CHAPTER XXIII _The age and death of Sarah_, 1, 2. _Abraham mourns for her, and requests a burial-place from the_ _sons of Heth_, 24. _They freely offer him the choice of all their sepulchres_, 5, 6. _Abraham refuses to receive any as a free gift, and requests_ _to buy the cave of Machpelah fro... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 23:2. _SARAH DIED IN KIRJATH-ARBA_] Literally _in the city of_ _the four_. Some suppose this place was called the _city of the four_ because it was the burial place of _Adam, Abraham, Isaac_, and _Jacob_; others, because according to the opinion of the rabbins, _Eve_ was buried there.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 23:3. _ABRAHAM STOOD UP FROM BEFORE HIS DEAD_] He had probably sat on the ground some days in token of sorrow, as the custom then was, (see _Tobit 2:12, 13_; Isaiah 47:1; and Genesis 37:35;) and when this time was finished he arose and began to treat about a burying place.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 23:4. _I AM A STRANGER AND A SOJOURNER_] It appears from Hebrews 11:13; 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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 23:6. _THOU ART A MIGHTY PRINCE_] נשיא אלהים _nesi Elohim, a_ _prince of God _- a person whom we know to be Divinely favoured, and whom, in consequence, we deeply respect and reverence.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 23:8. _ENTREAT FOR ME TO EPHRON_] Abraham had already seen the cave and field, and finding to whom they belonged, and that they would answer his purpose, came to the gate of Hebron, where the elders of the people sat to administer justice, c., and where bargains and sales were made and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 23:10. _AND EPHRON DWELT AMONG THE CHILDREN OF HETH_] And Ephron ישב _yosheb_, was sitting among the children of Heth, but, as was before conjectured, was personally unknown to Abraham; he therefore answered for himself, making a free tender of the field, c., to Abraham, in the presenc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 23:13. _IF THOU_ WILT GIVE IT] Instead of, if thou _wilt give_ _it_, we should read, But if thou _wilt sell it, I will give thee_ _money for the field_; כסף keseph, silver, not _coined_ money, for it is not probable that any such was then in use.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 23:15. _THE LAND IS WORTH FOUR HUNDRED SHEKELS OF SILVER_] Though the words _is worth_ are not in the text, yet they are necessarily expressed here to adapt the Hebrew to the idiom of our tongue. A shekel, according to the general opinion, was equal to two shillings and sixpence; but... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 23:16. _CURRENT WITH THE MERCHANT_] עבר לסחר _ober lassocher,_ _passing to_ or _with the traveller _- such as was commonly used by those who _travelled about_ with merchandise of any sort. The word signifies the same as _hawker_ or _pedlar_ among us.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 23:17. _ALL THE TREES THAT WERE IN THE FIELD_] It is possible that all these were specified in the agreement.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 23:20. _AND THE FIELD, C. WERE MADE SURE_] ויקם _vaiyakom_, were _established, caused to stand_ the whole transaction having been regulated according to all the forms of law then in use. 1. IN this transaction between Abraham and the sons of Heth concerning the cave and field of Machp... [ Continue Reading ]