Bethel And Hebron

The journey of Jacob from Bethel (house of God) to Hebron (fellowship) was a disastrous one. He had not gone many miles from Bethel, and Ephrath (Bethlehem) was some distance ahead, till Rachel fell ill. It seemed an ill-planned journey in her condition. In hard labour she gave birth to Benjamin. He was to her Benoni, son of her sorrow, but to Jacob he was the son of his right hand. Surely here is a picture of Israel in her distress, of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, though we must not press the parable too far. The next calamity came through wayward Reuben's act, an act destined to leave its mark on him, his family, and on Is~el for ever. But the story of the disastrous journey is not yet ended. When Jacob reaches Hebron his peace of mind is disturbed by the ill behaviour of his sons by Bilhah and zilpah. Then come Joseph's dreams, Joseph's being sent to seek his brethren, and his being sold' into Egypt. Though we see the golden line of divine purpose running through these events and see also some of the most delightful typology in the whole of Scripture in the story of Joseph, those happenings which fell upon Jacob brought him untold grief, so great indeed that he spoke pathetically of his sons bringing down his grey hairs with sorrow to Sheol.

Many of God's children are quite content with Hebron (fellowship), fellowship with the Father and with the Son, and fellowship with one another, as 1 John speaks of. Some few, like Jacob, have left Bethel (house of God) thinking that in Hebron (we speak figuratively) is a better and happier place. Fellowship has its place, and that an important place, but there is something further in the ways of God for His people. This is what David was after.

David had reigned over Judab seven and a half years (2 Sam. 5:3) when all Israel came to him in Hebron to make him king (1 Chron. 11:1-3). This realization of David's longing to find the place of God's rest came very soon afterwards. Indeed in 1 Chronicles 11 we have in verse 3 the statement concerning the act of the elders of Israel: "They anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Samuel". Then verse 4 follows on: "And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem". And in verses 5 and 6 we are told: "David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David ... and David dwelt in the strong hold".

J. Miller

Extractedfrom Needed Truth 1952

unknown | Jul 1993
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