Why is the second word "Efron" missing a 'Vav'?
Rashi and Ramban (both citing Bava Metzia 87a): Because he talked big, and didn't even do little! Initially, he offered him the entire complex free of charge, whereas in the end, he took the full price 1 and made him pay Kantarin, which are accepted everywhere 2 (a hundred times larger than normal coins).
Hadar Zekenim and Ba?al ha?Turim: Without the ?Vav?, the Gematriya of Efron is four hundred, the same as that of "Ra Ayin" (stingy) (and the amount of coins he demanded ? Hadar Zekenim). 3
Peninim mi'Shulchan ha'Gra: Because the thousand Shekalim that Avraham received from Avimelech ? See Vayeira, 20:16 ? he intended to give Efron as payment for the Me?aras ha?Machepilah. 4 Only due to Efron?s greed in demanding the exorbitant price of four hundred Shekel, he lost six hundred Shekel ? hinted in the missing ?Vav?.
Oznayim la'Torah (to 23:15): To understand the magnitude of Efron's duplicity, compare the four hundred Shekel (even if they had not been Kantarin) that he charged Avraham to the hundred Kesitah - twenty-five Shekalim - that Ya?akov paid the men of Sh?chem for a portion of field on which to build a house for himself and his large family and huts for his sheep. See 33:19. (However, we do not know how big Efron's field was. The Ramban (citing Targum Onkelos) explains that he charged the true value! - PF)
As the Torah writes "Over la'Socher."
Peninim mi'Shulchan ha'Gra: Bereishis Rabah (58:7) applies to Efron the Pasuk, "Nivhal la'Hon Ish Ra Ayin, ve'Lo Yeida Ki Cheser Yevo'enu" (Mishlei 28:22) - he did not know that he will be written deficient due to this. Refer also to 23:16:1.1.
See Peninim mi'Shulchan ha'Gra.
Seeing as Efron was still offering the property to him for free, what does the Pasuk mean when it says that 'va'Yishma El Efron...'?
Rashbam: It means that Avraham took the hint and paid him the amount that Efron specified. 1
Malbim: Efron said 'bury your dead,' i.e. and afterwards pay. Avraham knew that he would not acquire like this, 2 so first he paid, and afterwards buried.
This suggests that when Efron offered him the field free of charge, he was merely putting on a show, and that, in fact, he expected Avraham to pay in full. Also refer to 23:16:1.1:1.
Refer to 23:19:151:1. Malbim implies that we learn this from "va'Yishma." Perhaps it means that Avraham understood Efron's scheme, therefore he insisted on paying first. (PF)
What is the meaning of "Over la'Socher"?
Rashi: Refer to 23:16:1:1. The Gemara in Bechoros 50a explains that one Kantarin is equivalent to 100 Shekalim. 1
Malbim: This was so Efron will not have any claim of Ona'ah (being underpaid).
Ha'amek Davar 2 : They are bigger, since they are accepted in faraway places where they do not recognize the mintage, and rely only on the weight.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "[Efron] spoke a lot, but did not do even a little." Presumably Avraham himself offered the large coins; so why is Efron criticized?
Gur Aryeh #1: Efron had specified "400 Shekels of silver (Shekel Kesef)" (23:15), implying that the weight in silver needed to be full. 1 Avraham responded in kind, "Avraham weighed out the silver that Efron had spoken."
Gur Aryeh #2: The deceased was lying unburied, and Avraham was delaying the burial to weigh the coins! If Efron had been agreeable to accept any coins, Avraham would not have delayed needlessly [thus causing dishonor to the deceased].
Gur Aryeh: The Torah usually uses the term 'Shekalim,' without specifying 'Shekel Kesef,' for transactions in mundane matters. See, for example, Shemos 21:32.
Rashi writes: "'Avraham weighed for Efron' - "Efron" is spelled without a 'Vav;' he spoke a lot, but did not do even a little." How is this alluded to by the deficient spelling?
Gur Aryeh #1: Efron himself was deficient [in character], in that he was so exacting in his dealings with Avraham.
Gur Aryeh #2: Efron spelled without a 'Vav' equals has the same Gematriya value (400) as 'Ra Ayin' (stingy). Coins were worth the same value no matter their weight, only that heavier coins were more easily spent. One who is particular about such matters is called a 'Ra Ayin' (Bava Metzia 52b).
