Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 23:1-13

"And the life of Sarah was a hundred and seven and twenty years. These were the years of the life of Sarah. And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), in the land of Canaan. And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. And Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spake unto the children of Heth, saying, I am a stranger and a sojourner with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, 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. And Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in the midst of you for a possession of a burying-place. Now Ephron was sitting in the midst of the children of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying, Nay, my lord, hear me. The field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee. In the presence of the children of my people give I it thee. Bury thy dead. And Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land. And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt, I pray thee, hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it of me, and I will bury my dead there." — Genesis 23:1-13 (ASV)

The longest life must shortly come to a close. Blessed be God that there is a world where sin, death, vanity, and vexation cannot enter. Blessed be His name, that even death cannot part believers from union with Christ. Those whom we most love, indeed, even our own bodies, which we so care for, must soon become loathsome lumps of clay and be buried out of sight. How loosely attached then should we be to all earthly attachments and adornments!

Let us seek instead that our souls be adorned with heavenly graces. Abraham rendered honour and respect to the princes of Heth, although they were ungodly Canaanites. The religion of the Bible enjoins us to pay due respect to all in authority, without flattering their persons or condoning their crimes if they are unworthy characters. And the noble generosity of these Canaanites shames and condemns the stinginess, selfishness, and ill-humour of many who call themselves Israelites.

It was not in pride that Abraham refused the gift, because he scorned to be indebted to Ephron, but in justice and in prudence. Abraham was able to pay for the field and therefore would not take advantage of Ephron's generosity. Honesty, as well as honour, forbids us to take advantage of our neighbour's liberality and to impose upon those who give freely.