Genesis 23:16

16 And when Abraham had heard this, he weighed out the money that Ephron had asked, in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred sicles of silver, of common current money.

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 And Ephron answered
15 My lord, hear me. The ground which thou desirest, is worth four hundred sicles of silver: this is the price between me and thee: but what is this? bury thy dead.
16 And when Abraham had heard this, he weighed out the money that Ephron had asked, in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred sicles of silver, of common current money.
17 And the field that before was Ephron’s, wherein was the double cave, looking towards Mambre, both it and the cave, and all the trees thereof, in all its limits round about,
18 Was made sure to Abraham for a possession, in the sight of the children of Heth, and of all that went in at the gate of his city.
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