Genesis 23:4-19 KJV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:12

And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. Showing hereby great respect, and giving much honour both to them and Ephron; and signifying that he had something to say, and desired audience of them, and humbly submitted to them what he should say. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:13

And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land ,.... He addressed himself to Ephron who spoke last, with an audible voice, so that all could hear him: saying, but if thou wilt give it , I pray thee, hear me ; the words are very concise, and in the original text are only "if thou", and differently supplied; by some, "if thou art he" F3 אם אתה "si tu is es", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Ainsworth. , Ephron, whom it is supposed Abraham knew not by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:14

And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him. The following words: read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:15

My lord, hearken unto me ,.... Since it is your mind to buy the field, and not receive it as a gift, then hear what I have to say as to the value of it: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver ; which, reckoning a shekel at two shillings and sixpence, comes to fifty pounds of our money: what is that betwixt thee and me ? between two persons so rich, the sum was trifling and inconsiderable, whether the one paid it, and the other received it, or not; or between two such... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:16

And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron ,.... He agreed at once to give him the sum proposed, judging it to be a moderate price between man and man, and he was satisfied with it, and well content to pay him the money: and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver : for in those times money had no mark or stamp upon it to show its value, and therefore was not told by pieces, but weighed, by which its full worth was known; and that Ephron might have his whole and just demand, the silver was weighed... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:18

Unto Abraham for a possession ,.... To be enjoyed by him and his for ever, as his own property, being purchased by his money: in the presence of the children of Heth ; they being witnesses of the bargain, and of the payment of the money by Abraham, and of the surrender of the field unto him, for his own use: before all that went in at the gates of his city ; not of Abraham's city, for he had none, but of Ephron's city, which was Hebron, see Genesis 23:10 ; these are either the same... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:19

And after this ,.... After this affair was over, the bargain struck, the money paid, and possession secured: Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah , before Mamre ; and here he himself was buried, and also Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah, Genesis 25:9 . Benjamin of Tudela F8 Itinerarium, p. 48, 49. says, in his time (who lived in the latter end of the twelfth century), in the field of Machpelah was a city or town, and in it a large temple... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 23:4

I am a stranger and a sojourner - It appears from Hebrews 11:13-16 ; 1 Peter 2:11 , that these words refer more to the state of his mind than of his body. He felt that he had no certain dwelling place, and was seeking by faith a city that had foundations. Give me a possession of a burying place - It has been remarked that in different nations it was deemed ignominious to be buried in another's ground; probably this prevailed in early times in the east, and it may be in reference to a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 23:6

Thou art a mighty prince - אלהים נשיא nesi Elohim , a prince of God - a person whom we know to be Divinely favored, and whom, in consequence, we deeply respect and reverence. read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:16

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 23:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 23:6

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