Reflections on Genesis 23

Genesis 23 (Contemporary English Version)
1. When Sarah was one hundred twenty-seven years old, she died in Kiriath-Arba, better known as Hebron, in the land of Canaan. After Abraham had mourned for her,
   
2. (SEE 23:1)
   
3. he went to the Hittites and said,
   
4. "I live as a foreigner in your land, and I don't own any property where I can bury my wife. Please let me buy a piece of land."
   
5. "Sir," they answered, "you are an important man. Choose the best place to bury your wife. None of us would refuse you a resting place for your dead."
   
6. (SEE 23:5)
   
7. Abraham bowed down
   
8. and replied, "If you are willing to let me bury my wife here, please ask Zohar's son Ephron
   
9. to sell me Machpelah Cave at the end of his field. I'll pay what it's worth, and all of you can be witnesses."
   
10. Ephron was sitting there near the city gate, when Abraham made this request, and he answered,
    
11. "Sir, the whole field, including the cave, is yours. With my own people as witnesses, I freely give it to you as a burial place for your dead."
    
12. Once again, Abraham bowed down
    
13. and said to Ephron, "In front of these witnesses, I offer you the full price, so I can bury my wife. Please accept my offer."
    
14. "But sir," the man replied, "the property is worth only four hundred pieces of silver. Why should we haggle over such a small amount? Take the land. It's yours."
    
15. (SEE 23:14)
    
16. Abraham accepted Ephron's offer and paid him the four hundred pieces of silver in front of everyone at the city gate. That's how Abraham got Ephron's property east of Hebron, which included the field with all of its trees, as well as Machpelah Cave at the end of the field.
    
17. (SEE 23:16)
    
18. (SEE 23:16)
    
19. So Abraham buried his wife Sarah in Machpelah Cave that was in the field
    
20. he had bought from the Hittites.
    
    

    ---

    
    Burial of Sarah, Abraham's wife, was another demonstration of Abraham's faith though on the surface it may not be seen as such. At the age of 127 Sarah died "in the land of Canaan." (23:2) Customs of the time placed great importance on burying the dead in their native land. For Abraham this would have meant going back to Paddan Aram in northwest Mesopotamia to bury Sarah. Not only was Canaan not the native land of Sarah and Abraham, they did not even own land there. They were considered aliens in the land. So it was a considerable demonstration of faith for Abraham to bury Sarah in Canaan, fully trusting the Lord that it would one day belong to his descendants.
    
    Much of chapter 23 describes Abraham's purchase of the cave in which he would bury Sarah. It was the cave of Machpelah that he wanted for her burial. What he acquired was the cave and the field in which it was located. Though the offer by Zohar, owner of the cave and field, may appear to be an offer of giving Abraham the land, scholars tell us that this was merely the bedoin method of bargaining. Zohar had no intention of giving away the field. In fact, his selling price of 400 shekels of silver was considered an extortionate price, far from a gift of the land. Abraham didn't blink at the price. He merely paid it, not wanting to be indebted in any way to these Hittites. The transaction was made at the city gate in full view of the leaders of the area as witnesses to the transaction. There would be no question of how Abraham acquired the field and cave.
    
    Interestingly, though this land of Canaan was promised to Abraham by God as his future possession, the only part of this land of promise that Abraham himself ever received, he bought. This cave of Machpelah that he bought became not only the burial site of Sarah, but also of Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah.