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26 - Commentary on The Book of Genesis · Sacred Texts Archive

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  Chapter twenty three. Here is Roman one Abraham, a mourner for the death
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  of Sarah Verses one and two. Roman two Abraham, a purchaser of a
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  burying place for Sarah. One, the purchase humbly proposed by Abraham Verses three
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  and four. Two, fairly treated of and agreed to with a great deal
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  of mutual civility and respect Verses five to sixteen three. The purchase money paid
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  verse sixteen four. The premises conveyed and secured to Abraham Verses seventeen, eighteen,
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  and twenty five. Sarah's funeral verse nineteen. The death of Sarah b.
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  C. Eighteen fifty seven Verses one and two. And Sarah was one
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  hundred and seven and twenty years old. These were the years of Sarah's life,
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  and Sarah died in kirriath Arba, the same as hebron in the land
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  of Canaan. And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
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  We have here one Sarah's age verse one, almost forty years before she
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  had called herself old. Chapter eighteen, Verse twenty Old. People will die
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  never the sooner, but may die the better for reckoning themselves Old. Two
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  her death Verse two, the longest liver must die at last. Abraham and
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  Sarah had lived comfortably together many years. But death parts those whom nothing else
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  could part. The special friends and favorites of heaven are not exempted from the
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  stroke of death. She died in the land of Canaan, where she had
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  been above sixty years. A sojourner. Three Abraham's mourning for her, and
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  he was a true mourner. He did not only perform the ceremonies of mourning
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  according to the custom of those times, as the mourners that go about the
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  streets, but he did sincerely lament the great loss he had of a good
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  wife, and gave proof of the constancy of his affection to her. To
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  the last two words are used. He came both to mourn and to weep.
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  His sorrow was not counterfeit, but real. He came to her tent
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  and sat down by the corpse there to pay the tribute of his tears,
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  that his eye might affect his heart, and that he might pay the greater
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  respect to the memory of her that was gone. Note it is not only
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  lawful, but it is a duty to lament the death of our near relations.
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  Both in compliance with the providence of God, who thus calls to weeping
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  and mourning, and in honor to those to whom honor is due. Tears
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  are a tribute due to our deceased friends. When a body is sown,
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  it must be watered. But we must not sorrow as those that have no
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  hope, for we have a good hope through grace, both concerning them and
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  concerning ourselves. The Cave of Machpela b. C. Eighteen fifty seven,
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  Verses three to fifteen. And Abraham stood up from before his dead and spake
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  unto the sons of Heath, saying, I am a stranger and a sojourner
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  with you. Give me a possession of a bearing place with you, that
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  I may bury my dead out of my sight. And the children of Heath
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  answered Abraham, saying unto him, hear us, my lord, thou art
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  a mighty prince among us, in the choice of our sepulchers, bury thy
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  dead. None of us shall withhold from thee his sepulcher, but that thou
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  mayst bury thy dead. And Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people
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  of the land, even to the children of Heath, And he communed with
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  them, saying, if it be your mind that I should bury my dead
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  out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me to Ephron, the
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  son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which
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  he hath, which is in the end of his field, for as much
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  money as it is worth. He shall give it me for a possession of
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  a bearing place amongst you. And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heath.
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  And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of even of
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  all that went in at the gate of his city, saying, nay,
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  my lord, hear me the field I give THEE and the cave that is
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  therein I give THEE. In the presence of the sons of my people.
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  I giveth THEE bury thy dead. And Abraham bowed down himself before the people
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  of the land, and he spoke unto Ephron in the audience of the people
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  of the land, saying, but if thou wilt give it, I pray
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  THEE hear me, I will give THEE money for the field. Take it
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  of me, and I will bury my dead there. And Ephron answered Abraham,
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  saying unto him, My lord, hearken unto me the land is worth
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  four hundred chuckles of silver? What is that betwixt me and thee bury therefore
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  thy dead? Here is Roman one the humble request which Abraham made to his
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  neighbors, the Hittites, for a bearing place among them, Verses three and
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  four. It was strange he had this to do now, But we are
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  to impute it rather to God's providence than to his improvvidence, as appears Acts
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  Chapter six, verse five, where it is said God gave him no inheritance
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  in Canaan. It were well if all those who take care to provide burying
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  places for their bodies after death were as careful to provide a resting place for
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  their souls. Observe here one the convenient diversion which this affair gave for the
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  present to Abraham's grief. He stood up from before his dead. Those that
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  find themselves in danger of over grieving for their dead relations and are entering into
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  that temptation, must take heed of pouring upon their loss and sitting alone and
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  melancholy. There must be a time of standing up from before their dead and
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  ceasing to mourn. For thanks be to God, our happiness is not bound
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  up in the life of any creature. Care of the funeral may, as
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  here be improved to divert grief for the death at first, when it is
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  most in danger of tyrannizing. Weeping must not hinder sowing. Two the argument
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  he used with the children of Heath, which was this, I am a
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  stranger and a sojourner with you. Therefore I am unprovided and must become a
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  humble suitor to you for a burying place. This was one occasion which Abraham
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  took to confess that he was a stranger and a pilgrim upon earth. He
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  was not ashamed to own it thus publicly Hebrews chapter eleven, verse thirteen,
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  Note the death of our relations should effectually remind us that we are not at
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  home in this world. When they are gone, say we are going.
