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623 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, XXIII].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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<HR>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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<TR>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC01022.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC01024.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<A NAME="Page141"> </A>
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>G E N E S I S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Here is, I. Abraham a mourner for the death of Sarah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. Abraham a purchaser of a burying-place for Sarah.
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1. The purchase humbly proposed by Abraham,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:3,4">ver. 3, 4</A>.
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2. Fairly treated
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of, and agreed to, with a great deal of mutual civility and respect,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:5-16">ver. 5-16</A>.
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3. The purchase-money paid,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:16">ver. 16</A>.
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4. The premises
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conveyed and secured to Abraham,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:17,18,20">ver. 17, 18, 20</A>.
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5. Sarah's funeral,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:19">ver. 19</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ge23_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge23_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Death of Sarah.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1857.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And Sarah was an hundred and
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seven and twenty years old: <I>these
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were</I> the years of the life of Sarah.
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2 And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the
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same <I>is</I> Hebron in the land of Canaan:
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and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah,
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and to weep for her.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here,
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1. Sarah's age,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Almost forty years before, she had called
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herself old,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+18:12"><I>ch.</I> xviii. 12</A>.
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Old people will
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die never the sooner, but may die the better,
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for reckoning themselves old.
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2. Her death,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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The longest liver must die at last.
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Abraham and Sarah had lived comfortably
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together many years; but death parts those
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whom nothing else could part. The special
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friends and favourites of Heaven are not exempted
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from the stroke of death. She died
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in the land of Canaan, where she had been
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above sixty years a sojourner.
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3. Abraham's
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mourning for her; and he was a true
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mourner. He did not only perform the
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ceremonies of mourning according to the
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custom of those time, as the mourners that
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go about the streets, but he did sincerely
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lament the great loss he had of a good wife,
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and gave proof of the constancy of his affection
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to her to the last. Two words are used:
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he came both to <I>mourn</I> and to <I>weep.</I> His
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sorrow was not counterfeit, but real. He
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came to her tent, and sat down by the
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corpse, there to pay the tribute of his tears,
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that his eye might affect his heart, and that
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he might pay the greater respect to the memory
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of her that was gone. Note, It is not
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only lawful, but it is a duty, to lament the
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death of our near relations, both in compliance
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with the providence of God, who thus
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calls to weeping and mourning, and in
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honour to those to whom honour is due.
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Tears are a tribute due to our deceased
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friends. When a body is sown, it must
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be watered. But we must not sorrow as
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those that have no hope; for we have a good
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hope through grace both concerning them
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and concerning ourselves.</P>
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<A NAME="Ge23_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge23_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge23_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge23_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge23_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge23_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge23_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge23_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge23_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge23_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge23_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge23_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge23_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Cave of Machpelah.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1857.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>3 And Abraham stood up from before
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his dead, and spake unto the sons
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of Heth, saying,
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4 I <I>am</I> a stranger
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and a sojourner with you: give me a
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possession of a buryingplace with you,
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that I may bury my dead out of my
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sight.
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5 And the children of Heth
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<A NAME="Page141"> </A>
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answered Abraham, saying unto him,
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6 Hear us, my lord: thou <I>art</I> a
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mighty prince among us: in the choice
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of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none
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of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre,
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but that thou mayest bury
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thy dead.
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7 And Abraham stood up,
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and bowed himself to the people of
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the land, <I>even</I> to the children of Heth.
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8 And he communed with them, saying,
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If it be your mind that I should
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bury my dead out of my sight; hear
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me, and intreat for me to Ephron the
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son of Zohar,
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9 That he may give
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me the cave of Machpelah, which he
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hath, which <I>is</I> in the end of his field;
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for as much money as it is worth he
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shall give it me for a possession of a
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buryingplace amongst you.
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10 And
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Ephron dwelt among the children of
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Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered
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Abraham in the audience of the
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children of Heth, <I>even</I> of all that went
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in at the gate of his city, saying,
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11 Nay, my lord, hear me: the field
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give I thee, and the cave that <I>is</I> therein, I
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give it thee; in the presence of the
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sons of my people give I it thee: bury
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thy dead.
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12 And Abraham bowed
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down himself before the people of the
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land.
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13 And he spake unto Ephron
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in the audience of the people of the
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land, saying, But if thou <I>wilt give it,</I>
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I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee
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money for the field; take <I>it</I> of me,
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and I will bury my dead there.
