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Chapter 23
The Death and Burial of Sarah
1
Now Sarah lived to be 127… years old…
וַיִּהְיוּ֙ שָׂרָ֔ה חַיֵּ֣י מֵאָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים שְׁנֵ֖י שָׁנָ֛ה שָׁנָ֖ה שָׂרָֽה׃ חַיֵּ֥י way·yih·yū śā·rāh ḥay·yê mê·’āh wə·‘eś·rîm wə·še·ḇa‘ šā·nîm šə·nê šā·nāh šā·nāh śā·rāh ḥay·yê — WLC · 1
Ἐγένετο δὲ ἡ ζωὴ Σάρρας ἔτη ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι ἑπτά. — LXX Swete · 1
2
[She] died vvv in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went out to mourn and to weep for [her].
שָׂרָ֗ה וַתָּ֣מָת בְּקִרְיַ֥ת אַרְבַּ֛ע הִ֥וא חֶבְר֖וֹן בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן אַבְרָהָ֔ם וַיָּבֹא֙ לִסְפֹּ֥ד וְלִבְכֹּתָֽהּ׃ לְשָׂרָ֖ה śā·rāh wat·tā·māṯ bə·qir·yaṯ ’ar·ba‘ hî ḥeḇ·rō·wn bə·’e·reṣ kə·nā·‘an ’aḇ·rā·hām way·yā·ḇō lis·pōḏ wə·liḇ·kō·ṯāh lə·śā·rāh — WLC · 2
καὶ ἀπέθανεν Σάρρα ἐν πόλει Ἀρβόκ, ἥ ἐστιν ἐν τῷ κοιλώματι· αὕτη Χεβρὼν ἐν γῇ Χανάαν. ἦλθεν δὲ Ἀβραὰμ κόψασθαι Σάρραν καὶ πενθῆσαι. — LXX Swete · 2
3
Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife and said to the Hittites…,
אַבְרָהָ֔ם וַיָּ֙קָם֙ מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֣י מֵת֑וֹ וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֶל־ בְּנֵי־ חֵ֖ת לֵאמֹֽר׃ ’aḇ·rā·hām way·yā·qām mê·‘al pə·nê mê·ṯōw way·ḏab·bêr ’el- bə·nê- ḥêṯ lê·mōr — WLC · 3
καὶ ἀνέστη Ἀβραὰμ ἀπὸ τοῦ νεκροῦ αὐτοῦ· καὶ εἶπεν Ἀβραὰμ τοῖς υἱοῖς Χὲτ λέγων — LXX Swete · 3
4
“I [am] a foreigner and an outsider among you. Give me a burial site among you so that I can bury my dead.”…
אָנֹכִ֖י גֵּר־ וְתוֹשָׁ֥ב עִמָּכֶ֑ם תְּנ֨וּ לִ֤י קֶ֙בֶר֙ אֲחֻזַּת־ עִמָּכֶ֔ם וְאֶקְבְּרָ֥ה מֵתִ֖י מִלְּפָנָֽי׃ ’ā·nō·ḵî gêr- wə·ṯō·wō·šāḇ ‘im·mā·ḵem tə·nū lî qe·ḇer ’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ- ‘im·mā·ḵem wə·’eq·bə·rāh mê·ṯî mil·lə·p̄ā·nāy — WLC · 4
Πάροικος καὶ παρεπίδημος ἐγώ εἰμι μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν· δότε οὖν μοι κτῆσιν τάφου μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν, καὶ θάψω τὸν νεκρόν μου ἐκεῖ. — LXX Swete · 4
5
The Hittites… replied to Abraham…
בְנֵי־ חֵ֛ת אֶת־ וַיַּעֲנ֧וּ אַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֥ר לֽוֹ׃ ḇə·nê- ḥêṯ ’eṯ- way·ya·‘ă·nū ’aḇ·rā·hām lê·mōr lōw — WLC · 5
ἀπεκρίθησαν δὲ οἱ υἱοὶ Χὲτ πρὸς Ἀβραὰμ λέγοντες — LXX Swete · 5
6
“Listen to us, sir. You are God’s chosen one among us. Bury your dead… in the finest of our tombs. None of us will withhold his tomb for burying your dead.”
