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וַיַּ֧עַן עֶפְר֛וֹן אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֥ר לֽוֹ׃ 15 אֲדֹנִ֣י שְׁמָעֵ֔נִי אֶרֶץ֩ אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵאֹ֧ת שֶֽׁקֶל־כֶּ֛סֶף בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵֽינְךָ֖ מַה־הִ֑וא וְאֶת־מֵתְךָ֖ קְבֹֽר׃ 16 וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אַבְרָהָם֮ אֶל־עֶפְרוֹן֒ וַיִּשְׁקֹ֤ל אַבְרָהָם֙ לְעֶפְרֹ֔ן אֶת־הַכֶּ֕סֶף אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת אַרְבַּ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ שֶׁ֣קֶל כֶּ֔סֶף עֹבֵ֖ר לַסֹּחֵֽר׃

Vocabulary

Verse 14

            עפרון  name: “Ephron”

Verse 15

            שׁקל  noun: “Shekel”

            קבר  verb: “bury”

Verse 16

            שׁקל  verb: “weigh out” (BDB, 1053)

            אזן  noun: “ear”

            חת  name: “Heth”

            סחר  “trader, merchant” (BDB, 695)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 14

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיַּ֧עַן עֶפְר֛וֹן אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֥ר לֽוֹ): V-S-O-M
• Embedded Typology 1 (לֵאמֹ֥ר לֽוֹ): V-IO-[O]
• The object is the direct speech found in the following verse.
• GKC interprets the final particle as לוּ and attaches it to the following imperative as in verse 13 (cf. anacoluthon note on v. 5; GKC 110e).

Verse 15

• Embedded Typology 1 (אֲדֹנִ֣י שְׁמָעֵ֔נִי): V-O
• The appellation, אדני, is vocative.
• Embedded Typology 2 (אֶרֶץ֩ אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵאֹ֧ת שֶֽׁקֶל־כֶּ֛סֶף בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵֽינְךָ֖ מַה־הִ֑וא): M-S-P
• The initial noun phrase, אֶרֶץ֩ אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵאֹ֧ת שֶֽׁקֶל־כֶּ֛סֶף, is left dislocated (i.e. fronted) and is the antecedent of the final pronoun.
• The sequencing of בין … בין is understood as “between this and that.”
• The pronoun, הוא, is pointed as a 3fs pronoun (Kethib Qere perpetuum).
• Embedded Typology 3 (וְאֶת־מֵתְךָ֖ קְבֹֽר): O-V
• The order is reversed from verse 13 thus the waw is disjunctive (waw + nonverb).

Verse 16

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אַבְרָהָם֮ אֶל־עֶפְרוֹן֒): V-S-M
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיִּשְׁקֹ֤ל אַבְרָהָם֙ לְעֶפְרֹ֔ן אֶת־הַכֶּ֕סֶף אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת אַרְבַּ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ שֶׁ֣קֶל כֶּ֔סֶף עֹבֵ֖ר לַסֹּחֵֽר): V-S-IO-O-M-O
• The phrase, בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת אַרְבַּ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ שֶׁ֣קֶל כֶּ֔סֶף, serves as a continuation of the direct object after the intervening relative clause, אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת.
• The final substantival phrase, עֹבֵ֖ר לַסֹּחֵֽר, is idiomatic for “the current money of the merchant” (BDB, 717).
• Embedded Typology 1 (דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת): V-M

וְעֶפְר֥וֹן יֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּת֣וֹךְ בְּנֵי־חֵ֑ת וַיַּעַן֩ עֶפְר֨וֹן הַחִתִּ֤י אֶת־אַבְרָהָם֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֔ת לְכֹ֛ל בָּאֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־עִיר֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר׃ 11 לֹֽא־אֲדֹנִ֣י שְׁמָעֵ֔נִי הַשָּׂדֶה֙ נָתַ֣תִּי לָ֔ךְ וְהַמְּעָרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֖וֹ לְךָ֣ נְתַתִּ֑יהָ לְעֵינֵ֧י בְנֵי־עַמִּ֛י נְתַתִּ֥יהָ לָּ֖ךְ קְבֹ֥ר מֵתֶֽךָ׃ 12 וַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם לִפְנֵ֖י עַ֥ם הָאָֽרֶץ׃ 13 וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר אֶל־עֶפְר֜וֹן בְּאָזְנֵ֤י עַם־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אַ֛ךְ אִם־אַתָּ֥ה ל֖וּ שְׁמָעֵ֑נִי נָתַ֜תִּי כֶּ֤סֶף הַשָּׂדֶה֙ קַ֣ח מִמֶּ֔נִּי וְאֶקְבְּרָ֥ה אֶת־מֵתִ֖י שָֽׁמָּה׃

