Interesting Facts

• Amigal is identified as a Hittite.
• He is explicitly named as one of the four witnesses to the written and attested transaction where Abraham purchased the field and cave of Machpelah from Ephron.

Genealogy

• Amigal was the son of Abishna the Hittite.
• No other familial relationships, such as his mother, siblings (beyond his father), marital connections, or offspring, are mentioned in the provided source.

Historical Context

The mention of Amigal occurs within the context of Abraham’s purchase of a burial place for Sarah in the region of Hebron (Kirjath Arba). Abraham negotiated with the “children of Heth,” among whom both Ephron and Amigal dwelt. The transaction was a formal affair, conducted “in the audience of the sons of Heth”, signifying the importance of communal witnessing and legal validation in property transfers during that time. Amigal’s presence as a witness, being identified as a Hittite, highlights the integration of the Hittite people within the local societal structures and their role in significant legal events concerning land ownership. The fact that the transaction was written and attested with four witnesses underscores the seriousness and binding nature of such agreements in this historical and cultural setting.

Narrative

Amigal’s role in the narrative is solely that of a witness to the crucial land purchase made by Abraham. He is listed by name, along with three other individuals, as having attested to the written record of Abraham’s acquisition of the field and cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite. While Amigal has no direct dialogue or active participation in the negotiation between Abraham and Ephron, his presence as a named witness signifies his standing within the community of the children of Heth. His Hittite identity further contextualizes him as part of the local population with whom Abraham, a “stranger and a sojourner”, was engaging. Amigal’s attestation to the transaction provides a layer of legal and communal validity to Abraham’s claim to the burial place, ensuring its permanence as a possession for him and his descendants. Therefore, although his direct involvement is limited to being a witness, Amigal plays a significant, albeit passive, role in solidifying Abraham’s rights to the land, which holds profound implications for the future narrative of Abraham’s lineage in Canaan.