Sforno on the Torah

IN THE CHOICEST OF OUR BURIAL PLACES, BURY. And do not delay [burying] your dead until you can acquire, as they said, "for all dead [other than a parent], one who expedites [the departure of] the bier, is praiseworthy."

(1) THE CAVE OF MACHPELAH. A place called Machpelah, as it says (v.17), "the field of Efron, which is in Machpelah, was thus transferred." (2) WHICH IS AT THE EDGE OF HIS LAND. And so his holding will not be impaired through this. (3) AT THE FULL PRICE. For he does not want its value to be diminished, for your sake. (4) IN YOUR MIDST. In the presence of all of you, for I am not requesting any delay to pay the sale price. And that is what he did, as it says (vv.16, 18), "Avraham paid out to Efron the money ... in the presence of the Hittites." (5) FOR A BURIAL SITE. For even though he sells to me, he might [subsequently] complain that I should not bury within his territory; therefore, I am asking that he sell it to me [explicitly] as a burial site.

ABRAHAM BOWED LOW BEFORE THE LANDOWNING CITIZENS. He bowed to thank them, as acknowledging that it was out of respect for them that Efron agreed to grant his request, as they, of blessed memory, said, "One who goes to a place on the command of his father should not say, 'Hurry up for my sake,' but rather, 'Hurry up for Father's sake,' 'Let me take leave of this business for Father's sake.'"

(1) ONLY IF ... I HAVE GIVEN YOU THE MONEY FOR THE FIELD. I will do as you have said, to bury the dead there, only if I have given you the money for the field, and I will not bury under any other condition. (2) YOU WOULD HEAR ME. You, please hear me. Take from me and I will bury after that.

WHAT IS IT? Isn't it a trivial matter, and speech suffices to give you ownership from now such that you will be able to bury within your own property even though you have not yet paid the money.

(1) AVRAHAM HEARKENED TO EFRON. He accepted his view of the value of the field. (2) AND HE WEIGHED OUT [JPS: PAID]. He paid off, as (I Kings 20:39), "or you will have to pay a talent of silver."