Daily Zohar # 3489 – Chayei Sarah – A mighty prince and great negotiator

Daily Zohar 3489

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Hebrew translation:

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Zohar Chayei Sarah

#91
Genesis 23:3
“וַיָּקָם אַבְרָהָם מֵעַל פְּנֵי מֵתוֹ וַיְדַבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי חֵת לֵאמֹר.”
“Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the Hethites,”
Abraham asked them “Give me property for a burial place among you”. The Zohar says that we shouldn’t think that Abraham wanted to be friends with them or have a burial place among them. He used his wisdom to negotiate with them.

#92
We learn from Abraham’s actions that even though he desired the Cave, and saw that Ephron was there, he didn’t ask him directly and reveal his desire for the Cave. He asked the others first “Give me property for a burial place among you”, ignoring Ephron.

#93
The Hethites answered Abraham;
Genesis 23:6
“שְׁמָעֵנוּ אֲדֹנִי נְשִׂיא אֱלֹהִים אַתָּה בְּתוֹכֵנוּ בְּמִבְחַר קְבָרֵינוּ קְבֹר אֶת מֵתֶךָ אִישׁ מִמֶּנּוּ אֶת קִבְרוֹ לֹא יִכְלֶה מִמְּךָ מִקְּבֹר מֵתֶךָ.”
“Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.”
They welcomed him with honor and agreed that none of them would refuse his request. Then Abraham expressed his wish; Genesis 23:8,9 “וַיְדַבֵּר אִתָּם לֵאמֹר אִם יֵשׁ אֶת נַפְשְׁכֶם לִקְבֹּר אֶת מֵתִי מִלְּפָנַי שְׁמָעוּנִי וּפִגְעוּ לִי בְּעֶפְרוֹן בֶּן צֹחַר.””וְיִתֶּן לִי אֶת מְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה אֲשֶׁר לוֹ אֲשֶׁר בִּקְצֵה שָׂדֵהוּ בְּכֶסֶף מָלֵא יִתְּנֶנָּה לִי בְּתוֹכְכֶם לַאֲחֻזַּת קָבֶר.”
“And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Tsohar for me,” “that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.”
When asking for the cave of Ephron, he stated “a burial place among you” so they won’t think that he is not honoring them.

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