Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 23

1. AND Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah .

This is the peculiar honour of Sarah the Mother of the faithful, 1 Pet. 3. 6. to have the years of her life numbred in Scripture.

2 And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba , the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her .

Or, The City of Arba, so called probably from a giant or great man called Arba, who lived and ruled in those parts. See Ios. 14. 15. and 15. 13.

It is objected against this Scripture that this City was not called Hebron till Ioshua's time, Ios. 14. 15. but this is a mistake, Ioshua doth not say so, but onely that the name of Hebron before, (or in old time,) as this very particle is rendred, Deut. 2. 20. and elsewhere. So the sense is, The most antient name of it was Kiriath-Arba. Nor doth Ioshua there give any account or reason of this change of the name at that time or upon that occasion, as the sacred Writers use to do in such cases, but rather supposeth that Hebron was the name of it before he came thither, and how long before that time he doth not express.

Into Sarah's Tent. See Gen▪ 18. 6, 9.

According to the laudable custom of all ages and nations to manifest their sense of Gods hand upon them and of their own loss. See Gen. 50. 3. Deut. 34. 8. &c.

3 And Abraham stood up from before his dead , and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,

To shew his moderation in sorrow, and to take care for her burial according to his duty.

4 I am a stranger, and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying-place with you , that I may bury my dead out of my sight .

The priviledge of burial hath been always sought and priz'd, by all Nations, whom nature and humanity teacheth to preserve the bodies of men, which have been the Temples of reasonable and immortal souls from contempt and violation, so especially by Christians, as a Testimony and Pledge of their future Resurrection, See Numb. 33. 4. Deut. 21. 23. Iob 5. 26. For which cause Abraham desires a distinct burying place separated from the Pagan people.

In Canaan. There he and after him other Patriarchs earnestly desired to be buried, upon this account, that it might confirm their own and their Childrens Faith in Gods Promise, and animate their Children in due time to take possession of the Land. See Gen. 25. 9. and 47. 29, 30. and 50. 13, 25. Exod. 13. 19. Heb. 11. 22.

So she that before was the desire of his eyes, Ezek. 24. 16. is now, being dead become their torment.

6 Hear us my LORD , thou art a mighty prince amongst us, in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead: none of us shall with-hold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.

Here is a conjunction of the plural and singular number, because though but one person spake, yet he spake in the name of the whole community.

Heb. A Prince of God. Great and excellent persons or things are oft expressed by adding the name of God. See Gen. 13. 10. Or, by Prince of God, they understand a Prince favoured and beloved of God.

For each Family had a distinct Sepulchre.

Marginal references: Heb. a prince of God.

7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the Land , even to the children of Heth .

(i. e.) Shewed a civil respect to them in testimony of his thankfulness. Religion allows and requires civility and those gestures which express it.

To the Governours of the people who managed all publick affairs in the peoples name and stead and for their good.

So called from Heth the Son of Canaan, Gen. 10. 15.

8 And he communed with them, saying, if it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar:

Heb. If it be with, i. e. agreeable to, your soul, that is, your will, or good pleasure: For so the Soul is sometimes taken, as Deut. 23. 24. Psal. 27. 12. and 41. 2.

9 That he may give me the cave of Machpelah , which he hath, which is in the end of his field: for as much money as it is worth , he shall give it me, for a possession of a burying-place amongst you.

Which seems to be the proper name of the place, ver. 17, 19. so called from its duplicity, because the cave was double, either one for Men, and another for Women: Or the one served onely for an entrance into the other, which was the burying place.

Heb. For full money, 1 Chron. 21. 22, 24. i. e. for money of full weight answerable to its worth.

Marginal references: Or, double cave.; Heb. full money.

10 And Ephron dwelt amongst the children of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gates of his City , saying,

Heb. Did sit, to wit, at that time, as one of the chief o[illegible: 1+ letters] rulers of the People: [illegible: 1 word] so the word sitting is oft used, as we shall see hereafter.

Either where he was born, or at least where he lived.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1+ letters]rs.

13 And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it , I pray thee, hear me, I will give thee money for the Field : take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

It is a short speech, and something must be supplyed: Either if thou wilt give or resign it to me: Or, if thou be the Man of whom I speak: For though Abraham knew his name, he might not know him by face, nor that he was then present.

He prudently chose rather to buy it, then to receive it as a gift, partly because it would be the surer to him and his, ver. 17▪ 20. and partly because he would not have too great obligations to his Pagan Neighbours.

15 My LORD, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver ; what is that betwixt me and thee ? bury therefore thy dead.

He speaks of the common shekel, which many value at fifteen pence of English money, but others more probably at two shillings and six pence, rightly as I conceive, supposing that this was of the same weight and value with the Shekel of the Sanctuary, which was so called not as if that were double to the former, but onely because all shekels were to be examined by that standard which was kept in the Sanctuary.

Both Friends and rich men: It is not worth any words o[illegible: 1+ letters] trouble between us.

Marginal references: Exod. 30. 15. Ezek. 45. 12.

16 And Abraham hearkned unto Ephron, and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named, in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, currant money with the merchant ▪

For in those times silver was paid by weight, Gen. 43. 21. Ier. 32. 10.

(i. e.) Right for quality as well as weight, in the judgment of Merchants, whose frequent dealing in it makes them more able to judge of it.