And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, [even] to the children of Heth.
7. bowed himself ] Abraham’s humble demeanour towards the people of the land doubtless conforms to the elaborate usages of Oriental bargaining. But it is also probably here emphatically recorded as indicating Abraham’s loneliness among the people of the land, and, therefore, in ironical contrast with the time when his descendants would conquer the Canaanites and possess their country.
the people of the land ] Cf. Gen 42:6 (P). This is the phrase, ’am ha-re, so common in post-exilic literature for “the heathen”: compare “peoples of the land,” Ezr 10:2; Ezr 10:11; Neh 10:28; Neh 10:30.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
i.e. Showed a civil respect to them in testimony of his thankfulness. Religion allows and requires civility, and those gestures which express it.
To the people of the land; to the governors of the people, who managed all public affairs in the peoples name and stead, and for their good.
The children of Heth, so called from Heth the son of Canaan, Gen 10:15.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Abraham stood up,…. For, having made his speech to the children of Heth, he sat down waiting for an answer; or rather perhaps they obliged him to sit down, out of reverence to so great a personage; and when they had done speaking, he rose up:
and bowed himself to the people of the land; the principal of them, in token of the grateful sense he had of the honour they had done him, and of the great civility with which they had used him:
[even] to the children of Heth; this seems to be added to distinguish them from the common people, and as an explanation of the preceding clause; [See comments on Ge 23:3].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
7. And Abraham stood up. He declines the favor offered by the Hittites, as, some suppose, with this design, that he might not lay himself under obligation to them in so small a matter. But he rather wished to show, in this way, that he would receive no gratuitous possession from those inhabitants who were to be ejected by the hand of Gods in order that he might succeed in their place: for he always kept all his thoughts fixed on God, so that he far preferred His bare promise, to present dominion over the land. Moses also commends the modesty of the holy man, when he says that he ‘rose up to do reverence to the people of the land.’ (454) As to the use of the word signifying ‘to adore,’ it is simply taken for the reverence, which any one declares, either by bowing the knee, or any other gesture of the body. This may be paid to men, as well as to God, but for a different end; men mutually either bend the knee, or bow the head, before each other, for the sake of civil honor; but if the same thing be done to them, for the sake of religion, it is profanation. For religion allows of no other worship them that of the true God. And they childishly trifle who make a pretext for their idolatry, in the words dulia and latria , (455) since the Scripture, in general terms, forbids adoration to be transferred to men. But lest any one should be surprised that Abraham acted so suppliantly, and so submissively, we must be aware that it was done from common custom and use. For it is well known that the Orientals were immoderate in their use of ceremonies. If we compare the Greeks or Italians with ourselves, we are more sparing in the use of them than they. But Aristotle, in speaking of the Asiatics and other barbarians notes this fault, that they abound too much in adorations. Wherefore we must not measure the honor which Abraham paid to the princes of the land by our customs.
(454) “ Ut adoraret populum terrae.” This is not a correct quotation from his own version of the chapter, which is, “ Incurvavit se populo terrae,” as in our version, “bowed himself to the people of the land.” — Ed
(455) “ Ac pueriliter nugantur qui in vocibus duliae et latriae fucum faciunt.” — “ Qui pensent farder leur idolatrie par ces mots de Dulie et Latrie.” — French Tr
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
‘And Abraham rose up and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the people of Heth, and he entered negotiations with them saying, “If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron, the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns, which is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me for the full price among you for the possession of a burial place”.’
Abraham already knows the land that he wants to buy and specifically describes it. In typical fashion he speaks of being ‘given’ the cave. Talking of buying and selling would have been frowned on. But he also makes clear that he expects to pay a fair price and none of them would have doubted it for a moment.
“The full price.” It has been claimed that this represents a Hittite techncial term.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.
Observe, Abraham considered himself but a wayfaring man, whilst others thought him a prince. See Luk 14:11 . A mighty prince, a prince of God. Gen 23:6 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 23:7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, [even] to the children of Heth.
Ver. 7. Abraham stood up and bowed himself, &c. ] It is very comely in Christians to salute willingly; and in words and gestures to show civil respect even to wicked men. Abraham’s behaviour to these Hittites may shame the most Christians; yea, the very Hittites themselves may teach them good manners. Even the savage cannibals, saith a grave divine, a may receive an answer of outward courtesy. If a very dog fawn upon us, we stroke him on the head, and clap him on the side. Much less is the common band of humanity untied by grace. If Elisha bade his man, or our Saviour his disciples, salute no man by the way, that was for haste’s sake; they should not hinder themselves in their journey by overmuch courtesy. Our Saviour was sweet and sociable in his whole conduct, and the proud Pharisees upbraided him for it. He never refused to go to any man’s table when invited, yea, to Zaccheus’ he invited himself, not for the pleasure of the dishes, but for the benefit of so winning a conversation. Courtesy allureth men’s minds, as fair flowers do their eyes. Pomponius Atticus so carried himself at Athens, ut communis infimis, par principibus videretur. b Alexander the Great, got the hearts of his foot soldiers, by calling them pezetairouv , his fellow footmen, c Aristotle, the better to insinuate into his hearers, read not to them (as other philosophers used to do) from a lofty seat or desk, but walking and talking with them familiarly, as with his friends, in Apollo’s porch, he made them great philosophers. d Vespasian was as highly esteemed by the people for his courtesy, as Coriolanus contemned and condemned of all for his rusticity. With one churlish breath Rehoboam lost ten tribes, whom he would, and might not, recover with his blood. But whatsoever David did pleased the people. What a deal of courtesy passed between Boaz and his reapers! “The Lord be with you,” said he; “The Lord bless thee,” said they. Rth 2:4 The Turks’ salutation at this day is, Salaum aleek , Peace be to thee: the reply is, Aleek salaum , Peace be to thee also. e The Romans had their and their , answerable to our Good day, and Good evening. f That finger next to the thumb they called Salutaris, because they put that finger to their mouth (as at this day the Roman dames do) when they saluted any. g Charles V is renowned for his courtesy: when he passed by John Frederick the elector of Saxony, he always took off his hat and bowed to him, though he were his prisoner, and had been taken by him in battle. And when he had in his power Melancthon, Pomeran, and other divines of the reformed religion, he courteously dismissed them. h As he is the best Christian that is most humble; so is he the truest gentleman that is most courteous. Your haughty upstarts, the French call gentle-villains.
a Dr Hall.
b Corn. Nepos in Vita Attici.
c Harpocrat. in voce .
d . – Diog.
e Blount’s Voyage into the Levant.
f Dio in Vita Adriani .
g Becman., De Origin. in verbo Digitus .
h Parei Hist. Profan. Medul., p. 906. – Peacham’s Complete Gentaleman.
Gen 18:2, Gen 19:1, Pro 18:24, Rom 12:17, Rom 12:18, Heb 12:14, 1Pe 3:8
Reciprocal: Gen 23:3 – Heth Gen 23:12 – General Gen 48:12 – he bowed himself
Gen 23:7. Abraham bowed himself Thus returning them thanks for their kind offer, with all proper decency and respect. Religion not only allows, but requires civility and good manners, and those gestures which express it, and every professor of it should carefully avoid rudeness and clownishness. Love doth not behave itself unseemly.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments