Hidden Motives

By Venessa Holtzhausen

Gen 23:15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that between me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.

Sarah died in a ripe old age and there is a story going that satan actually appeared unto her, saying that Isaac was being offered to YHWH. She got an heart attack and died. How she died and the circumstances around it, is of no importance. That is why the Scriptures do not even mention this, only the Sages.

Sarah is dead and Abraham needs a cave as burial site. In chapter 23 we have a classic business transaction. You have your witnesses and the elders of the city. However, if we look closer at this situation we see that Efron, the one giving the land, said Abraham can have it for free, but he
specifically mentions the price. Why would anyone do this?

There might be a hidden motive in Efron’s heart. He wants to give it, but made sure that Abraham knew the exact price, which Abraham paid. It is like blowing a trumpet before you, declaring your good deeds. The Scriptures are clear:

Mat 6:2 “Thus, when you do a kind deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do, in the congregations and in the streets, to be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward.
Mat 6:3 “But when you do a kind deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Mat 6:4 so that your kind deed shall be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret shall Himself reward you openly

Amen!