Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Genesis » Chapter 23 » Verse 4

Genesis 23:4 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

4 I am a stranger H1616 and a sojourner H8453 with you: give H5414 me a possession H272 of a buryingplace H6913 with you, that I may bury H6912 my dead H4191 out of my sight. H6440

Cross Reference

Hebrews 11:9 STRONG

By faith G4102 he sojourned G3939 in G1519 the land G1093 of promise, G1860 as G5613 in a strange country, G245 dwelling G2730 in G1722 tabernacles G4633 with G3326 Isaac G2464 and G2532 Jacob, G2384 the heirs with him G4789 of the same G846 promise: G1860

1 Chronicles 29:15 STRONG

For we are strangers H1616 before H6440 thee, and sojourners, H8453 as were all our fathers: H1 our days H3117 on the earth H776 are as a shadow, H6738 and there is none abiding. H4723

Genesis 17:8 STRONG

And I will give H5414 unto thee, and to thy seed H2233 after thee, H310 the land H776 wherein thou art a stranger, H4033 all the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 for an everlasting H5769 possession; H272 and I will be their God. H430

Acts 7:5 STRONG

And G2532 he gave G1325 him G846 none G3756 inheritance G2817 in G1722 it, G846 no, not G3761 so much as to set G968 his foot G4228 on: G968 yet G2532 he promised G1861 that he would give G1325 it G846 to him G846 for G1519 a possession, G2697 and G2532 to his G846 seed G4690 after G3326 him, G846 when as yet he G846 had G5607 no G3756 child. G5043

Psalms 119:19 STRONG

I am a stranger H1616 in the earth: H776 hide H5641 not thy commandments H4687 from me.

Psalms 39:12 STRONG

Hear H8085 my prayer, H8605 O LORD, H3068 and give ear H238 unto my cry; H7775 hold not thy peace H2790 at my tears: H1832 for I am a stranger H1616 with thee, and a sojourner, H8453 as all my fathers H1 were.

Leviticus 25:23 STRONG

The land H776 shall not be sold H4376 for ever: H6783 for the land H776 is mine; for ye are strangers H1616 and sojourners H8453 with me.

Genesis 49:30 STRONG

In the cave H4631 that is in the field H7704 of Machpelah, H4375 which is before H6440 Mamre, H4471 in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 which Abraham H85 bought H7069 with the field H7704 of Ephron H6085 the Hittite H2850 for a possession H272 of a buryingplace. H6913

1 Peter 2:11 STRONG

Dearly beloved, G27 I beseech G3870 you as G5613 strangers G3941 and G2532 pilgrims, G3927 abstain from G567 fleshly G4559 lusts, G1939 which G3748 war G4754 against G2596 the soul; G5590

Genesis 3:19 STRONG

In the sweat H2188 of thy face H639 shalt thou eat H398 bread, H3899 till H5704 thou return H7725 unto the ground; H127 for out of it wast thou taken: H3947 for dust H6083 thou H859 art, and unto dust H6083 shalt thou return. H7725

Hebrews 11:13-16 STRONG

These G3778 all G3956 died G599 in G2596 faith, G4102 not G3361 having received G2983 the promises, G1860 but G235 having seen G1492 them G846 afar off, G4207 and G2532 were persuaded of G3982 them, and G2532 embraced G782 them, and G2532 confessed G3670 that G3754 they were G1526 strangers G3581 and G2532 pilgrims G3927 on G1909 the earth. G1093 For G1063 they that say G3004 such things G5108 declare plainly G1718 that G3754 they seek G1934 a country. G3968 And G2532 truly, G3303 if G1487 they had been mindful G3421 of that G1565 country from G575 whence G3739 they came out, G1831 they might G302 have had G2192 opportunity G2540 to have returned. G344 But G1161 now G3570 they desire G3713 a better G2909 country, that is, G5123 an heavenly: G2032 wherefore G1352 God G2316 is G1870 not G3756 ashamed G1870 G846 to be called G1941 their G846 God: G2316 for G1063 he hath prepared G2090 for them G846 a city. G4172

Ecclesiastes 12:7 STRONG

Then shall the dust H6083 return H7725 to the earth H776 as it was: and the spirit H7307 shall return H7725 unto God H430 who gave H5414 it.

