MPV Commentary

Abraham stood up and spoke to the sons of Heth, asking for their help in acquiring a cave that belonged to Ephron, a wealthy neighbor.

This request was unusual because Abraham's life of faith had kept him from acquiring even a small possession (Acts 7:5). As an Easterner, he would normally have had a family burying-place, but his pilgrim state had prevented this.

The cave in question was called Machpelah, which means "double cave." Ephron lived among the children of Heth in the city gate, where all business transactions took place. Although he was a prominent figure, it's likely that Abraham didn't know him personally.

Ephron responded with a show of generosity, offering to give Abraham both the cave and the surrounding field. However, this offer was not genuine; Ephron expected Abraham to pay for the property in exchange for the gift. The patriarch knew this and asked about the terms of the purchase.

Ephron replied that the land was worth four hundred shekels, but this was a trivial matter, and Abraham could pay it or not as he saw fit. This response was simply a form of Arab civility, with Ephron pretending to be indifferent to the price.

Abraham paid the agreed-upon amount in the presence of witnesses, using his own scales to weigh out four hundred shekels of silver (approximately £50). This practice of weighing money is still common in many parts of the East, where merchants often carry their scales with them.

With the purchase complete, Abraham buried Sarah in Machpelah, which became the only piece of land he owned.