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
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