Genesis 23
Expanded Bible
Sarah Dies
23 Sarah lived to be one hundred twenty-seven years old [L such were the years of Sarah’s life]. 2 She died in Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron [C city nineteen miles south of Jerusalem]) in the land of Canaan. Abraham ·was very sad [mourned] and cried because of her. 3 After a while he got up from the side of his ·wife’s body [L dead] and went to talk to the Hittites [C one of the many groups that made up the population of Canaan at the time, notable in that they were not Semitic as the others were]. He said, 4 “I am only a ·stranger [sojourner; wanderer; resident alien] and a ·foreigner [settler; C the combination of terms indicates a resident alien] here. Sell me some ·of your land [property for a burial place] so that I can bury my ·dead wife [L dead].”
5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6 “·Sir [My lord], you are a ·great leader [mighty prince; or prince of God; C a man of wealth and power even though he owned no land] among us. You may have the ·best [choicest] place we have to bury your dead. You may have any of our burying places that you want, and none of us will stop you from burying your ·dead wife [L dead].”
7 Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the Hittites. 8 He said to them, “If you truly ·want to help me [are willing for me to] bury my ·dead wife [L dead] here, ·speak to [entreat] Ephron, the son of Zohar for me. 9 Ask him to sell me the cave of Machpelah at the edge of his field. I will pay him the full price. You can be the witnesses that I am buying it as a burial place.”
10 Ephron was sitting among the Hittites at the city gate [C place where commercial transactions took place]. He answered Abraham [L in the hearing of the Hittites], 11 “No, ·sir [my Lord]. [L Hear me,] I will give you the ·land [field] and the cave that is in it, with these people as witnesses. Bury your ·dead wife [L dead].”
12 Then Abraham bowed down before the ·Hittites [L people of the land]. 13 He said to Ephron ·before [L in the hearing of] all the people, “·Please let me [L Listen to me. I will] pay you the full price for the field. Accept my money, and I will bury my dead there.”
14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “·Sir [My Lord], [L Listen to me,] the land is worth ·ten pounds [L 400 shekels] of silver, ·but I won’t argue with you over the price [L what is that between you and me?]. Take the land, and bury your ·dead wife [L dead].”
16 Abraham ·agreed [listened] and paid Ephron in front of the Hittite witnesses. He weighed out the full price, ·ten pounds [L 400 shekels] of silver, and they counted the weight as the traders normally did.
Genesis 23
King James Version
23 And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah.
2 And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
3 And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,
4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
5 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,
6 Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.
7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.
8 And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,
9 That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.
10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,
11 Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.
12 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.
13 And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.
14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,
15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
16 And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.
17 And the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure
18 Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.
19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.
20 And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.