Genesis 23:17

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 23:1-20

Death of Sarah and Purchase of the Buryingplace of Machpelah by AbrahamThis section is from the Priestly source and dwells on the legal transaction.2. Came] rather, ’went in,’ perhaps from his own tent to that of Sarah. 3. Stood up from before his dead] To sit upon the ground was the posture of mourning: cp. Job 2:13. Sons of Heth] i.e. the Hittites: see on Genesis 10:15.6. After true Eastern custom, there was excessive courtesy in the transaction, but a large sum was in the end required. ’In... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 23:17

(17) Before Mamre.—That is, opposite to it. The Haram wherein the bodies of Abraham and Sarah lie, is situated on the eastern side of the valley, so that Abraham’s oak-grove must have been on its western slope. The old Christian tradition, which places it at Ramet-el-Chalil, does not agree with this description, and is, moreover, too far away. The remains pointed out there as those of Abraham’s house, are the ruins of a heathen temple. But it is useless to look for any remains of the abode of a... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:1-20

PURCHASE OF MACHPELAHGenesis 23:1-20IT may be supposed to be a needless observation that our life is greatly influenced by the fact that it speedily and certainly ends in death. But it might be interesting, and it would certainly be surprising, to trace out the various ways in which this fact influences life. Plainly every human affair would be altered if we lived on here for ever, supposing that were possible. What the world would be had we no predecessors, no wisdom but what our own past... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 23:1-20

CHAPTER 23 The Death of Sarah 1. Sarah dies (Genesis 23:1-2 ) 2. The grave obtained (Genesis 23:3-18 ) 3. The burial of Sarah (Genesis 23:19-20 ) We call the attention to the typical meaning of the death of Sarah. She is the type of the nation Israel and her death in this chapter signifies the death of Israel, nationally. This must be brought in connection with the previous chapter. There we learned that Isaac was upon the altar and taken from it. This is typical of the death and... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 23:1-20

THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF SARAH The time arrives for Sarah's death at the age of 127 years. This illustrates another lesson as regards the aftermath of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. Sarah is typical of the elect remnant of faith in the nation Israel, the godly, who virtually gave birth to the Lord Jesus. But after the cross, Israel practically withered away and died so far as any godliness was concerned, and since that time has not been revived to take any place of godly devotion to their... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:1-20

ISAAC ’S BIRTH , SARAH ’S DEATH THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON (CHAP. 21) There is little requiring explanation in this chapter, but Genesis 21:9-13 should not be passed without a look at Galatians 4:21-31 . Christians are the spiritual seed of Abraham, and those who would supplement faith in Christ by the works of the law are the children of the bond-woman, who have no place with the children of the promise. God, however, is not unmindful of Hagar and Ishmael, nor of His promise to Abraham... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Genesis 23:1-20

The Burial of Sarah Genesis 23:0 It has been remarked as a singular circumstance that Sarah is the only woman whose age is mentioned in the Scriptures. At the time of her death her only son Isaac was thirty-seven years old, she herself being ninety at the time of his birth. We know little about Sarah, except that she was comely to look upon; somewhat severe towards Hagar her handmaid, and that she was the mother of Isaac! This seems quite little when mentioned in one sentence, but really it... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 23:14-20

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... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Genesis 23:17-20

The Burial of Sarah v. 17. And 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 borders round about, were made sure v. 18. unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city. The language is that of a formal instrument used in the transfer of real estate; the location of the field is given: before... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Genesis 23:1-20

ELEVENTH SECTIONThe sorrows and joys of Abraham’s domestic life. The account and genealogy of those at home. Sarah’s death. Her burial-place at Hebron; the seed of the future inheritance of Canaan. The theocratic foundation of the consecrated burial Genesis 22:20 to Genesis 23:2020And it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying [what follows], 21Behold, Milcah, she hath also borne children unto thy brother Nahor; Huz [see Genesis 10:23; a light sandy land, in northern... read more

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