Genesis 23:9 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

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.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

Ask him to sell me the cave of Machpelah that he owns at the edge of his field. I want to pay him the full price for it so I can have it as a burial place among you.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

Abraham is asking to buy a cave as a proper burial place for his family, showing his desire to establish a permanent connection to the promised land.

📚 Historical Context

This occurs after Sarah's death when Abraham needed to secure a burial place for her. As a foreigner in Canaan, Abraham had no legal right to own land, so he had to negotiate carefully with the Hittites. The cave of Machpelah would become the family tomb for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their wives.

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Genesis 23:17

So Ephron's field in Machpelah, near Mamre, was officially transferred to Abraham. This included the field itself, the cave that was in it, and all the trees within the property boundaries.

Genesis 49:30

In the cave that's in the field of Machpelah, which is near Mamre, in the land of Canaan—the same field that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite to use as a burial place.

Genesis 50:13

Jacob's sons carried his body to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah. This was the same cave that Abraham had purchased along with the surrounding field from Ephron the Hittite to use as a family burial place. The cave was located near Mamre.

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