VERSE 1 Now Sarah lived [Sarah’s life lasted] one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah (hr'f' yYEx; ynEv. ~ynIv' [b;v,w> hn"v' ~yrIf.[,w> hn"v' ha'me hr'f' yYEx; Wyh.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. hayah + noun m.p.constr. chayyim life + proper noun Sarah + adj.f.s.abs. me-ah hundred + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.m.p.abs. eshrim twenty + noun f.s.abs. shanah year + waw w/adj.f.s.abs. sheba seven + noun f.p.constr. shanah year + noun m.p.constr. chayyim life, lifetime, living + proper noun Sarah]).

VERSE 2 Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan (![;n"K. #r,a,B. !Arb.x, awhi [B;r>a;ƒty:r>qiB. hr'f' tm'T'w: [waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. muth die + proper noun Sarah + prep beth w/proper noun Kiriath-arba + pro.3f.s. hu it + proper noun Hebron (association) + prep beth w/noun both s.abs. eretz land + proper noun Canaan]; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her [Ht'Kob.liw> hr'f'l. dPos.li ~h'r'b.a; aboY"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s bo go + proper noun Abraham + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. saphad mourn, lament + prep lamedh w/proper noun Sarah + waw w/prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr.w/3f.s.suff. bakah weep]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 1-2

1. Twenty-six years (approximately) elapsed between the sacrifice of Isaac episode and the passing into Ph3 of Sarah (if Isaac was 20 at the time of his near sacrifice).
2. The year of her death would then be 1810 BC.
3. She lived to see her son Isaac reach his 36^th year, but she did not live long enough to see him marry.
4. The last mention of Sarah was in connection with the expulsion of Ishmael when she was 94 years of age (if Isaac’s weaning was when he was three years old).
5. Sarah finished her course and due to her situation and devotion to the plan of God (e.g., the covenant made with her husband) she is immortalized among women as the representing the ideal in an adjusted wife (cf. the Sarah’s daughter designation of 1Pet. 3:6 "just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you (+ ladies of the royal family) have become her children/daughters if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.").
6. She is forever to believing women (1Pet. 3:6) what Abraham is to believers in general (cf. Rom. 4:11-12, 16-18).
7. She is also immortalized in Heb. 11:11: "By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised."
8. She is the first lady of the covenant, embracing its promises and fulfilling her role as Abraham’s right woman and helpmate.
9. Her overt beauty complimented her inner beauty.
10. That inner beauty featured her submission to her husband’s authority with special emphasis on her mental attitude (calling him ‘lord’).
11. She is mentioned one other time in the OT outside Genesis (Isa. 51:2 "Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him.").
12. She is the only wife among the patriarchal women whose age at death is recorded.
13. Kiriath-arba ("city of the four") is the name of the place where she passed from this life into the underworld of Sheol-Paradise.
14. It was the name of the place before it was called by the Hebrews, Hebron (confederation?).
15. "That is, Hebron" is an editorial addition.
16. Hebron is the ancestral home of the Hebrew race.
17. It is located some 20 miles south of Jerusalem.
18. Hebron is on the road south to Beersheba.
19. At Hebron is the stone quarry where the building material (white granite) for the city and the later temple was extracted (to this day).
20. Hebron is very close to Mamre (cf. 13:18; 14:13, 24; 18:1;l 23:17, 19), where Abraham received the majority of the promises related to the covenant that bears his name.
21. The phrase "the land of Canaan" reminds us that in the days of Abraham and Sarah they were non-residents living in a land that was not yet theirs (cf. Heb. 11:9).
22. "Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah" refers to the place where her body resided in lieu of burial.
23. Abraham came in to that part of the tent where her corpse was laid out for burial.
24. There he engaged in the rite of mourning the loss of his wife.
25. Here he wept aloud for the loss of his lifetime companion who fulfilled her calling at the highest level.
26. Again, he did this in the presence of her body.
27. After some time he "arose before his dead" and proceeded to carry on with his final responsibility to his dearly departed spouse (v. 3).

