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.
4 "I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead."
4 "I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
4 "I know I'm only an outsider here among you, but sell me a burial plot so that I can bury my dead decently.
4 "I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
4 "Here I am, a stranger and a foreigner among you. Please sell me a piece of land so I can give my wife a proper burial."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 23:4
Commentary on Genesis 23:1-13
(Read Genesis 23:1-13)
The longest life must shortly come to a close. Blessed be God that there is a world where sin, death, vanity, and vexation cannot enter. Blessed be his name, that even death cannot part believers from union with Christ. Those whom we most love, yea, even our own bodies, which we so care for, must soon become loathsome lumps of clays, and be buried out of sight. How loose then should we be to all earthly attachments and adornments! Let us seek rather that our souls be adorned with heavenly graces. Abraham rendered honour and respect to the princes of Heth, although of the ungodly Canaanites. The religion of the Bible enjoins to pay due respect to all in authority, without flattering their persons, or countenancing their crimes if they are unworthy characters. And the noble generosity of these Canaanites shames and condemns the closeness, selfishness, and ill-humour of many that call themselves Israelites. It was not in pride that Abraham refused the gift, because he scorned to be beholden to Ephron; but in justice and in prudence. Abraham was able to pay for the field, and therefore would not take advantage of Ephron's generosity. Honesty, as well as honour, forbids us to take advantage of our neighbour's liberality, and to impose, upon those who give freely.