Ephron is a significant figure in the Old Testament, primarily known for his interaction with Abraham in the book of Genesis. He was a Hittite, a member of the people who inhabited the region of Canaan during the time of the patriarchs. Ephron's most notable role is in the narrative concerning the purchase of the cave of Machpelah, which became the burial site for several key figures in the biblical narrative.

Biblical Account

The account of Ephron is found in Genesis 23. After the death of Sarah, Abraham's wife, Abraham sought a burial place for her. He approached the Hittites, expressing his desire to purchase a piece of land to serve as a family burial site. Ephron, who owned the field of Machpelah, was present among the Hittites at the city gate, where such transactions were customarily conducted.

Ephron initially offered the cave to Abraham as a gift, saying, "No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the sons of my people, I give it to you. Bury your dead" (Genesis 23:11). However, Abraham insisted on paying for the land, demonstrating his integrity and desire for a legitimate transaction. Ephron then proposed a price of four hundred shekels of silver, which Abraham accepted without negotiation, ensuring the purchase was conducted with full transparency and fairness.

Cultural and Historical Context

The interaction between Abraham and Ephron reflects the customs and legal practices of the time. The negotiation at the city gate, a place of legal and commercial transactions, underscores the importance of public witness in property dealings. Ephron's initial offer to give the land as a gift may have been a customary gesture of hospitality, but the subsequent agreement on a price highlights the mutual respect and understanding between the two parties.

The amount of four hundred shekels of silver was a significant sum, indicating the value of the property and the importance Abraham placed on securing a permanent burial site for his family. This transaction is one of the earliest recorded instances of land purchase in the Bible, emphasizing the theme of God's promise to Abraham regarding the land of Canaan.

Significance in Biblical Narrative

The purchase of the cave of Machpelah is a pivotal moment in the Genesis narrative. It marks the first piece of the Promised Land that Abraham and his descendants legally owned, serving as a tangible sign of God's covenant with Abraham. The cave later became the burial site for other patriarchs and matriarchs, including Abraham himself, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah, as noted in Genesis 49:29-32 and Genesis 50:13.

Ephron's role in this transaction highlights the interactions between the patriarchs and the inhabitants of Canaan, illustrating themes of faith, integrity, and the fulfillment of divine promises. The account of Ephron and the cave of Machpelah continues to hold theological significance, symbolizing the enduring connection between the patriarchs and the land promised by God.Ephron

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Ephron

(fawn-like), the son of Zochar, a Hittite, from whom Abraham bought the field and cave of Machpelah. (Genesis 23:8-17; 25:9; 49:29,30; 50:13) (B.C. 1860.)

Ephron

A Hittite, dwelling at Hebron in the time of Abraham, Genesis 23:1 20. The charming account of his transaction with Abraham, and the frequent subsequent mention of his name, point him out as a prince in the land.

Fawn-like.

(1.) The son of Zohar a Hittite, the owner of the field and cave of Machpelah (q.v.), which Abraham bought for 400 shekels of silver (Genesis 23:8-17; 25:9; 49:29, 30).

(2.) A mountain range which formed one of the landmarks on the north boundary of the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:9), probably the range on the west side of the Wady Beit-Hanina.

EPHRON (1)

e'-fron ('ephron, "fawnlike"):

The Hittite of whom Abraham bought the field and cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:8; Genesis 25:9; Genesis 49:30). The transaction was conducted in true oriental fashion, with excessive courtesy; but the large sum of 400 shekels' weight of silver was in the end required (compare 33:19; 1 Kings 16:24).

See also MONEY; MONEY, CURRENT.

EPHRON (2)

e'-fron (`ephron; Ephron):

(1) 2 Chronicles 13:19: "And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Beth-el with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephron with the towns thereof." Another reading is "Ephraim" (Revised Version, margin). This is thought by many to be identical with Ophrah (`ophrah, Joshua 18:23) and perhaps with Ephraim (`ephrayim, 2 Samuel 13:23) which both have been localized at the lofty town of eT Taiyibeh.

(2) A city East of the Jordan between Carnion (Ashteroth-karnain) and Scythopolis (Beisan): "Then Judas gathered together all the Israelites that were in the country.. Now when they came unto Ephron (this was a great city in the way as they should go, very well fortified) they could not turn from it either on the right hand or on the left, but they must needs pass through the midst of it" (1 Maccabees 5:45, 46 the King James Version; Ant, XII, viii, 5; also 2 Maccabees 12:27). Buhl and Schumacher propose Kacr Wady el Ghafr, a ruined tower which completely commands the deep Wady el Ghafr, but the ruins appear to be scanty.

