Living as Strangers in a Foreign Land Like Abraham
Abraham is frequently described in the biblical narrative as a "stranger" or "foreigner" in the lands where he resided [1, 2, 3]. This status is highlighted in Genesis, where he is noted as living "a long season" in the land of the Philistines [1] and as a "foreigner in Gerar" [2]. The book of Hebrews further emphasizes this, stating that "by faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise" [3].
The term "stranger" in a biblical context generally refers to a person of foreign origin residing within the promised land, distinct from a "foreigner" who would only visit as a traveler [4]. Such individuals, sometimes called "naturalized foreigners," had their relationship with the native population governed by specific laws [4, 5]. Easton's Bible Dictionary notes that while these strangers enjoyed many privileges, they remained separate from the Jews [5]. The concept of an "alien" also applies, denoting someone born in another country who might not initially possess the full rights of citizens but could, under certain conditions, enjoy similar rights [6].
Abraham's experience as a stranger was not merely a geographical fact but also a spiritual posture. Adam Clarke suggests that Abraham's declaration, "I am a stranger and a sojourner," refers more to his state of mind, indicating that he felt he had no certain dwelling place and was seeking a "city that had foundations" by faith [10]. This perspective is echoed by Tyndale House, which notes that Abraham's family lived in the land of promise as "foreigners and nomads" [11]. John Gill interprets God's prophecy to Abram—"thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs"—as a foretelling of the future experiences of his descendants [8].
Jewish commentators also explore this theme. Rashi observes that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all "sojourned in the land of the Philistines, in Egypt, and in the land of Canaan," moving from one strange place to another [9]. Abraham Ibn Ezra defines a "sojourner" (ve-toshav) as a "resident stranger" [12]. Josephus, the Jewish historian, describes Abraham as a "foreigner" who reigned in Damascus before moving to Canaan [7]. This consistent portrayal underscores Abraham's transient existence, living in tents and moving from place to place, signifying his lack of fixed possession and his reliance on God's promise [13].
Sources
- Genesis “Genesis 21:34 (Geneva1599) — And Abraham was a stranger in the Philistims land a long season.”
- Genesis “Abraham traveled from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a foreigner in Gerar. -- Genesis 20:1”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 11:9 (NASB) — By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Stranger — A "stranger," in the technical sense of the term, may be defined to be a person of foreign, i.e. non-Israelitish, extraction resident within the limits of the promised land. He was distinct from the proper "foreigner," inasmuch as the latter still belonged to another country, and would only visit Palestine as a traveller: he was still more distinct from the "nations," or non-Israelite peoples. The term may be compared with our expression "naturalized foreigner." The terms applied to the "stranger" have special reference to the fact of residing in the land. ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Stranger — This word generally denotes a person from a foreign land residing in Palestine. Such persons enjoyed many privileges in common with the Jews, but still were separate from them. The relation of the Jews to strangers was regulated by special laws (Deut. 23:3; 24:14-21; 25:5; 26:10-13). A special signification is also sometimes attached to this word. In Gen. 23:4 it denotes one resident in a foreign land; Ex. 23:9, one who is not a Jew; Num. 3:10, one who is not of the family of Aaron; Ps. 69:8, an alien or an unknown person. The Jews were allowed to purchase”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Alien — A foreigner, or person born in another country, and therefore not entitled to the rights and privileges of the country where he resides. Among the Hebrews there were two classes of aliens. (1.) Those who were strangers generally, and who owned no landed property. (2.) Strangers dwelling in another country without being naturalized (Lev. 22:10; Ps. 39:12). Both of these classes were to enjoy, under certain conditions, the same rights as other citizens (Lev. 19:33, 34; Deut. 10:19). They might be naturalized and permitted to enter into the congregation of the L”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 7, section 2: him, a book concerning him. And Nicolaus of Damascus, in the fourth book of his History, says thus: "Abram reigned at Damascus, being a foreigner, who came with an army out of the land above Babylon, called the land of the Chaldeans: but, after a long time, he got him up, and removed from that country also, with his people, and went into the land then called the land of Canaan, but now the land of Judea, and this when his posterity were become a multitude; as to which posterity of his, we relate their history in another work. Now”
- Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 15:12: And he said unto Abram,.... While he was in a deep sleep; this he said to him in a vision of prophecy: know of a surety, or "in knowing thou shall or mayest know" (n); and be assured of it, being now told it by the Lord himself, who foreknows all things that ever come to pass; many of which he acquaints his people with beforehand, nor would he hide from Abram his friend what should befall his posterity, as follows: that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs; this prophecy could not take place at this time, since Abram had then no seed; but at”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Psalms 105:13: And they walked from nation to nation Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines, in Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, and so Isaac, and so Jacobthey all were exiled from one strange place to another strange place.”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 23:4: I am a stranger and a sojourner - It appears from Heb 11:13-16; Pe1 2:11, that these words refer more to the state of his mind than of his body. He felt that he had no certain dwelling place, and was seeking by faith a city that had foundations. Give me a possession of a burying place - It has been remarked that in different nations it was deemed ignominious to be buried in another's ground; probably this prevailed in early times in the east, and it may be in reference to a sentiment of this kind that Abraham refuses to accept the offer of the children of Heth to b”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 11:13: 11:13-16 The author pauses to point out general principles evident in the lives he has highlighted thus far. 11:13 Abraham’s family lived in the land of promise as foreigners and nomads (see Gen 23:4; cp. 1 Chr 29:15; Ps 39:12; 1 Pet 2:11).”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Genesis 23:4: And a sojourner (ve-toshav) means a resident stranger. 8 In other words, when sojourner ( toshav ) is coupled with stranger ( ger ) it means a resident stranger (Krinsky). Cherez disagrees. He thinks I.E. is only commenting on the word sojourner ( toshav ). Abraham said to them, “I am a sojourner among you. We are all mortal, I do not have a possession ( achuzah ) i.e., an inherited or bought piece of land 9 It comes from the root alef, chet, zayin (to hold). One holds on to land by inheritance or acquisition. Achuzah thus means a holding, the idea being a pie”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 11:9: sojourned--as a "stranger and pilgrim." in--Greek, "into," that is, he went into it and sojourned there. as in a strange country--a country not belonging to him, but to others (so the Greek), Act 7:5-6. dwelling in tabernacles--tents: as strangers and sojourners do: moving from place to place, as having no fixed possession of their own. In contrast to the abiding "city" (Heb 11:10). with--Their kind of dwelling being the same is a proof that their faith was the same. They all alike were content to wait for their good things hereafter (Luk 16:2”