Negotiations for a Burial Site (vv. 3-15)

Abraham’s Request (vv. 3-4)

VERSE 3 Then Abraham rose from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying (rmoale txe-ynEB.-la, rBed;y>w: Atme ynEP. l[;me ~h'r'b.a; ~q'Y"w [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. qum rise + proper noun Abraham + prep min w/prep al "from" + noun both pl.constr. paneh face "before" + Qal part.m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. muth "his dead" + waw w/Piel impf.3m.s. dabar speak + prep el to + noun m.p.constr. ben son + proper noun Heth (Hittites) + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. amar say]),

VERSE 4 "I am a stranger and a sojourner among you; give me a burial site among you that I may bury my dead out of my sight (yn"p'L.mi ytime hr'B.q.a,w> ~k,M'[i rb,q,-tZ:xua] yli WnT. ~k,M'[i ykinOa' bv'Atw>-rGE [noun m.s.abs. gur stranger, alien + waw w/noun m.s.ab.s toshasb sojourner, pilgrim + pro.1s. anoki I + prep im w/2m.p.suff. "among you" + Qal imper.m.p. nathan give + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. "me" + noun f.s.constr. achuzzah possession; "burial site" + Qal part.m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. muth die; "my dead" + prep min w/prep lamedh w/noun m.p.constr.w/1s.suff. paneh face])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 3-4

1. After the traditional mourning customs of the times, Abraham "rose up" and began the process of providing his "dead" an appropriate resting place for her remains.
2. He approaches "the sons of Heth" which according to Gen. 10:15 were descendants of Canaan.
3. "The sons of Heth" or Hittites mentioned in the OT have Semitic names (cf. Ephron, Zohar).
4. This particular Canaanite group held sway in the area around Hebron and Mamre in the days of Abraham.
5. In those days they were a small community residing in the hill country of southern Palestine (cf. Num. 13:29)
6. The Hittites of Genesis 23 have no known connection to the later Hittite empire (Hittites of the patriarchal era have Semitic names not Hittite names), nor are they connected to the Neo-Hittite peoples of Syria that are mentioned in 1Kgs. 10:29; 11:1; 2Kgs. 7:6; 2Chron. 1:17).
7. Abraham humbly introduces himself to the sons of Heth as "a stranger and a sojourner" which means "resident alien."
8. By so speaking he is saying that he owns no land and has no special rights in this regard.
9. His is an accurate statement regarding his legal standing during the days of his sojourning.
10. The patriarchs lived on the edge of organized civilization and as such were vulnerable to exploitation.
11. In Israel’s law code the nation was told by God to not take advantage of such persons as they had once been resident aliens (Deut. 14:29; 23:7).
12. Abraham makes a formal request for a "burial site" (literally ‘a possession/holding’).
13. The term he uses is also found in connection with the land-grant feature of the Abrahamic Covenant at 17:8 and 48:4 (in these two verses this term is used of Israel’s eternal "possession" [achuzzah] of Canaan).
14. As the subsequent exchange makes clear, Abraham is asking to purchase a burial site, that is, a piece of land that he can call his.
15. The purpose of this "possession" (translated interpretatively rather than literally) is stated as being: "that I may bury my dead out of my sight."
16. We would say, "a proper burial."
17. His demeanor and garb showed that he was in mourning, as he rose up from his mourning of Sarah and immediately went to the city gate and made his plea to the sons of Heth.
18. In v. 4 and vv. 8 and 13 he refers to Sarah as "my dead" (cf. "his dead" in v. 3 and "your dead" in vv. 6, 11, 13, 15).

