Genesis 23

Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years. These were the years of Sarah’s life. 2Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (the same is Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Ibrahimcame to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. 3Ibrahim rose up from before his dead, and spoke to the children of Heth, saying, 4I am a stranger and a foreigner living with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

5The children of Heth answered Ibrahim, saying to him, 6Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. In the choice of our tombs bury your dead. None of us will withhold from you his tomb, but that you may bury your dead.

7Ibrahim rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. 8He talked with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron Ibn Zohar, 9that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. Let him give it to me for the full price to use as a burying-place among you.

10Now Ephron was sitting in the midst of the children of Heth. Ephron the Hittite answered Ibrahim in the hearing of the children of Heth, even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying, 11No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.

12Ibrahim bowed himself down before the people of the land. 13He 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.

14Ephron answered Ibrahim, saying to him, 15My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead.

16Ibrahim listened to Ephron. Ibrahim weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants’ standard.

17So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were within its border all around, were made sure 18to Ibrahim for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19After this, Ibrahim buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (the same is Hebron), in the land of Canaan. 20The field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure to Ibrahim for a possession of a burying place by the children of Heth.

 

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