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  Three. His uneasiness till this affair was settled, intimated in that word,
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  that I may bury my dead out of my sight. Note death will make
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  those unpleasant to our sight, who, while they lived, were the desire
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  of our eyes. The countenance that was fresh and lively becomes pale and ghastly,
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  and fit to be removed into the land of darkness. While she was
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  in his sight. It renewed his grief, which he would prevent. Roman
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  too, the generous offer which the children of Head made to him Verses five
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  and six. They compliment him one with a title of respect. Thou art
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  a prince of God among us, So the word is not only great but
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  good. He called himself a stranger and a sojourner. They called him a
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  great prince. For those that humble themselves shall be exalted. God had promised
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  to make Abraham's name great. Two with a tender of the best of their
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  bearing places. Note, even the light of nature teaches us to be civil
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  and respectful towards all, though they be strangers and sojourners. The noble generosity
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  of these Canaanites shames and condemns the closeness and selfishness and ill humor of many
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  that call themselves Israelites. Observe, these Canaanites would be glad to mingle their
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  dust with Abrahams and to have their last end like his Roman three. The
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  particular proposal which Abraham made to them Verses seven to nine. He returns them
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  his thanks for their kind offer, with all possible decency and respect. Though
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  a great man, an old man, and now a mourner, yet he
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  stands up and bows himself humbly before them verse seven. Note religion teaches good
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  manners, and those abuse it that place it in rudeness and clownishness. He
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  then pitches upon the place he thinks most convenient, namely the cave of Machpela,
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  which probably lay near him, and had not yet been used for a
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  varying place. The present owner was Ephron. Abraham cannot pretend to any interest
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  in him, but he desires that they would improve theirs with him to get
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  the purchase of the cave and the field in which it was. Note A
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  moderate desire to obtain that which is convenient for us by fair and honest means,
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  is not such a coveting of that which is our neighbors, as is
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  forbidden in the tenth Commandment Roman. For the present which Ephram made to Abraham
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  of his field, the field I give thee Verses ten and eleven. Abraham
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  thought he must be entreated to sell it, But upon the first mention of
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  it, without entreaty, Ephron freely gives it. Some men have more generosity
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  than they are thought to have. Abraham no doubt, had taken all occasions
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  to oblige his neighbors and to do them any service that lay in his power.
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  And now they return his kindness, for he that waterreth shall be watered
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  also himself. Note if those that profess religion adorn their profession by eminent civility
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  and serviceableness to all, they shall find it will rebound to their own comfort
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  and advantage, as well as to the glory of God. Roman five.
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  Abraham's modest and sincere refusal of Ephron's kind offer Verses twelve and thirteen. Abundance
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  of thanks, he returns him for it. Verse twelve, makes his obeisance
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  to him before the people of the land, that they might respect Ephron the
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  more for the respect they saw Abraham give him for Samuel Chapter fifteen, verse
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  thirty, but resolves to give him money for the field, even the full
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  value. It was not impride that Abraham refused the gift, or because he
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  scorned to be beholden to Ephron, but one in justice. Abraham was rich
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  in silver and gold Chapter thirteen, verse two, and was able to pay
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  for the field, and therefore would not take advantage of Ephron's generosity, note
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  honesty as well as honor, forbids us to sponge upon our neighbors and to
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  impose upon those that are free. Job reflected upon it with comfort when he
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  was poor, that he had not eaten the fruits of his land without money.
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  Job Chapter thirty one, verse thirty nine two. In prudence, he
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  would pay for it. Lest Ephron, when his good humor was over,
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  should upbraid him with it and say I have made Abraham rich Chapter fourteen,
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  verse twenty three. Or lest the next heir should question Abraham's title, because
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  that grant was made without any consideration, and claim back the field. Thus
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  David afterwards refused Orana's offer. Second Samuel, chapter twenty four, verse twenty
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  four. We know not what we may hereafter receive from those that are now
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  most kind and generous. Roman six. The price of the land, fixed
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  by Ephron, but not insisted upon the land is worth four hundred chuckels of
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  silver, about fifty pounds of our money. But what is that between me
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  and thee Verses fourteen and fifteen. He would rather oblige his friend than have
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  so much money in his pocket. Here In, Efron discovers one a great
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  contempt of worldly wealth? What is that between me and thee? It is
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  a small matter, not worth speaking of many A one would have said,
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  it is a deal of money, it will go far in a child's portion.