The Hittite Reply (vv. 5-6)

VERSE 5 The sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him (Al rmoale ~h'r'b.a;-ta, txe-ynEb. Wn[]Y:w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. anah answer + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Heth + d.o. marker + proper noun Abraham + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. amar say + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff.]),

VERSE 6 "Hear us, my lord, you are a mighty prince [of God] among us (WnkeAtB. hT'a; ~yhil{a/ ayfin> ynIdoa] Wn[em'v. [Qal imper.m.s.w/1p.suff. shama hear + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. adon lord + noun m.s.constr. nashi prince, leader + noun m.p.abs. Elohim gods, God + pro.2m.s. atah you + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. tawek midst]; bury your dead in the choicest of our graves [^t,me-ta, rboq. Wnyreb'q. rx;b.miB. [prep beth w/noun m.s.constr. mibechar best + noun m.p.constr.w/1p.suff. qeber grave, burial place, sepulchers + d.o. marker + Qal part.m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. muth die; "your dead"]; none of us will refuse you his grave for burying your dead [^t,me rboQ.mi ^M.mi hl,k.yI-al{ Arb.qi-ta, WNM,mi vyai [noun m.s.abs. ish man + prep min w/1p.suff. "of us" + d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. qeber grave + neg lo + Qal impf.3m.s. kala withhold + prep min w/2m.s.suff. "you" + prep min w/Qal infin.constr. qabar bury + Qal part.m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. muth die; "your dead"]."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 5-6

1. In response to Abraham’s inquiry about a burial site for his family, the Hittites come across as very accommodating.
2. "Sir, listen to us" (NIV) shows their openness to Abraham’s plea.
3. To these particular Canaanites Abraham was not just another immigrant, he was held in the highest esteem.
4. They regarded him as a "prince among us," which by itself would be a designation of honor, but they add "of Elohim."
5. Translators typically take Elohim in the Hebrew text to be simply a superlative and translate it "mighty."
6. "Prince of Elohim" would be a recognition on their part of the blessing of God upon this man who had resided among the peoples of Canaan for some 60 years (1871-1810).
7. This type of recognition was noted by the Philistine ruler Abimelech (cf. 21:22).
8. Cf. "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).
9. "Bury your dead" is a positive statement as is "in the choicest of our graves."
10. This is followed by a negative statement: "none of us will refuse you his grave for burying his dead."
11. This is a remarkable offer considering Abraham was an outsider who moved about the land and tended to remain aloof from the local peoples.
12. Abraham was held by the Hittites in the same esteem as on of their princes or tribal chiefs.
13. Their offer is seen to be sincere, warm, and generous.

Abraham’s Specific Request (vv. 7-9)

VERSE 7 So Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the sons of Heth (txe-ynEb.li #r,a'h'-~[;l. WxT;v.YIw: ~h'r'b.a; ~q'Y"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. qum rise + proper noun Abraham + waw w/Hithpael impf.3m.s. shachah bow down + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.abs. am people + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz land + prep lamedh w/noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Heth]).

VERSE 8 And he spoke with them, saying, "If it is your wish for me to bury my dead out of my sight (yn:p'L.mi ytime-ta, rBoq.li ~k,v.p.n:-ta, vyE-~ai rmoale ~T'ai rBed;y>w: [waw w/Piel impf.3m.s. dabar speak + prep eth w/3m.p.suff. "with them" + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. amar say + part im if + adv yesh there is + d.o. marker + noun f.s.constr.w/2m.p.suff. nephesh soul; "wish" + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. qabar bury + d.o. marker + Qal part.m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. muth die; "my dead" + prep min w/prep lamedh w/noun m.p.constr.w/1s.suff. paneh face], hear me, and approach Ephron the son of Zohar for me [rx;co-!B, !Arp.[,B. yli-W[g>piW ynIW[m'v. [Qal imper.m.p.w/1s.suff. shama hear + waw w/Qal imper.m.p. pana entreat; "approach" + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. "for me" + prep beth w/proper nou Ephron + noun m.s.constr. ben + proper noun Zohar]),

