After Sarah Imeinu dies at the beginning of this week's Parashah, Avraham Avinu searches for a burial spot for her. What ensues is a strange conversation, first between Avraham and the Chitim, when Avraham asks if he can buy land as a burial place, and then later with Efron. While in the beginning, it appears as if Efron has pure intentions, offering to give Avraham the land for free, however, when Avraham Avinu insists on paying, Efron increases the price to 400 gold coins. What is the deal? It looks as if Efron is willing to give Avraham the land for free, and then all of a sudden he says it will cost 400 gold coins!
Rashi (BeReishit 23:16 s.v. Vayishkol Avraham LeEfron) comments that if you look at Pasuk 16, Efron is written both with a Vav and without a Vav. Rashi explains that it is because Efron took a large amount of Shekalim for Avraham. Rashi seems to be saying that Efron is one of those people who promises you a lot and does not follow through. At first Efron says I will give you everything for free and it will be great, and as soon as Avraham offers to pay he says I will take market value (according to some Mepharsim), or even a price larger than market value (according to others).
However, we can ask Rashi, so what? Efron was a salesman; he even gave Avraham the opportunity to receive the land for free, and when Avraham insisted on paying, Efron gave Avraham Avinu something that was either a fair deal or a slightly overpriced deal and Avraham accepted. In fact many Mepharsim do say it was indeed a fair deal.
However, Rabbeinu Yonah says something fascinating that could shed light on this discussion. He comments (on the Mishnah, Avot 5:3) when discussing Avrahams ten tests, that finding a burial site for Sarah was his final test. This is a shocking statement. How is finding a Kever for Sarah a test on par with Akeidat Yitzchak being thrown into a fire, or even Sarah being kidnapped?
Rav Yissochor Frand introduces a perspective that explains this situation. Imagine the situation: Avraham Avinu has just lost his wife, he is mourning, and then he needs to find a place to bury his wife. No one would blame Avraham if he is a little impatient or a little annoyed when he goes to meet with Efron. However, he treats the men he meets and Efron in a respectful manner. The pasuk says he bows to Efron and then insists on paying for the land.
This explanation can also explain why Rashi explains Efron in a negative light. Efron should understand the pain and grief Avraham is going through, and give him the land if not for free, at least at a discount. Here he is dealing with the greatest man of the generation in his time of need, and all he sees is the opportunity to make money.
The kindness of Avraham Avinu and the greed of Efron teach us crucial lessons for our lives thousands of years later. Avraham's behavior displays that even when we are going through tough times in our lives it is not an excuse to become angry or annoyed. This could explain why Rabbeinu Yonah, who wrote extensively about refining our Middot in Shaarei Teshuvot and Rabbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avot, explains this as the final task. We cannot imagine being thrown in a fire or being asked to give up our children, however, we all have experiences when we are not in our best moods, or when we are just really not interested in talking to a specific person, this week’s Parashah teaches us how everyone deserves our respect at any time. Just as we want to always be treated in a positive way, we should treat others in the same way.
Efron's actions are a display of taking advantage of someone in need. When Efron first comes up, he seems like a great guy, coming to give Avraham his land in his time of need. However, just a few Pesukim later he is already interested in how he could prosper from this interaction. This may seem a little crazy, having an encounter with the greatest man of his generation, and asking what is in it for me. However, if we look deep enough into ourselves I think there are times when we unfortunately do this. We see encounters with people as transactions from which to benefit. However, we should learn from the negative portrayal of Efron that when we are helping others, we must focus on them and not ourselves. Hopefully we can learn from Avraham Avinu and Efron’s opposing actions as to how to better interact with our friends when they are in a time of need.