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Genesis, 23

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

1. Sarah lived a hundred and twenty-seven years.

2. And 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.

2. She died at Kiriatharba - that is Hebron - in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to weep and mourn for Sarah.

3. And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,

3. Abraham left his dead one

4. I [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.

4. and spoke to the Hittites, "I am only a stranger among you; give me a burial place among you, so that I may bury my dead."

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

5. The Hittites answered Abraham,

6. Hear 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.

6. "Hear us, my lord. You are God's prince among us; bury your dead in the best of our tombs; none of us would refuse you a tomb to bury your dead."

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

7. Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land,

8. And 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,

8. and then spoke to them, "If you are willing that I bury my dead, hear me and plead with Ephron, the son of Zohar,

9. That 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.

9. to give me the cave of Machpelah belonging to him; it is at the edge of his field. For the full price and in your presence, let him give it to me for a burial place."

10. And 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,

10. Now Ephron was there sitting among the Hittites, and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all who were seated at the gate of the town,

11. Nay, 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.

11. "No, my lord, listen! I give you the field and I give you the cave in it. In the presence of the sons of my people, I give it to you. Bury your dead there."

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

12. Abraham bowed before the people of the land and spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land,

13. And 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.

13. "Ah, if only you will listen to me, I will give you the price of the land. Accept it from me that I may bury my dead there."

14. And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,

14. Ephron replied to Abraham, "My lord, hear me.

15. My lord, hearken unto me: the land [is worth] four hundred shekels of silver; what [is] that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.

15. Four hundred silver coins for a piece of land, is it not the right price for both of us? Bury your 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.

16. Abraham agreed with Ephron and he weighed out for Ephron the silver he had insisted on in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred silver coins, in merchants' coins.

17. And 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

17. And so Ephron's field in Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave in it, and all the trees in the field, throughout its entire area,

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

18. was acquired by Abraham as his possession in the presence of the Hittites and of all who went in at the gate of their city.

19. And 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.

19. After this Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of Machpelah.

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

20. The unused field and the cave that is in it were given to Abraham as a possession for a burying place by the Hittites.



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Notas al pie:

23:1-2 - Sarah's death is recorded, and Abraham mourns deeply. The way he expresses his grief highlights the importance of love and honor in family relationships, demonstrating the need to process the pain of loss (see also Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 and Psalm 34:18).

23:3-9 - Abraham seeks a place to bury Sarah, demonstrating his desire to honor her. He presents himself to the Hittites, showing respect and a desire for peace in their relationships. This attitude reflects Abraham's integrity (see also Proverbs 12:26 and Romans 12:18).

23:10-16 - Abraham negotiates the purchase of the cave of Machpelah. The transaction is a significant act, as it establishes Abraham's first possession of the Promised Land. This symbolizes the fulfillment of God's promises and the hope of a future in Canaan (see also Genesis 17:8 and Hebrews 11:9-10).

23:17-20 - The purchase of the cave is formalized, securing a burial place for Sarah. This act establishes Abraham's physical connection to the land, a precursor to the inheritance his descendants would have (see also Genesis 48:21 and Acts 7:5).

23:19-20 - The cave of Machpelah becomes a sacred site, where Abraham and his family would be buried. This points to the continuity of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants, showing that God has a plan for the nation of Israel (see also Genesis 49:29-32 and Hebrews 11:13-16).

Versos relacionados con Genesis, 23:

Genesis chapter 23 reports the death and burial of Sarah. How does Abraham deal with the loss and affirm his faith in the promise? This moving text describes Abraham's mourning, his negotiation with the Hittites, and his purchase of the cave from Machpelah. The chapter addresses themes such as mortality, respect for the dead and the importance of the promised land. Genesis 23 also demonstrates Abraham's position as a respected foreigner. Consider with us five biblical passages that illuminate the enduring principles of this significant chapter.

Acts 7:16: "Their bodies were taken back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had purchased from the sons of Hamor in Shechem." - Stephen references Abraham's purchase of the field of Machpelah in Genesis 23, showing the continued importance of this site in Israel's history.

Hebrews 11:13: "All these died in faith, without having received the promises; They saw them from afar and greeted them from afar, recognizing that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth." - Abraham's purchase of a tomb in Genesis 23 is seen as an act of faith, recognizing his status as a pilgrim.

1 Peter 2:11: "Beloved, I insist that, as strangers and pilgrims in the world, you abstain from the carnal desires that war against the soul." - Abraham's status as a foreigner in Genesis 23 is used as a model for Christians.

Matthew 27:7-8: "Then, after reaching an agreement, they used the money to buy the Potter's field, to serve as a cemetery for outsiders. Therefore, to this day that field is called Field of Blood." - The purchase of a burial field in Genesis 23 echoes the purchase of the Potter's field to bury foreigners.

John 11:17-18: "Upon arriving, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Bethany was about three kilometers from Jerusalem." - The importance of burial sites in Jewish culture, established in Genesis 23, continues into Jesus' time.

FAQ:

What was the agreement between Abraham and the Hittites regarding Sarah's burial?

Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah from the Hittites as a burial place for Sarah. The agreement guaranteed that the site would be owned by Abraham and his descendants. (Genesis 23:16-20)

Why did Abraham purchase a specific burial site for Sarah?

Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah to secure a permanent burial place for his wife Sarah and her family, showing respect and security. (Genesis 23:17-19)

What was the significance of Abraham's negotiation with Ephron?

The negotiation highlighted Abraham's integrity and ensured that the land purchase was made publicly, ensuring the legitimacy of the agreement. (Genesis 23:10-16)

How did Abraham treat the Hittites when he bought the field of Machpelah?

Abraham treated the Hittites with respect and honesty, making the transaction public and fair to secure possession of the land. (Genesis 23:13-16)

What does the account of the purchase of the cave of Machpelah teach us about ancient culture?

The account shows the importance of formalities and respect in property transactions, reflecting cultural practices of negotiation and honor at the time. (Genesis 23:16-20)


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