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14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying
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unto him,
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15 My lord, hearken
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unto me: the land <I>is worth</I> four hundred
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shekels of silver; what <I>is</I> that
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betwixt me and thee? bury therefore
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thy dead.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. The humble request which
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Abraham made to his neighbours, the Hittites,
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for a burying-place among them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
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It was strange he had this to do now;
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but we are to impute it rather to God's providence
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than to his improvidence, as appears
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+7:5">Acts vi. 5</A>,
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where it is said, <I>God gave
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him no inheritance in Canaan.</I> It were well
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if all those who take care to provide burying-places
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for their bodies after death were as
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careful to provide a resting-place for their
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souls. Observe here,
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1. The convenient
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diversion which this affair gave, for the present,
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to Abraham's grief: He <I>stood up from
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before his dead.</I> Those that find themselves
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in danger of over-grieving for their dead relations,
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and are entering into that temptation,
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must take heed of poring upon their
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loss and sitting alone and melancholy.
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There must be a time of standing up from
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before their dead, and ceasing to mourn.
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For, thanks be to God, our happiness is not
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bound up in the life of any creature. Care
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of the funeral may, as here, be improved to
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divert grief for the death at first, when it is
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most in danger of tyrannizing. Weeping
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must not hinder sowing.
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2. The argument
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he used with the children of Heth, which
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was this: "<I>I am a stranger and a sojourner
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with you,</I> therefore I am unprovided, and
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must become a humble suitor to you for a
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burying-place." This was one occasion
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which Abraham took to confess that he was
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a stranger and a pilgrim upon earth; he was
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not ashamed to own it thus publicly,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:13">Heb. xi. 13</A>.
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Note, The death of our relations
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should effectually remind us that we are not
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at home in this world. When they are gone,
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say, "We are going."
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3. His uneasiness
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till this affair was settled, intimated in that
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word, <I>that I may bury my dead out of my
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sight.</I> Note, Death will make those unpleasant
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to our sight who while they lived
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were the desire of our eyes. The countenance
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that was fresh and lively becomes pale
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and ghastly, and fit to be removed into the
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land of darkness. While she was in his
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sight, it renewed his grief, which he would
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prevent.</P>
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<P>
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II. The generous offer which the children
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of Heth made to him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>.
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They compliment
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him,
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1. With a title of respect:
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<I>Thou art a prince of God among us,</I> so the
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word is; not only great, but good. He
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called himself a stranger and a sojourner;
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they call him a great prince; for those that
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humble themselves shall be exalted. God
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had promised to make Abraham's name
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great.
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2. With a tender of the best of their
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burying-places. Note, Even the light of
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nature teaches us to be civil and respectful
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towards all, though they be strangers and
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sojourners. The noble generosity of these
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Canaanites shames and condemns the closeness,
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and selfishness, and ill-humour, of
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many that call themselves Israelites. Observe,
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These Canaanites would be glad to
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mingle their dust with Abraham's and to
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have their last end like his.</P>
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<P>
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III. The particular proposal which Abraham
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made to them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:7-9"><I>v.</I> 7-9</A>.
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He returns
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them his thanks for their kind offer with all
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possible decency and respect; though a great
