064. "Take It for Nothing"

"Take It for Nothing"

(Genesis 23:11-16) WHEN Ephron the Hittite offered the field to Abraham as a burying place for Sarah, he said, "I give it thee"; but, doubtless, with just as much thought of doing so as the Arab dealers of today, when they say, "Take it for nothing." And the Hittite finally charged Abraham far more than the land was worth.

Today, in the Eastern lands, when a customer prices .an article, the dealer will usually reply, "Take it for nothing, I shall be happy to make you a present of it." But by this they mean that they expect a present in return, of very much greater value.

If you desire to buy anything, the best way is to push it to one side and seem indifferent about it. Then the seller is almost sure to name a price somewhat near an honest value. They always keep the best goods in the background, and only bring them out when they see they cannot sell you the inferior ones.

Genesis 23:15 : "And the Hittite said to Abraham, The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt thee and me? bury thy dead, I will give it thee."