Thematic Bible
Genesis 23:1 (show verse)
Sarah lived for 127 years. That's how long Sarah's life was.
Genesis 23:2 (show verse)
She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, in Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
Genesis 23:3 (show verse)
Then Abraham stood up from beside his dead wife and addressed the Hittites. He said,
Genesis 23:4 (show verse)
"I am an alien and an outsider among you. Give me a cemetery among you where I can bury my dead away from my presence."
Genesis 23:5 (show verse)
The Hittites responded to Abraham,
Genesis 23:6 (show verse)
"Listen to us, sir. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial tombs. None of us would refuse you his tomb for burying your dead."
Genesis 23:7 (show verse)
Abraham rose and bowed before the Hittites, the people of the land,
Genesis 23:8 (show verse)
and addressed them, "If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, listen to me and make a request of Zohar's son Ephron on my behalf.
Genesis 23:9 (show verse)
Give me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him, at the end of his field. He should sell it to me in your presence at full price for a burial site."
Genesis 23:10 (show verse)
Now since Ephron the Hittite had taken a seat there among the Hittites, he responded publicly to Abraham where the Hittites and everyone who was entering the gate of his city could hear him:
Genesis 23:11 (show verse)
"No, sir. Listen to me! I'll give you the field, and I'll give you the cave that's in it. I give it to you publicly, in the sight of my people. Bury your dead."
Genesis 23:12 (show verse)
Abraham bowed before the people of the land
Genesis 23:13 (show verse)
and then addressed Ephron so all the people of the land could hear him: "Please listen to me! I'm willing to pay the price of the field. Accept it from me, so I may bury my dead there."
Genesis 23:14 (show verse)
So Ephron answered Abraham,
Genesis 23:15 (show verse)
"Sir, listen to me! The land is worth 400 shekels of silver, but what's that between us? You may bury your dead."
Genesis 23:16 (show verse)
Abraham agreed with Ephron, so he weighed out to Ephron the money to which he had agreed publicly while the Hittites were listening: 400 shekels of silver at the current merchant rate.
Genesis 23:17 (show verse)
That's how Ephron's field in Machpelah, east of Mamre the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were within the boundaries of the field came to be deeded
Genesis 23:18 (show verse)
to Abraham in the presence of all the Hittites and everyone who was entering the city gate.
Genesis 23:19 (show verse)
After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave at the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre (that is, in Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 23:20 (show verse)
And so the field with its cave was deeded by the Hittites to Abraham as a burial site.