Thematic Bible
Genesis 23:1 (show verse)
Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years. These were the years of the life of Sarah.
Genesis 23:2 (show verse)
Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to cry because of her death.
Genesis 23:3 (show verse)
Abraham left the side of his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites.
Genesis 23:4 (show verse)
He said: I am a stranger with no permanent home. Let me have some of your property for a tomb that I can bury my dead wife.
Genesis 23:5 (show verse)
The Hittites answered Abraham:
Genesis 23:6 (show verse)
Listen to us, my lord. You are a mighty leader among us. Bury your dead in one of our best tombs. Not one of us will withhold from you his tomb for burying your dead.
Genesis 23:7 (show verse)
Abraham got up and bowed to the people of that region, the Hittites.
Genesis 23:8 (show verse)
He said: If you are willing to let me bury my wife here, please ask Ephron son of Zohar
Genesis 23:9 (show verse)
to sell me Machpelah Cave. It is near the edge of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for its full price here in your presence. Then I can own it as a burial ground.
Genesis 23:10 (show verse)
Ephron was sitting with the other Hittites at the meeting place at the city gate. He answered in the hearing of everyone there:
Genesis 23:11 (show verse)
Hear me my lord, I give you the field, including the cave. It is yours. With my own people as witnesses, I freely give it to you as a burial place for your dead.
Genesis 23:12 (show verse)
Once again, Abraham bowed down.
Genesis 23:13 (show verse)
He spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land. He said: If you will only please listen to me. I will give the price of the field. Accept it from me that I may bury my dead there.
Genesis 23:14 (show verse)
Ephron answered Abraham:
Genesis 23:15 (show verse)
My lord, listen to me. It is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that between you and me? So bury your dead.
Genesis 23:16 (show verse)
Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, commercial standard.
Genesis 23:17 (show verse)
Ephron's field at Machpelah, east of Mamre, was sold to Abraham.
Genesis 23:18 (show verse)
His property included the field with the cave in it as well as all the trees inside the boundaries of the field. The Hittites together with all who had entered the city gate were the official witnesses for the agreement.
Genesis 23:19 (show verse)
Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre (Hebron), in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 23:20 (show verse)
The Hittites sold the field and its cave to Abraham as his property to be used as a tomb.