Why Ephron the Hittite Lost a Letter From His Name

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Mishpatim 5:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Exodus 22:24[25]:) "If you lend money to My people," etc. This is what Scripture says (Proverbs 28:22): "An evil-eyed man hastens after wealth" — anyone who is hasty to plunder the money of his fellow, "and does not know that lack will come upon him" (ibid.), that a loss comes upon him. And who was this? This was Ephron the Hittite. When Abraham said, "Give me a holding for a burial site," etc., "and the sons of Heth answered," etc., "Hear us, my lord" (Genesis 23:4, 5, 6), Ephron said to him: And which place do you seek? He said to him: I seek a place in your field. He said to him: "A land worth four hundred shekels of silver" (ibid. 23:15). Immediately "Abraham heeded Ephron, and Abraham weighed out to Ephron [Ephran]" (ibid. 23:16) — lacking the vav — because he lusted to take Abraham's money, he did not know that lack would come upon him. This is "An evil-eyed man hastens after wealth," etc.

Themes

AbrahamCreationWisdomWealthDeath

Biblical References

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