"Nay my Lord... I give it thee."-Gen. 23
Flattering and empty speeches like those of Ephron to Abraham, when a purchase was under consideration are common in the lands of the Bible to the present day. When a friend of the writer had occasion to hire a house in Jerusalem, the native to whom it belonged met his inquiries respecting the rent with "I do not want any money from you; you are my father; come and live in my house as long as you like; you are welcome; I shall charge you no rent," &c. At last, however, he named his price, which was as exorbitant a one as he could ask, and the arrangement was concluded. Compare with this the interview to which reference has been made and which took place some 3700 years. ago. Abraham states his business, the acquisition of a burying place, and before he has time to complete his sentence (compare verses 4 and 9), the people interrupt him by assuring him that he is welcome to bury his dead in the sepulcher of any one of them. But he courteously declines the offer of interment for his own dead in one of their heathen sepulchers; and asks for a price to be fixed. Three times does Ephron reiterate that the field is to be a gift, but, on being further pressed, he fixes the very large sum of " four hundred shekels of silver"; about £52 of English money, adding, with apparent indifference, "what is that betwixt me and thee?" Abraham, we are told, " hearkened unto Ephron;" he paid respectful attention to his words; but " he weighed to Ephron the silver," and thus acquired his " first and only possession in Canaan," viz. a grave.