Genesis 23:1-18 ▼

1 Now Sarah (princess) lived to be 127 years old.

2 She (princess) died in Kiriath-arba (city of Arba) (that is, Hebron (association)) in the land of Canaan (lowland), and Abraham (father of many) went out to mourn and to weep for her.

3 Then Abraham (father of many) got up from beside his dead wife and said to the Hittites (terror) (sons of Heth),

4 “I am a foreigner and an outsider among you⁺. Give me a burial site among you⁺ so that I can bury my dead.”

5 The Hittites (terror) replied to Abraham (father of many),

6 “Listen to us, sir. You are God’s chosen one among us. Bury your dead in the finest of our tombs. None of us will withhold his tomb for burying your dead.”

7 Then Abraham (father of many) rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites (terror).

8 “If you⁺ are willing for me to bury my dead,” he said to them, “listen to me, and approach Ephron (fawn-like) son of Zohar (radiance) on my behalf

9 to sell me the cave of Machpelah (double) that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me in your⁺ presence for full price, so that I may have a burial site.”

10 Now Ephron (fawn-like) was sitting among the sons of Heth (terror). So in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham (father of many),

11 “No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.”

12 Again Abraham (father of many) bowed down before the people of the land

13 and said to Ephron (fawn-like) in their presence, “If you will please listen to me, I will pay you the price of the field. Accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there.”

14 Ephron (fawn-like) answered Abraham (father of many),

15 “Listen to me, my lord. The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver <10.1 lb / 4.6 kg>, but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”

16 Abraham (father of many) agreed to Ephron’s terms (fawn-like) and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites (terror): four hundred shekels of silver, according to the standard of the merchants.

17 So Ephron’s (fawn-like) field at Machpelah (double) near Mamre (strength / fatness), the cave that was in it, and all the trees within the boundaries of the field were deeded over

18 to Abraham’s (father of many) possession in the presence of all the Hittites (terror) who had come to the gate of his city.