What does Genesis 23:5 mean?
ESV: The Hittites answered Abraham,
NIV: The Hittites replied to Abraham,
NASB: The sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him,
CSB: The Hethites replied to Abraham,
NLT: The Hittites replied to Abraham,
KJV: And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,
NKJV: And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him,
Verse Commentary:
In the previous verse, Abraham made his request of the Hittite landowners to give to him a permanent burying place for his people in the land of Hebron. This is meant for his recently-deceased wife, Sarah (Genesis 23:2). This act of creating a long-term family tomb is part of Abraham's family taking possession of the Promised Land. In the next verse, the Hittites will respond.
Verse Context:
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.
Chapter Summary:
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.
Chapter Context:
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.
Book Summary:
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.
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