12 And Abraham bowed down|land, saying, But if thou wilt give himself before the people of the it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field: take 13 And he spake unto Ephron in it of me, and I will bury my dead the audience of the people of the there. land. high rank. The man of whom Abra-sence of the sons of my people give I it ham offered to purchase Machpelah, af- thee.' This is exquisitely oriental, as will fected to give the land. Nay, my lord, be seen by the following extract from hear me, the field I give thee.' And Mr. Frazer's 'Journey into Khorasan:'this fully agrees with the conduct of 'The least a Persian says when he rethose who are requested to dispose of a ceives you is, that he is your slave; that thing to a person of superior rank. Let his house, and all it contains-nay, the latter go and ask the price, and the the town and country-are all yours; owner will say, 'My lord, it will be a to dispose of at your pleasure. Every great favor if you will take it.' 'Ah, thing you accidentally notice-his callelet me have that pleasure, my lord.' eons (water smoking-pipes), his horse, Should the possessor believe he will one equipage, clothes-are all Peshcush-eday need a favor from the great man, Sahib-presents for your acceptance.' nothing will induce him to sell the arti- This mode of address, as Francklin obcle, and he will take good care (through serves, is not confined to the great; but the servants or a friend) it shall soon be the meanest artisan will not hesitate to in his house. Should he, however, have offer the city of Shiraz, with all its apno expectation of a favor in future, he purtenances, as a present to a stranger will say as Ephron, The thing is worth on his arrival. All this is understood to so much; your pleasure, my lord.'-Ro-mean no more than 'Your obedient, humberts. The field I give thee, &c. 'In ble servant,' at the end of our letters. after-times we find that the Hittites were But it often happens, that if the stranger not at all a popular people with the Is- be a person of wealth or influence, the raelites. This Ephron is the first of that man is really anxious to force upon his nation who comes under our notice; acceptance any article he happens and his tone and manner on this occa- to admire, or expresses a wish to sion do no great credit to his tribe. We purchase. But if the stranger is inare not surprised that Ephron's respect- considerate enough to accept it, it will ful and seemingly liberal conduct has been beheld favorably in Europe, for only one who has been in the East can properly appreciate the rich orientalism it exhibits. We will therefore state the transaction as illustrated by what we have ourselves seen in Persia. Abraham wishes to purchase of Ephron a certain field containing a cave: Ephron, feeling the value of the opportunity of laying, or seeming to lay, under obligation so great a person as Abraham, makes a parade of his readiness to give it: The field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the pre not be long before he discovers that by this act he is considered to have given the person a claim either upon his good offices and favor, or for a present of much more than equal value in return. If, like Abraham, he understands these matters, and is not disposed to receive such obligation, his best course is either not to admire' at all, or to insist on at once paying the value of that which attracts his admiration. In the latter case, the man will name the price, like Ephron, in a slight way, as a thing of no consequence: 'It is worth so much; what is that betwixt me and thee?' But when 14 And Ephron answered Abra- of Heth, four hundred shekels of ham, saying unto him, silver current money with the merchant. 15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred b shekels of silver what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead. 1 17 T And the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was therein, and all the trees 16 And Abraham hearkened un-that were in the field, that were in to Ephron, and Abraham weighed all the borders round about, were to Ephron the silver, which he had made sure named in the audience of the sons * ch. 25. 9 & 49. 30, 31, 32. & 50. 13. Acts Exod. 30. 15. Ezek. 45. 12. i Jer. 32. 9. 7. 16. the money is produced, he counts it and thee' (1 Sam. xxv. 12). This was carefully, and transfers to the pocket not therefore considered disrespectful or bosom of his vest in a business-like even in an inferior; nor is it now in the manner, without any indication that East-at least not in Persia-where the shekels of silver are undervalued by strict and minutely regulated etiquette him.' Pict. Bible. of society does not regard this practice 16. Four hundred shekels. Heb. p as improper.' Pict. Bible. shekel, from shakal, to weigh, 17. Were made sure. Heb. p yakom, whence we have by transposition of stood, or stood up; i. e. were made staletters the Eng. 'scale,' an instrument ble, sure, confirmed. The same term v. of weighing. It is so called from the 20, rendered by the Gr. Exvpwoŋ, was con fact that the value of money was in firmed. Throughout the above transacthose early ages reckoned by weight. tion, there was much more in the mind For this reason the word shekel is at of Abraham than was known to the peoonce the name of a weight and a coin. ple with whom he was dealing. The imThe value of the Jewish shekel was not mediate and ostensible reason for making far from fifty cents, American money. the purchase was, to procure a place of The price, therefore, that Ephron set up-interment for his wife. But he had others on his field, may be fixed at about two no less important. One of these, as we hundred dollars; consequently it could have already intimated, was to express his not have been a very small tract which in that age could have brought so considerable a sum. What is that betwixt me and thee? 