Here is, I. Abraham a mourner for the death of Sarah,
Genesis 23:1,2.
II. Abraham a purchaser of a burying-place for Sarah.
1. The purchase humbly proposed by Abraham,
Genesis 23:3,4.
2. Fairly treated
of, and agreed to, with a great deal of mutual civility and respect,
Genesis 23:5-16.
3. The purchase-money paid,
Genesis 23:16.
4. The premises
conveyed and secured to Abraham,
Genesis 23:17,18,20.
5. Sarah's funeral,
Genesis 23:19.
The Death of Sarah.
B. C. 1857.
1 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-arba; the
same is Hebron in the land of Canaan:
and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah,
and to weep for her.
We have here,
1. Sarah's age,
Genesis 23:1. Almost forty years before, she had called
herself old,
Genesis 18:12. Old people will
die never the sooner, but may die the better,
for reckoning themselves old.
2. Her death,
Genesis 23:2. The longest liver must die at last.
Abraham and Sarah had lived comfortably
together many years; but death parts those
whom nothing else could part. The special
friends and favourites of Heaven are not exempted
from the stroke of death. She died
in the land of Canaan, where she had been
above sixty years a sojourner.
3. Abraham's
mourning for her; and he was a true
mourner. He did not only perform the
ceremonies of mourning according to the
custom of those time, as the mourners that
go about the streets, but he did sincerely
lament the great loss he had of a good wife,
and gave proof of the constancy of his affection
to her to the last. Two words are used:
he came both to mourn and to weep. His
sorrow was not counterfeit, but real. He
came to her tent, and sat down by the
corpse, there to pay the tribute of his tears,
that his eye might affect his heart, and that
he might pay the greater respect to the memory
of her that was gone. Note, It is not
only lawful, but it is a duty, to lament the
death of our near relations, both in compliance
with the providence of God, who thus
calls to weeping and mourning, and in
honour to those to whom honour is due.
Tears are a tribute due to our deceased
friends. When a body is sown, it must
be watered. But we must not sorrow as
those that have no hope; for we have a good
hope through grace both concerning them
and concerning ourselves.
The Cave of Machpelah.
B. C. 1857.
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 buryingplace 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 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.
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 Zohar,
9 That he may give
me the cave of Machpelah, 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
buryingplace amongst you.
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 went
in at the gate 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 wilt 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 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.
Here is,
I. The humble request which
Abraham made to his neighbours, the Hittites,
for a burying-place among them,
Genesis 23:3,4. It was strange he had this to do now;
but we are to impute it rather to God's providence
than to his improvidence, as appears
Acts 7:5, where it is said, God gave
him no inheritance in Canaan. It were well
if all those who take care to provide burying-places
for their bodies after death were as
careful to provide a resting-place for their
souls. Observe here,
1. The convenient
diversion which this affair gave, for the present,
to Abraham's grief: He stood up from
before his dead. Those that find themselves
in danger of over-grieving for their dead relations,
and are entering into that temptation,
must take heed of poring upon their
loss and sitting alone and melancholy.
There must be a time of standing up from
before their dead, and ceasing to mourn.
For, thanks be to God, our happiness is not
bound up in the life of any creature. Care
of the funeral may, as here, be improved to
divert grief for the death at first, when it is
most in danger of tyrannizing. Weeping
must not hinder sowing.
2. The argument
he used with the children of Heth, which
was this: "I am a stranger and a sojourner
with you, therefore I am unprovided, and
must become a humble suitor to you for a
burying-place." This was one occasion
which Abraham took to confess that he was
a stranger and a pilgrim upon earth; he was
not ashamed to own it thus publicly,
Hebrews 11:13. Note, The death of our relations
should effectually remind us that we are not
at home in this world. When they are gone,
say, "We are going."
