Genesis 23 : 1 (NCV)
Sarah lived to be one hundred twenty-seven years old.
Genesis 23 : 2 (NCV)
She died in Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham was very sad and cried because of her.
Genesis 23 : 3 (NCV)
After a while he got up from the side of his wife's body and went to talk to the Hittites. He said,
Genesis 23 : 4 (NCV)
"I am only a stranger and a foreigner here. Sell me some of your land so that I can bury my dead wife."
Genesis 23 : 5 (NCV)
The Hittites answered Abraham,
Genesis 23 : 6 (NCV)
"Sir, you are a great leader among us. You may have the best 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."
Genesis 23 : 7 (NCV)
Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the Hittites.
Genesis 23 : 8 (NCV)
He said to them, "If you truly want to help me bury my dead wife here, speak to Ephron, the son of Zohar for me.
Genesis 23 : 9 (NCV)
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."
Genesis 23 : 10 (NCV)
Ephron was sitting among the Hittites at the city gate. He answered Abraham,
Genesis 23 : 11 (NCV)
"No, sir. I will give you the land and the cave that is in it, with these people as witnesses. Bury your dead wife."
Genesis 23 : 12 (NCV)
Then Abraham bowed down before the Hittites.
Genesis 23 : 13 (NCV)
He said to Ephron before all the people, "Please let me pay you the full price for the field. Accept my money, and I will bury my dead there."
Genesis 23 : 14 (NCV)
Ephron answered Abraham,
Genesis 23 : 15 (NCV)
"Sir, the land is worth ten pounds of silver, but I won't argue with you over the price. Take the land, and bury your dead wife."
Genesis 23 : 16 (NCV)
Abraham agreed and paid Ephron in front of the Hittite witnesses. He weighed out the full price, ten pounds of silver, and they counted the weight as the traders normally did.
❮
❯