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16 So Abraham agreed to Ephron’s price[a] and weighed out[b] for him[c] the price[d] that Ephron had quoted[e] in the hearing of the sons of Heth—400 pieces of silver, according to the standard measurement at the time.[f]

17 So Abraham secured[g] Ephron’s field in Machpelah, next to Mamre, including the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were in the field and all around its border, 18 as his property in the presence of the sons of Heth before all who entered the gate of Ephron’s city.[h]

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 23:16 tn Heb “listened to Ephron.”
  2. Genesis 23:16 tn Heb “and Abraham weighed out.”
  3. Genesis 23:16 tn Heb “to Ephron.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“him”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  4. Genesis 23:16 tn Heb “silver.”
  5. Genesis 23:16 tn Heb “that he had spoken.” The referent (Ephron) has been specified here in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
  6. Genesis 23:16 tn Heb “passing for the merchant.” The final clause affirms that the measurement of silver was according to the standards used by the merchants of the time.
  7. Genesis 23:17 tn Heb “And it was conveyed.” The recipient, Abraham (mentioned in the Hebrew text at the beginning of v. 18) has been placed here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  8. Genesis 23:18 tn Heb “his city”; the referent (Ephron) has been specified in the translation for clarity.sn See G. M. Tucker, “The Legal Background of Genesis 23, ” JBL 85 (1966):77-84; and M. R. Lehmann, “Abraham’s Purchase of Machpelah and Hittite Law,” BASOR 129 (1953): 15-18.

16 Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver,(A) according to the weight current among the merchants.(B)

17 So Ephron’s field in Machpelah(C) near Mamre(D)—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded 18 to Abraham as his property(E) in the presence of all the Hittites(F) who had come to the gate(G) of the city.

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