Ephron's Greedy Eye and the Missing Letter in His Name

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 102:19

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"My lord, hear me: a land worth four hundred shekels of silver" (Genesis 23:15-16). This is what the verse says: "A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth" (Proverbs 28:22), this is Ephron, who cast an evil eye upon the money of Abraham. He said: if you wish to give four hundred centenaria of silver from the merchandise of your house, you are able to give it to me. "And he does not know that want will come upon him" (Proverbs 28:22), for Scripture diminished him a letter vav, as it is said, "And Abraham weighed out to Ephron [Efron]": "Ephron" is written here defectively, lacking a vav. [Bracketed gloss: in the spelling of Ephron's name in this verse the letter vav is omitted, hinting that he was "diminished."]

Themes

AbrahamEthicsWisdom

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