Ecclesiastes 12:5 STRONG

Also when they shall be afraid H3372 of that which is high, H1364 and fears H2849 shall be in the way, H1870 and the almond tree H8247 shall flourish, H5006 and the grasshopper H2284 shall be a burden, H5445 and desire H35 shall fail: H6565 because man H120 goeth H1980 to his long H5769 home, H1004 and the mourners H5594 go about H5437 the streets: H7784

Ecclesiastes 6:3 STRONG

If a man H376 beget H3205 an hundred H3967 children, and live H2421 many H7227 years, H8141 so that the days H3117 of his years H8141 be many, H7227 and his soul H5315 be not filled H7646 with good, H2896 and also that he have no burial; H6900 I say, H559 that an untimely birth H5309 is better H2896 than he.

Psalms 105:12-13 STRONG

When they were but a few men H4962 in number; H4557 yea, very few, H4592 and strangers H1481 in it. When they went H1980 from one nation H1471 to another, from one kingdom H4467 to another H312 people; H5971

Job 30:23 STRONG

For I know H3045 that thou wilt bring H7725 me to death, H4194 and to the house H1004 appointed H4150 for all living. H2416

Genesis 50:13 STRONG

For his sons H1121 carried H5375 him into the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 and buried H6912 him in the cave H4631 of the field H7704 of Machpelah, H4375 which Abraham H85 bought H7069 with the field H7704 for a possession H272 of a buryingplace H6913 of Ephron H6085 the Hittite, H2850 before H6440 Mamre. H4471

Genesis 47:9 STRONG

And Jacob H3290 said H559 unto Pharaoh, H6547 The days H3117 of the years H8141 of my pilgrimage H4033 are an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 years: H8141 few H4592 and evil H7451 have the days H3117 of the years H8141 of my life H2416 been, and have not attained H5381 unto the days H3117 of the years H8141 of the life H2416 of my fathers H1 in the days H3117 of their pilgrimage. H4033

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Genesis 23

Commentary on Genesis 23 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 23

Here is,

  • I. Abraham a mourner for the death of Sarah (v. 1, 2).
  • II. Abraham a purchaser of a burying-place for Sarah.
    • 1. The purchase humbly proposed by Abraham (v. 3, 4).
    • 2. Fairly treated of, and agreed to, with a great deal of mutual civility and respect (v. 5-16).
    • 3. The purchase-money paid (v. 16).
    • 4. The premises conveyed and secured to Abraham (v. 17, 18, 20).
    • 5. Sarah's funeral (v. 19).

Gen 23:1-2

We have here,

  • 1. Sarah's age, v. 1. Almost forty years before, she had called herself old, ch. 18:12. Old people will die never the sooner, but may die the better, for reckoning themselves old.
  • 2. Her death, v. 2. The longest liver must die at last. Abraham and Sarah had lived comfortably together many years; but death parts those whom nothing else could part. The special friends and favourites of Heaven are not exempted from the stroke of death. She died in the land of Canaan, where she had been above sixty years a sojourner.
  • 3. Abraham's mourning for her; and he was a true mourner. He did not only perform the ceremonies of mourning according to the custom of those time, as the mourners that go about the streets, but he did sincerely lament the great loss he had of a good wife, and gave proof of the constancy of his affection to her to the last. Two words are used: he came both to mourn and to weep. His sorrow was not counterfeit, but real. He came to her tent, and sat down by the corpse, there to pay the tribute of his tears, that his eye might affect his heart, and that he might pay the greater respect to the memory of her that was gone. Note, It is not only lawful, but it is a duty, to lament the death of our near relations, both in compliance with the providence of God, who thus calls to weeping and mourning, and in honour to those to whom honour is due. Tears are a tribute due to our deceased friends. When a body is sown, it must be watered. But we must not sorrow as those that have no hope; for we have a good hope through grace both concerning them and concerning ourselves.