שְׁמָעֵ֣נוּ׀ אֲדֹנִ֗י אַתָּה֙ אֱלֹהִ֤ים נְשִׂ֨יא בְּתוֹכֵ֔נוּ קְבֹ֖ר אֶת־ מֵתֶ֑ךָ אִ֣ישׁ בְּמִבְחַ֣ר קְבָרֵ֔ינוּ לֹֽא־ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ אֶת־ יִכְלֶ֥ה מִמְּךָ֖ קִבְר֛וֹ מִקְּבֹ֥ר מֵתֶֽךָ׃ šə·mā·‘ê·nū ’ă·ḏō·nî ’at·tāh ’ĕ·lō·hîm nə·śî bə·ṯō·w·ḵê·nū qə·ḇōr ’eṯ- mê·ṯe·ḵā ’îš bə·miḇ·ḥar qə·ḇā·rê·nū lō- mim·men·nū ’eṯ- yiḵ·leh mim·mə·ḵā qiḇ·rōw miq·qə·ḇōr mê·ṯe·ḵā — WLC · 6
Μή, κύριε· ἄκουσον δὲ ἡμῶν. βασιλεὺς παρὰ θεοῦ σὺ εἶ ἐν ἡμῖν· ἐν τοῖς ἐκλεκτοῖς μνημείοις ἡμῶν θάψον τὸν νεκρόν σου· οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἡμῶν τὸ μνημεῖον αὐτοῦ κωλύσει ἀπὸ σοῦ, τοῦ θάψαι τὸν νεκρόν σου ἐκεῖ. — LXX Swete · 6
7
Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites…
אַבְרָהָ֛ם וַיָּ֧קָם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ לְעַם־ הָאָ֖רֶץ לִבְנֵי־ חֵֽת׃ ’aḇ·rā·hām way·yā·qām way·yiš·ta·ḥū lə·‘am- hā·’ā·reṣ liḇ·nê- ḥêṯ — WLC · 7
ἀναστὰς δὲ Ἀβραὰμ προσεκύνησεν τῷ λαῷ τῆς γῆς, τοῖς υἱοῖς Χέτ. — LXX Swete · 7
8
“If… you are willing for me to bury my dead,” he said to them,… “… listen to me, and approach Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf
אִם־ יֵ֣שׁ אֶֽת־ נַפְשְׁכֶ֗ם לִקְבֹּ֤ר אֶת־ מֵתִי֙ וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתָּ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר מִלְּפָנַ֔י שְׁמָע֕וּנִי וּפִגְעוּ־ בְּעֶפְר֥וֹן בֶּן־ צֹֽחַר׃ לִ֖י ’im- yêš ’eṯ- nap̄·šə·ḵem liq·bōr ’eṯ- mê·ṯî way·ḏab·bêr ’it·tām lê·mōr mil·lə·p̄ā·nay šə·mā·‘ū·nî ū·p̄iḡ·‘ū- bə·‘ep̄·rō·wn ben- ṣō·ḥar lî — WLC · 8
καὶ ἐλάλησεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς Ἀβραὰμ λέγων Εἰ ἔχετε τῇ ψυχῇ ὑμῶν ὥστε θάψαι τὸν νεκρόν μου ἀπὸ προσώπου μου, ἀκούσατέ μου καὶ λαλήσατε περὶ ἐμοῦ Ἐφρὼν τῷ τοῦ Σάαρ· — LXX Swete · 8
9
to sell me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me in your presence for full price, so that [I may have] a burial site.”
