Bible Commentaries
Genesis 23

Introduction

Overview

Genesis 23:1, The age and death of Sarah; Genesis 23:3, The purchase of the field and cave of Machpelah; Genesis 23:19, where Sarah is buried.

Verse 1

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Sarah: It is worthy of remark, that Sarah is the only woman whose age, death, and burial are distinctly noted in the Sacred writings.

an: Genesis 17:17

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:1 - General

Verse 2

Kirjatharba: Genesis 23:19, Genesis 13:18, Numbers 13:22, Joshua 10:39, Joshua 14:14, Joshua 14:15, Joshua 20:7, Judges 1:10, 1 Samuel 20:31, 2 Samuel 2:11, 2 Samuel 5:3, 2 Samuel 5:5, 1 Chronicles 6:57

came: For the convenience of feeding his numerous flocks, Abraham had several places of temporary residence; and it is likely, that while he sojourned at Beer-sheba, as we find he did from Genesis 23:19, of the preceding chapter, Sarah died at Hebron, which was 24 miles distant.

mourn: Genesis 27:41, Genesis 50:10, Numbers 20:29, Deuteronomy 34:8, 1 Samuel 28:3, 2 Samuel 1:12, 2 Samuel 1:17, 2 Chronicles 35:25, Jeremiah 22:10, Jeremiah 22:18, Ezekiel 24:16-18, John 11:31, John 11:35, Acts 8:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:1 - General Genesis 35:27 - Mamre Genesis 37:14 - Hebron Joshua 15:54 - Kirjatharba Joshua 21:11 - the city of Arba 2 Chronicles 11:10 - Hebron Luke 8:52 - all

Verse 3

Heth: Genesis 23:5, Genesis 23:7, Genesis 10:15, Genesis 25:10, Genesis 27:46, Genesis 49:30, 1 Samuel 26:6, 2 Samuel 23:39

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:31 - General 1 Chronicles 1:13 - Heth

Verse 4

stranger: Genesis 17:8, Genesis 47:9, Leviticus 25:23, 1 Chronicles 29:15, Psalms 39:12, Psalms 105:12, Psalms 105:13, Psalms 119:19, Hebrews 11:9, Hebrews 11:13-16, 1 Peter 2:11

burying place: Genesis 3:19, Genesis 49:30, Genesis 50:13, Job 30:23, Ecclesiastes 6:3, Ecclesiastes 12:5, Ecclesiastes 12:7, Acts 7:5

bury: Genesis 23:19

Reciprocal: Genesis 15:15 - buried Genesis 37:1 - wherein his father was a stranger Exodus 6:4 - the land of their 1 Chronicles 21:23 - Take it John 11:39 - Lord

Verse 5

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:3 - Heth 1 Chronicles 1:13 - Heth Psalms 107:41 - maketh

Verse 6

my lord: Genesis 18:12, Genesis 24:18, Genesis 24:35, Genesis 31:35, Genesis 32:4, Genesis 32:5, Genesis 32:18, Genesis 42:10, Genesis 44:5, Genesis 44:8, Exodus 32:22, Ruth 2:13

a mighty prince: Heb. a prince of God, Genesis 21:22, Isaiah 45:14, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 3:2

prince: Genesis 13:2, Genesis 14:14, Genesis 24:35

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:11 - my lord Genesis 30:8 - great wrestlings Job 36:7 - with

Verse 7

Genesis 18:2, Genesis 19:1, Proverbs 18:24, Romans 12:17, Romans 12:18, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 3:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:3 - Heth Genesis 23:12 - General Genesis 48:12 - he bowed himself

Verse 8

entreat: 1 Kings 2:17, Luke 7:3, Luke 7:4, Hebrews 7:26, 1 John 2:1, 1 John 2:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:30 - Abraham bought 2 Samuel 24:21 - To buy

Verse 9

much money: Heb. full money, Romans 12:17, Romans 13:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:9 - in the cave

Verse 10

dwelt: Or, sitting - as the word frequently denotes among the children of Heth, at the gate of the city, where all public business was transacted. Ephron, though a chief man, might have been personally unknown to Abraham; but now he answers for himself, making a free tender of the field and cave to Abraham, in the presence of all the people, which amounted to a legal conveyance to the Patriarch.

