Genesis 23:1-20 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

Genesis 23:4. A burying-place. Abraham believed in a future state; therefore he, as well as the other patriarchs, buried his dead. Joseph, actuated by this belief, gave commandment for his bones to be brought out of Egypt. It is the most decent way of disposing of the dead, that the dust may return to its original dust. The practice of burning the dead, and depositing the ashes in an urn, with coins and trinkets, is of great antiquity, and there are few of the ancient nations who did not more or less use this custom. Burrows, containing these urns, abound in this country, in Ireland, and other parts of Europe. Sir Thomas Browne wrote in 1685 his Hydriotaphia, occasioned by the sepulchral urns found in Norfolk; but he has not been able to trace the origin of this custom, which ceased as christianity obtained. The Jews sometimes used it, though a pagan custom. The men of Jabesh, wishing to honour Saul and his sons, burned their bones and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. 1 Samuel 31:12-13. Hence they regarded cremation as the highest honour they could pay the bodies of their insulted princes. A passage in Amos 6:10, seems to suggest the idea that the custom originated in burning the hut or tent of a man who had died of some contagious disease.

Genesis 23:9. Machpelah. Simply the name of a place; but some contend that it signifies a double cave; that is, a cave within a cave, or one place for the men, and another for the women.

Genesis 23:16. Four hundred shekels of silver, the price no doubt of a large field. Abraham knowing his call, and being assured of the promises, would not bury his dead with the Canaanites. He was judicious and prudent in paying for the field; for had he received it as a gift, the possession might have been disputed by the next heir. Of the shekel see on Exodus 30:13.

REFLECTIONS.

In the conversations of these respectable men, we see much politeness and generosity. What a lamentable consideration that persons acquainted with the principles of religion and morality, and with the literature of their age, should be so grossly carried away with wickedness. The seven nations whom God destroyed and cast out were not unacquainted with the covenant of Noah, nor did they want the finest examples in Melchizedek and others. Their depravity therefore must have proceeded from the unrestrained overflowing of original sin, and from a wilful neglect of the true religion. Those who despise the light and the blessings of the covenant, shall in like manner be despised of the Lord.

How highly favoured was Sarah, the wife of faithful Abraham. Her age, her honours, her death, are all recorded in sacred history among the princely patriarchs. St. Paul has paid her still greater honour, in making her a figure of the true church, Jerusalem above, which is free, and the mother of us all. Her conception by the special favour of God, at so advanced an age, made both her and her only son the more illustrious, as figures of the assumption, when the divinity became united to our nature, of the substance of the blessed virgin. Let us learn of Sarah and of her husband to wait in faith and patience the sure accomplishment of all the promises.

Genesis 23:1-20

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 Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

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 mightya 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 muchb 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 audiencec 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.

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.