וְיִתֶּן־ לִ֗י אֶת־ מְעָרַ֤ת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה֙ אֲשֶׁר־ ל֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּקְצֵ֣ה שָׂדֵ֑הוּ יִתְּנֶ֥נָּה לִ֛י בְּתוֹכְכֶ֖ם מָלֵ֜א בְּכֶ֨סֶף קָֽבֶר׃ לַאֲחֻזַּת־ wə·yit·ten- lî ’eṯ- mə·‘ā·raṯ ham·maḵ·pê·lāh ’ă·šer- lōw ’ă·šer biq·ṣêh śā·ḏê·hū yit·tə·nen·nāh lî bə·ṯō·wḵ·ḵem mā·lê bə·ḵe·sep̄ qā·ḇer la·’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ- — WLC · 9
καὶ δότω μοι τὸ σπήλαιον τὸ διπλοῦν ὅ ἐστιν αὐτῷ, τὸ ὂν ἐν μερίδι τοῦ ἀγροῦ αὐτοῦ· ἀργυρίου τοῦ ἀξίου δότε μοι αὐτὸ ἐν ὑμῖν εἰς κτῆσιν μνημείου. — LXX Swete · 9
10
Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth. So in the presence of all the Hittites… who had come to the gate of his city,… Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham,
וְעֶפְר֥וֹן יֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּת֣וֹךְ בְּנֵי־ חֵ֑ת בְּאָזְנֵ֣י לְכֹ֛ל בְנֵי־ חֵ֔ת בָּאֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־ עִיר֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר׃ עֶפְר֨וֹן הַחִתִּ֤י אֶת־ וַיַּעַן֩ אַבְרָהָם֙ wə·‘ep̄·rō·wn yō·šêḇ bə·ṯō·wḵ bə·nê- ḥêṯ bə·’ā·zə·nê lə·ḵōl ḇə·nê- ḥêṯ bā·’ê ša·‘ar- ‘î·rōw lê·mōr ‘ep̄·rō·wn ha·ḥit·tî ’eṯ- way·ya·‘an ’aḇ·rā·hām — WLC · 10
Ἐφρὼν δὲ ἐκάθητο ἐν μέσῳ τῶν υἱῶν χέτ· ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ Ἐφρὼν ὁ Χετταῖος πρὸς Ἀβραὰμ εἶπεν, ἀκουόντων τῶν υἱῶν Χὲτ καὶ πάντων τῶν εἰσπορευομένων εἰς τὴν πόλιν, λέγων — LXX Swete · 10
11
“No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people… Bury your dead.”
לֹֽא־ אֲדֹנִ֣י שְׁמָעֵ֔נִי נָתַ֣תִּי לָ֔ךְ הַשָּׂדֶה֙ נְתַתִּ֑יהָ וְהַמְּעָרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־ בּ֖וֹ נְתַתִּ֥יהָ לְךָ֣ לָּ֖ךְ לְעֵינֵ֧י בְנֵי־ עַמִּ֛י קְבֹ֥ר מֵתֶֽךָ׃ lō- ’ă·ḏō·nî šə·mā·‘ê·nî nā·ṯat·tî lāḵ haś·śā·ḏeh nə·ṯat·tî·hā wə·ham·mə·‘ā·rāh ’ă·šer- bōw nə·ṯat·tî·hā lə·ḵā lāḵ lə·‘ê·nê ḇə·nê- ‘am·mî qə·ḇōr mê·ṯe·ḵā — WLC · 11
Παρ᾿ ἐμοὶ γενοῦ, κύριε, καὶ ἄκουσόν μου. τὸν ἀγρὸν καὶ τὸ σπήλαιον τὸ ἐν αὐτῷ σοὶ δίδωμι· ἐναντίον τῶν πολιτῶν μου δέδωκά σοι· θάψον τὸν νεκρόν σου. — LXX Swete · 11
12
Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land
אַבְרָהָ֔ם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֖י עַ֥ם הָאָֽרֶץ׃ ’aḇ·rā·hām way·yiš·ta·ḥū lip̄·nê ‘am hā·’ā·reṣ — WLC · 12
καὶ προσεκύνησεν Ἀβραὰμ ἐναντίον τοῦ λαοῦ τῆς γῆς· — LXX Swete · 12
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and said to Ephron in their presence…,… “If you will please listen to me, I will pay you the price of the field. Accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there.”
וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר אֶל־ עֶפְר֜וֹן בְּאָזְנֵ֤י עַם־ הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אַ֛ךְ אִם־ אַתָּ֥ה ל֖וּ שְׁמָעֵ֑נִי נָתַ֜תִּי כֶּ֤סֶף הַשָּׂדֶה֙ קַ֣ח מִמֶּ֔נִּי וְאֶקְבְּרָ֥ה אֶת־ מֵתִ֖י שָֽׁמָּה׃ way·ḏab·bêr ’el- ‘ep̄·rō·wn bə·’ā·zə·nê ‘am- hā·’ā·reṣ lê·mōr ’aḵ ’im- ’at·tāh lū šə·mā·‘ê·nî nā·ṯat·tî ke·sep̄ haś·śā·ḏeh qaḥ mim·men·nî wə·’eq·bə·rāh ’eṯ- mê·ṯî šām·māh — WLC · 13
καὶ εἶπεν τῷ Ἐφρὼν εἰς τὰ ὦτα ἐναντίον παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ τῆς γῆς Ἐπειδὴ πρὸς ἐμοῦ εἶ, ἄκουσόν μου· τὸ ἀργύριον τοῦ ἀγροῦ λάβε παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ, καὶ θάψον τὸν νεκρόν μου ἐκεῖ. — LXX Swete · 13
14
Ephron answered Abraham -
עֶפְר֛וֹן אֶת־ וַיַּ֧עַן אַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֥ר לֽוֹ׃ ‘ep̄·rō·wn ’eṯ- way·ya·‘an ’aḇ·rā·hām lê·mōr lōw — WLC · 14
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“Listen to me, my lord. The land [is worth] four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between you and me…? Bury your dead.”
שְׁמָעֵ֔נִי אֲדֹנִ֣י אֶרֶץ֩ אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵאֹ֧ת שֶֽׁקֶל־ כֶּ֛סֶף מַה־ הִ֑וא וְאֶת־ בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵֽינְךָ֖ קְבֹֽר׃ מֵתְךָ֖ šə·mā·‘ê·nî ’ă·ḏō·nî ’e·reṣ ’ar·ba‘ mê·’ōṯ še·qel- ke·sep̄ mah- hî wə·’eṯ- bê·nî ū·ḇê·nə·ḵā qə·ḇōr mê·ṯə·ḵā — WLC · 15
Οὐχί, κύριε, ἀκήκοα γάρ· τετρακοσίων διδράχμων ἀργυρίου· ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ τί ἄν τοῦτο; σὺ δὲ τὸν νεκρόν σου θάψον. — LXX Swete · 15
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Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out [for him] the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites…: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the standard of the merchants.
אַבְרָהָם֮ וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אֶל־ עֶפְרוֹן֒ אַבְרָהָם֙ וַיִּשְׁקֹ֤ל לְעֶפְרֹ֔ן אֶת־ הַכֶּ֕סֶף אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בְנֵי־ חֵ֑ת אַרְבַּ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ שֶׁ֣קֶל כֶּ֔סֶף עֹבֵ֖ר לַסֹּחֵֽר׃ ’aḇ·rā·hām way·yiš·ma‘ ’el- ‘ep̄·rō·wn ’aḇ·rā·hām way·yiš·qōl lə·‘ep̄·rōn ’eṯ- hak·ke·sep̄ ’ă·šer dib·ber bə·’ā·zə·nê ḇə·nê- ḥêṯ ’ar·ba‘ mê·’ō·wṯ še·qel ke·sep̄ ‘ō·ḇêr las·sō·ḥêr — WLC · 16
καὶ ἤκουσεν Ἀβραὰμ τῷ Ἐφρών· καὶ ἀπεκατέστησεν Ἀβραὰμ τῷ Ἐφρὼν τὸ ἀργύριον ὃ ἐλάλησεν εἰς τὰ ὦτα τῶν υἱῶν Χέτ, τετρακόσια δίδραχμα ἀργυρίου δοκίμου ἐντόροις. — LXX Swete · 16
17
So Ephron’s field at Machpelah near Mamre -, the cave that [was] in it, and all the trees within the boundaries… of the field were deeded over
