Genesis 23:10-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 23:3-15

Here is, I. The humble request which Abraham made to his neighbours, the Hittites, for a burying-place among them, Gen. 23:3, 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... read more

Matthew Henry

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 23:10

And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth ,.... Or "sat" F2 ישב , εκαθητο Sept. "sedens", Montanus; "sedebat", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius, Schmidt. among them, in the present assembly of them; and, according to Jarchi, as their president for the time on this occasion; but if so, Abraham would have directed his speech to him: however, he was upon the spot, as appears from what follows: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:11

Nay, my lord, hear me ,.... Or not so, my lord, as Aben Ezra paraphrases it; not that he denied his request entirely, or refused him the cave at any rate, but that he should not buy it of him, he would give it to him, and therefore he desires he would hear what he had to say further: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein I give it thee ; which was more than Abraham asked to purchase; he only desired to have the cave, which lay in one corner of the field, but Ephron... read more

John Gill

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

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