Genesis 23

1 Sarah lived for 127 years. That’s how long Sarah’s life was.ISV — Genesis 23:1

2 She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, in Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham went in ^{a23:2 i.e. into Sarah’s tent} to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.ISV — Genesis 23:2

3 Then Abraham stood up from beside his dead wife ^{b23:3 The Heb. lacks wife} and addressed the Hittites. He said,ISV — Genesis 23:3

4 “I am an alien and an outsider among you. Give me a cemetery among you where I can bury my dead away from my presence.”ISV — Genesis 23:4

5 The Hittites responded to Abraham,ISV — Genesis 23:5

6 “Listen to us, sir. ^{c23:6 Lit. us, my lord} You are a mighty prince ^{d23:6 MT reads a prince of God; LXX reads a king of God} among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial tombs. None of us would refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.”ISV — Genesis 23:6

7 Abraham rose and bowed before the Hittites, the people of the land,ISV — Genesis 23:7

8 and addressed them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, listen to me and make a request of Zohar’s son Ephron on my behalf.ISV — Genesis 23:8

9 Give me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him, at the end of his field. He should sell ^{e23:9 Lit. give} it to me in your presence at full price for a burial site.”ISV — Genesis 23:9

10 Now since Ephron the Hittite had taken a seat there among the Hittites, he responded publicly to Abraham where the Hittites and everyone who was entering the gate of his city could hear him:ISV — Genesis 23:10

11 “No, sir. ^{f23:11 Lit. No, my lord} Listen to me! I’ll give you the field, and I’ll give you the cave that’s in it. I give it to you publicly, in the sight of my people. Bury your dead.”ISV — Genesis 23:11

12 Abraham bowed before the people of the landISV — Genesis 23:12

13 and then addressed Ephron so all the people of the land could hear him: “Please listen to me! I’m willing to pay the price of the field. Accept it from me, so I may bury my dead there.”ISV — Genesis 23:13

14 So Ephron answered Abraham,ISV — Genesis 23:14

15 “Sir, ^{g23:15 Lit. My lord} listen to me! The land is worth 400 shekels of silver, but what’s that between us? You may bury your dead.”ISV — Genesis 23:15

16 Abraham agreed with Ephron, so he ^{h23:16 Lit. Abraham} weighed out to Ephron the money to which he had agreed publicly while the Hittites were listening: 400 shekels of silver at the current merchant rate.ISV — Genesis 23:16

17 That’s how Ephron’s field in Machpelah, east of ^{i23:17 Lit. which faces or is before} Mamre—the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were within the boundaries of ^{j23:17 Lit. within the area around} the field—came to be deededISV — Genesis 23:17

18 to Abraham in the presence of all the Hittites and everyone who was entering the city gate.ISV — Genesis 23:18

19 After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave at the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre (that is, in Hebron) in the land of Canaan.ISV — Genesis 23:19

20 And so the field with its cave was deeded by the Hittites to Abraham as a burial site.ISV — Genesis 23:20