VERSE 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he owns, which is at the end of his field (Whdef' hceq.Bi rv,a] Al-rv,a] hl'Pek.M;h; tr;['m.-ta, yli-!T,yIw> [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. jussive nathan give + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. "me" + d.o. marker + noun f.s.constr. me-arah cave + def.art.w/proper noun Machpelah (double-cave?) + rel.pro. ahsher + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr. qatseh end + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. sadeh field]; for the full price let him give it to me in your presence for a burial site [rb,q'-tZ:xua]l; ~k,k.AtB. yli hN"n<T.yI alem' @s,k,B [prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. keseph silver + adj.m.s.abs. male full + Qal impf.3m.s.w/3f.s. jussive nathan give + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. "to me" + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr.w/2m.p.suff. tawek midst; "your presence" + prep lamedh w/noun f.s.constr. achuzza possession + noun m.s.abs. qeber burial])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 7-9

1. Abraham’s posture suggests that the transaction took place while the principals were sitting (cf. v. 7).
2. By bowing down before the citizens of the city Abraham demonstrates his inferior status among them as a resident alien.
3. His gesture also denotes his appreciation of their generous offer.
4. In v. 8 Abraham reiterates their offer by saying "If it is your wish to bury my dead out of my sight" which forms the lead-in to his specific request regarding the burial ground of Ephron the son of Zohar.
5. Abraham did not ask for anything more than was conceded by the leading citizens of the town in their opening offer (v. 6).
6. He asks the city leaders to "approach" or "persuade" a citizen by the name of Ephron son of Zophar to "sell [him] the cave of Machpelah."
7. Machpelah means to "fold" or "double" from the root kapal.
8. The inference is that this was a double cave..
9. Tradition from at least the time of Josephus (1^st century AD) identifies the site as the place covered by the mosque Haram El-Khalil in the town of Hebron.
10. Today tourists come to this spot as the Tomb of the Patriarchs.
11. Hebron is the ancestral home of the Jews located some 20 miles south of Jerusalem.
12. Abraham indicates that the cave’s location is "at the end [edge] of his field [property]."
13. So only a small portion of Ephron’s land is to be conceded to Abraham.
14. Not only is Abraham interested in a burial site for his dead, which has already been granted to him based by the Hittites, but he insists that he pay "full price" for this piece of real estate.
15. What he asks is not merely a burial site for Sarah, but he asks them for full ownership of the site.
16. This is something that they had not offered him in the opening negotiations in response to Abraham’s initial request.

Ephron’s Offer (vv. 10-11)

VERSE 10 Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the sons of Heth; even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying (rmoale Ary[i-r[;v; yaeB' lkol. txe-ynEb. ynEz>a'B. ~h'r'b.a;-ta, yTixih; !Arp.[, ![;Y:w: txe-ynEB. %AtB. bveyO !Arp.[,w [waw w/proper noun Ephron + Qal part.m.s.abs. yashab sit + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr. tawek midst; "among" + noun m.p.constr. ben w/proper noun Heth + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. anah answer + proper noun Ephron + def.art.w/proper noun Hittite + d.o. marker + proper noun Abraham + prep beth w/noun f. dual constr. ozen ear + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Heth + prep lamedh w/noun m.s.abs. kol all + Qal part.m.p.constr. bo go; "who went" + noun m.s.abs. sha-ar gate + noun f.s.constr. ir city + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. amar say]),

VERSE 11 "No, my lord, hear me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it (h'yTit;n> ^l. AB-rv,a] hr'['M.h;w> %l' yTit;n" hd,F'h; ynI[em'v. ynIdoa]-al{ [neg lo + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. adon lord + Qal imper.m.s.w/1s.suff. shama hear + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. shdeh field + Qal perf.1s. nathan give + prep lamedh w/2m.s.suff. + waw w/def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. me-arah cave + rel.pro. asher + prep beth w/3m.s.suff. + prep lamedh w/2m.s.suff. + Qal perf.1s.w/3f.s.suff. nathan]).