Vocabulary

Verse 10

            עפר  name: “Ephron”

            חת  name: “Heth”

            אזן  noun: “ear”

Verse 11

            מערה  noun: “cave” (BDB, 792)

            קבר  verb: “bury”

            מת  noun: “dead”

Verse 12

            שׁחה  verb: “bow down”

Verse 13

            לו  “if only” (BDB, 530)

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 10

• Sentence Typology 1 (וְעֶפְר֥וֹן יֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּת֣וֹךְ בְּנֵי־חֵ֑ת): S-V-M
• The initial waw is disjunctive (waw + nonverb).
• The verbal construction is periphrastic implying the verb, היה (GKC 141b notes that such a construction is used commonly for contemporaneous action with the linking verbal clause).
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיַּעַן֩ עֶפְר֨וֹן הַחִתִּ֤י אֶת־אַבְרָהָם֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֔ת לְכֹ֛ל בָּאֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־עִיר֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר): V-S-O-M
• The gentilic suffix designates through apposition that Ephron is a Hittite (note: the first use of this ethic name is found here).
• The idiom, בְּאָזְנֵ֣י “answer in the ear of someone,” means these were witnesses to the answer given.
• The construct (masculine plural) participle, בָּאֵ֥י, is a substantival and assumes the following as its object, “those who entered at the gate of his city” (GKC 116h).
• GKC suggests that the lamed preposition is an emphasizing particle (143e); Joüon proposes, however, that it marks apposition (125l).
• Typically ענה is sequenced with ויאמר (or other verb of speaking) in a verbal hendiadys; nevertheless this context provides the rare use of the infinitive construct, לאמר.

Verse 11

• Sentence Typology 1 (לֹֽא־אֲדֹנִ֣י): P
• The negative, לֹא, is considered a verbal clause or negative response—“certainly not!” (GKC 152c).
• The appellation, אדני, is used as a vocative.
• Sentence Typology 2 (שְׁמָעֵ֔נִי): V-O
• The imperative presents an alternative elsewhere linked with כִּי (cf. Genesis 19:2 וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לֹּ֔א כִּ֥י בָרְח֖וֹב נָלִֽין).
• Sentence Typology 3 (הַשָּׂדֶה֙ נָתַ֣תִּי לָ֔ךְ): O-V-IO
• The tense of the verb is in question.  GKC states that it is present (106m); yet the context does not necessitate such an interpretation.  The text explicitly identifies Ephron with the sons of Heth who promised any grave of his choosing (v. 6).  For Ephron to say “I have already given it to you” is congruent with the previous interchange.
• Sentence Typology 4 (וְהַמְּעָרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֖וֹ לְךָ֣ נְתַתִּ֑יהָ): M-IO-V-O
• The initial phrase is the antecedent of the 3fs suffix attached to the verb.  This fronting of a clause constitute is called left-dislocation.
• Embedded Typology 1 (בּ֖וֹ): P
• The referent is the field, השֹדה, from the previous clause.
• Sentence Typology 5 (לְעֵינֵ֧י בְנֵי־עַמִּ֛י נְתַתִּ֥יהָ לָּ֖ךְ): M-V-O-IO
• Ephron repeats the original pledge of the land as a gift three times (cf. clauses 3, 4 & 5).
• Sentence Typology 6 (קְבֹ֥ר מֵתֶֽךָ): V-O

Verse 12

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם לִפְנֵ֖י עַ֥ם הָאָֽרֶץ): V-O-M
• The Hishtaphal verb, שׁחה, is usually transitive (expect in Isaiah 51:23).

