Genesis 23:15-20

15 "My lord, listen to me; a piece of land worth four hundred ¹shekels of silver, what is that between me and you? So bury your dead."

16 Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham ²weighed out for Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, commercial standard.

17 So ³Ephron's field, which was in Machpelah, which faced Mamre, the field and cave which was in it, and all the trees which were in the field, that were within all the confines of its border, were deeded over

18 to Abraham for a possession ⁴in the presence of the sons 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 at Machpelah facing Mamre (that is, Hebron ) in the land of Canaan

20 So the field and the cave that is in it, were ⁵deeded over to Abraham for a burial site by the sons of Heth.

Genesis 23:15-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 23

This chapter treats of the age, death, and funeral of Sarah, and the place of her interment: of her age, Ge 23:1; of her death, Ge 23:2; of the motion Abraham made to the sons of Heth, to obtain a burial place among them, Ge 23:3,4; of the answer of them to him, giving him leave to bury in any of their sepulchres, Ge 23:5,6; 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, Ge 23:7-9; of Ephron's consent unto it, Ge 23:10,11; of the purchase Abraham made of it for four hundred shekels of silver, Ge 23:12-16; and of its being secured unto him, which he interred Sarah his wife, Ge 23:17-20.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 30:13; Ezekiel 45:12
• 2. 2 Samuel 14:26; Jeremiah 32:9, 10; Zechariah 11:12
• 3. Genesis 25:9; Genesis 49:29, 30; Genesis 50:13
• 4. Genesis 23:10
• 5. Jeremiah 32:10-14

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "ears"
• [b]. Lit "current according to the merchant"
• [c]. Lit "in all its border around"
• [d]. Or "were ratified"
• [e]. Or "were ratified"
• [f]. Lit "possession of a burial place"