Genesis 23

1Sarah lived 127 years.

2Sarah died in Kiriath Arba, which is Hebron, in the land of Canaan. Abraham went to mourn and cry for Sarah.

3Abraham got up from beside his wife's body. He spoke to the Hittites.

4Abraham said: I am a stranger and a guest among you. Let me have a piece of land among you for a burial place. Then I can bury my wife.

5The Hittites answered Abraham.

6They said: Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the best of our graves. None of us will refuse you a grave for your dead.

7Abraham stood up and bowed down to the people of the land, the Hittites.

8Abraham said to them: If you are willing to let me bury my dead, please listen to me. Ask Ephron son of Zohar for me.

9Ask him to sell me the cave of Machpelah, at the end of his field. I will pay him the full price in front of you. Then I will own it as a burial place.

10Ephron was sitting among the Hittites. Ephron answered Abraham in front of all the Hittites who came to the city gate.

11Ephron said: No, sir, listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave in it. I give it to you in front of my people. Bury your dead.

12Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.

13Abraham spoke to Ephron in front of the people: Please listen to me. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me, so that I can bury my dead there.

14Ephron answered Abraham.

15Ephron said: Sir, listen to me. The land is worth 400 shekels of silver. That is nothing between you and me. Bury your dead.

16Abraham agreed with Ephron. Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron in front of the Hittites. It was 400 shekels of silver, by the merchants' standard.

17Ephron's field in Machpelah, east of Mamre, was sold. This included the field, the cave and all the trees within its borders.

18It became Abraham's property in front of the Hittites and everyone who came to the city gate.

19After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah. The cave was east of Mamre, which is Hebron in the land of Canaan.

20So the field and the cave in it became Abraham's property as a burial place, bought from the Hittites.