Verse 13

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר אֶל־עֶפְר֜וֹן בְּאָזְנֵ֤י עַם־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר): V-IO-M-O
• The object is direct speech.
• Embedded Typology 1 (אַ֛ךְ אִם־אַתָּ֥ה ל֖וּ שְׁמָעֵ֑נִי): M-S-V-O
• Davidson designates לוּ as an optative particle (134), and GKC calls it a desiderative particle (110e).
• Embedded Typology 2 (נָתַ֜תִּי כֶּ֤סֶף הַשָּׂדֶה֙): V-O-M
• The conditional sentence begun with אִם is completed with this clause.
• The construct phrase, כֶּסֶף הַשָֹּדֶה, is understood as “silver for the purchase of field.”
• Embedded Typology 3 (קַ֣ח מִמֶּ֔נִּי): V-M
• The second imperative of this clause is demand the receipt of payment, לקח.
• Embedded Typology 4 (וְאֶקְבְּרָ֥ה אֶת־מֵתִ֖י שָֽׁמָּה): V-O-M
• The adverb, שָׁמָּה, ends with the locative he.

וַיָּ֧קָם אַבְרָהָ֛ם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ לְעַם־הָאָ֖רֶץ לִבְנֵי־חֵֽת׃ 8 וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתָּ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־יֵ֣שׁ אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁכֶ֗ם לִקְבֹּ֤ר אֶת־מֵתִי֙ מִלְּפָנַ֔י שְׁמָע֕וּנִי וּפִגְעוּ־לִ֖י בְּעֶפְר֥וֹן בֶּן־צֹֽחַר׃ 9 וְיִתֶּן־לִ֗י אֶת־מְעָרַ֤ת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה֙ אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּקְצֵ֣ה שָׂדֵ֑הוּ בְּכֶ֨סֶף מָלֵ֜א יִתְּנֶ֥נָּה לִ֛י בְּתוֹכְכֶ֖ם לַאֲחֻזַּת־קָֽבֶר׃

Vocabulary

Verse 7

            שׁתח  verb: “bow down”

            חת  name: “Heth”

Verse 8

            קבר  verb: “bury”

            פגע  verb: “entreat, encounter with a request” (BDB, 803)

            עפרון  name: “Ephron”

            צחר  name: “Zohar”

Verse 9

            מערה  noun: “cave” (BDB, 792)

            מכפלה  name: “Machpelah”

            קצה  noun: “end, extremity”

מלא  adjective: “full”

אחזה  noun: “possession”

קבר  noun: “grave, burial site”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 7

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיָּ֧קָם אַבְרָהָ֛ם): V-S
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ לְעַם־הָאָ֖רֶץ לִבְנֵי־חֵֽת): V-M
• The verb שׁתח is commonly sequenced with לְ.
• The second lamed prepositional clause is in apposition to the previous one.

Verse 8

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתָּ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־יֵ֣שׁ אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁכֶ֗ם לִקְבֹּ֤ר אֶת־מֵתִי֙ מִלְּפָנַ֔י):
• Embedded Typology 1 (אִם־יֵ֣שׁ אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁכֶ֗ם לִקְבֹּ֤ר אֶת־מֵתִי֙ מִלְּפָנַ֔י): V-O-M
• The particile אִם marks the of protasis a conditional sentence with the affirmative existence (GKC 159v).
• The idiom, אִם־יֵ֣שׁ אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁכֶ֗ם “if it is your soul,” is a volitionary statement, or wish.  
• Embedded Typology A (לִקְבֹּ֤ר אֶת־מֵתִי֙ מִלְּפָנַ֔י): V-O-M
• The separative מִן preposition denotes a distance from someone.
• Embedded Typology 2 (שְׁמָע֕וּנִי):V-O
• The apodosis of the conditional sentence is marked by this asyndetic imperative (GKC 159v).
• GKC explains the second syllable qames instead of the expected patah (61g).
• Embedded Typology 3 (וּפִגְעוּ־לִ֖י בְּעֶפְר֥וֹן בֶּן־צֹֽחַר): V-M-O
• With the verb פגע the person encountered/entreated commonly is sequenced with בְּ.
• The lamed designates on whose behalf the request is asked.
• Outside of chapter twenty-three, Ephron is mentioned only in Genesis 25:9; 49:29, 30; 50:13.

