Interesting Facts

• Abishna is identified as the father of Amigal, who was a witness to the transaction where Abraham purchased land from Ephron.
• His son, Amigal, is identified as a Hittite.

Genealogy

• Abishna was the father of Amigal.
• The source identifies his son as “Amigal son of Abishna the Hittite”, suggesting Abishna may also have been considered a Hittite, although this is not explicitly stated.
• No other familial relationships, such as his parents, spouse, or other children, are mentioned in the provided source.

Historical Context

The context in which Abishna is mentioned is during Abraham’s acquisition of a burial place for Sarah in the land of Canaan, specifically near Hebron (Kirjath Arba). Abraham negotiated with the “children of Heth”, among whom Ephron the Hittite dwelt. The transaction was a significant event, requiring public witnessing to ensure its validity within the local customs. The presence of witnesses like Amigal, son of Abishna the Hittite, underscores the Hittite involvement in the land and their role in such legal and communal affairs. This period reflects a time of interaction and negotiation between Abraham, a sojourner, and the established inhabitants of the land, including the Hittites.

Narrative

Abishna himself does not directly participate in the narrative events described in the source. His significance arises solely through his son, Amigal, who is listed as one of the four witnesses to the written and attested purchase of the field and cave of Machpelah by Abraham from Ephron. Amigal’s presence as a witness suggests that Abishna was likely a respected member of the Hittite community, as his son’s testimony carried weight in this important land transaction. While Abishna has no direct dialogue or actions attributed to him in the source, his lineage is noted in the context of a crucial event that established a permanent burial ground for Abraham’s family in the promised land. Therefore, Abishna’s indirect role, through his son’s witnessing of the purchase, contributes to the legal and historical record of Abraham’s dealings in Canaan.