John Gill Commentary Genesis 23:6

John Gill Commentary

Genesis 23:6

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
John Gill
John Gill

John Gill Commentary

Genesis 23:6

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"Hear us, my lord. Thou art a prince of God among us. In the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead. None of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead." — Genesis 23:6 (ASV)

Hear us, my lord
One of them spoke in the name of the rest, who calls Abraham not "our lord", but "my lord"; addressing him very honourably, and desires he would hear what he had to say on the behalf of others with himself; "hear us", representing not the body of the common people, but the princes among them, the heads of their families:

you are a mighty prince amongst us ;
though he was pleased to call himself a stranger and a sojourner, yet they had an high opinion of him, as a person of great wealth and substance, and of great power and authority; and who lived like a prince, and was a potent one, having a large train of servants under him: or, "a prince of God" F24 , as it may be rendered; one raised up to grandeur and dignity by him; with whom he was, find in whose sight he had favour, and was very grateful and acceptable; and by whom he was highly honoured, and had in great esteem as a friend of his:

in the choice of our sepulchres bury your dead ;
as they had many, every family a distinct sepulchre for itself, they made offer of them to him, to bury his dead in the choicest of them, the most grand and magnificent, or in which of them soever he pleased; which was very kind, generous, and respectful:

none of us shall withhold from you his sepulchre, but that you
may bury your dead ;
there is not a man among us but what has such a regard for you, that he will not deny you the use of his sepulchre to bury your dead in; and therefore need not scruple to make use of any that may be judged most proper and convenient: no doubt the speaker full well knew the mind of those in whose name he addressed Abraham.


FOOTNOTES:

  • F24: (Myhla ayvn) "princeps Dei", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Vatablus, Drusius, Schmidt