Verse 9

• Sentence Typology 1 (וְיִתֶּן־לִ֗י אֶת־מְעָרַ֤ת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה֙ אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּקְצֵ֣ה שָׂדֵ֑הוּ): V-IO-O-M
• Embedded Typology 1 (ל֔וֹ): P
• The lamed shows possession.
• Embedded Typology 2 (בִּקְצֵ֣ה שָׂדֵ֑הוּ): P
• The beth marks location—“which is at the end of his field.”
• Sentence Typology 1 (בְּכֶ֨סֶף מָלֵ֜א יִתְּנֶ֥נָּה לִ֛י בְּתוֹכְכֶ֖ם לַאֲחֻזַּת־קָֽבֶר): M-V-O-IO-M
• The beth pretti (a subcategory of the instrumental beth) denotes the means, or price, needed for the acquisition of something.
• The feminine suffix attached to the verb refers to the cave, מערה.

וַיָּ֙קָם֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֣י מֵת֑וֹ וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֶל־בְּנֵי־חֵ֖ת לֵאמֹֽר׃ 4 גֵּר־וְתוֹשָׁ֥ב אָנֹכִ֖י עִמָּכֶ֑ם תְּנ֨וּ לִ֤י אֲחֻזַּת־קֶ֙בֶר֙ עִמָּכֶ֔ם וְאֶקְבְּרָ֥ה מֵתִ֖י מִלְּפָנָֽי׃ 5 וַיַּעֲנ֧וּ בְנֵי־חֵ֛ת אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֥ר לֽוֹ׃ 6 שְׁמָעֵ֣נוּ ׀ אֲדֹנִ֗י נְשִׂ֨יא אֱלֹהִ֤ים אַתָּה֙ בְּתוֹכֵ֔נוּ בְּמִבְחַ֣ר קְבָרֵ֔ינוּ קְבֹ֖ר אֶת־מֵתֶ֑ךָ אִ֣ישׁ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ אֶת־קִבְר֛וֹ לֹֽא־יִכְלֶ֥ה מִמְּךָ֖ מִקְּבֹ֥ר מֵתֶֽךָ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 3

            חת  name: “Heth”

Verse 4

            גר  “stranger, sojourner”

            תושׁב  “sojourner” (BDB, 444)

            אחזה  “possession”

            קבר “grave”

            קבר  verb: “bury”

Verse 5

            חת  name: “Heth”

Verse 6

            נשֹיא  “prince”

            מבחר  “choicest” (BDB, 104)

            כלא  verb: “withhold”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 3

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיָּ֙קָם֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֣י מֵת֑וֹ): V-S-M
• The contracted preposition,  מִן עַל> מֵעַל “from before,” should not be confused with מַעַל “above.”
• GKC notes that מֵת refers to a dead feminine body (122f).
• Sentence Typology 2 (וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֶל־בְּנֵי־חֵ֖ת לֵאמֹֽר): V-IO-M-[O]
• The object is direct speech found in the following verse.

Verse 4

• Embedded Typology 1 (גֵּר־וְתוֹשָׁ֥ב אָנֹכִ֖י עִמָּכֶ֑ם): P-S
• The subject of the verbless clause splits the predicate.
• Embedded Typology 2 (תְּנ֨וּ לִ֤י אֲחֻזַּת־קֶ֙בֶר֙ עִמָּכֶ֔ם): V-IO-O-M
• This asyndetic clause provides an explicit inference based on the previous supporting clause.
• The construct relationship, אֲחֻזַּת־קֶ֙בֶר֙ “possession of a burial place”, may be called a genitive of species (GKC 128m).
• Embedded Typology 1 (וְאֶקְבְּרָ֥ה מֵתִ֖י מִלְּפָנָֽי): V
• The waw copulative + cohortative marks the purpose of the action proposed in the preceding clause (GKC 108d).

