23:20 a possession. Although God had promised Abraham a vast nation, the only land he ever owned in Canaan was this burial ground. Later, he, as well as Isaac and Jacob, Leah and Rebekah, would also be buried here (Genesis 25:9; 35:27,29; 49:30,31; 50:13). Today there is a Muslim mosque over the alleged site of this cave.

23:20 sons of Heth. This entire transaction has been illuminated by archaeology, and there is little doubt that it reflects accurately the customs of that period (around 1900 B.C.), especially among the Hittites, an early colony of which had settled in Canaan by then. Ephron, from whom Abraham purchased the cave, was a Hittite (Genesis 23:10), and the Hittites (known on the monuments as Hatti) were “sons of Heth,” who was a son of Canaan (Genesis 10:15). The great Hittite Empire was centered in what is now Turkey, but had colonies in various places. This covenant between Abraham and Ephron contains a number of words and concepts now known to be typical of Hittite documents.