[4] I am a stranger and
a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you,
that I may bury my dead out of my sight. [5]
And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,
I am a stranger and a sojourner with you - Therefore
I am unprovided, and must become a suiter to you for a burying - place.
This was one occasion which Abraham took to confess that he was a stranger
and a pilgrim upon earth. The death of our relations should effectually
mind us that we are not at home in this world. That I may bury my dead
out of my sight - Death will make those unpleasant to our sight, who while
they lived were the desire of our eyes. The countenance that was fresh
and lively becomes pale and ghastly, and fit to be removed into the land
of darkness.
[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.
Thou art a prince of God among us - So the word is; not
only great, but good. He called himself a stranger and a sojourner, they
call him a great prince.
[7] And Abraham stood up, and
bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.
[8] And he communed with them, saying, If
it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and
intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, [9]
That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the
end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me
for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you. [10]
And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered
Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went
in at the gate of his city, saying,
Abraham returns them thanks for their kind offer, with
all possible decency and respect. Religion teaches good manners, and those
abuse it that place it in rudeness and clownishness.
[11] Nay, my lord, hear me:
the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in
the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.
[12] And Abraham bowed down himself before
the people of the land.
The field give I thee - Abraham thought he must be intreated
to sell it, but upon the first mention, without intreaty, he freely gives
it.
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