(3) Mt. Ephron: The border of Judah is described (Joshua 15:9): "It went out to the cities of Mount Ephron." The position will depend on that of Nephtoah and of Kiriath-jearim.

E. W. G. Masterman

6085. Ephron -- a Hittite, also a mountain and a place in Isr.
... 6084, 6085. Ephron. 6086 . a Hittite, also a mountain and a place in Isr.
Transliteration: Ephron Phonetic Spelling: (ef-rone') Short Definition: Ephron. ...
/hebrew/6085.htm - 6k

Chapter xxiii
... however, apparently there is no idle courtesy or shallow, insincere flattery on
the part of Abraham at all, and on the part of the man Ephron very little, if ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxiii.htm

Whether it is Lawful to Receive Money for Things Annexed to ...
... Now Abraham bought from Ephron a double cave for a burying-place (Gn.23:8, sqq.),
and Jacob bought from Esau the right of the first-born (Gn.25:31, sqq.). ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 24.htm

Appendix D.
... an inaccuracy in Stephen's statement: for the burying-place was not at Sychem which
Abraham bought, but at Hebron, and it was bought of Ephron the Hittite, as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/burgon/inspiration and interpretation/appendix d.htm

How Judas Subdued the Nations Round About; and How Simon Beat the ...
... the substance that belonged to them, and was going to bring them back into Judea;
but as soon as he was come to a certain city, whose name was Ephron, that lay ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 how judas subdued.htm

The History after the Flood.
... earth. And after him reigned Abimelech in Gerar; and after him another
Abimelech. Then reigned Ephron, surnamed the Hittite. Such ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xxxi the history after the.htm

In that Flesh in which the Saints have Suffered So Many ...
... him a place where he might bury her, he declined it as a gift, but bought the
burying-place (giving for it four hundred talents of silver) from Ephron the son ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxii in that flesh in.htm

Machinations of the Enemies of Jesus.
... He withdrew to an obscure town called Ephraim or Ephron, in the direction of Bethel,
a short day's journey from Jerusalem.[2] He spent a few days there with ...
/.../renan/the life of jesus/chapter xxii machinations of the.htm

Concerning Sarah Abraham's Wife; and How She Ended Her Days.
... her in Hebron; the Canaanites publicly allowing them a burying-place; which piece
of ground Abraham bought for four hundred shekels, of Ephron, an inhabitant ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 14 concerning sarah abrahams.htm

Epistle iii. To Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari).
... up anew, remembering that, when Abraham demanded for a price a sepulchre for the
burial of his wife's body from the sons of Emor, that is from Ephron the son ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle iii to januarius bishop.htm

Chapter xxv
... And his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field
of Ephron, the son of Zohar, the Hittite, which was over against Mamre, the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxv.htm

Ephron (13 Occurrences)
...EPHRON (1). e'-fron ('ephron, "fawnlike"): The Hittite of whom Abraham bought the
field and cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:8; Genesis 25:9; Genesis 49:30). ...
/e/ephron.htm - 13k

Ephron's (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Ephron's (2 Occurrences). Genesis 23:16 And Abraham
hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron...
/e/ephron's.htm - 7k

Hittite (45 Occurrences)
... Genesis 23:10 Now Ephron was sitting in the middle of the children of Heth.
Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of ...
/h/hittite.htm - 22k

Audience (17 Occurrences)
... Genesis 23:10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite
answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that ...
/a/audience.htm - 13k

Zohar (5 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Brightness. (1.) The father of Ephron the Hittite (Genesis
23:8). (2.) One of the sons of Simeon (Genesis 46:10; Exodus 6:15). ...
/z/zohar.htm - 9k

Mach-pe'lah (6 Occurrences)
... Genesis 23:17 So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre,
the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in ...
/m/mach-pe'lah.htm - 8k

Buying (12 Occurrences)
... "Hear me," pleads Abraham with the children of Heth, "and entreat for me to Ephron
the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah. ...
/b/buying.htm - 23k

Bury (78 Occurrences)
... Genesis 23:8 He talked with them, saying, "If it be your mind that I should bury
my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar ...
/b/bury.htm - 32k

Heth (13 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS). Genesis 23:10 Now Ephron was sitting in the
middle of the children of Heth. ... Genesis 23:16 Abraham listened to Ephron. ...
/h/heth.htm - 11k

Hollow (35 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Genesis 23:17 So Ephron's field at Machpelah near Mamre, with the hollow
in the rock and all the trees in the field and round it, (BBE). ...
/h/hollow.htm - 20k

What is the significance of the cave of Machpelah? | GotQuestions.org

Why was a burial place so important in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Abijah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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