Could someone explain to me why Abraham insisted so strongly on paying for the field of Ephron? Like Ephron offered it free of charge but Abraham refused to take it free of charge.

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Matthew Guldner

Matthew, when I read your question my mind went to Genesis 14:23: "That I will not take from a thread even to a shoe-latchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:" This incident occurred after Abraham rescued people taken hostage by an enemy king and the king of Sodom offered Abraham a reward for doing so. There may be a principle involved here that extended to him paying for this field.

Just my two cents...

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Sandra Miller

I think the principle is that Abraham was a foreigner and pilgrim that should owe nothing to a native just like we are supposed to be in this world but not of it we should not owe anything to unbelievers that would tie us to this world