3 And Abraham riseth up from the presence of his dead, and speaketh unto the sons of Heth, saying, 4 'A sojourner and a settler I 'am' with you; give to me a possession of a burying-place with you, and I bury my dead from before me.' 5 And the sons of Heth answer Abraham, saying to him, 6 'Hear us, my lord; a prince of God 'art' thou in our midst; in the choice of our burying-places bury thy dead: none of us his burying-place doth withhold from thee, from burying thy dead.' 7 And Abraham riseth and boweth himself to the people of the land, to the sons of Heth, 8 and he speaketh with them, saying, 'If it is your desire to bury my dead from before me, hear me, and meet for me with Ephron, son of Zoar; 9 and he giveth to me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which 'is' in the extremity of his field; for full money doth he give it to me, in your midst, for a possession of a burying-place.' 10 And Ephron is sitting in the midst of the sons of Heth, and Ephron the Hittite answereth Abraham in the ears of the sons of Heth, of all those entering the gate of his city, saying, 11 'Nay, my lord, hear me: the field I have given to thee, and the cave that 'is' in it, to thee I have given it; before the eyes of the sons of my people I have given it to thee—bury thy dead.' 12 And Abraham boweth himself before the people of the land, 13 and speaketh unto Ephron in the ears of the people of the land, saying, 'Only—if thou wouldst hear me—I have given the money of the field—accept from me, and I bury my dead there.' 14 And Ephron answereth Abraham, saying to him, 15 'My lord, hear me: the land—four hundred shekels of silver; between me and thee, what 'is' it?—thy dead bury.'
16 And Abraham hearkeneth unto Ephron, and Abraham weigheth to Ephron the silver which he hath spoken of in the ears of the sons of Heth, four hundred silver shekels, passing with the merchant. 17 And established are the field of Ephron, which 'is' in Machpelah, which 'is' before Mamre, the field and the cave which 'is' in it, and all the trees which 'are' in the field, which 'are' in all its border round about, 18 to Abraham by purchase, before the eyes of the sons of Heth, among all entering the gate of his city. 19 And after this hath Abraham buried Sarah his wife at the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (which 'is' Hebron), in the land of Canaan; 20 and established are the field, and the cave which 'is' in it, to Abraham for a possession of a burying-place, from the sons of Heth.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 23:3-20
Commentary on Genesis 23:1-13
(Read Genesis 23:1-13)
The longest life must shortly come to a close. Blessed be God that there is a world where sin, death, vanity, and vexation cannot enter. Blessed be his name, that even death cannot part believers from union with Christ. Those whom we most love, yea, even our own bodies, which we so care for, must soon become loathsome lumps of clays, and be buried out of sight. How loose then should we be to all earthly attachments and adornments! Let us seek rather that our souls be adorned with heavenly graces. Abraham rendered honour and respect to the princes of Heth, although of the ungodly Canaanites. The religion of the Bible enjoins to pay due respect to all in authority, without flattering their persons, or countenancing their crimes if they are unworthy characters. And the noble generosity of these Canaanites shames and condemns the closeness, selfishness, and ill-humour of many that call themselves Israelites. It was not in pride that Abraham refused the gift, because he scorned to be beholden to Ephron; but in justice and in prudence. Abraham was able to pay for the field, and therefore would not take advantage of Ephron's generosity. Honesty, as well as honour, forbids us to take advantage of our neighbour's liberality, and to impose, upon those who give freely.
Commentary on Genesis 23:14-20
(Read Genesis 23:14-20)
Prudence, as well as justice, directs us to be fair and open in our dealings; cheating bargains will not bear the light. Abraham, without fraud or delay, pays the money. He pays it at once in full, without keeping any part back; and by weight, current money with the merchant, without deceit. See how anciently money was used for the help of trade, and how honestly it should be paid when it is due. Though all the land of Canaan was Abraham by promise, yet the time of his possessing it not being come, what he had occasion for he bought and paid for. Dominion is not founded in grace. The saints' title to an eternal inheritance does not entitle them to the possessions of this world, nor justify them in doing wrong. Ephron honestly and fairly makes a good title to the land. As that which is bought, must be honestly paid for, so that which is sold, must be honestly delivered and secured. Let us manage our concerns with punctuality and exactness, in order to avoid contention. Abraham buried Sarah in cave. or vault, which was in the purchased field. It would tend to endear the land to his posterity. And it is worth noting, that a burying-place was the only piece of the land which Abraham possessed in Canaan. Those who have least of this earth, find a grave in it. This sepulchre was at the end of the field; whatever our possessions are, there is a burial-place at the end of them. It was a token of his belief and expectation of the resurrection. Abraham is contented to be still a pilgrim while he lives, but secures a place where, when he dies, his flesh may rest in hope. After all, the chief concern is, with whom we shall rise.