Genesis 23:17 KJV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 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, Gen. 23:16, 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:17

And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah ,.... This clearly shows that Machpelah is the proper name of a place or tract of ground, and not an appellative, or to be rendered the double cave, since a field could never be said to be in a cave: and yet some have been so stupid, as Vatablus observes, as to render the words,"the field of Ephron, which was in the double cave,'whereas, on the contrary, the cave was in that field; and so the Vulgate version, to better sense, though not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 23:17

All the trees that were in the field - It is possible that all these were specified in the agreement. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 23:1-20

The death and burial of Sarah. I. THE DEATH OF SARAH . 1. The mournful event . The death of— 2. The attendant circumstances . Sarah died— II. THE BURIAL OF SARAH . 1. The days of mourning . "Abraham came to mourn and to weep for Sarah." The sorrow of the patriarch was— 2. The purchase of a grave . Here may be noted— 3. The last rites of sepulture . " After this Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah;"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 23:17-18

And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah ,—here the word is used as a proper name ( vide supra ) — which was before Mamre,— לִפְגֵי over against (Lange), to the east of (Keil), the oak grove— the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about ,—"In like manner the operations in the contract are just such as are found in modern deeds. It is not enough that you purchase a well-known lot; the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 23:1-20

- The Death of Sarah2. ארבע קרית qı̂ryat-'arba‛, “Qirjath-arba‘, city of Arba.” ארבע 'arba‛, “Arba‘, four.”8. עפרון ‛eprôn, “‘Ephron, of the dust, or resembling a calf.” צחר tshochar, “Tsochar, whiteness.”9. מכפלה makpêlâh, “Makpelah, doubled.”The death and burial of Sarah are here recorded. This occasions the purchase of the field of Makpelah, in the cave of which is her sepulchre.Genesis 23:1-2Sarah is the only woman whose age is recorded in Scripture. She meets with this distinction as... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:1-20

Further expressions of faith (22:20-23:20)While Abraham was establishing his family in Canaan, the family of his brother Nahor in Mesopotamia was growing. The writer records this growth to introduce Rebekah, the future wife of Isaac (20-24).Back in Canaan, Abraham moved from Beersheba to Hebron, and there Sarah died (23:1-2). Though God had promised the whole of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants, Abraham still owned no land there. The death of Sarah gave him an opportunity to buy a piece of... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 23:17-18

"So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the border thereof round about, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of the city.""Which was before Mamre ..." This expression means "east of Mature." "Ancient man considered the east to be in front of him."[20] The place of Machpelah is... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 23:17

Genesis 23:17. Which was in Machpelah— Houbigant is of opinion, that the original word rendered Machpelah, refers to the field, not to the cave; and he renders the passage, possessio agri Ephron, qui erat in eo flexu qui ad Mambre vergebat, tam agri, quam speluncae, omniumq; arborum, quae, &c. "the possession of the field of Ephron, which was in the turning which leads to Mamre, of the field as well as the cave, the trees, &c. that were there." It cannot be supposed, that this cave,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 23:17-18

Abraham’s purchase of the cave of Machpelah (lit. double cave, or split cave) indicates his continuing faith in God’s promise to give the land of Canaan to him and his descendants. Similarly Jeremiah purchased property in the Promised Land on the eve of the Babylonian captivity to express his belief that God would bring the Israelites back there eventually (cf. Jeremiah 32:6-15). One does not usually bury his family in a place unless he considers it his home and plans to be there a long time. read more