audience: Heb. ears

all that: Genesis 23:18, Genesis 34:20, Genesis 34:24, Ruth 4:1-4, Job 29:7, Isaiah 28:6

his: Genesis 24:10, Matthew 9:1, Luke 2:3, Luke 2:4

Reciprocal: Leviticus 2:12 - the oblation

Verse 11

my lord: Genesis 23:6, 2 Samuel 24:20-24, 1 Chronicles 21:22-24, Isaiah 32:8

in the: Genesis 23:18, Numbers 35:30, Deuteronomy 17:6, Deuteronomy 19:15, Ruth 4:1, Ruth 4:4, Ruth 4:9, Ruth 4:11, Jeremiah 32:7-12, Luke 19:24

Reciprocal: Leviticus 2:12 - the oblation 2 Samuel 24:22 - Let my lord

Verse 12

Genesis 23:7, Genesis 18:2, Genesis 19:1

Verse 13

I will: Genesis 14:22, Genesis 14:23, 2 Samuel 24:24, Acts 20:35, Romans 13:8, Philippians 4:5-8, Colossians 4:5, Hebrews 13:5

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 21:24 - Nay

Verse 15

is worth: Though the words "is worth" are not in the Text, yet they are clearly implied, to adapt the Hebrew to the English idiom. A shekel, according to the general opinion, was equal in value to about 2s. 6d. of our money, but according to Dr. Prideaux, 3s. English. In those early times, money was given in weight; for it is said - Genesis 23:16 that "Abraham weighed," wayishkal, the silver; and hence, we find that it was a certain weight which afterwards passed as a current coin; for the word shekel is not only used to denote a piece of silver, but also to weigh.

shekels: Exodus 30:15, Ezekiel 45:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 20:16 - thousand Genesis 24:22 - of half Job 28:1 - the silver Jeremiah 32:9 - weighed

Verse 16

weighed: Genesis 43:21, Ezra 8:25-30, Job 28:15, Jeremiah 32:9, Zechariah 11:12, Matthew 7:12, Romans 13:8, Philippians 4:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:6

four: Genesis 23:15, Exodus 30:13, Ezekiel 45:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 20:16 - thousand Genesis 24:22 - of half Genesis 25:10 - The field Genesis 49:31 - General Genesis 50:13 - the cave Exodus 22:17 - pay Ruth 4:9 - Ye are witnesses 2 Samuel 14:26 - two hundred shekels Esther 3:9 - and I will pay Isaiah 33:18 - receiver Joel 1:17 - seed Acts 7:16 - were

Verse 17

the field: Genesis 23:20, Genesis 25:9, Genesis 49:30-32, Genesis 50:13, Acts 7:16

made sure: Genesis 23:20, Ruth 4:7-10, Psalms 112:5, Jeremiah 32:7-14, Matthew 10:16, Ephesians 5:15, Colossians 4:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 33:19 - bought Genesis 49:32 - General Leviticus 2:12 - the oblation Job 38:20 - the bound

Verse 18

all: Genesis 34:20, Ruth 4:1, Jeremiah 32:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:10 - all that Genesis 23:11 - in the Genesis 34:24 - went out Ruth 4:4 - before the inhabitants

Verse 19

Genesis 3:19, Genesis 25:9, Genesis 25:10, Genesis 35:27-29, Genesis 47:30, Genesis 49:29-32, Genesis 50:13, Genesis 50:25, Job 30:23, Ecclesiastes 6:3, Ecclesiastes 12:5, Ecclesiastes 12:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 15:15 - buried Genesis 23:2 - Kirjatharba Genesis 23:4 - bury Genesis 35:29 - his sons John 11:38 - It was

Verse 20

were: Ruth 4:7-10, 2 Samuel 24:24, Jeremiah 32:10, Jeremiah 32:11

for a: Genesis 25:9, Genesis 49:31, Genesis 49:32, Genesis 50:5, Genesis 50:13, Genesis 50:24, Genesis 50:25, 2 Kings 21:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:17 - the field Genesis 35:29 - his sons 1 Chronicles 1:13 - Heth