Hear us, my lord: thou [art] a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchers bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulcher, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.
6. my lord ] A title of respect, Adoni (see note on Gen 18:3). LXX , Lat. domine.
a mighty prince ] Heb. a prince of God. The Hebrew idiom for the superlative, “a prince worthy to rank with the sons of God”: cf. Deu 33:1. For other instances, cf. Psa 36:6, “the mountains of God” = A.V. “the great mountains,” Psa 80:10, “cedars of God” = A.V. “the goodly cedars.” See note on Gen 10:9, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.” For “prince,” ns, cf. Eze 12:10; Eze 27:21; Eze 30:13; Eze 32:29; Eze 38:2.
in the choice of, &c.] In the complimentary style of Orientals the preliminaries to a business transaction are characterized by the greatest deliberateness and the greatest generosity. The opening proposal is that Abraham should make use of one of the “choicest” Hittite sepulchres, for the burial of Sarah. Even if the offer was meant seriously, Abraham will not accept it; he wishes to possess a burial-place of his own. For the phrase “the choice,” cf. Isa 22:7; Isa 37:24. It means what we should express familiarly as “the pick of.”
Probably their complimentary phrase is intended to conceal their dislike of selling a grave.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 6. Thou art a mighty prince] nesi Elohim, a prince of God – a person whom we know to be Divinely favoured, and whom, in consequence, we deeply respect and reverence.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Hear us, my lord: here is a conjunction of the plural and singular number, because though but one person spake, yet he spake in the name of the whole community.
A mighty prince; Heb. a prince of God. Great and excellent persons or things are oft expressed by adding the name of God. See Gen 13:10. Or, by prince of God, they understand a prince favoured and beloved of God.
In the choice of our sepulchres; for each family had a distinct sepulchre.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Hear us, my lord,…. One of them spake 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:
thou [art] 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” x, 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 thy 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 thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead; there is not a man among us but what has such a regard for thee, that he will not deny thee the use of his sepulchre to bury thy 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.
x “princeps Dei”, Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Vatablus, Drusius, Schmidt, &c.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
6. Thou art a mighty prince among us (453) The Hittites gratuitously offer a burying-place to Abraham wherever he might please to choose one. They testify that they do this, as a tribute to his virtues. We have before seen, that the Hebrews give a divine title to anything which excels. Therefore we are to understand by the expression, ‘a prince of God,’ a person of great and singular excellency. And they properly signalize him whom they reverence for his virtues, with this eulogium; thereby testifying, that they ascribe to God alone, whatever virtues in men are deserving of praise and reverence. Now some seed of piety manifests itself in the Hittites, by thus doing honor to Abraham, whom they acknowledge to be adorned with rare gifts of the Spirit of God. For profane and brutal men tread under foot, with barbarous contempt, every excellent gift of God, as swine do pearls. And yet we know with how many vices those nations were defiled; how much greater then, and more disgraceful is our ingratitude, if we give no honor to the image of God, when it shines before our eyes? Abraham’s sanctity of manners procures him such favor with the Hittites, that they do not envy his preeminence among them; what excuse then is there for us, if we hold in less esteem those virtues in which the majesty of God is conspicuous? Truly their madness is diabolical, who not only despise the favors of God, but even ferociously oppose them.
(453) “ Princeps es Dei.” See margin of English version. Heb., a prince of God. — Ed
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(6) A mighty prince.Heb., a prince of God. Comp. wind of God (Gen. 1:2); wrestlings of God (Gen. 30:8); mountains of God (Psa. 36:6); cedars of God (Psa. 80:10). So also a sleep of Jehovah for a deep sleep (1Sa. 26:12).
In the choice of our sepulchres.The interview between Abraham and the Hittites is marked by the utmost courtesy on both sides, but it is a mistake to suppose that this acceptance of the patriarchs proposal contained the idea that he might select a sepulchre without paying for it. The payment, in true Oriental fashion, is kept in the background, but is pre-supposed on both sides. After the acceptance of his proposal, it was Abrahams turn to name the burying-place he wished, and the owner next consents, but while treating the purchase-money as a matter of small importance, he nevertheless asks a very high price, to which Abraham at once consents.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. Thou art a mighty prince Hebrews, a prince of God . These Hitties had observed that Abraham was one on whom God had put honour . Compare Abimelech’s words in Gen 21:22.
In the choice In the one thou may choose for thyself . Abraham had a choice, and in most respectful form he shows (Gen 23:8-9) that he has already made a choice in the possession of one of the Hittite chiefs . But to obtain it requires diplomacy and tact . If the ancient habits of making a bargain were like the modern in the East, all this generous liberality on the part of the sons of Heth was but a courteous formality, and was so understood by Abraham .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 23:6 Hear us, my lord: thou [art] a mighty prince 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.
Ver. 6. Thou art a prince of God amongst us. ] That is, excellent or prosperous, as Gen 21:22 ; and it was their ingenuity and candour to acknowledge it. God’s people are “princes in all lands” Psa 45:16 Kings they are in righteousness and peace; but somewhat obscure ones, as was Melehizedek, and therefore little set by. 1Jn 3:1-2 Unkent, unkist, as the northern proverb is. So was Christ the heir of all. But “we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him”; that is enough for us. In the meantime, “the righteous is more excellent than his neighbour” (let him dwell by whomsoever), and shall be more prosperous, if it may be for his good.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
mighty prince. Hebrew. prince of El. Genitive of relation (App-17), for Adjective. Compare Psa 36:7; Psa 80:10.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
my lord: Gen 18:12, Gen 24:18, Gen 24:35, Gen 31:35, Gen 32:4, Gen 32:5, Gen 32:18, Gen 42:10, Gen 44:5, Gen 44:8, Exo 32:22, Rth 2:13
a mighty prince: Heb. a prince of God, Gen 21:22, Isa 45:14, 1Jo 3:1, 1Jo 3:2
prince: Gen 13:2, Gen 14:14, Gen 24:35
Reciprocal: Gen 23:11 – my lord Gen 30:8 – great wrestlings Job 36:7 – with
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 23:6. Thou art a prince of God So it is in the original, not only great, but good. He called himself a stranger and a sojourner, they call him a great prince; and well they might, considering his wealth, prosperity, and retinue, and the simple manners of those times.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
23:6 Hear us, my lord: thou [art] a {b} mighty prince 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. {b} That is godly or excellent: for so do the Hebrews speak of all things that are notable, because all excellency comes from God.