Bible Commentaries
Genesis 23

Verse 3

23:3 And Abraham {a} stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,

(a) That is, when he had mourned: so the godly may mourn if they do not pass measure, and the natural affection is commendable.

Verse 6

23:6 Hear us, my lord: thou [art] a {b} mighty prince among 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. {b} That is godly or excellent: for so do the Hebrews speak of all things that are notable, because all excellency comes from God.

Verse 10

23:10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, [even] of all that {c} went in at the gate of his city, saying,

(c) Meaning all the citizens and inhabitants.

Verse 12

23:12 And Abraham {d} bowed down himself before the people of the land.

(d) To show that he had them in good estimation and reverence.

Verse 15

23:15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land [is worth] four hundred {e} shekels of silver; what [is] that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.

(e) The common shekel is about 20 pence, so then 400 shekels is equal to 33 pounds, 6 shillings and 8 pence at 5 shilling sterling to the ounce.

Verse 20

23:20 And the field, and the cave that [is] therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace {f} by the sons of Heth.

(f) That is, all the people confirmed the sale.