In the presence of the sons of my people I give it to you; bury your dead (^t,me rboq. %L' h'yTit;n> yMi[;-ynEb. ynEy[el. [prep lamedh w/noun m. dual constr. ayin eye + noun m.p.constr. ben + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. am people + Qal perf.1s.w/3f.s.suff. nathan give + prep lamedh w/2m.s.suff. + Qal imper.m.s. qabar bury + Qal part.m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. muth die])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 10-11

1. V. 10 informs us that Ephron was present at the city gate on the day Abraham approached the Hittites.
2. Again, demonstrating that God was with Abraham in all that he undertook.
3. Ephron, like his counterparts (e.g., "of all who went in at the gate of his city"), speaks with warmth and generosity to the man considered a prince among the Hittites of Canaan.
4. Three times in v. 11 Ephron offers to "give" the field and the cave located in it to Abraham, making no mention of any payment.
5. Ephron before witnesses ("in the presence of my people") made the most generous offer imaginable--both the field and the cave.
6. The free gift offered Abraham was a transfer of a specific portion of Ephron’s land to Abraham without any strings attached.
7. He did this in the presence of witnesses at the city gate so there could be no question later as to the rights of ownership.
8. Ephron wasn’t merely granting Abraham the right to bury his dead there, he was granting the cave and the field in which the cave resided in perpetuity.
9. To the grieving Abraham he says, "Bury your dead!" which means it is yours to access immediately.

Abraham’s Insistence to Purchase the Land (vv. 12-13)

VERSE 12 And Abraham bowed before the people of the land (#r,a'h' ~[; ynEp.li ~h'r'b.a; WxT;v.YIw: [waw w/Hithpael impf.3m.s. shachah bow + proper noun Abraham + prep lamedh w/noun both p.constr. paneh face + noun m.s.abs. am people + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz land]).

VERSE 13 He spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying (rmoale #r,a'h'-~[; ynEz>a'B. !Arp.[,-la, rBed;y>w [waw w/Piel impf.3m.s. dabar speak + prep el to + proper noun Ephron + prep beth w/noun f. dual constr. ozen ear + noun m.s.abs. am people + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz land + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. amar say], "If you will only please listen to me; I will give the price of the field, accept it from me that I may bury my dead there [hM'v' ytime-ta, hr'B.q.a,w> yNIM,mi xq; hd,F'h; @s,K, yTit;n" ynI[em'v. Wl hT'a;-~ai %a; [adv ak surely + adv im if + pro.2m.s attah you + prep lamedh to + Qal imper.m.s.w/2m.s.suff. shama hear, listen + Qal perf.1s. nathan give + noun m.s.abs. keseph silver, "price" + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. shareh field + Qal imper.m.s. laqach take + prep min w/1s.suff. "from me" + waw w/Qal impf.1s. qabar bury + d.o. marker + Qal part.m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. muth die + adv sham there])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 12-13

1. Again, Abraham gets up and bows "before the people of the land (cf. v.7)."
2. This demonstrates appreciation and goodwill according to the ancient custom.
3. Awareness of a public witness is indicated by the phrase "in the hearing of the people of the land."
4. Abraham addresses Ephron using the same type expression used by the Hittites (v. 6) when he says, "If you will only please listen to me."
5. Countering Ephron’s most generous offer to "give" the land to him, Abraham counters with a request to purchase the land.
6. Abraham’s desire is to own the land outright.
7. He asks Ephron in the presence of many witnesses to "accept" the standard price for this piece of land.
8. He in effect turns down Ephron’s offer risking offense.
9. Abraham does not want to place himself in a situation where he is perceived as being obligated to Ephron and the Hittities.
10. By purchasing the land at fair market value, Abraham and his descendants can utilize the land anyway they choose.
11. Again, he does not want to place himself under any obligation to the original owner(s).
12. In conclusion, Abraham insists on paying for the land/field with its burial cave.