3. His uneasiness
till this affair was settled, intimated in that
word, that I may bury my dead out of my
sight. Note, Death will make those unpleasant
to our sight who while they lived
were the desire of our eyes. The countenance
that was fresh and lively becomes pale
and ghastly, and fit to be removed into the
land of darkness. While she was in his
sight, it renewed his grief, which he would
prevent.
II. The generous offer which the children
of Heth made to him,
Genesis 23:5,6. They compliment
him,
1. With a title of respect:
Thou art a prince of God among us, so the
word is; not only great, but good. He
called himself a stranger and a sojourner;
they call him a great prince; for those that
humble themselves shall be exalted. God
had promised to make Abraham's name
great.
2. With a tender of the best of their
burying-places. Note, Even the light of
nature teaches us to be civil and respectful
towards all, though they be strangers and
sojourners. The noble generosity of these
Canaanites shames and condemns the closeness,
and selfishness, and ill-humour, of
many that call themselves Israelites. Observe,
These Canaanites would be glad to
mingle their dust with Abraham's and to
have their last end like his.
III. The particular proposal which Abraham
made to them,
Genesis 23:7-9. He returns
them his thanks for their kind offer with all
possible decency and respect; though a great
man, an old man, and now a mourner, yet
he stands up, and bows himself humbly before
them,
Genesis 23:7. Note, Religion teaches
good manners; and those abuse it that place
it in rudeness and clownishness. He then
pitches upon the place he thinks most convenient,
namely, the cave of Machpelah,
which probably lay near him, and had not
yet been used for a burying-place. The
present owner was Ephron. Abraham cannot
pretend to any interest in him, but he
desires that they would improve theirs with
him to get the purchase of that cave, and
the field in which it was. Note, A moderate
desire to obtain that which is convenient for
us, by fair and honest means, is not such a
coveting of that which is our neighbour's as
is forbidden in the tenth commandment.
IV. The present which Ephron made to
Abraham of his field: The field give I thee,
Genesis 23:10,11. Abraham thought he must be entreated
to sell it; but, upon the first mention
of it, without entreaty, Ephron freely gives
it. Some men have more generosity than
they are thought to have. Abraham, no
doubt, had taken all occasions to oblige his
neighbours, and do them any service that
lay in his power; and now they return his
kindness: for he that watereth shall be watered
also himself. Note, If those that profess
religion adorn their profession by eminent
civility and serviceableness to all, they
shall find it will rebound to their own comfort
and advantage, as well as to the glory
of God.
V. Abraham's modest and sincere refusal
of Ephron's kind offer,
Genesis 23:12,13. Abundance
of thanks he returns him for it
(Genesis 23:12), makes his obeisance to him before the people
of the land, that they might respect
Ephron the more for the respect they saw
Abraham give him
(1 Samuel 15:30), but resolves
to give him money for the field, even
the full value of it. It was not in pride that
Abraham refused the gift, or because he
scorned to be beholden to Ephron; but,
1. In justice. Abraham was rich in silver and
gold
(Genesis 13:2) and was able to pay for the
field, and therefore would not take advantage
of Ephron's generosity. Note, Honesty, as
well as honour, forbids us to sponge upon
our neighbours and to impose upon those
that are free. Job reflected upon it with
comfort, when he was poor, that he had not
eaten the fruits of his land without money,
Job 31:39.
2. In prudence. He would
pay for it lest Ephron, when this good humour
was over, should upbraid him with it,
and say, I have made Abraham rich
(Genesis 14:23), or lest the next heir should question
Abraham's title (because that grant was made
without any consideration), and claim back
the field. Thus David afterwards refused
Araunah's offer,
2 Samuel 24:24. We know
not what affronts we may hereafter receive
from those that are now most kind and generous.
VI. The price of the land fixed by Ephron
but not insisted on: The land is worth four
hundred shekels of silver (about fifty pounds
of our money), but what is that between me
and thee?
