“The field of Ephron that was in Makhpela that was before Mamre, the field and the cave that was in it, and every tree that was in the field, that was within its border all around, were established” (Genesis 23:17). “As possession for Abraham before the children of Ḥet, of all coming to his city gate” (Genesis 23:18). “The field of Ephron…were established [vayakam]” – it had been lowly and was now elevated [vekamat], as it had belonged to an insignificant person and now it became that of a great person.
“The field of Ephron that was in Makhpela” – this teaches that it doubled [nikhpelu] in value in the eyes of everyone,32After Abraham acquired it. and that anyone who is buried in it can be certain that his reward is doubled [kaful].33Due to its great sanctity. Rabbi Abahu said: It is because the Holy One blessed be He folded up [kafaf] the [great] height of Adam the first man34See Bereshit Rabba 12:6. and buried him in it [the Cave of Makhpela].
“The field and the cave that was in it…” – Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] said: From where is it derived what we learned: One who sells his field must write down the field and its [specific] border markers? It is from here: “The field and the cave that was in it, and every tree that was in the field that was within its border all around, as possession for Abraham before the children of Ḥet.” Rabbi Elazar said: How many inkwells are emptied, how many quills are broken in order to write “the sons of Ḥet”?35It is repeated so frequently that it must use a good deal of ink and many pens to write it when a scribe writes a Torah.
“The sons of Ḥet” is repeated ten times, corresponding to the Ten Commandments, to teach you that anyone who endorses the transaction of a righteous man, it is as though he fulfilled the Ten Commandments. Rabbi Yudan said: “The sons of Barzilai” is written five times,36In I Kings chapter 2. corresponding to the five books of the Torah, to teach you that anyone who feeds a slice of bread to a righteous man,37As Barzilai fed David (see II Samuel 17:27). it is as though he fulfilled the five books of the Torah.