Genesis 23

Sarah’s Death and Burial

1And ⌞Sarah lived⌟
Literally “the lives of Sarah were”
one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah.
2And Sarah died in Kiriath Arba; that is Hebron, in the land of Canaan. 3And Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. And Abraham rose up from his dead, and he spoke to the Hittites
Or “sons of Heth”
and said,
4“I am a stranger and an alien among you; give to me ⌞my own burial site⌟
Literally “ownership of a grave”
among you so that I may bury my dead from before me.”
5And the Hittites
Or “sons of Heth”
answered Abraham and said to him,
6“Hear us, my lord, you are a mighty prince
Or “prince of God”
in our midst. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial sites. None of us ⌞will withhold his burial site⌟
Literally “will withhold from himself his burial site
from you for burying your dead.”
7And Abraham rose up and bowed to the people of the land, to the Hittites.
Or “sons of Heth”
8And he spoke with them, saying, “⌞If you are willing⌟
Literally “if there is with your inner selves / souls”
that I bury my dead from before me, hear me and intercede for me with Ephron the son of Zohar,
9that he may sell
Or “give”
to me the cave of Machpelah which ⌞belongs to him⌟,
Literally “which is to him”
which is at the end of his field. At full value let him sell
Or “give”
it to me in your midst as ⌞a burial site⌟.”
Literally “ownership of a grave”
10Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites.
Or “sons of Heth”
And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites
Or “sons of Heth”
with respect to all who were entering the gate of his city, and said,
11“No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field and the cave which is in it, I also give it to you in the sight of the children of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” 12And Abraham bowed before the people of the land. 13And he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, “⌞If only you will hear me⌟
Literally “Only if you perhaps hear me”
—I give the price of the field. Take it from me that I may bury my dead there.”
14And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, 15“My lord, hear me. A piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver—what is that between me and you? Bury your dead.” 16Then Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed for Ephron the silver that he had named
Or “spoken”
in the hearing of the Hittites:
Or “sons of Heth”
four hundred shekels of silver ⌞at the merchants’ current rate⌟.
Literally “passing to the merchant”
17So the field of Ephron which was in the Machpelah, which was near Mamre—the field and the cave which was in it, with all the trees that were in the field, which were within all its surrounding boundaries—⌞passed⌟
Literally “went up”
18to Abraham as a property in the presence of the Hittites,
Or “sons of Heth”
with respect to all who were entering the gate of his city.
19And thus afterward Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah near Mamre; that is Hebron, in the land of Canaan. 20And the field and the cave which was in it ⌞passed⌟
Literally “went up”
to Abraham as ⌞a burial site⌟
Literally “ownership of a grave”
from the Hittites.
Or “sons of Heth”
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