Genesis 23:9-19

9 that he may give me the cave of Makhpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in the midst of you for a possession of a burying-place."
10 Now `Efron was sitting in the midst of the children of Het. `Efron the Hittite answered Avraham in the hearing of the children of Het, 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 Avraham bowed himself down before the people of the land.
13 He spoke to `Efron 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 `Efron answered Avraham, 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 Avraham listened to `Efron. Avraham weighed to `Efron the silver which he had named in the audience of the children of Het, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants' standard.
17 So the field of `Efron, which was in Makhpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the border of it round about, were made sure
18 to Avraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Het, before all who went in at the gate of his city.
19 After this, Avraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Makhpelah before Mamre (the same is Hevron), in the land of Kana`an

Genesis 23:9-19 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.

The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.