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  But Efron says, what is that? Note it is an excellent thing
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  for people to have low and mean thoughts. Of all the wealth of this
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  world. It is that which is not and in the abundance of which a
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  man's life does not consist. Luke, Chapter twelve, verse fifteen two.
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  Great courtesy and obligingness to his friend and neighbor. Ephron was not jealous of
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  Abraham as a resident foreigner, nor envious of him as a man likely to
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  thrive and grow rich. He bore him no ill will for his singularity in
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  religion, but was much kinder to him than most people nowadays are to their
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  own brothers. What is that between me and thee? Note? No little
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  thing should occasion demurs in differences between true friends. When we are at tempted
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  to be hot in resenting affronts, high in demanding our rights, or hard
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  in denying kindness, we should answer the temptation with this question, what is
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  that between me and my friend? Sarah's funeral b. C. Eighteen fifty
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  seven, Verses sixteen to twenty. And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron, and Abraham
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  wade to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the sons
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  of Heath four hundred checkels of silver current money with the merchant. And the
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  field of Ephron which was in Machpela, which was before Mamre. The field
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  and the cave which was there in, and all the trees that were in
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  the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure
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  under Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heath before all
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  that went in at the gate of his city. And after this Abraham buried
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  Sarah, his wife in the cave of the field of Machpela before Mamra,
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  the same as Hebron in the land of Canaan, and the field and the
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  cave that is therein were made sure under Abraham for a possession of a bearing
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  place by the sons of Heath. We have here the conclusion of the treaty
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  between Abraham and Ephron about the burying place. The bargain was publicly made before
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  all the neighbors in the presence and audience of the sons of Heath Verses sixteen
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  and seventeen. Note Prudence, as well as justice, directs us to be
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  fair and open and above board in our dealings. Fraudulent contracts hate the light
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  and choose to be clandestine. But those that design honesty in their bargains care
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  not who are witnesses to them. Our law countenances sales made in market overt
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  and by deed enrolled. Observe One Abraham, without fraud, covin or further
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  delay, pays the money Verse sixteen. He pays it readily, without hesitation,
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  pays it in full without diminution, and pays it by weight current money
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  with the merchant without deceit. See how anciently money was used for the help
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  of commerce, and see how honestly money should be paid where it is due.
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  Observe, though all the land of Canaan was Abraham's by promise, yet
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  the time of his possessing, not having come what he had now occasioned for,
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  he bought and paid for. Note dominion is not founded in grace.
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  The saint's title to an eternal inheritance does not entitle them to the possessions of
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  this world, nor justify them in doing wrong. Two Ephron honestly and fairly
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  makes him a good title to the land Verses seventeen eighteen twenty. The field,
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  with all its impertinences, is conveyed to Abraham and his heir forever in
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  open court, not by writing. It does not appear that writing was then
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  used, but by such a public solemn declaration before witnesses as was sufficient to
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  pass it. Note as that which is bought must be honestly paid for,
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  so that which is sold must be honestly delivered and secured. Three. Abraham
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  thereupon takes possession and buries Sarah in the cave or vault, whether framed by
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  nature or art, is not certain which was in the purchased field. It
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  is probable that Abraham had buried servants out of his family since he came to
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  Canaan, but the graves of the common people Second King, Chapter twenty three,
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  verse six might suffice for them. Now that Sarah was dead, a
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  peculiar place must be found for her remains. It is worth noting socet One,
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  that a burying place was the first spot of ground Abraham possessed in Canaan
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  note, when we are entering into the world, it is good to think
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  of our going out of it, for as soon as we are born,
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  we begin to die. So two that it was the only piece of land
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  he ever possessed, though the country was all his own. In reversion,
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  those that have least of this earth find a grave in it. Abraham provided
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  not cities, as Cain and Nimrod, but a sepulcher, one to be
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  a constant memorandum of death to himself and his posterity, that he and they
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  might learn to die daily. The sepulcher is said to be at the end
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  of the field verse nine. For whatever our possessions are, there is a
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  sepulcher at the end of them two, to be a token of his belief
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  and expectation of the resurrection. For why should such care be taken of the
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  body, if it be thrown away forever and must not rise again. Abraham
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  in this said plainly that he sought a better country, that is a heavenly
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  Abraham is content to be still flitting while he lives, but secures a place
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  where, when he comes to die, his flesh may rest in hope.
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  End of Chapter twenty three