Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 23

Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old. —Sarah is the only woman whose age at her death is mentioned in the Bible, an honour doubtless given her as the ancestress of the Hebrew race (Isaiah 51:2). As she was ninety at Isaac’s birth, he would now be thirty-seven years of age.

Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron. — This was a very ancient city, built seven years before Zoan in Egypt (Numbers 13:22), probably by a tribe of Semites on their way to the Delta. It lies on the very border of the Negeb of Judah, about twenty-two miles south of Jerusalem. Originally it was named Kirjath-arba. Though Arba is called “the father of Anak” (Joshua 15:13), the literal meaning City of Four (arba being the Hebrew numeral four), coupled with the fact that Hebron means alliance (Genesis 13:18), suggests that its building was the result of the union of four families. Afterwards, from the name of the city, Arba may have often been used as a proper name.

At the conquest of Palestine, descendants of Anak were still dwelling there. Apparently, they had restored the old title but were expelled by Caleb (Joshua 15:14). Caleb took it as his possession and seems to have named a grandchild after the city as a memorial of his victory (1 Chronicles 2:42). It is still an important town, with a population of 17,000 Moslems and about 600 Jews.

Abraham came to mourn. — At this period, Abraham was in quiet possession of several headquarters. He was apparently at Beer-sheba himself when Sarah died at Hebron. It is probable that he had left Isaac there, in charge of his mother and the cattle.

Abraham stood up from before his dead. —His first care on arriving at Hebron had been to prostrate himself in Sarah’s tent, and give utterance to his grief. Only after this he rises to prepare for her burial.

The sons of Heth. —Up to this time we have read only of Amorites, Mamre and the others, at Hebron. It now appears that it was the property of the Hittites, a race who, while the Israelites sojourned in Egypt, became so powerful as to contend for empire with the Egyptians themselves. Their capital was Emesa in Northern Syria, and their history is now being made known to us not only by means of Egyptian records, but also of inscriptions in their own language (See Note on Genesis 10:15).

A possession of a burial place. —While strangers might pasture their cattle on the open land, yet the consent of the local inhabitants seems to have been necessary before Abraham could occupy any spot permanently (Genesis 15:13; Genesis 20:15). He now wanted even more, and for the actual appropriation of any portion of the soil, a public agreement and purchase was required. This agreement had to be ratified not merely by the seller but by the consent of all the tribe, convened in full assembly at the gate of the city. Thus, in spite of his power and wealth, Abraham, regarding his legal position towards the inhabitants, was only a stranger and sojourner (Hebrews 11:9), and could secure a resting place for his dead only by their consent.

A mighty prince. —Hebrew, a prince of God. Compare to “wind of God” (Genesis 1:2); “wrestlings of God” (Genesis 30:8); “mountains of God” (Psalms 36:6); “cedars of God” (Psalms 80:10). So also “a sleep of Jehovah” for a deep sleep (1 Samuel 26:12).

In the choice of our tombs. —The interview between Abraham and the Hittites is marked by the utmost courtesy on both sides, but it is a mistake to suppose that this acceptance of the patriarch’s proposal contained the idea that he might select a tomb without paying for it. The payment, in true Near Eastern fashion, is kept in the background, but is presupposed on both sides. After the acceptance of his proposal, it was Abraham’s turn to name the burying-place he wished, and the owner next consents, but while treating the purchase money as a matter of small importance, he nevertheless asks a very high price, to which Abraham at once consents.