Genesis 23:3

“And Abraham stood up from before his dead, etc.] The corpse of Sarah, by which he sat pensive and mourning, perhaps upon the ground, as was the custom of mourners, (<180113>Job 1:13); where having sat awhile, he rose up and went out of the tent, to provide for the funeral of his wife as became him: and spake unto the sons of Heth; the descendants of Heth the son of Canaan, (see <011015>Genesis 10:15); who were at this time the inhabitants and proprietors of that part of the land where Abraham now was: saying; as follows:”

“PURCHASE OF A BURYING-PLACE. (Gen. 23:3-20) Abraham stood up, &c.--Eastern people are always provided with family burying-places; but Abraham's life of faith--his pilgrim state--had prevented him acquiring even so small a possession (Act 7:5). spake unto the sons of Heth--He bespoke their kind offices to aid him in obtaining possession of a cave that belonged to Ephron--a wealthy neighbor.”

“23:3-4 Abraham bargained with local Hittite elders for a piece of land for a burial site. These Hittites had apparently migrated south to Canaan from the great Hittite empire in eastern Asia Minor (modern Turkey; cp. 10:15). • Abraham was a stranger and a foreigner among these people; his hope was in God’s promise that he would eventually possess the land.”