Genesis 23:1-13 ▼

1 Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years. This was the length of Sarah's life.

2 Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

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

4 |I am a stranger and a foreigner living with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may remove my dead for burial.|

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

6 |Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to prevent you from burying your dead.|

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

8 He talked with them, saying, |If you agree that I may remove my dead for burial, hear me, and approach Ephron the son of Zohar for me,

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

10 Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth. Ephron the Hethite 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 Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land.

13 He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, |But if you will, please hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there.|