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Gen_23:11 Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that [is] therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.
Ver. 11. The field give I thee, &c.] A brave speech of a bountiful spirit, to a stranger especially; and in that respect beyond that of Araunah the noble Jebusite to David, his liege lord; "All these things did Araunah as a king give to the king". {2Sa_24:23} Indeed, to give is a kingly employment; making men like to "the Father of lights, from whom comes every good gift and perfect giving". {Jam_1:17} Kings are styled benefactors; {a} and of the ancient kings of Egypt it is recorded, and was rehearsed among other of their praises, that they were åõìåôáäïôïé, êáé êïéíùíéêïé , "willing to distribute, ready to communicate," which are the apostle’s two words in 1Ti_6:18. Cyrus took more delight in giving than possessing, as his soldiers could say of him in Xenophon. {b} It is not only better, but sweeter to do good, than to receive good, said Epicurus. {c} It is a "more blessed" thing, saith our Saviour. Titus would say, when he had done no good, he had lost a day: et molestius erat Severo Imperatori nihil peti, quam dare . Our General Norrice, like that Bishop of Lincoln, never thought he had that thing, which he did not give. Few such now-a-days.
{a} åõåñãåêáé . - Diodor. Sic., lib. i. {Luk_22:25}
{b} Déäïõò ìáëëïí ç êôùìåíïò çäåôáé
{c} ôïõ åõ ðá÷åéí ôï åõ ðïéåéí, ïõ êáëëéïí ìïíïí áëëá êéá çäéïí . - Epicur.