Ephron Names His Price (vv. 14-15)

VERSE 14 Then Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him (Al rmoale ~h'r'b.a;-ta, !Arp.[, ![;Y:w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. anah answer + proper noun Ephron + d.o. marker + proper noun Abraham + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. amar say + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff.],

VERSE 15 "My lord, listen to me; a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between me and you (awhi-hm; ^n>ybeW ynIyBe @s,K,-lq,v, taome [B;r>a; #r,a, ynI[em'v. ynIdoa] [noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. adon lord + Qal imper.m.s.w/1s.suff. shama hear + noun both s.abs. eretz land + adj.f.s.abs. araba four + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun m.s.abs. sheqel shekel + noun m.s.abs. keseph silver + prep bayin between w/1s.suff. + waw w/prep bayin w/2m.s.suff. + interrog mah what? + pro.3f.s. hi that])?

So bury your dead (rboq. ^t.me-ta,w> [waw w/d.o. marker + Qal part.m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. muth die + Qal imper.m.s. qabar bury])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 14-15

1. Out of the great respect these particular inhabitants of the Promised Land had for this foreigner Ephron gives in to Abraham’s insistence.
2. Four hundred shekels of silver was not an insignificance sum.
3. Ephron, almost ashamed to name a price, plays down its significance: "What is that between me and you? Bury your dead."
4. This transaction was apparently between two men of means.
5. The amount was of little significance for either of them to concern themselves with.
6. So Ephron defers to Abraham’s insistence at the city gate before his peers.
7. God blessed Abraham with a place to bury his dead.
8. This was something Abraham had previously contemplated in light of the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant.
9. He desired for him and his to be resurrected in the Promised Land.
10. For even the physical remains to be in that land was important symbolically and literally.

The Final Transaction and the Legal Description (vv. 16-20)

VERSE 16 Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth (txe-ynEb. ynEz>a'B. rB,DI rv,a] @s,K,h;-ta, !rop.[,l. ~h'r'b.a; lqov.YIw: !Arp.[,-la, ~h'r'b.a; [m;v.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s shama hear + proper noun Abraham + prep el + proper noun Ephron + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. shaqal weight out + proper noun Abraham + prep lamedh w/proper noun Ephron + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. keseph silver + rel. asher + Piel perf.3m.s. dabar speak; "named" + prep beth w/noun f. dual constr. ozen ear + noun m.p.constr. ben son + proper noun Heth], four hundred shekels of silver, commercial standard [rxeSol; rbe[o @s,K, lq,v, tAame [B;r>a [adj.f.s.abs. araba four + adj.f.p.abs. me-ah hundred + noun m.s.abs. shekel + noun m.s.abs. keseph silver + Qal part.m.s.abs. abar pass over + def.art.w/prep lamedh w/Qal part.m.s.abs. sachar trade]).

VERSE 17 So Ephron's field, which was in Machpelah, which faced Mamre, the field and cave which was in it, and all the trees which were in the field, that were within all the confines of its border, were deeded over (bybis' AlbuG>-lk'B. rv,a] hd,F'B; rv,a] #[eh'-lk'w> AB-rv,a] hr'['M.h;w> hd,F'h; arem.m; ynEp.li rv,a] hl'Pek.M;B; rv,a] !Arp.[, hdef. ~q'Y"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. qum rise; "deeded over" see end of English translation + noun m.s.constr. shadeh field + proper noun Ephron + re lasher + prep beth w/proper noun Machpelah + rel. asher + prep lamedh w/noun both p.constr. paneh face + proper noun Mamre + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. shadeh field + waw w/def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. me-arah cave + rel. asher + prep beth w/3m.s.suff. + waw w/noun m.s.constr. kol all + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. etz wood, tree + rel.asher +def.art.w/prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. shdeh field + rel. asher + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. gebul border + adv sabib surrounding])

VERSE 18 to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city (Ary[i-r[;v; yaeB' lkoB. txe-ynEb. ynEy[el. hn"q.mil. ~h'r'b.a;l. [prep lamedh w/proper noun Abraham + prep lamedh w/noun f.s.abs. miqenah purchase; "for a possession" + prep lamedh w/noun m. dual constr. ayin eye + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Heth + prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. kol all + Qal part.m.p.constr. bo go + noun m.s.abs. sha-ar gate + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. if city]).

