Sharing Biblical Knowledge, Spiritual Insights, Life and God's Love A
University City Church of Christ Sharing Biblical knowledge, Spiritual A Publication by and for the Members 4626 NW 8th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32605 Insights, Life and God’s Love Volume 9, Number 1 universitycitychurchofchrist.org KETURAH AND HER BAND OF 14 MEN Abraham had many mothers for his sons (and daughters?). Women were truly considered “chattel” or belongings. Their lives were full of childbirth and hard work. Early translations do not use the word “pain” but “hard work and many pregnancies”. So that is understood as a consequence! And God made women to bare this burden. Keturah enters the picture at this point. She bore six sons, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Later Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan, who had three sons, Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. Then Midian had five more sons: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidda, and Eldaah. (I spelled out all these Jewish names so you could appreciate them!) Keturah may have been or NOT wealthy or beautiful as was Sarah, but as his wife (concubine?) she gave Abraham fourteen sons and grandchildren! Money in the bank, so to speak! Today we like to feel these “sons” were God's gifts to Abraham and the nation of Israel. All seem precious to the Clan. While Abraham still lived he gave great gifts to “these also” sons. Abraham sent them far away from HIS special Isaac. Probably so there would be less jealousy! As the Bible says God gave the rest of the herds, his lands and his many women and children to Isaac, who began his hard core of devoted and prolific descendants.
[Show full text]