Genesis 23:17

17 Thus was the felde of Ephron where in the dubbill caue is before Mamre: euen the felde and the caue that is therein and all the trees of the felde which growe in all the borders rounde aboute made sure

Genesis 23:17 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 23:17

And the field of Ephron, which [was] in Machpelah
This clearly shows that Machpelah is the proper name of a place or tract of ground, and not an appellative, or to be rendered the double cave, since a field could never be said to be in a cave: and yet some have been so stupid, as Vatablus observes, as to render the words,

``the field of Ephron, which was in the double cave,''

whereas, on the contrary, the cave was in that field; and so the Vulgate version, to better sense, though not agreeably to the Hebrew text,

``the field of Ephron, in which was the double cave:''

which [was] before Mamre;
or over against it, the place where Abraham dwelt, which was in Hebron, ( Genesis 13:18 ) ( 18:1 ) ; 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;
or "rose", or "stood up" ^F6. Jarchi thinks the reason of this phrase, or way of speaking, is, because this field, with all belonging to it, came into the hands of a greater person; out of the hands of a private man into the hands of a king; and so Abraham indeed is called by some Heathen writers ^F7; but Aben Ezra and Ben Melech much better interpret it,

``it was confirmed and stood;''

that is, it was ensured to him, and remained with him, even that, and all upon it and in it, throughout the whole circumference of it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Mqy) Heb. "surrexit", Munster, Vatablus, Piscator; "stetit", Montanus, Schmidt.
F7 Nicolaus Damascenus apud Euseb. Praepar. l. 9. c. 6. p. 417. Justin. e Trogo, l. 38. c. 2.

Genesis 23:17 In-Context

15 My lorde harken vnto me. The lande is worth iiij. hundreth sycles of syluer: But what is that betwixte the and me? bury thy deede.

16 And Abraham harkened vnto Ephron and weyde him the sylver which he had sayde in the audyence of the sonnes of Heth. Euen .iiij. hudred syluer sycles of currant money amonge marchauntes

17 Thus was the felde of Ephron where in the dubbill caue is before Mamre: euen the felde and the caue that is therein and all the trees of the felde which growe in all the borders rounde aboute made sure

18 vnto Abraham for a possession in the syghte of the childern of Heth and of all that went in at the gates of the cyte.

19 And then Abraham buried Sara his wyfe in the double caue of the felde that lyeth before Mare otherwise called Ebron in the lande of Canaan