Sarah had died, and Abraham was negotiating with the Hittites for a burial plot. This devotional reading looks at those negotiations and their outcome.
Nuggets
- Abraham approached the Hittite elders to purchase a burial plot.
- Abraham showed honor to the Hittites.
- Abraham approached the Hittite elders to purchase a burial plot.
- Abraham wanted to buy the field, which included a cave, from Ephron.
- Abraham bought the field from Ephron for 10 pounds of silver.
- Abraham had a permanent burial place.
After Sarah’s death and Abraham’s initial grief, he began negotiating for a burial plot. He found what he wanted and began negotiations with the Hittites of Hebron.
Let's Put It into Context
To read devotions in the Creating Everything theme, click the button below.
Devotions in the Abraham the Patriarch series
Beginning to Secure a Burial Place
“Then, leaving her body, he said to the Hittite elders, ‘Here I am, a stranger and a foreigner among you. Please sell me a piece of land so I can give my wife a proper burial.’ The Hittites replied to Abraham, ‘Listen, my lord, you are an honored prince among us. Choose the finest of our tombs and bury her there. No one here will refuse to help you in this way’” (Gen. 23: 3-6 NLT)
Abraham approached the Hittite elders to purchase a burial plot.
This was a rather significant experience. It is the first time in God’s Word that we are told of a person’s burial after death. Always before, we are just told of the persons death.
It was custom in Abraham’s time not to go directly to the person owning the land desired for a burial place. Instead, the transaction should begin with the elders of the city.
Dykes did say Moses left out one little tidbit. Abraham made “… his repeated prostrations with his face to the ground …”
Resource
The exchange looks like it is a polite conversation. Parker thought they were treating Abraham with pity and helpfulness. Robertson noted, though, the Hittites didn’t really mean what they were saying.
Resource
Look at their response to Abraham’s request for land. “Listen, my lord, you are an honored prince among us. Choose the finest of our tombs and bury her there. No one here will refuse to help you in this way” (Gen. 23: 6 NLT).
They had no more intention to just give Abraham the ground than Abraham had in taking it as a gift.
Zeroing in on What Abraham Wanted
“Then Abraham bowed low before the Hittites and said, ‘Since you are willing to help me in this way, be so kind as to ask Ephron son of Zohar to let me buy his cave at Machpelah, down at the end of his field. I will pay the full price in the presence of witnesses, so I will have a permanent burial place for my family.’ Ephron was sitting there among the others, and he answered Abraham as the others listened, speaking publicly before all the Hittite elders of the town. ‘No, my lord,’ he said to Abraham, ‘please listen to me. I will give you the field and the cave. Here in the presence of my people, I give it to you. Go and bury your dead’” (Gen. 23: 7-11 NLT)
Abraham Bowed Low
Abraham showed honor to the Hittites.
We have to look at this in the Hebrew to get the real meaning. “And Avraham stood up, and bowed himself to the am ha’aretz, [the land] even to the bnei Chet [sons of Heth, Hitttes]” (Gen. 23: 7 OJB).
Abraham’s actions — standing, then bowing — might seem odd, but the Hittites recognized these gestures as respectful, legally proper, and humble for a foreigner.
We understand the bowing is respectful. The standing and bowing formalized the exchange.
Remember, the Hittites called Abraham an honored prince (Gen. 23: 6). And here he was on the ground. That was his humility.
Let Me Buy the Cave at Machpelah
Abraham wanted to buy the field, which included a cave, from Ephron.
It was the custom in Abraham’s time for prominent people to bury their dead in caves. Burial in a cave kept the body from animals and possible grave robbers.
A multi-layered cave, as this one was, allowed family members to be buried together. This helped promote the concept of family continuity in death. That was why it was said people were gathered to their ancestors upon burial. That secured honor for their lineage.
The Hebrew had a little phrase added to verse 8. “And he spoke to them, saying, If it be your nefesh (will) that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intercede for me to Ephron ben Tzochar” (Gen. 23: 8 OJB emphasis added).
Yes, getting buried in a cave would be out of my sight. But think about it.
Sarah was this beautiful woman. She was taken in Egypt and by Abimelech because of this beauty.
This probably refers back to verse 2. Abraham mourned and wept for her.
Abraham was experiencing immense grief. He felt the need to proceed with the burial process because he could no longer bear to look upon his beautiful wife in this condition.
Verse 10 in the New Living Translation doesn’t really give us a complete picture. “And Ephron dwelt among the bnei Chet: and Ephron the Chitti answered Avraham in the hearing of the bnei Chet [sons of Heth, Hitttes], even of all that went in at the sha’ar [gate, entrance] of his city, saying” (Gen. 23: 10 NLT).
We talked about the importance of the gate or entrance to the city when the angels found Lot at the gate of Sodom. Gates were the place townspeople gathered to govern the city or conduct their business.
This further emphasized this was a legal transaction.
The Financial Aspect of the Deal
“Abraham again bowed low before the citizens of the land, and he replied to Ephron as everyone listened. ‘No, listen to me. I will buy it from you. Let me pay the full price for the field so I can bury my dead there.’ Ephron answered Abraham, ‘My lord, please listen to me. The land is worth 400 pieces of silver, but what is that between friends? Go ahead and bury your dead.’” (Gen. 23: 12-15 NLT)
Abraham bought the field from Ephron for 10 pounds of silver.
When they got down to discussing price — which they were going to get to all along — there was a lot of listening going on.
