the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Hebrew Names Version
Genesis 23
1 Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years. These were the years of Sarah's life. 2 Sarah died in Kiryat-Arba (the same is Hevron), in the land of Kana`an. Avraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
3 Avraham rose up from before his dead, and spoke to the children of Het, saying, 4 "I am a stranger and a sojourner with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight." 5 The children of Het answered Avraham, saying to him, 6 "Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. In the choice of our tombs bury your dead. None of us will withhold from you his tomb, but that you may bury your dead." 7 Avraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Het. 8 He talked with them, saying, "If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to `Efron the son of Tzochar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Makhpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in the midst of you for a possession of a burying-place." 10 Now `Efron was sitting in the midst of the children of Het. `Efron the Hittite answered Avraham in the hearing of the children of Het, even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying, 11 "No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead." 12 Avraham bowed himself down before the people of the land. 13 He spoke to `Efron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, "But if you will, please hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there." 14 `Efron answered Avraham, saying to him, 15 "My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead."
16 Avraham listened to `Efron. Avraham weighed to `Efron the silver which he had named in the audience of the children of Het, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants' standard. 17 So the field of `Efron, which was in Makhpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the border of it round about, were made sure 18 to Avraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Het, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Avraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Makhpelah before Mamre (the same is Hevron), in the land of Kana`an. 20 The field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure to Avraham for a possession of a burying place by the children of Het.
