Why Ephron's Name Lost a Letter in the Field of Machpelah

"And the field of Ephron rose up" (Genesis 23:17). It had a rising up, for it went out from the hand of a commoner and came into the hand of a king. Another interpretation: "And the field of Ephron rose up" — that it was higher than the ground that was around it by about half a cubit, so that it would be distinguishable from the other fields. "Ephron" is written deficient of a vav, because he took from Abraham all those centenaria; and concerning him it is said, "He that hastens to be rich is a man of an evil eye, and knows not that want shall come upon him" (Proverbs 28:22) — for one letter was diminished from his name.