My lord, hearken unto me: the land [is worth] four hundred shekels of silver; what [is] that between me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
15. worth four hundred shekels of silver ] About 55. See note on Gen 20:16. On the Hebrew value of a shekel, cf. Exo 30:13, Eze 45:12. In 2Sa 24:24 David buys the threshing-floor and the oxen of Araunah for 50 shekels of silver. In the Code of Hammurabi a hireling would not receive more than I shekel a month as wages (S. A. Cook, p. 172).
what is that betwixt me and thee? ] Ephron has mentioned a full price; he is poor, Abraham rich: the figure could not possibly be a hindrance to the bargain. The important thing is that he, the owner, is willing to sell. Abraham will, therefore, of course purchase.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 15. The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver] Though the words is worth are not in the text, yet they are necessarily expressed here to adapt the Hebrew to the idiom of our tongue. A shekel, according to the general opinion, was equal to two shillings and sixpence; but according to Dr. Prideaux, whose estimate I shall follow, three shillings English, four hundred of which are equal to sixty pounds sterling; but it is evident that a certain weight is intended, and not a coin, for in Ge 23:16 it is said, And Abraham weighed vaiyishkol, the silver, and hence it appears that this weight itself passed afterwards as a current coin, for the word is not only used to express a coin or piece of silver, but also to weigh; See Clarke on Ge 20:16.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He speaks of the common shekel, which many value at fifteen pence of English money; but others, more probably, at two shillings and sixpence, rightly, as I conceive, supposing that this was of the same weight and value with the shekel of the sanctuary, which was so called, not as if that were double to the former, but only because all shekels were to be examined by that standard which was kept in the sanctuary.
What is that betwixt me and thee? both friends, and rich men; it is not worth any words or trouble between us.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15. the land is worth four hundredshekels, c.as if Ephron had said, “Since you wish to knowthe value of the property, it is so and so but that is a trifle,which you may pay or not as it suits you.” They spoke in thecommon forms of Arab civility, and this indifference was mereaffectation.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
My lord, hearken unto me,…. Since it is your mind to buy the field, and not receive it as a gift, then hear what I have to say as to the value of it:
the land [is worth] four hundred shekels of silver; which, reckoning a shekel at two shillings and sixpence, comes to fifty pounds of our money;
what [is] that betwixt thee and me? between two persons so rich, the sum was trifling and inconsiderable, whether the one paid it, and the other received it, or not; or between two such friends it was not worth speaking of, it was no matter whether it was paid or not: or else the sense is, between us both it is honestly worth so much; it is a good bargain, and must be owned to be so, what is it? the sum is so small, and it is so clearly the worth of it, that there needs no more to be said about it:
bury therefore thy dead: in it, and give thyself no more trouble and concern about it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(15) The land is worth . . . Our version misses the courtliness of Ephrons answer, who only fixes the price indirectly, saying, Land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that betwixt me and thee? The money amounts to about 50, no mean price, considering the high value of silver in those days.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15. Four hundred shekels of silver A nearer approach to the sense here would be four hundred weight of silver, for the payment was by weight, not in coins . We have no means of knowing the value of a shekel of silver in Abraham’s time . The silver shekel of New Testament times has been estimated at sixty cents, four hundred of which would accordingly be $240. But probably the four hundred weight of silver which Ephron named was of much greater value.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 23:15. Four hundred shekels, &c. Money, and pieces of money, have been mentioned before, but this is the first place in which shekels are mentioned. Prideaux, who has given us the best estimation of Hebrew and Attic coins, reckons a shekel to be equivalent to three shillings of English money; so that the sum, which Abraham paid for his new purchase, will amount to sixty pounds sterling. But what is that, said Ephron politely, betwixt me and thee? this is too inconsiderable a matter to merit attention: pay it, if it please you best; if not, accept the land as my present, and bury your dead.
REFLECTIONS.Abraham in the land of promise had neither house to cover his head, nor sepulchre to bury his dead: but his present situation obliges him to make application for so needful a place. We have here,
1. His application to the children of Heth. He was a stranger among them, and therefore begs the favour to obtain some small spot for a burying-ground. The beautiful Sarah was now no longer pleasing; she must be hid from his sight. Note; (1.) Death makes strange alterations on the fairest face. (2.) The death of others should remind us of our own; we are but strangers in this world, and sojourners, as all our fathers were. (3.) We should beware of overmuch sorrow, and endeavour on religious principles to alleviate that grief, which, if excessive, may hurt ourselves, but cannot profit the dead.
2. His application is received with the most generous offer of one of the best of their sepulchres. Though he called himself a stranger, they acknowledged him a great prince.
3. Their civility meets with a respectful return. He bowed himself in acknowledgment of the favour. It is our duty to be courteous. He begs them to intercede with Ephron to sell the cave of Machpelah. It is no unlawful coveting to desire to purchase what our neighbour can conveniently spare, and we need.
4. Ephron’s generosity. He offers to give it; and when Abraham would fain pay him, he mentions the value in such a way, as intimates his readiness to yield it without any consideration. It was prudent and just in Abraham, who was rich, to press the purchase. We should not needlessly be obliged to others. It was noble in Ephron to offer it: it shewed a contempt of worldly wealth, and a pleasure to oblige Abraham, which manifested how much he valued his friendship. Note; (1.) It is well so to behave, as to make our friendship valued and sought. (2.) We find a generosity often among those who pretend not to Christianity, which is a severe reproach on niggardly professors of it. (3.) Between true friends nothing should be reserved. An union of heart will ever in some sort make community of purse. We shall say, What is that between me and thee?
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
what is that. Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
is worth: Though the words “is worth” are not in the Text, yet they are clearly implied, to adapt the Hebrew to the English idiom. A shekel, according to the general opinion, was equal in value to about 2s. 6d. of our money, but according to Dr. Prideaux, 3s. English. In those early times, money was given in weight; for it is said – Gen 23:16 that “Abraham weighed,” wayishkal, the silver; and hence, we find that it was a certain weight which afterwards passed as a current coin; for the word shekel is not only used to denote a piece of silver, but also to weigh.
shekels: Exo 30:15, Eze 45:12
Reciprocal: Gen 20:16 – thousand Gen 24:22 – of half Job 28:1 – the silver Jer 32:9 – weighed
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
23:15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land [is worth] four hundred {e} shekels of silver; what [is] that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
(e) The common shekel is about 20 pence, so then 400 shekels is equal to 33 pounds, 6 shillings and 8 pence at 5 shilling sterling to the ounce.