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
This scene takes place after Sarah's death when Abraham needed to purchase a proper burial site in the Promised Land. In ancient Middle Eastern culture, business negotiations often involved elaborate courtesy, with the seller initially offering gifts that the buyer would politely refuse in order to establish fair payment. Abraham's insistence on paying showed his desire to have legitimate ownership of land in Canaan.
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