Génesis 23:17

17 Así fue como el campo de Efrón, que estaba en Macpela, cerca de Mamré, pasó a ser propiedad de Abraham, junto con la cueva y todos los árboles que estaban dentro de los límites del campo.

Génesis 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.

Génesis 23:17 In-Context

15 —Señor mío, escúcheme. El campo vale cuatrocientas monedas de plata. ¿Qué es eso entre nosotros? Vaya tranquilo y entierre a su esposa.

16 Abraham se puso de acuerdo con Efrón, y en presencia de los hititas le pagó lo convenido: cuatrocientas monedas de plata, moneda corriente entre los comerciantes.

17 Así fue como el campo de Efrón, que estaba en Macpela, cerca de Mamré, pasó a ser propiedad de Abraham, junto con la cueva y todos los árboles que estaban dentro de los límites del campo.

18 La transacción se hizo en presencia de los hititas y de los que pasaban por la puerta de su ciudad.

19 Luego Abraham sepultó a su esposa Sara en la cueva del campo de Macpela que está cerca de Mamré, es decir, en Hebrón, en la tierra de Canaán.