1 Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years. This was the length of Sarah's life. 2 Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (the same is Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. 3 Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spoke to the children of Heth, saying, 4 "I 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." 5 The children of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, 6 "Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb. Bury your dead." 7 Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. 8 He 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 the son of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me among you for a possession of a burying-place." 10 Now Ephron was sitting in the middle of the children of Heth. Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the children of Heth, even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying, 11 "No, 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." 12 Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land. 13 He 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." 14 Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, 15 "My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead." 16 Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham 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. 17 So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all of its borders, were deeded 18 to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan. 20 The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the children of Heth.
The age and death of Sarah, Genesis 23:1, Genesis 23:2. Abraham mourns for her, and requests a burial-place from the sons of Heth, Genesis 23:2-4. They freely offer him the choice of all their sepulchers, Genesis 23:5, Genesis 23:6. Abraham refuses to receive any as a free gift, and requests to buy the cave of Machpelah from Ephron, Genesis 23:7-9. Ephron proffers the cave and the field in which it was situated as a free gift unto Abraham, Genesis 23:10, Genesis 23:11. Abraham insists on giving its value in money, Genesis 23:12, Genesis 23:13. Ephron at last consents, and names the sum of four hundred shekels, Genesis 23:14, Genesis 23:15. Abraham weighs him the money in the presence of the people; in consequence of which the cave, the whole field, trees, etc., are made sure to him and his family for a possession, Genesis 23:16-18. The transaction being completed, Sarah is buried in the cave, Genesis 23:19. The sons of Heth ratify the bargain, Genesis 23:20.
INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 23
This chapter treats of the age, death, and funeral of Sarah, and the place of her interment: of her age, Genesis 23:1; of her death, Genesis 23:2; of the motion Abraham made to the sons of Heth, to obtain a burial place among them, Genesis 23:3; of the answer of them to him, giving him leave to bury in any of their sepulchres, Genesis 23:5; of a second motion of his to them, to use their interest with Ephron the Hittite, to let him have the cave of Machpelah for the above purpose, Genesis 23:7; of Ephron's consent unto it, Genesis 23:10; of the purchase Abraham made of it for four hundred shekels of silver, Genesis 23:12; and of its being secured unto him, which he interred Sarah his wife, Genesis 23:17.
(Genesis 23:1-13) The death of Sarah, Abraham applies for a burying-place.
(Genesis 23:14-20) Sarah's burying-place.
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