Genesis 23:17

17 confirmatusque est ager quondam Ephronis in quo erat spelunca duplex respiciens Mambre tam ipse quam spelunca et omnes arbores eius in cunctis terminis per circuitum

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.

---

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 domine mi audi terram quam postulas quadringentis argenti siclis valet istud est pretium inter me et te sed quantum est hoc sepeli mortuum tuum

16 quod cum audisset Abraham adpendit pecuniam quam Ephron postulaverat audientibus filiis Heth quadringentos siclos argenti et probati monetae publicae

17 confirmatusque est ager quondam Ephronis in quo erat spelunca duplex respiciens Mambre tam ipse quam spelunca et omnes arbores eius in cunctis terminis per circuitum

18 Abrahae in possessionem videntibus filiis Heth et cunctis qui intrabant portam civitatis illius

19 atque ita sepelivit Abraham Sarram uxorem suam in spelunca agri duplici qui respiciebat Mambre haec est Hebron in terra Chanaa