'We all know what a proof of arrogance or ignorance it is considered for a person to name himself before another, even though that other should be an inferior; and what odium Cardinal Wolsey incurred by writing himself before the king,-'Ego et rex meus, I and my king.' Yet here Ephron mentions himself before Abraham, to whom he nevertheless speaks with great respect and David, while he continues to treat Saul as his sovereign, and appears before him in a most submissive attitude, uses the same expression, 'me confidence in the divine promise. God had promised to him and to his seed the land wherein he sojourned. But Abraham had continued there till this time without gaining in it so much as one foot of land. Yet it was not possible that the promise could fail. He was as much assured that it should be fulfilled, as if he had seen its actual accomplishment. Under this conviction he purchased the field as a pledge and earnest of his future inheritance. A similar compact, made with precisely the same view, occurs in the prophecies of Jeremiah, ch. 33. 6-16, 42-44. The prophets had foretold the speedy desolation of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, and the restoration of the Jews to their 12 And Abraham bowed down|land, saying, But if thou wilt give himself before the people of the it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field: take 13 And he spake unto Ephron in it of me, and I will bury my dead the audience of the people of the there. land. 6 be a high rank. The man of whom Abra-sence of the sons of my people give I it ham offered to purchase Machpelah, af- thee.' This is exquisitely oriental, as will fected to give the land. Nay, my lord, be seen by the following extract from hear me, the field I give thee.' And Mr. Frazer's 'Journey into Khorasan:'this fully agrees with the conduct of 'The least a Persian says when he rethose who are requested to dispose of a ceives you is, that he is your slave; that thing to a person of superior rank. Let his house, and all it contains-nay, the latter go and ask the price, and the the town and "ountry-are all yours; owner will say, 'My lord, it will to dispose of at your pleasure. Every great favor if you will take it.' 'Ah, thing you accidentally notice-his callelet me have that pleasure, my lord.' eons (water smoking-pipes), his horse, Should the possessor believe he will one equipage, clothes-are all Peshcush-eday need a favor from the great man, Sahib-presents for your acceptance.' nothing will induce him to sell the arti- This mode of address, as Francklin obcle, and he will take good care (through serves, is not confined to the great; but the servants or a friend) it shall soon be the meanest artisan will not hesitate to in his house. Should he, however, have offer the city of Shiraz, with all its apno expectation of a favor in future, he purtenances, as a present to a stranger will say as Ephron, The thing is worth on his arrival. All this is understood to so much; your pleasure, my lord.'-Ro-mean no more than 'Your obedient, humberts. The field I give thee, &c. 'In ble servant,' at the end of our letters. after-times we find that the Hittites were But it often happens, that if the stranger not at all a popular people with the Is- be a person of wealth or influence, the raelites. This Ephron is the first of that man is really anxious to force upon his nation who comes under our notice; acceptance any article he happens and his tone and manner on this occa- to admire, or expresses a wish to sion do no great credit to his tribe. We purchase. But if the stranger is inare not surprised that Ephron's respect- considerate enough to accept it, it will ful and seemingly liberal conduct has not be long before he discovers that by been beheld favorably in Europe, for this act he is considered to have given only one who has been in the East can the person a claim either upon his good properly appreciate the rich orientalism offices and favor, or for a present of it exhibits. We will therefore state the much more than equal value in return. transaction as illustrated by what we If, like Abraham, he understands these have ourselves seen in Persia. Abra- matters, and is not disposed to receive ham wishes to purchase of Ephron a such obligation, his best course is either certain field containing a cave: Ephron, not to admire' at all, or to insist on at feeling the value of the opportunity of once paying the value of that which atlaying, or seeming to lay, under obliga-tracts his admiration. In the latter case, tion so great a person as Abraham, the man will name the price, like Ephron, makes a parade of his readiness to give in a slight way, as a thing of no conseit-The field give I thee, and the cave quence: 'It is worth so much; what is that is therein, I give it thee; in the pre- that betwixt me and thee?' But when 14 And Ephron answered Abra- of Heth, four hundred shekels of ham, saying unto him, silver current money with the merchant. 15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead. 1 17 T And the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was therein, and all the trees 16 And Abraham hearkened un-that were in the field, that were in to Ephron, and Abraham weighed all the borders round about, were to Ephron the silver, which he had made sure named in the audience of the sons Exod. 30. 15. Ezek. 45. 12. 1 Jer. 32. 9. * ch. 25. 9 & 49. 30, 31, 32. & 50. 13. Acts 7. 16. the money is produced, he counts it and thee' (1 Sam. xxv. 12). This was carefully, and transfers to the pocket not therefore considered disrespectful or bosom of his vest in a business-like even in an inferior; nor is it now in the manner, without any indication that East-at least not in Persia-where the shekels of silver are undervalued by strict and minutely regulated etiquette him.' Pict. Bible. of society does not regard this practice 16. Four hundred shekels. Heb. pas improper.' Pict. Bible. shekel, from pr shakal, to weigh, 17. Were made sure. Heb. Dp yakom, whence we have by transposition of stood, or stood up; i. e. were made staletters the Eng. 