CHAMISHOH MI YODEI'A - FIVE QUESTIONS ON THE WEEKLY SEDRAH - PARSHAS CHAYEI SOROH 5773 - BS"D
1) Ch. 23, v. 2: "Vatomos Soroh b'Kiryas Arba hee Chevron" - And Soroh died in Kiryas Arba it is Chevron - Wasn't Soroh in B'eir Sheva?
2) Ch. 23, v. 4: "Geir v'soshov" - A sojourner and an inhabitant - Rashi comments that Avrohom said that if they would not cooperate to sell him the burial area he requested, he would rightfully take it by force, as he was a "toshov." This seems contrary to the words of Rashi on 13:7, that as long as the Canaanites ruled the land it was rightfully theirs.
3) Ch. 23, v. 9: "M'oras hamachpeiloh" - The double cave - What was double about this cave?
4) Ch. 23, v. 10: "L'chole bo'ei shaar iro" - To all who COME to the gate of his city - Compare this with "l'chol YOTZEI shaar iro" (Breishis 34:24) by Sh'chem.
5) Ch. 24, v. 57: "V'nishaloh es pihoh" - And we will ask her opinion - In verse 51 we find, "Hi'nei Rivkoh l'fo'necho kach vo'leich," clearly stating that it was a done deal, so why do her mother and brother suggest that she be asked?
ANSWERS:
#1
Indeed she was, but she realized that she was at the end of her days and if her body would be brought to Chevron for burial from another city, the owner of M'oras Hamachpeiloh would surely realize that it was of special significance and he would charge a king's ransom for it. She therefore made her way to Chevron just before her death. (Yad Yoseif)
Alternatively, she did not know where Avrohom and Yitzchok went. She therefore went to Chevron to seek out the giants who could see quite a distance and would possibly spot them. (Sifsei Kohein)
#2
Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel answers that at the time of verse 13:7 Yitzchok was not yet born, and in turn Avrohom had as of yet, no claim to the land. Once Yitzchok was born, even if the Canaanites occupied the land, it became Avrohom's descendants' property.
#3
1) The cave had a two-story house above it. (Rashi)
2) The cave would be the burial site for couples. (Rashi)
3) Avrohom paid double its worth. (Rabbeinu Menachem)
4) The cave was located in a valley called Machpeiloh. (Rashbam)
5) Hashem buried Odom in this cave and to allow Odom to fit into his burial niche it was necessary to double him over. (Rabbeinu Bachyei)
6) The cave had two chambers inside it. (gemara Eiruvin 53a)
#4
Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel answers that here Avrohom wanted to publicize the purchase to all, even those who were not local citizens, and only entered the gates of the city. Over there, Shimon and Levi demanded only of the local citizenry to circumcise themselves before they would allow Sh'chem to marry Dinoh.
#5
Earlier B'su'eil was still alive. If Rivkoh was 3 years old at the time (see Tosfos on gemara Y'vomos 61b), or even if she was 14 years old, B'su'eil had mastery over her to accept a marriage offer (even at the age of majority, since she was a bas Noach this is the ruling, see Rambam hilchos avodim 9:9). However, in the interim B'su'eil was poisoned, and the marriage arrangements were now made by Lovon, her brother. This required her approval. (Chochmoh Vodaas)
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