How can Avraham describe himself both as a "Ger" (a sojourner) and as a "Toshav" (a resident) at one and the same time?
Rashi, Ramban and Rashbam: What he was saying was that although initially, he arrived from another country as a Ger, he had now become a Toshav - which explained why he did not yet possess a burial-ground. 1
Rashi #2: If they would grant him his request, he would behave like a Ger; but if not, he would take it by force like a Toshav, seeing as Hashem had given the land to his descendents.
Seforno: He meant that he did not possess a burial-site because he was a Ger, and that he wanted to purchase one because he wanted tp become a Toshav.
Or ha'Chayim #1: The Rambam (Hilchos Zechiyah 3:11) writes that one may give a gift to a Ger Toshav, for it is a Mitzvah to sustain him. This is proper conduct; also Bnei Noach should do so (although Avraham wanted to pay for it).
Ohr ha'Chayim #2: Avraham did not want to call himself only a Toshav, because Tzadikim do not consider themselves fixed in this world.
Malbim: Avraham wanted a burial site for his entire family. A Ger would not request this, since he did not intend to remain. A Toshav would not need to request this, since he would already have a field, from which he could designate part for a burial site. He herefore pointed out that, on the one hand he was a Ger ? and he did not possess a field here, and on the other, he was a Toshav ? and he intended to remain there.
Ha'amek Davar: Even according to Rashi (to 21:34), who says that Avraham returned to Chevron twelve years before the Akeidah, he was like a Ger, since he had moved away from Chevron, and was in Be'er-Sheva for twenty-six years. He was like a Toshav, since he previously spent twenty-five years in Chevron, and wanted to fix his residence there, and would also be buried there.
The Ramban adds that permanent residents tended to own their own family burial plots, whereas sojourners buried their dead in a communal plot. Hence Avraham's statement; since he had now become a resident, he wanted to purchase his own family plot of land. This will also explain Rashi's comment on the words "Achuzas Kever."
Did Avraham address all of the Bnei Ches, when requesting a plot of land for a burial ground?
Rashbam: It was the accepted practice to obtain permission from all the residents of the town 1 to purchase a burial-plot. 2
Ha'amek Davar (to 23:3): Initially he addressed only Bnei Ches, i.e. the family of Bnei Ches and the city leaders, among them Efron. Later, he spoke even in front of Am ha'Aretz, who were great in number.
Why did Avraham insert the word "ve'Ekberah Meisi mi'Lefanai", seeing as Sarah was not lying in front of him?
Berachos 18a: This teaches us that an Aveil who is obligated to bury his deceased is Patur from all Mitzvos, even if the deceased is not actually lying in front of him - just like one whose deceased is lying in front of him. 1
Ohr ha'Chayim: They should not think that he is willing to pay so much because he knows that there is [e.g. buried treasure] there worth even more. Rather, I need it for burial, for my Mes is in front of me.
Malbim: "Mi'Lefanai" means to bury her properly, in a place that will be a burial site for the entire family.
Rashi (to Berachos 17b): Who is Patur because his mind is busy with the Mitzvah of burying the deceased.
Why, between here and Pasuk 23, does the Torah mention Kevuras ha?Meis seven times?
Peninm mi?Shulchan ha?G?ra: the first six times it writes a Lashon of ?K?vor Meisi? or ?K?vor Meischa? ? Kevurah before Misah ? with reference to the three couples who were still destined to be buried there, Avraham and Sarah, Yitzchak and Rivkah, Ya?akov and Le?ah, all Tzadikim who were therefore called alive even after their death, and who would only die shortly before Techi?as ha?Meisim. 1 And the seventh time it writes ?ve?es Meischa Kvor?, with reference to Eisav ? a Rasha who is called dead even whilst he is still alive ? whose head was buried in the Me?aras ha?Machpeilah. 2
As Hashem told Adam in Bereishis, 3:19 ?Ki Afar Atah ve?el Afar Tashuv? - as the Gemara states in Shabbos, 152b (Peninim mi?Shulchan ha?G?ra).
As the Gemara informs us in Sotah, 13a
Initially, Avraham said "give to me." Why did he later pay an exorbitant price?
Rosh: He meant "give to me permission to make it a burial site." He never intended to receive a gift.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "I shall be as a resident, and take it by right, for HaSh-m has told me, 'I shall give this land to your children.'" But earlier, when Lot's shepherds wished to claim the Land to use as their own (see Rashi to 13:7), Avraham disputed their approach, for HaSh-m not yet granted the Land to him?
Gur Aryeh #1: Avraham's claim was that since HaSh-m would grant the Land to his offspring in the future, he at the very least should have the right to bury his dead even now.
Gur Aryeh #2: The Hittite residents were likely to claim that as a stranger, Avraham ought not to be sold any land in perpetuity. Avraham responded to their claim; if their objection to any sale was due to its permanence, in fact it was Avraham's offspring who would ultimately inherit the Land permanently. But Avraham himself felt that he should be sold the land, for he currently was a resident.
