Les Proverbes 28:16 Midrash : Aggadat Bereshit & Bereshit Rabbah

[3] Another interpretation: "and Abimelech acted justly." This is in reference to the verse, "Before shattering, a man's heart is haughty" (Proverbs 18:12). This refers to Avimelech, whose heart became haughty, as it says, "And worthless and reckless men gathered to him, and they followed him" (Judges 9:4). "But humility comes before honor" (Proverbs 15:33). This is referring to Gideon his father, whom the Israelites said to him, "Rule over us, you as well as your sons and your grandsons, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian" (Judges 8:22). And what did he say to them? "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you" (Judges 8:23). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "By your life, since you have said this, I will make a king come forth from you," as it says, "And Avimelech did right over Israel" (Judges 9:22). And how do we know that he was a king? As it says, "And they went and made Avimelech king" (Judges 9:6). You said three things, as it says, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you" (Judges 8:23). Behold, I will give your sons kingship for three years, as it says, "And Avimelech ruled over Israel for three years" (Judges 9:22). Therefore, "humility comes before honor" (Proverbs 15:33). And if Avimelech had been worthy, he would have lived a long life, as it says, "One who hates gain will prolong his days" (Proverbs 28:16). But he did not do so, and instead took gain from Israel, from the house of Baal Berith, as it says, "And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal Berith" (Judges 9:4). Therefore, he did not live a long life. But in the future, when the Holy One, blessed be He, uproots the evil inclination from Israel, they will live long lives, as it says, "Like the days of a tree shall be the days of my people" (Isaiah 65:22).

“He spoke with them, saying: If you are willing to bury my dead from before me, heed me, and intercede for me with Ephron, son of Tzoḥar” (Genesis 23:8).
“He spoke with them, saying: If you are willing…[intercede [pigu] for me]” – prevail upon him for me, mediate on my behalf; and if that is not [sufficient], entreat him on my behalf.²⁴The word pigu can connote all of these meanings.
“Ephron was sitting among the children of Ḥet and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the children of Ḥet, of all those coming to his city gate, saying” (Genesis 23:10).
“Ephron was sitting [yoshev] among the children of Ḥet” – Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Yashav is written;²⁵Yoshev, “was sitting,” is usually spelled with a vav, but here the vav is missing, so that the word could be read yashav, “he sat.” If the verse is saying that “he sat,” it means that at that point in the narrative he sat down among the children of Ḥet, meaning that he assumed a position of honor among them. on that day they appointed him chief officer [over them], so that there would not be [a situation in which] a person of great stature [Abraham] would be purchasing from a person of low stature.
“Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the children of Ḥet, [of all those coming to his city gate]”²⁶The implication is that all the people of the city were present. – Rabbi Pinḥas said: This teaches that they all locked their doors and went out to show kindness towards Abraham [by attending Sarah’s funeral].
“No, my lord, heed me; the field I have given to you, and the cave that is in it, I have given it to you; before the eyes of my people I have given it to you; bury your dead” (Genesis 23:11).
“He spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying: But if you please, hear me: I will give the price of the field; take it from me, and I will bury my dead there” (Genesis 23:13).
“And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him” (Genesis 23:14).
“My lord, heed me: Land worth four hundred shekels of silver, between me and you, what is it? Bury your dead” (Genesis 23:15).
“Abraham heeded Ephron, and Abraham weighed for Ephron the silver that he spoke in the hearing of the children of Ḥet, four hundred shekels of silver, in the currency of merchants” (Genesis 23:16).
“No, my lord, heed me; the field I have given to you, and the cave…My lord, heed me: Land worth four hundred shekels of silver” – Rabbi Ḥanina said: All the shekels that are stated in the Torah refer to sela’im; in the Prophets, litrin;²⁷A litra being equal to twenty-five sela’im. and in the Writings, centenaria.²⁸A centenarium being equal to one hundred sela’im. Rabbi Yudan said: The exception is the shekels of Ephron, which were centenaria. That is what is written: “A greedy man rushes after wealth, and he does not know that diminishment will befall him” (Proverbs 28:22). “A greedy man rushes after wealth” – this refers to Ephron, who cast a greedy eye upon the wealth of the righteous man [Abraham].²⁹By demanding an exorbitant price for his field. “And he does not know that diminishment will befall him” – as the Torah diminished the letter vav from him.³⁰Throughout the narrative, Ephron’s name is written with a vav, but here, where he overprices his field, his name is spelled without the vav. Thus, because of his greediness, diminishment befell him. That is what is written: “Abraham heeded Ephron and Abraham weighed for Ephron [the silver…]” – Ephron is written without a vav.
“Four hundred shekels of silver, in the currency of merchants” – Rabbi Abba bar Bizna said: It was usable for all merchandise.³¹Abraham gave the highest quality of coin, acceptable to all merchants for all kinds of merchandise.