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.
Abraham spoke to Ephron in front of all the people of the land, saying, 'But if you will sell it to me, please listen to me: I will pay you the full price for the field. Take my money, and I will bury my wife there.'
Abraham is insisting on paying full price for a burial place for Sarah, refusing to accept it as a gift and wanting to own it legally.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, Abraham is living as a foreigner in the land of Canaan, which God had promised to his descendants, and he is dealing with the local Hittites after his wife Sarah's death. He approaches Ephron publicly to negotiate the purchase of a burial cave, emphasizing his desire to pay fairly rather than take the land for free. This event reflects the ancient Near Eastern custom of conducting business transactions openly to avoid disputes and ensure mutual agreement.
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