Genesis 23:1-13 ▼

1 Now Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; [these were] the years of the life of Sarah.

2 Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

3 Then Abraham rose from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying,

4 |I am a stranger and a sojourner among you; give me a burial site among you that I may bury my dead out of my sight.|

5 The sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him,

6 |Hear us, my lord, you are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our graves; none of us will refuse you his grave for burying your dead.|

7 So Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the sons of Heth.

8 And he spoke with them, saying, |If it is your wish [for me] to bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and approach Ephron the son of Zohar for me,

9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he owns, which is at the end of his field; for the full price let him give it to me in your presence for a burial site.|

10 Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the sons of Heth; [even] of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying,

11 |No, my lord, hear me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the sons of my people I give it to you; bury your dead.|

12 And Abraham bowed before the people of the land.

13 He spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, |If you will only please listen to me; I will give the price of the field, accept [it] from me that I may bury my dead there.|