Genesis 23

1 Sara ward hundertsiebenundzwanzig Jahre alt{~} {~} {~}

2 und starb in Kirjat-Arba, das Hebron heißt, im Lande Kanaan. Da kam Abraham, daß er sie beklagte und beweinte.

3 Darnach stand er auf von seiner Leiche und redete mit den Kindern Heth und sprach:

4 Ich bin ein Fremder und Einwohner bei euch; gebt mir ein Erbbegräbnis bei euch, daß ich meinen Toten begrabe, der vor mir liegt

5 Da antworteten Abraham die Kinder Heth und sprachen zu ihm:

6 Höre uns, lieber Herr! Du bist ein Fürst Gottes unter uns, begrabe deinen Toten in unsern vornehmsten Gräbern; kein Mensch soll dir unter uns wehren, daß du in seinem Grabe begrabest deinen Toten.

7 Da stand Abraham auf und bückte sich vor dem Volk des Landes, vor den Kindern Heth.

8 Und er redete mit ihnen und sprach: Gefällt es euch, daß ich meinen Toten, der vor mir liegt, begrabe, so hört mich und bittet für mich Ephron, den Sohn Zohars,

9 daß er mir gebe seine zwiefache Höhle, die er hat am Ende seines Ackers; er gebe sie mir um Geld, soviel sie wert ist, unter euch zum Erbbegräbnis.

10 Ephron aber saß unter den Kindern Heth. Da antwortete Ephron, der Hethiter, Abraham, daß zuhörten die Kinder Heth, vor allen, die zu seiner Stadt Tor aus und ein gingen, und sprach:

11 Nein, mein Herr, sondern höre mir zu! Ich schenke dir den Acker und die Höhle darin dazu und übergebe dir's vor den Augen der Kinder meines Volkes, zu begraben deinen Toten. {~}

12 Da bückte sich Abraham vor dem Volk des Landes

13 und redete mit Ephron, daß zuhörte das Volk des Landes, und sprach: Willst du mir ihn lassen, so bitte ich, nimm von mir das Geld für den Acker, das ich dir gebe, so will ich meinen Toten daselbst begraben.

14 Ephron antwortete Abraham und sprach zu ihm

15 Mein Herr, höre doch mich! Das Feld ist vierhun dert Lot Silber wert; was ist das aber zwischen mir und dir? Begrabe nur deinen Toten!

16 Abraham gehorchte Ephron und wog ihm das Geld dar, das er gesagt hatte, daß zuhörten die Kinder Heth, vierhundert Lot Silber, das im Kauf gang und gäbe war.

17 Also ward Ephrons Acker, darin die zwiefache Höhle ist, Mamre gegenüber, Abraham zum eigenen Gut bestätigt mit der Höhle darin und mit allen Bäumen auf dem Acker umher, {~}

18 daß die Kinder Heth zusahen und alle, die zu seiner Stadt Tor aus und ein gingen.

19 Darnach begrub Abraham Sara, sein Weib, in der Höhle des Ackers, die zwiefach ist, Mamre gegenüber, das ist Hebron, im Lande Kanaan

20 Also ward bestätigt der Acker und die Höhle darin Abraham zum Erbbegräbnis von den Kindern Heth.

Genesis 23 Commentary

Chapter 23

The death of Sarah, Abraham applies for a burying-place. (1-13) Sarah's burying-place. (14-20)

Verses 1-13 The longest life must shortly come to a close. Blessed be God that there is a world where sin, death, vanity, and vexation cannot enter. Blessed be his name, that even death cannot part believers from union with Christ. Those whom we most love, yea, even our own bodies, which we so care for, must soon become loathsome lumps of clays, and be buried out of sight. How loose then should we be to all earthly attachments and adornments! Let us seek rather that our souls be adorned with heavenly graces. Abraham rendered honour and respect to the princes of Heth, although of the ungodly Canaanites. The religion of the Bible enjoins to pay due respect to all in authority, without flattering their persons, or countenancing their crimes if they are unworthy characters. And the noble generosity of these Canaanites shames and condemns the closeness, selfishness, and ill-humour of many that call themselves Israelites. It was not in pride that Abraham refused the gift, because he scorned to be beholden to Ephron; but in justice and in prudence. Abraham was able to pay for the field, and therefore would not take advantage of Ephron's generosity. Honesty, as well as honour, forbids us to take advantage of our neighbour's liberality, and to impose, upon those who give freely.

Verses 14-20 Prudence, as well as justice, directs us to be fair and open in our dealings; cheating bargains will not bear the light. Abraham, without fraud or delay, pays the money. He pays it at once in full, without keeping any part back; and by weight, current money with the merchant, without deceit. See how anciently money was used for the help of trade, and how honestly it should be paid when it is due. Though all the land of Canaan was Abraham by promise, yet the time of his possessing it not being come, what he had occasion for he bought and paid for. 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. Ephron honestly and fairly makes a good title to the land. As that which is bought, must be honestly paid for, so that which is sold, must be honestly delivered and secured. Let us manage our concerns with punctuality and exactness, in order to avoid contention. Abraham buried Sarah in cave. or vault, which was in the purchased field. It would tend to endear the land to his posterity. And it is worth noting, that a burying-place was the only piece of the land which Abraham possessed in Canaan. Those who have least of this earth, find a grave in it. This sepulchre was at the end of the field; whatever our possessions are, there is a burial-place at the end of them. It was a token of his belief and expectation of the resurrection. Abraham is contented to be still a pilgrim while he lives, but secures a place where, when he dies, his flesh may rest in hope. After all, the chief concern is, with whom we shall rise.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 23

This chapter treats of the age, death, and funeral of Sarah, and the place of her interment: of her age, Ge 23:1; of her death, Ge 23:2; of the motion Abraham made to the sons of Heth, to obtain a burial place among them, Ge 23:3,4; of the answer of them to him, giving him leave to bury in any of their sepulchres, Ge 23:5,6; of a second motion of his to them, to use their interest with Ephron the Hittite, to let him have the cave of Machpelah for the above purpose, Ge 23:7-9; of Ephron's consent unto it, Ge 23:10,11; of the purchase Abraham made of it for four hundred shekels of silver, Ge 23:12-16; and of its being secured unto him, which he interred Sarah his wife, Ge 23:17-20.