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Genesis 23:20 "The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as a possession for a burying place by the Hittites." (A real estate deal, right up my alley!)

 

Abraham wanted to bury Sarah, and he asked to be allowed to purchase a field with a cave in Canaan from the Hittites, "the people of the land" (Genesis 23:12), specifically from Ephron the Hittite. The Hittites so respected Abraham that they told him to bury Sarah in any one of their sepulchers (Genesis 23:6). When he indicated he preferred the cave, Ephron offered to just give it to him (Genesis 23:11), but Abraham politely insisted on paying, and purchased the field and cave* which were then "made over to Abraham as a possession for a burying place by the Hittites."

 

God led Abraham to Canaan, it is the Promised Land that He will eventually give to His people entirely as their possession. For now, though, Abraham is "a stranger and a sojourner" among the Hittites, the people of the land (Genesis 23:4). So the first piece of the Promised Land to actually be owned by the Jews is a burial place. That seems fittingly symbolic, since from the Jews will come the one who defeats death and raises from the dead.

 

It is not yet time for the Jews to own Canaan, that will come after much more history, trial, and suffering, including 400 years as slaves in Egypt. Abraham is there now as a first step, he is planting the flag, and he plants it in a grave, thus also staking out the Promised Land the Savior will win for all of us. Canaan will eventually be conquered and given to the Jews; death will eventually be conquered and eternal life given to all of us. The Bible is so full of symbolism, foreshadowing, and every other literary device. It is a true work of art, in addition to being our guide to Salvation, as Abraham's artful deal here shows us.

 

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*The "negotiations" between Abraham and Ephron are so perfect, too. Ephron offers the land as a gift, out of respect for Abraham; Abraham avoids seeming ungrateful, while still insisting on payment; Ephron saves face by saying, basically "It's only worth 400 shekels, what's that between friends?" thus telling Abraham the amount he should pay without withdrawing the offer of the gift. (Genesis 23:10-16)