The Genesis Project
Genesis 33

Purchasing the Land

101 words · January 29, 2026

וַיִּ֜קֶן אֶת־חֶלְקַ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָֽטָה־שָׁם֙ אׇהֳל֔וֹ מִיַּ֥ד בְּנֵֽי־חֲמ֖וֹר אֲבִ֣י שְׁכֶ֑ם בְּמֵאָ֖ה קְשִׂיטָֽה׃
The parcel of land where he pitched his tent he purchased from the kin of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred kesitahs.
Genesis 33:19 (Revised JPS, 2023)

Jacob buys a parcel of land from the kin of Hamor in Canaan and sets up an altar there, completing his vow to God.

Earlier, in Genesis 23, Abraham buys the cave at Machpelah from the Hittites in Canaan, and this is a place where he buries Sarah.

They do this, even though the land has been promised to them by God.

Abraham Canaan Jacob land promised purchased redeemed vow

All tags

Quiet dispatches.

New releases, events, and reflections from the press, sent only when there is something to say.