There are two things that I want to note in the burial negotiations here.
Now, this first is not all that important but I think that it is just an interesting thing here, and that is, Ephron the Hittite’s seemingly magnanimous eloquence as he gave the cave to Abraham while making sure that everybody, especially Abraham, knew how much it was worth.
From the little bit of research that I have made (I cannot say that it is all that thorough or deep), but it seems that the field was vastly overpriced, an exaggerated amount was paid by Abraham for it. I guess what we are seeing here was the customary formula for Middle Eastern bargaining at that time. But it also shows that Abraham was even more magnanimous, he does not even quibble over the price. He meets it exactly as the man requested and then calls all those who are near to come witness the transaction.
The important thing for you and me, at least it was important to Moses, and perhaps we do not appreciate it and do not fully understand it, but Abraham came into possession of the land fair and square, and I think that is the major reason why this is shown. There is a lesson here for you and me.
Now remember who Abraham is, he is the father of the faithful. What happened here in Genesis 23 in the dealing with Ephron is exactly what happened in Genesis the fourteenth chapter, when the king of Sodom tried to give Abraham a gift, and Abraham rejected the gift that was being given by the king of Sodom. In both cases, Abraham would not accept a gift from those people who were living in Canaan, and thus Abraham is shown looking entirely to God as the source of Abraham’s hope or blessing.
He did not seek to become wealthy or to own land apart from the promises of God. You will find in Genesis 33:19 that Jacob is shown doing much the same thing, and again, it was not a gift. I think that Moses is laying down here a principle which shows that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob came into possession of land fairly and squarely.
See, it was something given by God, it was not something stolen from the people. It was not something that was given by the people either. Abraham used the wealth that God gave him to purchase the land. I think that is intended to be a type as to how all of the land came into their possession. Even though God does not cover everything, the principle is there.
