Chaye Sarah: the deal

Swirling through the parsha are ideas of continuity, marriage, purchase, inclusion and exclusion.  It begins with the death of Sarah, an event that necessitates a purchase of land in perpetuity, and ends with the death of Avraham, buried by both of his sons, Isaac and Ishamel. 

There are several deals made in Chaye Sarah.  They are very telling

 First there is the  purchase of the burial ground for Sarah, the Meorath Hmachpelah. This is used as a paradigm in the talmud, Kicha Kicha misdei Efron.  The people of Heth offer a burial plot free of charge, but  Avraham has identified a location that he wants

Avraham  approaches Efron,  the owner of the land that he wants. Efron offers the desired plot as a gift to Avraham.  Avraham refuses to take the plot as a gift. [ Note: the Jew will take the free gift.]  Rather, Avraham elicits from Efron  a valuation of 400 zuz ( an enormous sum [a man, in his prime, is valued at 50 zuz]) and pays it in currency. 

Is this a purchase or an exchange of gifts? The Talmud associates the laws of monetary exchange for marriage with this story.  I like the idea of exchange of gifts better in that context.  I also like the fact that  the story models a monetary transfer for something that can be obtained free of charge.

The money that Avraham gives Efron is described as over lisocher: current money with the merchant. Avraham exchanged something of transient value for something permanant. 

Another time, I would like to explore the other deals made in this parsha:

• The agreement between Eliezer and Avraham (contingencies in the contract)
• Eliezer's deal with Gd ( the improbable and insurance)
• Rivka's deal with watering the camels ( delayed payment for services, working for tips)
• Avraham and the children of Keturah (payoffs)

Beware of the bargain:

You have $530,000 in Nigeria!