Rashi on TanakhGenesis 23

The lifetime of Sarah consisted of one hundred years, twenty years and seven years. The reason the word שָׁנָה [year] is written with every set is to tell you that every set is to be explained by itself. [When she was] 100 years old she was like a 20 year old, regarding sin. Just as when she was 20 she was not considered as having sinned since she was not yet subject to punishment, so, too, at 100 she had not sinned. And when she was 20 she was like a seven-year-old, regarding [her] beauty.

The years of Sarah’s life. [This tells us] that they were all equally good.

In Kiryas Arba. So called because of the four giants that were there, Achiman, Sheishai, Talmai, and their father. Another explanation: So called because of the four couples that were buried there—man and wife, Adam and Chavah, Avraham and Sarah, Yitzchok and Rivkah, Yaakov and Leah.

Avraham came. From Beer Sheva.

To eulogize Sarah and to weep for her. The narrative of Sarah’s death immediately follows the Akeidah [binding] of Yitzchok because as a result of the news of the Akeidah, that her son had been prepared for slaughter and almost not been slaughtered, her soul departed from her and she died.

I am a foreigner and a resident among you. “A stranger from another land and I have become a resident among you.” The Midrashic explanation is: “If you will agree then I am a stranger. If not, I will be as a resident and will rightfully take it. For God has told me, “To your descendants I will give this land.”

The possession of a grave. [Meaning:] the possession of land to serve as a burial place.

Will not deny. [Meaning:] will not withhold as in, “You will not withhold Your pity” and as in “The downpour was withheld.”

Your will. [Meaning:] your will.

And intercede for me. A term denoting a request as in “Do not entreat me.”

Machpeilah. I.e., a house with an upper level above it. Another explanation: It is doubled with couples.

For its full value. [Meaning:] its full value. Similarly, Dovid said to Arnun, “For its full value.”

Ephron lived. It [ישֵׁב] is written [with a vav] missing. [This is because] on that day they appointed him [to be] an officer over them. Because of the exaltedness of Avraham who needed him [to purchase the land] he was raised to an important position.

For all who came to the city gate. For they all left their work and came to pay their respects to Sarah.

No, my master. “You will not buy it for money, [but. .]

I have given you. As though I have already given it to you.

If you will only listen to me. “You tell me to listen to you and to take [the cave] without payment. I do not wish this.”

If you will only listen to me. [Meaning:] “Would that you listen to me.”

I have given. Donne [“I am giving”] in Old French. “I have it available and I wish that I had already given it to you.”

Between me and you. Between two friends such as we are, what significance does it have? None! Disregard the sale [for now] and bury your dead!

Avraham weighed out for Ephron. [עֶפְרֹן is spelled] without a vav because he said much and did not do even a little, for he took superior shekels from him—centenars, as it is said, “Negotiable currency,” i.e., they are accepted as a shekel everywhere for there are places whose shekels are superior which are centenars in Old French.

The field of Ephron was established. It was elevated [in importance] for it left the possession of a commoner to [become] the possession of a king. The simple meaning of the verse is: The field and the cave within it and all the trees came into Avraham’s possession, etc.

All who had come to the gate of his city. [I.e.,] amongst all of them and in the presence of all, he gave him possession.