'scale,' an instrument ble, sure, confirmed. The same term v. of weighing. It is so called from the 20, rendered by the Gr. Exupwon, was con fact that the value of money was in firmed. Throughout the above transacthose early ages reckoned by weight. tion, there was much more in the mind For this reason the word shekel is at of Abraham than was known to the peoonce the name of a weight and a coin. ple with whom he was dealing. The imThe value of the Jewish shekel was not mediate and ostensible reason for making far from fifty cents, American money. the purchase was, to procure a place of The price, therefore, that Ephron set up-interment for his wife. But he had others on his field, may be fixed at about two no less important. One of these, as we hundred dollars; consequently it could have already intimated, was to express his not have been a very small tract which confidence in the divine promise. God had in that age could have brought so con- promised to him and to his seed the land siderable a sum. What is that be- wherein he sojourned. But Abraham had twixt me and thee? We all know what continued there till this time without a proof of arrogance or ignorance it is gaining in it so much as one foot of land. considered for a person to name himself Yet it was not possible that the promise before another, even though that other could fail. He was as much assured that should be an inferior; and what odium it should be fulfilled, as if he had seen its Cardinal Wolsey incurred by writing actual accomplishment. Under this conhimself before the king,- Ego et rex viction he purchased the field as a pledge meus, I and my king.' Yet here Ephron and earnest of his future inheritance. A mentions himself before Abraham, to similar compact, made with precisely whom he nevertheless speaks with great the same view, occurs in the prophecies respect and David, while he continues of Jeremiah, ch. 33. 6-16, 42-44. The to treat Saul as his sovereign, and ap- prophets had foretold the speedy desopears before him in a most submissive lation of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, attitude, uses the same expression, 'me and the restoration of the Jews to their 6 18 Unto Abraham for a posses-re; the same is Hebron in the sion in the presence of the children land of Canaan. of Heth, before all that went in at 20 And the field, and the cave the gate of his city. that is therein 1 were made sure 19 And after this, Abraham bu- unto Abraham for a possession of a ried Sarah his wife in the cave of burying-place, by the sons of Heth. the field of Machpelah, before Mam 1 See Ruth 4. 7, 8, 9, 10. Jer. 32. 10, 11. out of the land of Egypt to possess the land of Canaan, they should carry up his bones with them, and bury them in the sepulchre of his progenitors. own land after a captivity of seventy years. His uncle's son, alarmed, as it should seem, by the approach of the Chaldean army, determined to sell his estate; and offered it to Jeremiah first, 19. Buried Sarah his wife, in the cave, because the right of redemption belong- &c. This chapter affords the earliest ed to him. By God's command, Jere- notice of the practice, which was formiah bought the inheritance, and hav-merly very prevalent in the East, of deing had the transfer signed and sealed positing the dead in natural or artificial in a public manner, he buried the writ- caves, great numbers of which are still ings in an earthen vessel, that, being pre- to be found in Palestine, Syria, Egypt, served to the expiration of the Babylo- and Persia. In the mountainous counnish captivity, they might be an evi- try of southern Palestine there are dence of his title to the estate. This abundance of natural caves in the rocks, was done, not that the prophet or his which might easily be formed into comheirs might be enriched by the purchase, modious sepulchral vaults; and where but that his conviction of the truth of such natural caves are wanting, sepulhis own prophecies might be made man- chres were hewn in the rock for such ifest. But in addition to this, and close-families as were able to incur the necesly connected with it, Abraham designed sary expense; for this was the mode of to perpetuate among his posterity the ex- sepulchre decidedly preferred by those pectation of the promised land It was who could obtain it. The arrangement to be four hundred years before his seed and extent of these caves varied with were to possess the land of Canaan. circumstances. Those in the declivity In that length of time it was probable of a mountain were often cut in horizon that without some memento, the prom- tally; but to others there was usually a ise itself would be forgotten; and more descent by steps from the surface. The especially during their Egyptian bond-roofs of the vaults are commonly arched; age. But their having a burying-place and sometimes, in the more spacious in Canaan, where their bones were to vaults, supported by colonnades. These be laid with the bones of their father rocky chambers are generally spacious, Abraham, was the most likely means of being obviously family vaults, intended keeping alive in every succeeding gen- to receive several dead bodies. Niches, eration the hope of ultimately possessing about six or seven feet deep, are usually the whole land. Accordingly we find cut in the sides of the vault, each adaptit did produce this very effect; for as ed to receive a single corpse; but in Abraham and Sarah were buried in that some vaults small rooms are cut in the cave, so were Isaac and Rebekah, and same manner; and in others, stone Jacob and Lean, notwithstanding Jacob slabs of the same length are fixed horidied in Egypt. And Joseph also, though zontally against the walls, or cut out of buried in Egypt, gave commandment the rock, one above another, serving as that when the Israelites should depart shelves on which the corpses were de |