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Abraham was not lacking in Eastern courtesy, so it is recorded:
"And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself."
He then asked the children of Heth to intreat for him with Ephron the son of Zohar,
that he may give to Abraham the cave of Machpelah,
"For as much money as it is worth, he shall give it me for a possession of a
burying place amongst you."
With true Eastern exaggeration, but not misunderstood by Abraham, Ephron replied:
"Nay, my Lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it
thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead."
Again, Abraham bowed himself, and reiterated his offer to pay the price, this time
mentioning the field, which Ephron had included in his offer. Again Ephron replied:
"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."
The Western mind perhaps would have hesitated at this point, but Abraham knew the
custom of his day. He "hearkened" unto Ephron, and weighed out the silver "which he
had named" in the audience of the sons of Heth:
"Four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant."
Abraham, apparently, was forced to buy the "field" as well as the "cave". Possibly
Ephron realized that the field would be of small value if Abraham secured the cave for a
sepulcher. The transaction being concluded, verses 17-20, must be read as the title deeds
to the property. Notice the precise description of the situation of the property:
"The field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre."
Then note the way in which the property is described in detail:
"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."
Then follows the witnesses of the transaction, the possession was "made sure".
When the time came for Jacob to die, he gave his sons their blessing, and then gave
specific instructions concerning his burial:
"And he charged them and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury
me with my father in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is
in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which
Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place"
(Gen. 49: 29, 30).
In this cave had already been buried the patriarchs with their wives.