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man, an old man, and now a mourner, yet
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he stands up, and bows himself humbly before
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them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Note, Religion teaches
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good manners; and those abuse it that place
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it in rudeness and clownishness. He then
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pitches upon the place he thinks most convenient,
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namely, the cave of Machpelah,
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which probably lay near him, and had not
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yet been used for a burying-place. The
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<A NAME="Page143"> </A>
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present owner was <I>Ephron.</I> Abraham cannot
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pretend to any interest in him, but he
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desires that they would improve theirs with
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him to get the purchase of that cave, and
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the field in which it was. Note, A moderate
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desire to obtain that which is convenient for
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us, by fair and honest means, is not such a
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coveting of that which is our neighbour's as
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is forbidden in the tenth commandment.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. The present which Ephron made to
|
||
|
|
Abraham of his field: <I>The field give I thee,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
Abraham thought he must be entreated
|
||
|
|
to sell it; but, upon the first mention
|
||
|
|
of it, without entreaty, Ephron freely gives
|
||
|
|
it. Some men have more generosity than
|
||
|
|
they are thought to have. Abraham, no
|
||
|
|
doubt, had taken all occasions to oblige his
|
||
|
|
neighbours, and do them any service that
|
||
|
|
lay in his power; and now they return his
|
||
|
|
kindness: for <I>he that watereth shall be watered
|
||
|
|
also himself.</I> Note, If those that profess
|
||
|
|
religion adorn their profession by eminent
|
||
|
|
civility and serviceableness to all, they
|
||
|
|
shall find it will rebound to their own comfort
|
||
|
|
and advantage, as well as to the glory
|
||
|
|
of God.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
V. Abraham's modest and sincere refusal
|
||
|
|
of Ephron's kind offer,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
Abundance
|
||
|
|
of thanks he returns him for it
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
||
|
|
makes his obeisance to him before the people
|
||
|
|
of the land, that they might respect
|
||
|
|
Ephron the more for the respect they saw
|
||
|
|
Abraham give him
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+15:30">1 Sam. xv. 30</A>),
|
||
|
|
but resolves
|
||
|
|
to give him money for the field, even
|
||
|
|
the full value of it. It was not in pride that
|
||
|
|
Abraham refused the gift, or because he
|
||
|
|
scorned to be beholden to Ephron; but,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. In justice. Abraham was rich in silver and
|
||
|
|
gold
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:2"><I>ch.</I> xiii. 2</A>)
|
||
|
|
and was able to pay for the
|
||
|
|
field, and therefore would not take advantage
|
||
|
|
of Ephron's generosity. Note, Honesty, as
|
||
|
|
well as honour, forbids us to sponge upon
|
||
|
|
our neighbours and to impose upon those
|
||
|
|
that are free. Job reflected upon it with
|
||
|
|
comfort, when he was poor, that he had not
|
||
|
|
<I>eaten the fruits of his land without money,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+31:39">Job xxxi. 39</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. In prudence. He would
|
||
|
|
pay for it lest Ephron, when this good humour
|
||
|
|
was over, should upbraid him with it,
|
||
|
|
and say, <I>I have made Abraham rich</I>
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:23"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 23</A>),
|
||
|
|
or lest the next heir should question
|
||
|
|
Abraham's title (because that grant was made
|
||
|
|
without any consideration), and claim back
|
||
|
|
the field. Thus David afterwards refused
|
||
|
|
Araunah's offer,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:24">2 Sam. xxiv. 24</A>.
|
||
|
|
We know
|
||
|
|
not what affronts we may hereafter receive
|
||
|
|
from those that are now most kind and generous.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
VI. The price of the land fixed by Ephron
|
||
|
|
but not insisted on: <I>The land is worth four
|
||
|
|
hundred shekels of silver</I> (about fifty pounds
|
||
|
|
of our money), <I>but what is that between me
|
||
|
|
and thee?</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:14,15"><I>v.</I> 14, 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
He would rather oblige
|
||
|
|
his friend than have so much money in his
|
||
|
|
pocket. Herein Ephron discovers,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. A
|
||
|
|
great contempt of worldly wealth. "What
|
||
|
|
is that between me and thee? It is a small
|
||
|
|
matter, not worth speaking of." Many a
|
||
|
|
one would have said, "It is a deal of money;
|
||
|
|
it will go far in a child's portion." But
|
||
|
|
Ephron says, "What is that?" Note, It is
|
||
|
|
an excellent thing for people to have low and
|
||
|
|
mean thoughts of all the wealth of this world;
|
||
|
|
it is that which is not, and in the abundance
|
||
|
|
of which a man's life does not consist,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:15">Luke xii. 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Great courtesy, and obligingness
|
||
|
|
to his friend and neighbour. Ephron was
|
||
|
|
not jealous of Abraham as a resident foreigner,
|
||
|
|
nor envious at him as a man likely to
|
||
|
|
thrive and grow rich. He bore him no ill-will
|
||
|
|
for his singularity in religion, but was
|
||
|
|
much kinder to him than most people now-a-days
|
||
|
|
are to their own brothers: <I>What is
|
||
|
|
that between me and thee?</I> Note, No little
|
||
|
|
thing should occasion demurs and differences
|
||
|
|
between true friends. When we are tempted
|
||
|
|
to be hot in resenting affronts, high in demanding
|
||
|
|
our rights, or hard in denying a
|
||
|
|
kindness, we should answer the temptation
|
||
|
|
with this question: "What is that between
|
||
|
|
me and my friend?"</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge23_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge23_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge23_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge23_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge23_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Sarah's Funeral.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1857.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>16 And Abraham hearkened unto
|
||
|
|
Ephron; and Abraham weighed to
|
||
|
|
Ephron the silver, which he had named
|
||
|
|
in the audience of the sons of Heth,
|
||
|
|
four hundred shekels of silver, current
|
||
|
|
<I>money</I> with the merchant.
|
||
|
|
17 And
|
||
|
|
the field of Ephron, which <I>was</I> in
|
||
|
|
Machpelah, which <I>was</I> before Mamre,
|
||
|
|
the field, and the cave which <I>was</I>
|
||
|
|
therein, and all the trees that <I>were</I> in
|
||
|
|
the field, that <I>were</I> in all the borders
|
||
|
|
round about, were made sure
|
||
|
|
18 Unto Abraham for a possession in the
|
||
|
|
presence of the children of Heth, before
|
||
|
|
all that went in at the gate of
|
||
|
|
his city.
