And Efron lived among the Hittites (Gen. 23:10)
According to Rashi, "That very day [the Hittites] appointed their fellow countryman Efron ruler over them, because of the importance of Abraham." Unfortunately, this is a common and recurring theme in Jewish history: Each time an "Efron" is elected to a powerful political post in the Jews' merit, he forgets his debt to "Abraham" as soon as he assumes his position. (Ma'ora Shel Torah)
And the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold (Gen. 24:22)
The gifts that Eliezer gave to Rebecca were fraught with meaning: the "half shekel" alluded to the half shekel the Jews would be required to contribute to the Sanctuary, while the "two bracelets" alluded to the Tablets of the Law. The half shekel is symbolic of tzedaka (charity), which is considered so great that it contains within it all the other commandments; the Tablets are symbolic of the entire Torah. The gifts were thus an allusion to the foundation of the Jewish home: the performance of mitzvot, and the study of Torah. (Likutei Sichot)