Genesis 23:15-16

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.

Genesis 23:15-16 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

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "ears"
• [b]. Lit "current according to the merchant"