Finding a resting place for the wife
1Sarah lived 127 years. 2She died in Kiriath-arba, now called Hebron in Canaan. [1] That’s where Abraham mourned his wife, crying.3Abraham left the body of his wife unburied, and he went to talk to his Hittite neighbors. 4“I’m a stranger here, an immigrant in this land. I need to buy some property so I can bury my dead.” 5Abraham’s Hittite neighbors told him, 6“Listen, you are a powerful and respected leader here. Bury your dead on the best burial land you can find. You can have any land you want for a cemetery.”
7Abraham bowed respectfully to the folks. 8“If you’re okay with me burying my dead here, would you please ask Zohar’s son Ephron 9if he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, at the end of the field he owns? I’ll pay the full price, and you can witness the transaction.”
10Ephron was sitting right there among the Hittites. He answered Abraham. 11“Please, sir, listen. I’m giving you that field with the cave—here and now, in the presence of all of these witnesses. Take it. Bury your dead.”
12Once again Abraham bowed respectfully before the people. 13With everyone listening, Abraham told Ephron, “Please, I need you to listen to me. I’ll pay you the full price for the field. Please accept this payment so I can feel a sense of closure on the matter. Then I can bury my dead.” 14Ephron answered Abraham.
Buying a field and a cave
15“Please listen, sir. The land is worth 400 silver coins. [2] But what’s that among friends? Go and bury your dead.” 16Abraham weighed out that amount of silver in the presence of all the people, and he gave it to Ephron.17Ephron’s entire field along with everything in it, including the trees and the cave in Machpelah, east of Mamre, also known as Hebron, 18became Abraham’s property. The Hittites witnessed this transaction at the city gate. 19Abraham buried his wife Sarah in Canaan, in the cave beside the field of Machpelah, near Mamre. 20Ownership of the field and its cave transferred from the Hittites to Abraham. The land became his permanent possession. He used it as a burial site.
