Genesis 23

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 23

1¶ And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: [these were] the years of the life of Sarah.

2And 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,

4I [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.

5And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,

6Hear 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.

7And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, [even] to the children of Heth.

8And 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,

9That 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.

10And 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,

11Nay, 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.

12And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.

13And 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.

14And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,

15My 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.

17And 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

18Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.

19And 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.

20And the field, and the cave that [is] therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Genesis chapter 23 recounts the death of Sarah at the age of one hundred and twenty-seven years in Kirjatharba, which is Hebron. Abraham mourned for his wife and sought to purchase a burial place from the sons of Heth. He specifically negotiated with Ephron the Hittite for the cave of Machpelah, insisting on paying its full value of four hundred shekels of silver. After the public transaction, Abraham buried Sarah in the purchased field and cave.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with the death of Sarah, Abraham's wife, at the advanced age of one hundred and twenty-seven years in Hebron. Abraham came to mourn and weep for her, then approached the local inhabitants, the sons of Heth, to acquire a burial site. Identifying himself as a stranger and sojourner, Abraham requested a possession of a buryingplace. The sons of Heth respectfully acknowledged Abraham as a "mighty prince" and offered him the choice of their sepulchres. However, Abraham specifically desired the cave of Machpelah, belonging to Ephron the Hittite, and insisted on purchasing it for its full monetary worth. Despite Ephron's initial offer to give the field and cave, Abraham weighed out four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant, in the presence of all the city's elders. Thus, the field, the cave, and all the trees within its borders were made sure to Abraham as a possession, and he buried Sarah there.

Long Summary

Genesis chapter 23 details the significant event of Sarah's death at the age of one hundred and twenty-seven years in Kirjatharba, also known as Hebron, in the land of Canaan. Following her passing, Abraham came to mourn and weep for his beloved wife. He then stood up from his mourning and addressed the sons of Heth, the local inhabitants, identifying himself as a stranger and sojourner among them. Abraham requested to purchase a possession of a buryingplace to inter his dead. The children of Heth responded with great respect, acknowledging Abraham as a "mighty prince" and offering him the choice of their finest sepulchres, assuring him that none would withhold a burial place. Abraham, however, had a specific site in mind: the cave of Machpelah, which belonged to Ephron the son of Zohar, located at the end of his field. He proposed to purchase it for its full value. Ephron, who was present among the children of Heth at the city gate, initially offered to give Abraham the field and the cave freely in the presence of his people. Yet, Abraham bowed before the people of the land and reiterated his desire to pay for the field, insisting that Ephron take the money from him so he could bury his dead there. Ephron then named the price: four hundred shekels of silver. Abraham hearkened to Ephron and, in the audience of the sons of Heth, weighed out the specified four hundred shekels of silver, which was current money with the merchant. This public transaction ensured that the field of Ephron in Machpelah, including the cave and all its surrounding trees, was legally made sure unto Abraham as a possession. Following this acquisition, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which is Hebron, thereby securing the first family burial ground in the promised land.

Core Concepts

  • Sarah's Death and Abraham's MourningThe chapter begins with the death of Sarah at 127 years old, prompting Abraham to engage in a period of mourning and weeping for his wife.
  • Acquisition of Burial LandAbraham, a sojourner, sought to purchase a permanent burial place for his family in the land of Canaan, marking his first land possession there.
  • Hittite Respect and HospitalityThe sons of Heth showed great deference to Abraham, calling him a "mighty prince" and offering him any of their sepulchres for his use.
  • The Cave of MachpelahThis specific cave, located within Ephron's field, became the chosen and purchased burial site, establishing a significant family tomb for Abraham and his descendants.
  • Public Commercial TransactionThe purchase of the field and cave was a meticulous, publicly witnessed negotiation, with Abraham insisting on paying the full market value of four hundred shekels of silver, ensuring clear and undisputed ownership.
  • Abraham's IntegrityDespite Ephron's offer to gift the land, Abraham's insistence on paying the full price demonstrates his integrity and desire for a legitimate, undisputed possession.