Why Ephron's Name Loses a Letter After Naming His Price

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Re'eh 4:2

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, between me and you—what is that?" (Genesis 23:15). He said to him: If you wish to give me four hundred centenaria of silver out of the merchandise of your house—another reading is hervata, which the 'Arukh explains as "dung"—you are able to give it to me. Because he brought an evil eye against Abraham's wealth, he was made deficient by a vav, as it is stated (Genesis 23:16): "And Abraham weighed out for Ephron." It is the second Ephron that is deficient.

Themes

AbrahamHeresyAdam EveWealthCreation

Biblical References

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