Genesis 23:9

9 to let me have the cave of Machpelah that he owns at the end of his field. He should sell it to me for its full price as my property to be used as a tomb among you."

Genesis 23:9 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 23:9

That he may, give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath,
which [is] in the end of his field
The Targum of Jonathan renders it, "the double cave", and so do the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; and, according to Aben Ezra and Ben Melech, it was so called because there was a cave within a cave in it; and, as Jarchi thinks, because it was a house and chamber over it F25 or, as he adds, because it was fit for couples, for two corpses to be laid in it; and the Jews say F26, here Adam and Eve were buried, which made Abraham so desirous of having it for a buryingplace: but it seems rather to be the proper name of a place, and indeed of a tract of land, in which the field and the cave in the corner of it lay, and which all belonged to Ephron; for both the field and the cave in it are distinguished from Machpelah, in which they were, and that from them, ( Genesis 23:17 ) ; and it is highly probable, that this cave was never made use of before for such a purpose as it was now sought for, since Abraham did not think fit to accept of the offer made him of any of their sepulchres; and chose rather that his dead should not lie with them, but in a separate place, though among them, they being Heathens and idolaters, and unacquainted with the resurrection of the dead, and would have no part in the first resurrection, which Abraham believed and hoped for; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me, for a possession
of a buryingplace amongst you;
or, "for full money" F1, that which is full weight, for money was paid by weight in those times, as appears from ( Genesis 23:16 ) ; or for the full price and value of it: for, as Abraham did not desire to have it as a free gift, so neither at an under price; he was very willing to give the full worth of it; he did not ask it with any covetous view, or to encroach upon them.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 So in T. Bab. Erubin, fol. 53. 1.
F26 Pirke Eliezer, c. 20. & 36.
F1 (alm Pokb) "in vel pro argento pieno", Pagninus, Montanus, Schmidt.

Genesis 23:9 In-Context

7 Abraham got up in front of the Hittites, the people of that region, and bowed with his face touching the ground.
8 He said to them, "If you are willing to let me bury my wife, listen to me. Encourage Ephron, son of Zohar,
9 to let me have the cave of Machpelah that he owns at the end of his field. He should sell it to me for its full price as my property to be used as a tomb among you."
10 Ephron was sitting among the Hittites. He answered Abraham so that everyone who was entering the city gate could hear him. He said,
11 "No, sir, listen to me. I'm giving you the field together with the cave that is in it. My people are witnesses that I'm giving it to you. Bury your wife!"
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