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Genesis Chapter 23  (Original 1611 KJV Bible)

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This is the text and a scan of the actual, original, first printing of the 1611 King James Version, the 'HE' Bible, for Genesis Chapter 23. The KJV does not get more original or authentic than this. View Genesis Chapter 23 as text-only. Click to switch to the standard King James Version of Genesis Chapter 23

Why does it have strange spelling?


CHAP. XXIII.

1 The age and death of Sarah. 3 The purchase of Machpelah, 19 where Sarah was buried.

1 And Sarah was an hundred and seuen and twenty yeeres olde: these were the yeeres of the life of Sarah.

2 And Sarah died in Kiriath arba, the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: And Abraham came to mourne for Sarah, and to weepe for her.

3 ¶ And Abraham stood vp from before his dead, & spake vnto the sonnes of Heth, saying,

4 I am a stranger and a soiourner with you: giue me a possession of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

5 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying vnto him,

6 Heare vs, my Lord, thou art a mightie Prince amongst vs: in the choise of our sepulchres bury thy dead: none of vs shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.6

7 And Abraham stood vp and bowed himselfe to the people of the land, euen to the children of Heth.


Her buriall.

8 And hee communed with them, saying, if it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, heare me, and entreat for me to Ephron the sonne of Zohar:

9 That he may giue me the caue of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field: for as much money as it is worth he shall giue it mee, for a possession of a burying place amongst you.9

10 And Ephron dwelt amongst the children of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, euen of all that went in at the gates of his citie, saying,10

11 Nay, my lord, heare mee: the field giue I thee, and the caue that is therein, I giue it thee, in the presence of the sonnes of my people giue I it thee: bury thy dead.

12 And Abraham bowed downe himselfe before the people of the land.

13 And he spake vnto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt giue it, I pray thee, heare mee: I will giue thee money for the field: take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying vnto him,

15 My lord, hearken vnto mee: the land is worth foure hundred shekels of siluer: what is that betwixt mee and thee? bury therefore thy dead.

16 And Abraham hearkened vnto Ephron, and Abraham weighed to Ephron the siluer, which he had named, in the audience of the sonnes of Heth, foure hundred shekels of siluer, currant money with the merchant.

17 ¶ And the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the fielde and the caue which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure

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

19 And after this Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the caue of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.

20 And the field, and the caue that is therein, were made sure vnto Abraham, for a possession of a burying place, by the sonnes of Heth.

 

View Wesley's Notes for Genesis Chapter 23



23:2 Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep - He did not only perform the ceremonies of mourning according to the custom of those times, but did sincerely lament the great loss he had, and gave proof of the constancy of his affection. Therefore these two words are used, he came both to mourn and to weep.

23:4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you - Therefore I am unprovided, and must become a suiter to you for a burying - place. This was one occasion which Abraham took to confess that he was a stranger and a pilgrim upon earth. The death of our relations should effectually mind us that we are not at home in this world. That I may bury my dead out of my sight - Death will make those unpleasant to our sight, who while they lived were the desire of our eyes. The countenance that was fresh and lively becomes pale and ghastly, and fit to be removed into the land of darkness.

23:6 Thou art a prince of God among us - So the word is; not only great, but good. He called himself a stranger and a sojourner, they call him a great prince.

23:7 Abraham returns them thanks for their kind offer, with all possible decency and respect. Religion teaches good manners, and those abuse it that place it in rudeness and clownishness.

23:11 The field give I thee - Abraham thought he must be intreated to sell it, but upon the first mention, without intreaty, he freely gives it.

23:13 I will give thee money for the field - It was not in pride that Abraham refused the gift; but In justice. Abraham was rich in silver and gold, and therefore would not take advantage of Ephron's generosity. In prudence. He would pay for it, lest Ephron, when this good humour was over, should upbraid him with it.

23:15 The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver - About fifty pounds of our money, but what is that between me and thee? - He would rather oblige his friend than have so much money.

23:20 A burying place - 'Tis worth noting, That a burying - place was the first spot of ground Abraham was possessed of in Canaan. That it was the only piece of land he was ever possessed of, tho' it was all his own in reversion. Those that have least of this earth find a grave in it.

 



Genesis Chapter 23 Sidenote References (from Original 1611 KJV Bible):

6 Hebr. a Prince of God.
9 Hebr. full money.
10 Hebr. eares.


* Courtesy of Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Pennsylvania


 

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