Genesis 23:1-18
Sarah <08283> [A.M. 2144. B.C. 1860. Sarah.]
It is worthy of remark, that Sarah is the only woman whose age, death, and burial are distinctly noted in the Sacred writings.
127 <03967> [an.]
Kiriath Arba <07153> [Kirjath-arba.]
went <0935> [came.]
For the convenience of feeding his numerous flocks, Abraham had several places of temporary residence; and it is likely, that while he sojourned at Beer-sheba, as we find he did from ver. 19 of the preceding chapter, Sarah died at Hebron, which was 24 miles distant.
mourn <05594> [mourn.]
Heth <02845> [Heth.]
temporary <01616> [stranger.]
burial site <06913> [buryingplace.]
bury <06912> [bury.]
sir <0113> [my lord.]
mighty prince <05387 0430> [a mighty prince. Heb. a prince of God.]
prince <05387> [prince.]
Ask <06293> [intreat.]
full price <03701 04392> [much money. Heb. full money.]
sitting <03427> [dwelt.]
Or, sitting (as the word frequently denotes) among the children of Heth, at the gate of the city, where all public business was transacted. Ephron, though a chief man, might have been personally unknown to Abraham; but now he answers for himself, making a free tender of the field and cave to Abraham, in the presence of all the people, which amounted to a legal conveyance to the Patriarch.
hearing <0241> [audience. Heb. ears. all that.]
city <05892> [his.]
lord <0113> [my lord.]
presence <05869> [in the.]
pay ................. bury <05414 06912> [I will.]
400 <0702> [is worth.]
Though the words "is worth" are not in the Text, yet they are clearly implied, to adapt the Hebrew to the English idiom. A shekel, according to the general opinion, was equal in value to about 2s. 6d. of our money, but according to Dr. Prideaux, 3s. English. In those early times, money was given in weight; for it is said (ver. 16.) that "Abraham weighed," {wayishkal,} the silver; and hence, we find that it was a certain weight which afterwards passed as a current coin; for the word shekel is not only used to denote a piece of sliver, but also to weigh.
pieces <08255> [shekels.]
weighed out <08254> [weighed.]
400 <0702> [four.]
field ......... field ................ field <07704> [the field.]
So ... secured <06965> [made sure.]
entered <0935> [all.]