VERSE 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field at Machpelah facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan (![;n"K. #r,a,B. !Arb.x, awhi arem.m; ynEP.-l[; hl'Pek.M;h; hdef. tr;['m.-la, ATv.ai hr'f'-ta, ~h'r'b.a; rb;q' !ke-yrex]a;w> [waw w/adv achare after + adv ken + proper noun Abraham + d.o. marker + noun f.s.const.w/3m.s.suff. ishshah wife + prep el + noun f.s.constr. me-arah cave + noun m.s.constr. sadeh field + def.art.w/proper noun Machpelah + prep al + noun both p.constr. paneh face + proper noun Mamre + pro.3f.s. which + proper noun Hebron + prep beth w/noun both s.abs. eretz land + proper noun Canaan]).

VERSE 20 So the field and the cave that is in it, were deeded over to Abraham for a burial site by the sons of Heth (txe-ynEB. taeme rb,q'-tZ:xua]l; ~h'r'b.a;l. AB-rv,a] hr'['M.h;w> hd,F'h; ~q'Y"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. qum rise, stand + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. sadeh field + waw w/def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. me-arah cave + rel.pro. asher + prep beth w/3m.s.suff. "in it" + prep lamedh w/proper noun Abraham + prep lamedh w/noun f.s.constr. achuzza possession + noun m.s.abs. qeber grave; "burial site" + prep min w/ prep eth "by" + noun m.p.constr. ben son + proper noun Heth]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 16-20

1. The purchase price was substantial as the land itself was choice and valuable.
2. The respect that Abraham held in the eyes of the sons of Heth was of the highest order.
3. His reputation preceded him.
4. Abraham agreed to the amount offered.
5. We assume that Ephron’s asking price was what he would have sold it to any prospective buyer.
6. For Abraham to gain unchallenged acquisition of the land in question, he according to the narrator, weighs [names] "in the hearing of the sons of Heth" the agreed on price.
7. The translation "weighed" is the piel perfect of dabar which means ‘to speak/declare.’
8. I take it to mean that Abraham counted out loud the four hundred shekels "in the hearing of the sons of Heth."
9. The verb ‘to weigh’ is shakal (cf. 1Sam. 17:5; 2Sam. 14:26) or takan (2Kgs. 12:11).
10. The entire transaction was witnessed by all the Hittites present at the city gate on this occasion.
11. The precise detail is given us as a legal description in vv. 17-18.
12. The exact location is literally "east of Mamre" translated here "before Mamre" which is the equivalent of ‘east of.’
13. The property description includes: "the field…the cave…and all the trees."
14. The seller: Ephron, and the buyer: Abraham.
15. Finally, the witnesses to the transaction are mentioned again in v. 18.
16. Sarah was buried in Canaan in the only parcel of land owned by the patriarchs.
17. In this cave was buried her husband, son and grandson and their wives.
18. In other words the principals of the first three generations of the ones who sojourned in the land of promise (cf. Gen. 40:29-32).
19. Abraham’s action providing the final resting place for the remains of the patriarchs and their wives denotes solidarity of family and faith.
20. In their lifetime they enjoyed only partial fulfillment of the promises of the covenant made with Abraham.
21. These all died in faith looking to the fulfillment (cf. Heb. 11:13-16).
22. Mamre held a special place in the life of Abraham and Sarah.
23. Here she was promised a son in her hopeless state.
24. With great determination Abraham owned a tiny portion of the land promised to him and his descendants.
25. Demonstrating his love and devotion for his wife he buried her in a place that resonated with special memories for the two of them.
26. The Hittites bless Abraham and open the door for blessing upon that generation.
27. So in this fashion, in death he honored her.