Gen 23:3-15

Here is,

  • I. The humble request which Abraham made to his neighbours, the Hittites, for a burying-place among them, v. 3, 4. It was strange he had this to do now; but we are to impute it rather to God's providence than to his improvidence, as appears Acts 7:5, where it is said, God gave him no inheritance in Canaan. It were well if all those who take care to provide burying-places for their bodies after death were as careful to provide a resting-place for their souls. Observe here,
    • 1. The convenient diversion which this affair gave, for the present, to Abraham's grief: He stood up from before his dead. Those that find themselves in danger of over-grieving for their dead relations, and are entering into that temptation, must take heed of poring upon their loss and sitting alone and melancholy. There must be a time of standing up from before their dead, and ceasing to mourn. For, thanks be to God, our happiness is not bound up in the life of any creature. Care of the funeral may, as here, be improved to divert grief for the death at first, when it is most in danger of tyrannizing. Weeping must not hinder sowing.
    • 2. The argument he used with the children of Heth, which was this: "I am a stranger and a sojourner with you, therefore I am unprovided, and must become a humble suitor to you for a burying-place.' This was one occasion which Abraham took to confess that he was a stranger and a pilgrim upon earth; he was not ashamed to own it thus publicly, Heb. 11:13. Note, The death of our relations should effectually remind us that we are not at home in this world. When they are gone, say, "We are going.'
    • 3. His uneasiness till this affair was settled, intimated in that word, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. Note, Death will make those unpleasant to our sight who while they lived were the desire of our eyes. The countenance that was fresh and lively becomes pale and ghastly, and fit to be removed into the land of darkness. While she was in his sight, it renewed his grief, which he would prevent.
  • II. The generous offer which the children of Heth made to him, v. 5, 6. They compliment him,
    • 1. With a title of respect: Thou art a prince of God among us, so the word is; not only great, but good. He called himself a stranger and a sojourner; they call him a great prince; for those that humble themselves shall be exalted. God had promised to make Abraham's name great.
    • 2. With a tender of the best of their burying-places. Note, Even the light of nature teaches us to be civil and respectful towards all, though they be strangers and sojourners. The noble generosity of these Canaanites shames and condemns the closeness, and selfishness, and ill-humour, of many that call themselves Israelites. Observe, These Canaanites would be glad to mingle their dust with Abraham's and to have their last end like his.
  • III. The particular proposal which Abraham made to them, v. 7-9. He returns them his thanks for their kind offer with all possible decency and respect; though a great man, an old man, and now a mourner, yet he stands up, and bows himself humbly before them, v. 7. Note, Religion teaches good manners; and those abuse it that place it in rudeness and clownishness. He then pitches upon the place he thinks most convenient, namely, the cave of Machpelah, which probably lay near him, and had not yet been used for a burying-place. The present owner was Ephron. Abraham cannot pretend to any interest in him, but he desires that they would improve theirs with him to get the purchase of that cave, and the field in which it was. Note, A moderate desire to obtain that which is convenient for us, by fair and honest means, is not such a coveting of that which is our neighbour's as is forbidden in the tenth commandment.
  • IV. The present which Ephron made to Abraham of his field: The field give I thee, v. 10, 11. Abraham thought he must be entreated to sell it; but, upon the first mention of it, without entreaty, Ephron freely gives it. Some men have more generosity than they are thought to have. Abraham, no doubt, had taken all occasions to oblige his neighbours, and do them any service that lay in his power; and now they return his kindness: for he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Note, If those that profess religion adorn their profession by eminent civility and serviceableness to all, they shall find it will rebound to their own comfort and advantage, as well as to the glory of God.
  • V. Abraham's modest and sincere refusal of Ephron's kind offer, v. 12, 13. Abundance of thanks he returns him for it (v. 12), makes his obeisance to him before the people of the land, that they might respect Ephron the more for the respect they saw Abraham give him (1 Sa. 15:30), but resolves to give him money for the field, even the full value of it. It was not in pride that Abraham refused the gift, or because he scorned to be beholden to Ephron; but,
    • 1. In justice. Abraham was rich in silver and gold (ch. 13:2) and was able to pay for the field, and therefore would not take advantage of Ephron's generosity. Note, Honesty, as well as honour, forbids us to sponge upon our neighbours and to impose upon those that are free. Job reflected upon it with comfort, when he was poor, that he had not eaten the fruits of his land without money, Job 31:39.
    • 2. In prudence. He would pay for it lest Ephron, when this good humour was over, should upbraid him with it, and say, I have made Abraham rich (ch. 14:23), or lest the next heir should question Abraham's title (because that grant was made without any consideration), and claim back the field. Thus David afterwards refused Araunah's offer, 2 Sa. 24:24. We know not what affronts we may hereafter receive from those that are now most kind and generous.
  • VI. The price of the land fixed by Ephron but not insisted on: The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver (about fifty pounds of our money), but what is that between me and thee? v. 14, 15. He would rather oblige his friend than have so much money in his pocket. Herein Ephron discovers,
    • 1. A great contempt of worldly wealth. "What is that between me and thee? It is a small matter, not worth speaking of.' Many a one would have said, "It is a deal of money; it will go far in a child's portion.' But Ephron says, "What is that?' Note, It is an excellent thing for people to have low and mean thoughts of all the wealth of this world; it is that which is not, and in the abundance of which a man's life does not consist, Lu. 12:15.
    • 2. Great courtesy, and obligingness to his friend and neighbour. Ephron was not jealous of Abraham as a resident foreigner, nor envious at him as a man likely to thrive and grow rich. He bore him no ill-will for his singularity in religion, but was much kinder to him than most people now-a-days are to their own brothers: What is that between me and thee? Note, No little thing should occasion demurs and differences between true friends. When we are tempted to be hot in resenting affronts, high in demanding our rights, or hard in denying a kindness, we should answer the temptation with this question: "What is that between me and my friend?'

