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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, XXIII].</TITLE>
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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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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC01022.HTM">Previous</A>]
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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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<!-- (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>
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<P>
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IV. The present which Ephron made to
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Abraham of his field: <I>The field give I thee,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
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Abraham thought he must be entreated
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to sell it; but, upon the first mention
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of it, without entreaty, Ephron freely gives
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it. Some men have more generosity than
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they are thought to have. Abraham, no
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doubt, had taken all occasions to oblige his
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neighbours, and do them any service that
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lay in his power; and now they return his
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kindness: for <I>he that watereth shall be watered
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also himself.</I> Note, If those that profess
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religion adorn their profession by eminent
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civility and serviceableness to all, they
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shall find it will rebound to their own comfort
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and advantage, as well as to the glory
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of God.</P>
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<P>
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V. Abraham's modest and sincere refusal
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of Ephron's kind offer,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>.
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Abundance
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of thanks he returns him for it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
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makes his obeisance to him before the people
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of the land, that they might respect
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Ephron the more for the respect they saw
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Abraham give him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+15:30">1 Sam. xv. 30</A>),
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but resolves
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to give him money for the field, even
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the full value of it. It was not in pride that
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Abraham refused the gift, or because he
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scorned to be beholden to Ephron; but,
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1. In justice. Abraham was rich in silver and
|
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gold
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+13:2"><I>ch.</I> xiii. 2</A>)
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|
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
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<I>eaten the fruits of his land without money,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+31:39">Job xxxi. 39</A>.
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2. In prudence. He would
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pay for it lest Ephron, when this good humour
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|
was over, should upbraid him with it,
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and say, <I>I have made Abraham rich</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+14:23"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 23</A>),
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or lest the next heir should question
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Abraham's title (because that grant was made
|
|
without any consideration), and claim back
|
|
the field. Thus David afterwards refused
|
|
Araunah's offer,
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:24">2 Sam. xxiv. 24</A>.
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|
We know
|
|
not what affronts we may hereafter receive
|
|
from those that are now most kind and generous.</P>
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<P>
|
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|
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>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:14,15"><I>v.</I> 14, 15</A>.
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|
He would rather oblige
|
|
his friend than have so much money in his
|
|
pocket. Herein Ephron discovers,
|
|
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|
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,
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:15">Luke xii. 15</A>.
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|
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|
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>
|
|
|
|
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