Abraham weighed, &c.— They did not tell the money, as we do now, but gave it out by weight. In time, convenience taught men to give it a public stamp, in order to denote its value: yet it continued to be weighed among the Jews, in David's time; see 1 Chronicles 21:25 and even till the captivity. Indeed, as Bp. Patrick observes, the very word shekel comes from shakal, to weigh. The same custom of weighing prevailed among the Romans till about the four hundred and seventy-fifth year of Rome.
Related Commentaries of Genesis 23:16
Genesis 23:16
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.