Gen 23:16-20

We have here the conclusion of the treaty between Abraham and Ephron about the burying-place. The bargain was publicly made before all the neighbours, in the presence and audience of the sons of Heth, v. 16, 17. Note, Prudence, as well as justice, directs us to be fair, and open, and above-board, in our dealings. Fraudulent contracts hate the light, and choose to be clandestine; but those that design honestly in their bargains care not who are witnesses to them. Our law countenances sales made in market-overt, and by deed enrolled. Observe,

  • 1. Abraham, without fraud, covin, or further delay, pays the money, v. 16. He pays it readily, without hesitation,-pays it in full, without diminution,-and pays it by weight, current money with the merchant, without deceit. See how anciently money was used for the help of commerce; and see how honestly money should be paid where it is due. Observe, Though all the land of Canaan was Abraham's by promise, yet, the time of his possessing not having come, what he had now occasion for he bought and paid for. Note, 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.
  • 2. Ephron honestly and fairly makes him a good title to the land, v. 17, 18, 20. The field, with all its appurtenances, is conveyed to Abraham and his heirs for ever, in open court, not by writing (it does not appear that writing was then used), but by such a public solemn declaration before witnesses as was sufficient to pass it. Note, As that which is bought must be honestly paid for, so that which is sold must be honestly paid for, so that which is sold must be honestly delivered and secured.
  • 3. Abraham, thereupon, takes possession, and buries Sarah in the cave or vault (whether framed by nature or art is not certain) which was in the purchased field. It is probable that Abraham had buried servants out of his family since he came to Canaan, but the graves of the common people (2 Ki. 23:6) might suffice for them; now that Sarah was dead a peculiar place must be found for her remains. It is worth noting,
    • (1.) That a burying-place was the first spot of ground Abraham possessed in Canaan. Note, When we are entering into the world it is good to think of our going out of it; for, as soon as we are born, we begin to die.
    • (2.) That it was the only piece of land he ever possessed, though the country was all his own in reversion. Those that have least of this earth find a grave in it. Abraham provided, not cities, as Cain and Nimrod, but a sepulchre,
      • [1.] To be a constant memorandum of death to himself and his posterity, that he and they might learn to die daily. This sepulchre is said to be at the end of the field (v. 9); for, whatever our possessions are, there is a sepulchre at the end of them.
      • [2.] To be a token of his belief and expectation of the resurrection; for why should such care be taken of the body if it be thrown away for ever, and must not rise again? Abraham, in this, said plainly that he sought a better country, that is, a heavenly. Abraham is content to be still flitting, while he lives, but secures a place where, when he dies his flesh may rest in hope.