13 And he spake H1696 unto Ephron H6085 in the audience H241 of the people H5971 of the land, H776 saying, H559 But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, H3863 hear H8085 me: I will give H5414 thee money H3701 for the field; H7704 take H3947 it of me, and I will bury H6912 my dead H4191 there.
And Abram H87 said H559 to the king H4428 of Sodom, H5467 I have lift up H7311 mine hand H3027 unto the LORD, H3068 the most high H5945 God, H410 the possessor H7069 of heaven H8064 and earth, H776 That I will not H518 take from a thread H2339 even to a shoelatchet, H5275 H8288 and that I will not H518 take H3947 any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, H559 I have made H6238 Abram H87 rich: H6238
And the king H4428 said H559 unto Araunah, H728 Nay; but I will surely H7069 buy H7069 it of thee at a price: H4242 neither will I offer H5927 burnt offerings H5930 unto the LORD H3068 my God H430 of that which doth cost me nothing. H2600 So David H1732 bought H7069 the threshingfloor H1637 and the oxen H1241 for fifty H2572 shekels H8255 of silver. H3701
I have shewed G5263 you G5213 all things, G3956 how that G3754 so G3779 labouring G2872 ye ought G1163 to support G482 the weak, G770 and G5037 to remember G3421 the words G3056 of the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 how G3754 he G846 said, G2036 It is G2076 more G3123 blessed G3107 to give G1325 than G2228 to receive. G2983
Owe G3784 no man G3367 any thing, G3367 but G1508 to love G25 one another: G240 for G1063 he that loveth G25 another G2087 hath fulfilled G4137 the law. G3551
Let G1097 your G5216 moderation G1933 be known G1097 unto all G3956 men. G444 The Lord G2962 is at hand. G1451 Be careful G3309 for nothing; G3367 but G235 in G1722 every thing G3956 by prayer G4335 and G2532 supplication G1162 with G3326 thanksgiving G2169 let G1107 your G5216 requests G155 be made known G1107 unto G4314 God. G2316 And G2532 the peace G1515 of God, G2316 which G3588 passeth G5242 all G3956 understanding, G3563 shall keep G5432 your G5216 hearts G2588 and G2532 minds G5216 G3540 through G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus. G2424 Finally, G3063 brethren, G80 whatsoever things G3745 are G2076 true, G227 whatsoever things G3745 are honest, G4586 whatsoever things G3745 are just, G1342 whatsoever things G3745 are pure, G53 whatsoever things G3745 are lovely, G4375 whatsoever things G3745 are of good report; G2163 if there be any G1536 virtue, G703 and G2532 if there be any G1536 praise, G1868 think G3049 on these things. G5023
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 23
Commentary on Genesis 23 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 23
Ge 23:1, 2. Age and Death of Sarah.
1. Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old, &c.—Sarah is the only woman in Scripture whose age, death, and burial are mentioned, probably to do honor to the venerable mother of the Hebrew people.
2. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, &c.—He came from his own tent to take his station at the door of Sarah's. The "mourning" describes his conformity to the customary usage of sitting on the ground for a time; while the "weeping" indicates the natural outburst of his sorrow.
Ge 23:3-20. Purchase of a Burying-Place.
3. Abraham stood up, &c.—Eastern people are always provided with family burying-places; but Abraham's life of faith—his pilgrim state—had prevented him acquiring even so small a possession (Ac 7:5).
spake unto the sons of Heth—He bespoke their kind offices to aid him in obtaining possession of a cave that belonged to Ephron—a wealthy neighbor.
9. Machpelah—the "double cave."
10. Ephron dwelt—literally, was "sitting" among the children of Heth in the gate of the city where all business was transacted. But, though a chief man among them, he was probably unknown to Abraham.
11-15. Ephron answered, Nay, my lord, &c.—Here is a great show of generosity, but it was only a show; for while Abraham wanted only the cave, he joins "the field and the cave"; and though he offered them both as free gifts, he, of course, expected some costly presents in return, without which, he would not have been satisfied. The patriarch, knowing this, wished to make a purchase and asked the terms.
15. the land is worth four hundred shekels, &c.—as if Ephron had said, "Since you wish to know the value of the property, it is so and so; but that is a trifle, which you may pay or not as it suits you." They spoke in the common forms of Arab civility, and this indifference was mere affectation.
16. Abraham weighed … the silver—The money, amounting to £50 was paid in presence of the assembled witnesses; and it was weighed. The practice of weighing money, which is often in lumps or rings, each stamped with their weight, is still common in many parts of the East; and every merchant at the gates or the bazaar has his scales at his girdle.
19. Abraham buried Sarah—Thus he got possession of Machpelah and deposited the remains of his lamented partner in a family vault which was the only spot of ground he owned.