Genesis 23:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city.

NIV: to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city.

NASB: to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who entered the gate of his city.

CSB: Abraham’s possession in the sight of all the Hethites who came to the gate of his city.

NLT: It was transferred to Abraham as his permanent possession in the presence of the Hittite elders at the city gate.

KJV: Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.

NKJV: to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.

The previous verse detailed the property Abraham has purchased from Ephron the Hittite. It is located in Machpelah, east of Mamre. It includes a cave, a field, and all the trees within the boundary of that field. Abraham has purchased this plot in order to make it his family tomb. Sarah has recently passed away (Genesis 23:2), and Abraham intends to bury her there. This act of burial has particular significance in that time period. Choosing to bury one's dead in a specific place was a sign of both residency and ownership. Even though he has to buy it, Abraham is able to take possession, within his lifetime, of a small portion of the Promised Land.

All of this small parcel is now "made over" to Abraham as his possession. The transaction is concluded in full view of the Hittites and all who go in at the gate of the city. These are likely the elders of Hebron. This is a public and legal transaction according the customs of the land at this time.

Genesis 23:1–20 begins with the death of Abraham's wife Sarah at 127 years of age. That makes Abraham 137 years old and Isaac around 37. Abraham mourns for his wife and then approaches the Hittites settled in the region of Hebron about purchasing a permanent family burial place near Mamre. Once that transaction is completed, Abraham buries Sarah in the tomb where he himself and their son and one grandson will later be buried.

At the age of 127 years old, Abraham's wife Sarah dies. Now living in the region of Hebron, near Mamre, Abraham approaches the local people, the Hittites, about purchasing a specific cave he wants to use as a permanent family burial place. Abraham asks for a cave owned by Ephron the Hittite. After an odd negotiation, Abraham agrees to buy the cave and a field attached to it for 400 shekels of silver. Finally, Abraham buries Sarah in this cave at Machpelah in the land of Canaan. The permanent occupation of the land of Canaan by God's people has begun.

In the previous chapters, Isaac was born, Ishmael was sent away, and Abraham prepared to offer Isaac as an offering to God. Genesis 23 jumps forward a couple of decades to the death of Sarah at 127 years old. Abraham mourns for her and then purchases a cave near Mamre as a permanent family burial place in the land of Canaan. In the following chapter, Abraham will set about finding Isaac a wife.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 12/18/2024 10:40:56 AM