Abraham bought the sadeh. This meant he bought the cultivated land, open country, pasture, or even the habitat of the wild animals.
Taylor reported that an earliest currency was cattle. At some point, silver was also used.
Resource
What we see here is Abraham willing to pay the full price. He does not give into the temptation to lower the price, even when Ephron gives him the opportunity.
Abraham transacted the business deal in a professional manner. He was courteous and respectful, and comported himself with integrity.
Closing the Deal
“So Abraham agreed to Ephron’s price and paid the amount he had suggested — 400 pieces of silver, weighed according to the market standard. The Hittite elders witnessed the transaction. So Abraham bought the plot of land belonging to Ephron at Machpelah, near Mamre. This included the field itself, the cave that was in it, and all the surrounding trees. It was transferred to Abraham as his permanent possession in the presence of the Hittite elders at the city gate. Then Abraham buried his wife, Sarah, there in Canaan, in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre (also called Hebron). So the field and the cave were transferred from the Hittites to Abraham for use as a permanent burial place” (Gen. 23: 16-20 NLT)
Abraham had a permanent burial place.
Abraham succeeded in purchasing his first and only land in the promised Land. But it was not for his enjoyment. It was not an investment to make him more money.
It was a place for eternal rest of his physical body. Ness noted that a burial place was a sign of obvious and lasting possession.
Resource
This is even more significant when we tied this to Abraham’s covenant with God and the promise of his eternal possession of the land.
Making the Connections #1
“Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous” (Rom. 4: 20-22 NLT)Bible Verse
Did Abraham believe in eternal life? Paul thought so.
But we do have to make the connections. “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise …” (Rom. 4: 20 NLT).
What was Jehovah’s promise? “I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession” (Gen. 13: 15 NLT).
This said that Jehovah was giving the land to Abraham – all that he could see. No, he didn’t own it in his lifetime.
So, Abraham knew there had to be more than this lifetime. “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you” (Gen. 17: 7 NLT emphasis added).
What Abraham believed was that the covenant promised a lasting legacy. Did he have to understand what lasting entailed?
No. Remember, Abraham was a believer of the God of the seen and unseen.
What we do know is that Abraham was an example of faith. He was described as a righteous man.
Making the Connections #2
Smith is one who believes believers go to Paradise on the way to Heaven. He wrote, “‘Paradise’ is the peaceful resting-place of those who ‘sleep in Jesus.’ Heaven is the final [fullness] of joy.
Resource
Paradise is where Jesus told the thief He could take him that day. “And Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise’” (Lk. 23: 43 NLT).
But look at it in Hebrew. “And Rebbe [Rabbi], Melech HaMoshiach [King Messiah] said to him, Omein, I say to you, hayom (today) with me you will be in Gan Eden” (Lk. 23: 43 NLT).
Paradise is the description of the Garden of Eden. In fact, Jewish tradition holds that the cave at Machpelah is a gateway to the Garden of Eden.
Making the Connections #3
Let’s have Dykes give us a quick run-through of the negotiation process 9which I’ve numbered) to make sure we saw it all. He wrote,
“[1] Abraham’s respectful attitude, [2] his repeated prostrations with his face to the ground, [3] the polite hospitality of the townsmen, [4] the difficulty in coming to a bargain, [5] the offer of Ephron to waive the question of price, [6] his indirect mention of the four hundred shekels, [7] the conclusion of the sale at the city gate in the place of concourse, [8] the weighing of uncoined rings or ingots of silver which served for a medium of exchange, and [9] the copious phraseology as of a legal document, by which, before witnesses, the cave, with the field, the fence around it, and the trees on it, were all conveyed in perpetuity to their new owner — these particulars correspond, we are assured by Dr. Thomson, a competent witness, to what may be seen at this day in Eastern bargain-making.
Resource
Isn’t that such a worldview way to do things? Blow smoke to make it look like you are giving the land to Abraham for free, but – sorry, not sorry – I told you the price I want for it.
In other words, their words mean nothing. They are hollow. The words may sound polite, but – to me – it is not polite to lie. It is not polite to make yourself look like a kind, caring person when you aren’t.
Making the Connections #4
Parker was right. He wrote, “In the grave, there is no repentance; the deadman cannot obliterate the past.”
Resource
There is no option to make a final decision. Our loved ones cannot press out of the consequences of the decisions we did make.
Once we are dead, judgment is executed.
That means we should decide today whether we are going to obey or disobey Jehovah. Our eternity rests on that decision.
We don’t want to spend more time on the temporary location of our bodies and less time on the location in which we will spend eternity.
Making the Connections #5
A Herodian structure was built at the side of the cave in 20 BC. It is revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.
Making the Connections #6
It was appropriate for Abraham to buy the field and cave. This would probably be the same reason it was appropriate that Abraham didn’t keep any of the spoils from defeating King Chedorkiamer.
That way it could not be said that the Hittites — just as the King of Sodom — provided the land instead of Jehovah — and made him rich instead of Sovereign God.
How Do We Apply This?
- Understand that we can suffer even when doing Jehovah’s Will.
- Be prepared for when our time ends.
Resource
Father God. Help us to be in the world but not of it. Help us to see when other are not totally truthful with us. Amen.
If you don’t understand something and would like further clarification, please contact me.
If you have not signed up for the email providing the link to the devotions and the newsletter, do so below.
If God has used this devotion to speak with you, consider sharing it on social media.