11:1 The whole earth 1 had a common language and a common vocabulary. 2
23:1 Sarah lived 127 years. 3 23:2 Then she 4 died in Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 5
23:3 Then Abraham got up from mourning his dead wife 6 and said to the sons of Heth, 7 23:4 “I am a temporary settler 8 among you. Grant 9 me ownership 10 of a burial site among you so that I may 11 bury my dead.” 12
23:5 The sons of Heth answered Abraham, 13 23:6 “Listen, sir, 14 you are a mighty prince 15 among us! You may bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb to prevent you 16 from burying your dead.”
23:7 Abraham got up and bowed down to the local people, 17 the sons of Heth. 23:8 Then he said to them, “If you agree 18 that I may bury my dead, 19 then hear me out. 20 Ask 21 Ephron the son of Zohar 23:9 if he will sell 22 me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me publicly 23 for the full price, 24 so that I may own it as a burial site.”
23:10 (Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth.) Ephron the Hethite 25 replied to Abraham in the hearing 26 of the sons of Heth – before all who entered the gate 27 of his city – 23:11 “No, my lord! Hear me out. I sell 28 you both the field and the cave that is in it. 29 In the presence of my people 30 I sell it to you. Bury your dead.”
23:12 Abraham bowed before the local people 23:13 and said to Ephron in their hearing, “Hear me, if you will. I pay 31 to you the price 32 of the field. Take it from me so that I may 33 bury my dead there.”
23:14 Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, 23:15 “Hear me, my lord. The land is worth 34 400 pieces of silver, 35 but what is that between me and you? So bury your dead.”
23:16 So Abraham agreed to Ephron’s price 36 and weighed 37 out for him 38 the price 39 that Ephron had quoted 40 in the hearing of the sons of Heth – 400 pieces of silver, according to the standard measurement at the time. 41
23:17 So Abraham secured 42 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, 23:18 as his property in the presence of the sons of Heth before all who entered the gate of Ephron’s city. 43
23:19 After this Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah next to Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 23:20 So Abraham secured the field and the cave that was in it as a burial site 44 from the sons of Heth.