Genesis 23:16

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

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 respondit Ephro
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
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.