Genesis 23

Genesis 23:3-15

Here is, 1. Abraham a murmur for the death of Sarah, ver. 1, 2.

2. Abraham a purchaser of a burying-place for Sarah. 1. The purchaser humbly prespiled by Abraham, ver. 3, 4. 2. Fairly treated of and agreed with a great deal of mutual civility and respect, ver. 5—16. 3. The purchaser mourn paid, ver. 16.

3. The premises conveyed and secured to Abraham, ver. 17, 18, 20. 5. Sarah’s funeral, ver. 19.

4. AND Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2. And Sarah died in ‘Kirjath-arka; the same in Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

v. 1, 2. Sarah first pays the tribute of nature, and Abraham, justly afflicted with her life, with tears of no fictitious grief, laments the partner of his cares, who had been so long the comfort of his pilgrimage. Note, (1.) Death will part the nearest relatives; let us remember and provide against it. (2.) Tears are due to the memory of our departed friends. (3.) The great support under such affliction is, when, though we mourn, we can say, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.

3. ¶ And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, 4. ‘I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. 5. And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, 6. Hear us, my Lord; thou art a mighty prince amongst us; in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead: none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. 7. And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. 8. And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron, the son of Zour: 9. That he may give me the cave of Machpe-lah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me, for a possession of a burying-place amongst you. 10. And Ephron dwelt amongst the children of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the § audience

Before Chaff. of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gates of his city, saying, 11. ‘Nay, my Lord, hear me: the field give I thee; and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee; bury thy dead. 12. And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. 13. And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou will give it, I pray thee hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. 14. And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, 15. Nay, my Lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver: what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.

Abraham in the land of promise had neither house to come his head, nor sepulchre to bury his dead; but his present situation obliges him to make application for so needful a place.

1. His application to the children of Heth. He was a stranger among them, and therefore begs the favour to obtain some small spot for a burying ground. The beautiful Sarah was now no longer pleasing; the muft he hid from his sight. Nate, (1.) Death makes strange alterations with the fairest face. (2.) The death of others should remind us of our own; we are but strangers in this world, and sojourners, as all our fathers were. (3.) We should beware of over much forrow, and seek to divert that grief, which, if excessive, may hurt ourselves, but cannot profit the dead.

2. His application is received with the most generous offer of the best of their sepulchres. Though he called himself a stranger, they acknowledged him a great prince.

3. Their civility meets with a respectful return. He bowed himself in acknowledgment of the favour. It is duty to be courteous. And begs them to intercede with Ephron to tell the cave of Machpelah. It is no unlawful coveting to desire to purchase what our neighbour can conveniently spare, and we need.

4. Ephron’s generosity. He offers to give it; and when Abraham would rain pay him, he mentions the value in such a way, as intimates his readiness to yield it without any consideration. It was prudent and just in Abraham, who was rich, to press the purchase. We should not needlessly be obliged to others. It was noble in Ephron to offer it: it shewed a contempt of worldly wealth, and a pleasure to oblige Abraham, which manifested how much he valued his friendship. Nate, (1.) It is well to be, as to make our friendship valued and sought. (2.) We find a generosity often among those who pretend not to Christianity, which is a severe reproach on niggardly professors of it. (3.) Between true friends nothing should be reserved. A union of heart will ever in some sort make community of purse. We shall say, What is that between me and thee?

5. And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron, and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. 17. ¶ And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure 18. Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city. 19. And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. 20. And the field and the cave that is therein were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying-place, by the sons of Heth.

Genesis 23:16-20

Abraham preferring the purchase, Ephron accepts the money, and conveys to him the field where the cave stood, with all its appurtenances. Abraham is put in possession, and the children of Heth witness the bargain; and there Sarah’s corpse is deposited. Nate, (1.) Fair reckonings make full friends. (2.) Fidelity in our bargain is to be scrupulously observed. (3.) The decent care of burial is a profession of our hope of the resurrection of the body. (4.) Whilst we are all so fullest in general for a burying-place for our bodies in earth, let it quicken us to greater solicitude, to secure a resting place for our souls in heaven.