Chapter 23
1
Sarah lived a hundred and twenty-seven years—the years of Sarah’s life.
2
Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn Sarah and to weep for her.
3
Abraham got up from beside his dead and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying:
4
"I am a stranger and a sojourner with you. Give me a holding for a burial site with you, that I may bury my dead from before me."
5
The sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him.
6
We have heard, my lord, that you are a prince of God among us. In the choice of our graves, bury your dead. None of us will withhold his grave from you for burying your dead.
7
Abraham got up and bowed low to the people of the land, the sons of Heth.
8
And he spoke to them, saying, "If you are willing to bury my dead out of my sight, listen to me and intercede for me with Ephron son of Zohar."
9
and he will give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns, which is at the end of his field. For full price he will give it to me in your midst as a legal holding for a burial place.
10
And Ephron was sitting in the midst of the sons of Heth, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the sons of Heth, even of all who sat at the gate of his city, saying:
11
"No, my lord, listen to me. The field—I give it to you, and the cave that is in it—I give it to you. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead."
12
And Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.
13
And he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, "No, listen to me: I give the silver for the field—take it from me, and I will bury my dead there."
14
And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him:
15
"My lord, listen to me. The land—four hundred shekels of silver, between me and you—what is it? Bury your dead."
16
And Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth—four hundred shekels of silver, current with the merchant.
17
And the field of Ephron, which is in Machpelah, which is before Mamre—the field and the cave which is in it and every tree which is in the field, which is within all its boundary around.
18
to Abraham for a possession before the eyes of the sons of Heth, all the comers of the gate of his city.
19
And after this Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre—that is, Hebron in the land of Canaan.
20
And the field and the cave that is in it were confirmed to Abraham for a possession of a burial site from the sons of Heth.