23:1-4In Abraham's day, death and burial were steeped in ritual and traditions. Failing to honor a dead person demonstrated the greatest possible tack of respect. An improper burial was the equivalent of a curse. Mourning was an essential part of the death ritual. Friends and relatives would cry loudly for the whole neighborhood to hear. Because there were no funeral homes or undertakers, these same friends and relatives would help prepare the body for burial, which usually would take place on the same day because of the warm climate.
Life Application Study BibleGenesisChapter 23
Genesis 23
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 42, 43
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23Genesis 23
The Burial of Sarah
123 When Sarah was 127 years old, 2she died at Kiriath-arba (now called Hebron) in the land of Canaan. There Abraham mourned and wept for her. 3Then, leaving her body, he said to the Hittite elders, 4“Here I am, a stranger and a foreigner among you. Please sell me a piece of land so I can give my wife a proper burial.” 5The Hittites replied to Abraham, 6“Listen, my lord, you are an honored prince among us. Choose the finest of our tombs and bury her there. No one here will refuse to help you in this way.” 7Then Abraham bowed low before the Hittites and said, ®”Since you are willing to help me in this way; be so kind as to ask Ephron son of Zohar °to let me buy his cave at Machpe- lah, down at the end of his field. I will pay the full price in the presence of witnesses, so I will have a permanent burial place for my family.” 10Ephron was sitting there among the others, and he answered Abraham as the others listened, speaking publicly before all the Hittite elders of the town. 11“No, my lord,” he said to Abraham, “please listen to me. I will give you the field and the cave. Here in the presence of my people, I give it to you. Go and bury your dead.” 12Abraham again bowed low before the citizens of the land, ‘Sand he replied to Ephron as everyone listened. “No, listen to me. I will buy it from you. Let me pay the full price for the field so I can bury my dead there.” 14Ephron answered Abraham, 15“My lord, please listen to me. The land is worth 400 pieces* of silver, but what is that between friends? Go ahead and bury your dead.” 16So Abraham agreed to Ephron’s price and paid the amount he had suggested—400 pieces of silver, weighed according to the market standard. The Hittite elders witnessed the transaction. 17So Abraham bought the plot of land belonging to Ephron at Machpelah, near Mamre. This included the field itself, the cave that was in it, and all the surrounding trees. 18It was transferred to Abraham as his permanent possession in the presence of the Hittite elders at the city gate. 19Then Abraham buried his wife, Sarah, there in Canaan, in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre (also called Hebron). 20So the field and the cave were transferred from the Hittites to Abraham for use as a permanent burial place.
Textual footnotes
- 23:15 Hebrew 400 shekels, about 10 pounds or 4.6 kilograms in weight; also in 23:16.
Life Application Notes 4 notes
23:4-6Abraham was in a foreign land looking for a place to bury his wife. Strangers offered to help him because he was “an honored prince,” and they respected him. Although Abraham had not put down roots in the area, his reputation was above reproach. Those who invest their time and money in serving God often earn a pleasant return on their investment——a good reputation and the respect of others.
23:10-16The polite interchange between Abraham and Ephron was typical of bargaining at that time. Ephron graciously offered to give his land to Abraham at no charge; Abraham insisted on paying for it; Ephron politely mentioned the price but said, in effect, that it wasn’t important; Abraham paid the 400 shekels of silver. Both men knew what was going on as they went through the bargaining process. If Abraham had accepted the land as a gift when it was offered, he would have insulted Ephron, who then would have rescinded his offer. Many Middle Eastern shopkeepers still follow this bargaining ritual with their customers.
23:16Four hundred pieces of silver was a high price for the Piece of property Abraham bought. The Hittites weren’t thrilled about foreigners buying their property, so Abraham had litte bargaining leverage.
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Study feature · page 43
ELEIZER: PROFILE OF A TRUE SERVANT Have you ever approached a responsiblity with this kind of single-mindedness and careful planning, while ultimately depending on God?
. 24:3, 9 . 24:5 . 24:9 . 24:12-14 . 24:12-14 . 24:12-14 . 24:12-14 . 24:21 . 24:21 . 24:26 . 24:34-49 . 24:56 . 24:66
Promised to follow instructions
Made aplan....... 0. cee ee Submitted the plan to God................085 Prayed for guidance..... 20... cece eee eee Devised a strategy with room for God to operate I Waited
Ce Accepted the answer thankfully.............. Explained the situation to concerned parties..... Refused unnecessary delay.............006. Followed through with entire plan............. Watched closely
Ephron asked an outrageous price. The custom of the day was to ask double the fair market vatue of the land, fully expecting the buyer to offer half the stated price. Abraham, however, did not bargain. He simply paid the initial price. He was not trying to take anything he didn't deserve. Even though God had promised the land to Abraham, he did not just take it away from Ephron. 24:4 Abraham wanted Isaac to marry within the family. This was a common and acceptable practice at this time that had the added advantage of avoiding intermarriage with pagan neighbors. A son’s wife was usually chosen by the parents. It was common for a woman to be married in her early teens, although Rebekah was probably older.
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