Titus 2:11-15, 2 Chron. 31:1, Tradition and Truth

This is a bit of a catch-up day.  First, I want to add something to the Edom narrative in the previous post.  When we were at “The Cave” (Machpelah, Cave of the Patriarchs) we learned something we had not been aware of.  In the building there are several memorial tombs.  When you first enter on the left is Jacob’s.  In one room there is Abraham and Sarah’s.  Leah’s is in another room.  Behind a veil, not visible on the Jewish side, are the ones for Isaac and Rebekah.  These are all identified by a plaque. 

But in the first room you enter, on the right, is one without identification in English.  Muslims claim it is the tomb of Joseph, which Jews believe is not at the cave but in Schechem (modern Nablus).  There is a banner in Hebrew at the came that has the Jewish explanation.  We had overheard a guide saying something about it being a memorial to Esau’s head.  Interesting.  A man and his wife happened to be there and he was explaining to her, and he noted my wondering about it, so he kindly spoke in both Hebrew and English. 

The tradition, from the Midrash, is that when the sons of Jacob brought the body of Jacob back to the cave for burial (Gen. 50) Esau came and forbade them to bury Jacob, saying the right to the tomb was his.  This infuriated the sons of Jacob, reminding Esau that he had sold his birthright.  But Esau insisted.  The son of Dan, Hushim, apparently decapitated Esau and his head was laid to rest in this place.

A more detailed explanation can be found here: http://en.hebron.org.il/history/973.

The 2 Chron. 31:1 passage is our assigned devotional passage today.  It refers to the cleansing from idolatry of Judah as well as Benjamin, and the areas of Ephraim and Manasseh, in the time of Hezekiah.  There is strong evidence of this seen at Tel Beersheva (the stones of an altar that were being used in the walls of a storehouse, the altar being dismantled in the time of Hezekiah) and Tel Arad (an altar and worship area of the same ration of dimensions as the temple in Jerusalem, also dismantled in the time of Hezekiah). 

Even at these sites there is reference to Hezekiah centralizing worship in Jerusalem, which he did.  But this was not something Hezekiah initiated; it was the way it was supposed to be according to Deuteronomy.  One place of worship: at the temple where God would choose to put His name.  That place was, of course, in Jerusalem on Mt. Moriah.

We are going to begin work on memorizing the Titus passage today as we leave Eilat and have a long drive up to the Dead Sea area.  We encourage you to join us in the memorization of Titus 2:11-14.