Genesis 23:14,15. He would rather oblige
his friend than have so much money in his
pocket. Herein Ephron discovers,
1. A
great contempt of worldly wealth. "What
is that between me and thee? It is a small
matter, not worth speaking of." Many a
one would have said, "It is a deal of money;
it will go far in a child's portion." But
Ephron says, "What is that?" Note, It is
an excellent thing for people to have low and
mean thoughts of all the wealth of this world;
it is that which is not, and in the abundance
of which a man's life does not consist,
Luke 12:15.
2. Great courtesy, and obligingness
to his friend and neighbour. Ephron was
not jealous of Abraham as a resident foreigner,
nor envious at him as a man likely to
thrive and grow rich. He bore him no ill-will
for his singularity in religion, but was
much kinder to him than most people now-a-days
are to their own brothers: What is
that between me and thee? Note, No little
thing should occasion demurs and differences
between true friends. When we are tempted
to be hot in resenting affronts, high in demanding
our rights, or hard in denying a
kindness, we should answer the temptation
with this question: "What is that between
me and my friend?"
Sarah's Funeral.
B. C. 1857.
16 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
buryingplace by the sons of Heth.
We have here the conclusion of the treaty
between Abraham and Ephron about the
burying-place. The bargain was publicly
made before all the neighbours, in the presence
and audience of the sons of Heth,
Genesis 23:16,17. Note, Prudence, as well as justice, directs us
to be fair, and open, and above-board, in our
dealings. Fraudulent contracts hate the
light, and choose to be clandestine; but those
that design honestly in their bargains care
not who are witnesses to them. Our law
countenances sales made in market-overt,
and by deed enrolled. Observe,
1. Abraham,
without fraud, covin, or further delay, pays
the money,
Genesis 23:16. He pays it readily, without
hesitation,--pays it in full, without diminution,--and
pays it by weight, current
money with the merchant, without deceit.
See how anciently money was used for the
help of commerce; and see how honestly
money should be paid where it is due. Observe,
Though all the land of Canaan was
Abraham's by promise, yet, the time of his
possessing not having come, what he had
now occasion for he bought and paid for.
Note, Dominion is not founded in grace. The
saints' title to an eternal inheritance does not
entitle them to the possessions of this world,
nor justify them in doing wrong.
2. Ephron
honestly and fairly makes him a good title to
the land,
Genesis 23:17,18,20. The field, with all
its appurtenances, is conveyed to Abraham
and his heirs for ever, in open court, not by
writing (it does not appear that writing was
then used), but by such a public solemn declaration
before witnesses as was sufficient to
pass it. Note, As that which is bought must
be honestly paid for, so that which is sold
must be honestly delivered and secured.
3. Abraham, thereupon, takes possession, and
buries Sarah in the cave or vault (whether
framed by nature or art is not certain) which
was in the purchased field. It is probable
that Abraham had buried servants out of his
family since he came to Canaan, but the graves
of the common people
(2 Kings 23:6) might
suffice for them; now that Sarah was dead a
peculiar place must be found for her remains.
It is worth noting,
(1.) That a burying-place
was the first spot of ground Abraham possessed
in Canaan. Note, When we are entering
into the world it is good to think of our
going out of it; for, as soon as we are born,
we begin to die.
(2.) That it was the only
piece of land he ever possessed, though the
country was all his own in reversion. Those
that have least of this earth find a grave in it.
Abraham provided, not cities, as Cain and
Nimrod, but a sepulchre,
[1.] To be a constant
memorandum of death to himself and
his posterity, that he and they might learn
to die daily. This sepulchre is said to be
at the end of the field
(Genesis 23:9); for, whatever our
possessions are, there is a sepulchre at the end
of them.
[2.] To be a token of his belief
and expectation of the resurrection; for why
should such care be taken of the body if it
be thrown away for ever, and must not rise
again? Abraham, in this, said plainly that
he sought a better country, that is, a heavenly.
Abraham is content to be still flitting,
while he lives, but secures a place where,
when he dies his flesh may rest in hope.
Matthew Henry "Verse by Verse Commentary for 'Genesis' Matthew Henry Bible Commentary".
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