|
||
|
|
19 And after this, Abraham
|
||
|
|
buried Sarah his wife in the cave of
|
||
|
|
the field of Machpelah before Mamre:
|
||
|
|
the same <I>is</I> Hebron in the land of
|
||
|
|
Canaan.
|
||
|
|
20 And the field, and the
|
||
|
|
cave that <I>is</I> therein, were made sure
|
||
|
|
unto Abraham for a possession of a
|
||
|
|
buryingplace by the sons of Heth.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have here the conclusion of the treaty
|
||
|
|
between Abraham and Ephron about the
|
||
|
|
burying-place. The bargain was publicly
|
||
|
|
made before all the neighbours, <I>in the presence
|
||
|
|
and audience of the sons of Heth,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:16,17"><I>v.</I> 16, 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
Note, Prudence, as well as justice, directs us
|
||
|
|
to be fair, and open, and above-board, in our
|
||
|
|
dealings. Fraudulent contracts hate the
|
||
|
|
light, and choose to be clandestine; but those
|
||
|
|
that design honestly in their bargains care
|
||
|
|
not who are witnesses to them. Our law
|
||
|
|
countenances sales made in market-overt,
|
||
|
|
and by deed enrolled. Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Abraham,
|
||
|
|
without fraud, covin, or further delay, pays
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page144"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
the money,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
He pays it readily, without
|
||
|
|
hesitation,--pays it in full, without diminution,--and
|
||
|
|
pays it by weight, current
|
||
|
|
money with the merchant, without deceit.
|
||
|
|
See how anciently money was used for the
|
||
|
|
help of commerce; and see how honestly
|
||
|
|
money should be paid where it is due. Observe,
|
||
|
|
Though all the land of Canaan was
|
||
|
|
Abraham's by promise, yet, the time of his
|
||
|
|
possessing not having come, what he had
|
||
|
|
now occasion for he bought and paid for.
|
||
|
|
Note, Dominion is not founded in grace. The
|
||
|
|
saints' title to an eternal inheritance does not
|
||
|
|
entitle them to the possessions of this world,
|
||
|
|
nor justify them in doing wrong.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Ephron
|
||
|
|
honestly and fairly makes him a good title to
|
||
|
|
the land,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:17,18,20"><I>v.</I> 17, 18, 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
The field, with all
|
||
|
|
its appurtenances, is conveyed to Abraham
|
||
|
|
and his heirs for ever, in open court, not by
|
||
|
|
writing (it does not appear that writing was
|
||
|
|
then used), but by such a public solemn declaration
|
||
|
|
before witnesses as was sufficient to
|
||
|
|
pass it. Note, As that which is bought must
|
||
|
|
be honestly paid for, so that which is sold
|
||
|
|
must be honestly delivered and secured.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. Abraham, thereupon, takes possession, and
|
||
|
|
buries Sarah in the cave or vault (whether
|
||
|
|
framed by nature or art is not certain) which
|
||
|
|
was in the purchased field. It is probable
|
||
|
|
that Abraham had buried servants out of his
|
||
|
|
family since he came to Canaan, but the graves
|
||
|
|
of the common people
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+23:6">2 Kings xxiii. 6</A>)
|
||
|
|
might
|
||
|
|
suffice for them; now that Sarah was dead a
|
||
|
|
peculiar place must be found for her remains.
|
||
|
|
It is worth noting,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That a burying-place
|
||
|
|
was the first spot of ground Abraham possessed
|
||
|
|
in Canaan. Note, When we are entering
|
||
|
|
into the world it is good to think of our
|
||
|
|
going out of it; for, as soon as we are born,
|
||
|
|
we begin to die.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) That it was the only
|
||
|
|
piece of land he ever possessed, though the
|
||
|
|
country was all his own in reversion. Those
|
||
|
|
that have least of this earth find a grave in it.
|
||
|
|
Abraham provided, not cities, as Cain and
|
||
|
|
Nimrod, but a sepulchre,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] To be a constant
|
||
|
|
memorandum of death to himself and
|
||
|
|
his posterity, that he and they might learn
|
||
|
|
to die daily. This sepulchre is said to be
|
||
|
|
<I>at the end of the field</I>
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>);
|
||
|
|
for, whatever our
|
||
|
|
possessions are, there is a sepulchre at the end
|
||
|
|
of them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] To be a token of his belief
|
||
|
|
and expectation of the resurrection; for why
|
||
|
|
should such care be taken of the body if it
|
||
|
|
be thrown away for ever, and must not rise
|
||
|
|
again? Abraham, in this, said plainly that
|
||
|
|
he sought a better country, that is, a heavenly.
|
||
|
|
Abraham is content to be still flitting,
|
||
|
|
while he lives, but secures a place where,
|
||
|
|
when he dies his flesh may rest in hope.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
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|
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|
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC01022.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC01024.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
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|
|
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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