Genesis 23:16

16 Abraham accepted Ephron's offer and paid out the sum that Ephron had named before the town council of Hittites - four hundred silver shekels at the current exchange rate.

Genesis 23:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 23:16

And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron
He agreed at once to give him the sum proposed, judging it to be a moderate price between man and man, and he was satisfied with it, and well content to pay him the money: and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver:
for in those times money had no mark or stamp upon it to show its value, and therefore was not told by pieces, but weighed, by which its full worth was known; and that Ephron might have his whole and just demand, the silver was weighed to him: which he had named, in the audience of the sons of Heth;
who were witnesses of the bargain, of the price set by Ephron, and of the payment of it by Abraham: four hundred shekels of silver:
the sum before mentioned, ( Genesis 23:15 ) : current [money] with the merchant;
such as was used by merchants in buying and selling; such as they would receive, who knew the value of it, and were careful not to take any that was bad; wherefore such as would pass, with them would go anywhere, was current money; how all this is consistent with what Stephen says; (See Gill on Acts 7:16).

Genesis 23:16 In-Context

14 Then Ephron answered Abraham
15 "If you insist, master. What's four hundred silver shekels between us? Now go ahead and bury your wife."
16 Abraham accepted Ephron's offer and paid out the sum that Ephron had named before the town council of Hittites - four hundred silver shekels at the current exchange rate.
17 That's how Ephron's field next to Mamre - the field, its cave, and all the trees within its borders -
18 became Abraham's property. The town council of Hittites witnessed the transaction.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.