obligation in any negotiation, to acknowledge what makes him different, exceptional, handicapped, relatively disadvantaged, first and foremost. This is a moral duty, and Abraham is the first to teach us this.
At the moment that Abraham presents his identity, “I am a resident alien among you,” he also expresses a wish that his wanderings will come to an end and that he will finally be able to set down some roots.
To move from being an alien to being resident, he requests: "Sell me a burial site among you, that I may remove my dead for burial" (23: 4).
The request: "Sell/give me."
The goal: "A burial site among you."
The alien asks for the right to settle in the company of the Hittites, and he also wishes to acquire this right for full price. The Hittites agree in return for money. This teaches us to respond to a stranger, and in this case those who responded did so affirmatively: "You are the elect of God among us," they replied. "Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places" (23:6).
Rino Tzror is an Israeli film director, journalist, and an editor.
929 is the number of chapters in the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, the formative text of the Jewish heritage. It is also the name of a cutting-edge project dedicated to creating a global Jewish conversation anchored in the Hebrew Bible. 929 English invites Jews everywhere to read and study Tanakh, one chapter a day, Sunday through Thursday together with a website with creative readings and pluralistic interpretations, including audio and video, by a wide range of writers, artists, rabbis, educators, scholars, students and more. As an outgrowth of the web-based platform, 929 English also offers classes, pop-up lectures, events and across North America. We invite you to learn along with us and be part of our dynamic community.
To join 929's listserv for new and dynamic content each week click here
To join 929's listserv for new and dynamic content each week click here
