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Abraham Purchases the First Parcel of Promised Land

Genesis 23:1-25:18

In the 23rd chapter of Genesis we read of the first tract in the Land of Israel to enter into Jewish possession.

Sixty years earlier, G-d had told Abraham: "The entire land that you see, I will give to you and your descendents forever... Arise and traverse the land, in its length and in its breadth, for to you I shall give it." (Genesis 13:15-17). But this was a promise concerning the future -- the land was not yet his, and Abraham took care not to even allow his sheep to graze on Canaanite property (indeed, this was the cause of the split between Abraham and his nephew, Lot -- see Rashi on Genesis 13:7).

The first part of the land of Israel to belong to the Jewish people in the actual and legal sense, was the "Machpeila Field and its cave" in the heart of Hebron, which Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite.

The Torah recounts the Ephron-Abraham sale in great detail, including the sum of the purchase price--four hundred silver shekels. It is  interesting though, to note the details of the negotiations between Abraham and the Hittites.

Abraham first directs his request to bury his dead to the Hittite people. Their answer was positive and showed considerations for Abraham's position and respect. It did not, however, include giving him the privileges of a citizen to buy land and own it. A gift in this case would be much less than what Abraham wanted, and required more bargaining.

Abraham made known to the Hittites what plot of land he was interested in, and stated that he was willing to pay full price for it , but Ephron the Hittite stood up before the people for everyone to hear and offered the land to Abraham for free, as a gift. He wished to show everyone his generosity, to be honored by the people and to have Abraham "owe him one", while he was still the owner of the land.

Only after Abraham insisted again on paying for the land, did Ephron the Hittite mention the price - 400 silver shekels. Abraham was happy to pay the price, because now he had in his hands an official recognition of his right to own property, and a specific plot that belongs to him and to his descendents for all generations to come.