Genesis 23:1-9 ▼

1 Sarah lived a hundred and twenty-seven years; this was the length of the life of Sarah.

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

3 Then Abraham stood up before his dead [wife’s body], and spoke to the sons of Heth (Hittites), saying,

4 “I am a stranger and a sojourner (resident alien) among you; give (sell) me property for a burial place among you so that I may bury my dead [in the proper manner].”

5 The Hittites replied to Abraham,

6 “Listen to us, my lord; you are a prince of God [a mighty prince] among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our graves; none of us will refuse you his grave or hinder you from burying your dead [wife].”

7 So Abraham stood up and bowed to the people of the land, the Hittites.

8 And Abraham said to them, “If you are willing to grant my dead a [proper] burial, listen to me, and plead with Ephron the son of Zohar for me,

9 so that he may give (sell) me the cave of Machpelah which he owns—it is at the end of his field; let him give it to me here in your presence for the full price as a burial site [which I may keep forever among you].”