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Study :: Bible Study Notes :: ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Genesis 23

ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Genesis 23

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References for Gen 23:4 —  1   2 

Gen. 23:1–20 Upon the death of Sarah, Abraham buys a cave in Hebron as a burial place. By acquiring this land, Abraham confirms that his descendants are to be associated with the land of Canaan, as God had already promised (12:7; 13:14–17; 15:18–21).

Gen. 23:2 Kiriath-arba means “town of four” (see Josh. 14:15). It was later known as Hebron (see Judg. 1:10).

Gen. 23:4 a sojourner and foreigner among you. Despite God’s repeated promises that Abraham’s descendants will possess all the land of Canaan, after 62 years in the land Abraham has no permanent location to call his own. The NT explains that Abraham chose to go on living in tents because he was looking for a city “whose designer and builder is God” (Heb. 11:9–10).

Gen. 23:6 The Hittites recognize Abraham’s special relationship with God and give him the title prince of God.

Gen. 23:10 Although Ephron is present, Abraham seeks permission from the Hittite population as a whole—either because Abraham himself was not a Hittite or because the transfer of property required the involvement of a third party.

Gen. 23:11–16 Although Ephron first offers the field and cave to Abraham for free, this may not have been his true intention. The second time he offers it, he casually mentions what he would consider a fair price (v. 15). It is important that Abraham buy the property because that ensures that he has full legal title to the burial plot. Comparisons with 1 Kings 16:24 and Jer. 32:9 suggest that four hundred shekels of silver was a high price, although this cannot be known for sure, since the weight of a shekel could vary according to the weights current among the merchants.

Gen. 23:17–19 Mamre. See note on 13:18.

Gen. 23:20 Abraham’s purchase of the field and cave meant that his descendants would always own this land. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Rebekah, and Leah would later be buried in this cave.

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