Gen 23:7-16 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gen 23:7-16: 23:7-16 Abraham wanted to buy Ephron’s cave at Machpelah , but Ephron wanted him to buy the entire field.

Summary for Gen 23:7-16: 23:7-16 ^a Abraham wanted to buy Ephron’s cave at Machpelah, but Ephron wanted him to buy the entire field.
23:9 ^b This would be a permanent burial place for Abraham’s family. The site was near Mamre (23:19 ^c), where Abraham lived (see 13:18 ^d; 14:13 ^e; 18:1 ^f). Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah would all be buried in this cave (23:19 ^g; 25:9 ^h; 35:27-29 ⁱ; 49:29-31 ^j; 50:13 ^k), their permanent place in the Promised Land.
23:11 ^l Ephron did not intend to give the cave to Abraham; Abraham was expected to “give” the full price in return. Ephron wanted to sell as much as he could to avoid responsibility for caring for the cave and to receive as high a price as possible.
Summary for Gen 23:12-13: 23:12-13 ^m Abraham didn’t want the whole field, but he was willing to take it to get the cave.
23:15 ⁿ 400 pieces of silver was a very high price. Ephron’s politeness was typical of the bargaining process.
Summary for Gen 23:16-20: 23:16-20 ^o Abraham paid the amount and finalized the transaction, avoiding indebtedness by accepting no gifts from the people (cp. 14:21-24 ^p). The Hittite elders witnessed the transaction, ensuring that no one could challenge Abraham’s full ownership of the land. The transaction took place at the city gate, where public legal and business dealings were conducted (cp. 19:1 ^q). The land became Abraham’s permanent possession, a down payment on God’s promise to give him the land. Abraham knew that God’s promise was not fulfilled (12:7 ^r) by this acquisition, so he planned for the future. By buying land for his dead, he declared that God’s promises do not end with this life. This is the hope of all who die in faith.