Genesis 23:1-2
Sarah is the only woman's age recorded at death in all of scripture. This may attest to her importance in God's plan but it also reminds us that she was well beyond normal childbearing age when she had Isaac at 90. You know that Sarah had to be a woman of faith to stand alongside this man of faith for so long. Someone said, "Behind every good man is a good woman." I imagine that is the case with Abraham and Sarah. They had been through a lot together in the journey through life. As Sarah precedes Abraham in death, we see him mourn for her.
The standard mourning rites are referred to; Abraham spent the time to mourn her in her presence. Then he rose up to bury her. It seemed structured and purposeful so as not to prolong the agony of loss.
One would normally be buried in their ancestral homeland. Abraham was so confident in the promise of God, that sought to bury Sarah in the Promised Land. This decision was declaring a new home.
Genesis 23:3-4
The sons of Heth were a settlement of Hittites. Abraham acknowledged that he is a foreigner and visitor. That must have felt strange saying that when all along God was promising the land to him and his descendants.
The 'give' of NKJV is to be understood as 'sell' as rendered in NIV. Abraham had to purchase a piece of the land that is promised to his descendants to bury his wife.
Genesis 23:5-11
Abraham was known and respected by the sons of Heth. They offered him the burial place of his choice. They said no one would hold back any burial place from him. This all seems very nice of them. However, it is actually typical bartering of that day. They wouldn't hold back if the price was right; everything was for sale!
Abraham had a specific place in mind, the cave of Machpelah. He asked them to help make this happen with Ephron. Again, Ephron seems more than compliant, but he actually said he would only sell the cave with the land. He was willing to 'give' this all to him for a meager sum.
Genesis 23:12-16
Abraham said that if Ephron is willing to sell it then he is willing to give him money for it. Abraham is dealing honestly and forthrightly. Ephron named the price of 400 shekels. There are some indication this was a ridiculously high price and others believe it was fair.
"What's four hundred shekels between friends?" Rest assured; many had lost their life for a lot less. All the negotiating was done in front of people so as to follow the rules of the land. Ephron had to be happy that Abraham was willing to pay him.
Note: A shekel weighed less than a half of an ounce. There was no coin or currency at the time so there was a standard weight of a shekel used as a common measure.
Genesis 23:17-20
The sale took place at the gate of the city in the presence of the sons of Heth, the leadership of the area. Also, anyone present became witness to the sale. The process included the description of the land, its location and its boundaries.
The land is deeded to Abraham. This is the first of the Promised Land that Abraham actually owned, and he had to buy it. What a bittersweet feeling this must have been. He had heard all his life of this Promised Land. Now he is in possession of this small piece of that land so he can bury the one he loves on it.
This piece of land became important to Abraham's family. Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah and Jacob were all buried there. This burial place is where Joseph told his descendants to bury him when they went to the Promised Land.
©2019 Doug Ford
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