עֶפְר֗וֹן שְׂדֵ֣ה בַּמַּכְפֵּלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י מַמְרֵ֑א הַשָּׂדֶה֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ וְהַמְּעָרָ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־ בּ֔וֹ וְכָל־ הָעֵץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּכָל־ גְּבֻל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב׃ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר וַיָּ֣קָם׀ ‘ep̄·rō·wn śə·ḏêh bam·maḵ·pê·lāh ’ă·šer lip̄·nê mam·rê haś·śā·ḏeh ’ă·šer wə·ham·mə·‘ā·rāh ’ă·šer- bōw wə·ḵāl hā·‘êṣ ’ă·šer bə·ḵāl gə·ḇu·lōw sā·ḇîḇ baś·śā·ḏeh ’ă·šer way·yā·qām — WLC · 17
καὶ ἔστη ὁ ἀγρὸς Ἐφρών, ὃς ἦν ἐν τῷ διπλῷ σπηλαίῳ, ὅς ἐστιν κατὰ πρόσωπον Μαθβρή, ὁ ἀγρὸς καὶ τὸ σπήλαιον ὃ ἦν αὐτῷ, καὶ πᾶν δένδρον ὃ ἦν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ, ὅ ἐστιν ἐν τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτοῦ κύκλῳ, — LXX Swete · 17
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to Abraham’s possession in the presence of all the Hittites… who had come to the gate of his city.
לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְמִקְנָ֖ה לְעֵינֵ֣י בְּכֹ֖ל בְנֵי־ חֵ֑ת בָּאֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־ עִירֽוֹ׃ lə·’aḇ·rā·hām lə·miq·nāh lə·‘ê·nê bə·ḵōl ḇə·nê- ḥêṯ bā·’ê ša·‘ar- ‘î·rōw — WLC · 18
τῷ Ἀβραὰμ εἰς κτῆσιν ἐναντίον τῶν υἱῶν Χέτ καὶ πάντων τῶν εἰσπορευομένων εἰς τὴν πόλιν. — LXX Swete · 18
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After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field at Machpelah near… Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
וְאַחֲרֵי־ כֵן֩ אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־ קָבַ֨ר אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ שָׂרָ֣ה אֶל־ מְעָרַ֞ת שְׂדֵ֧ה הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה עַל־ פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵ֖א הִ֣וא חֶבְר֑וֹן בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃ wə·’a·ḥă·rê- ḵên ’aḇ·rā·hām ’eṯ- qā·ḇar ’iš·tōw śā·rāh ’el- mə·‘ā·raṯ śə·ḏêh ham·maḵ·pê·lāh ‘al- pə·nê mam·rê hî ḥeḇ·rō·wn bə·’e·reṣ kə·nā·‘an — WLC · 19
μετὰ ταῦτα Ἔθαψεν Ἀβραὰμ Σάρραν τὴν γτωαῖκα αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ τοῦ ἀγροῦ τῷ διπλῷ, ὅ ἐστιν ἀπέναντι Μαμβρή· αὕτη ἐστὶν Χεβρὼν ἐν τῇ γῇ Χανάαν. — LXX Swete · 19
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So the field and its cave were deeded by the Hittites… to Abraham as a burial… site.
הַשָּׂדֶ֜ה אֲשֶׁר־ בּ֛וֹ וְהַמְּעָרָ֧ה וַיָּ֨קָם בְּנֵי־ חֵֽת׃ס לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם קָ֑בֶר מֵאֵ֖ת לַאֲחֻזַּת־ haś·śā·ḏeh ’ă·šer- bōw wə·ham·mə·‘ā·rāh way·yā·qām bə·nê- ḥêṯ lə·’aḇ·rā·hām qā·ḇer mê·’êṯ la·’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ- — WLC · 20
καὶ ἐκυρώθη ὁ ἀγρὸς καὶ τὸ σπήλαιον ὃ ἦν αὐτῷ τῷ Ἀβραὰμ εἰς κτῆσιν τάφου πα ἁ τῶν υἱῶν Χέτ. — LXX Swete · 20