Verse 5

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיַּעֲנ֧וּ בְנֵי־חֵ֛ת אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֥ר לֽוֹ): V-S-IO-M-[O]
• The object is direct speech found in the following verse.
• GKC suggests that the final לוֹ is caused by anacoluthon (110e).

Verse 6

• Embedded Typology 1 (שְׁמָעֵ֣נוּ ׀ אֲדֹנִ֗י): V-O
• The appellation, אֲדֹנִ֗י “my lord,” is used here of Abraham.
• Embedded Typology 2 (נְשִׂ֨יא אֱלֹהִ֤ים אַתָּה֙ בְּתוֹכֵ֔נוּ): P-S
• The superlative title, נְשִׂ֨יא אֱלֹהִ֤ים, indicates the greatest of all princes.
• Embedded Typology 3 (בְּמִבְחַ֣ר קְבָרֵ֔ינוּ קְבֹ֖ר אֶת־מֵתֶ֑ךָ): M-V-O
• The construct phrase, בְּמִבְחַ֣ר קְבָרֵ֔ינוּ, indicates an attributive relation—“Our best burial sites” (GKC 128r).
• Embedded Typology 4 (אִ֣ישׁ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ אֶת־קִבְר֛וֹ לֹֽא־יִכְלֶ֥ה מִמְּךָ֖ מִקְּבֹ֥ר מֵתֶֽךָ): S-O-V-M
• The S-O-V typology is quite unusual in this clause (GKC 142f).
• The combination of the general term אישׁ with a negative verbal modifier לֹא connotes the idea of “no one at all” (GKC 152b & p).
• Embedded Typology A (מִקְּבֹ֥ר מֵתֶֽךָ): V-O
• The final phrase uses a restrictive מִן (GKC 119x).

וַיִּהְיוּ֙ חַיֵּ֣י שָׂרָ֔ה מֵאָ֥ה שָׁנָ֛ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים שְׁנֵ֖י חַיֵּ֥י שָׂרָֽה׃ 2 וַתָּ֣מָת שָׂרָ֗ה בְּקִרְיַ֥ת אַרְבַּ֛ע הִ֥וא חֶבְר֖וֹן בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיָּבֹא֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם לִסְפֹּ֥ד לְשָׂרָ֖ה וְלִבְכֹּתָֽהּ׃

Vocabulary

Verse 1

            חיים  noun: “life”

            שׁרה  name: “Sarah”

Verse 2

            קרית ארבע  name: “Kiriath-arba (literally: ‘City of Arba’)”

        חברון  name: “Hebron”

            ספד  verb: “lament” (BDB, 704)

            בכה  verb: “weep”

Syntax & Misc.

Verse 1

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַיִּהְיוּ֙ חַיֵּ֣י שָׂרָ֔ה מֵאָ֥ה שָׁנָ֛ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים שְׁנֵ֖י חַיֵּ֥י שָׂרָֽה): V-S-SC-S
• The subject is split between the two member construct phrase, חַיֵּ֣י שָׂרָ֔ה, and the three member construct phrase, שְׁנֵ֖י חַיֵּ֥י שָׂרָֽה.
• Following the usual idiom, a number larger than twenty is fashioned together by waw.
• Unusual though is the initial absolute form of מֵאָה instead of מְאַת (GKC 134d).

Verse 2

• Sentence Typology 1 (וַתָּ֣מָת שָׂרָ֗ה בְּקִרְיַ֥ת אַרְבַּ֛ע): V-S-M
• Arba, according to Joshua (14:15; 15:13; 21:11), was the father of the Anakim; the city name is a tribute to their eponymous hero.
• Sentence Typology 2 (הִ֥וא חֶבְר֖וֹן בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן): S-P
• The asyndetic clause designates the present name of the city as Hebron.
• The perpetual Kethib Qere (הִיא) refers to the city.
• Sentence Typology 3 (וַיָּבֹא֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם לִסְפֹּ֥ד לְשָׂרָ֖ה וְלִבְכֹּתָֽהּ): V-S-M
• The two infinitives modify the finite verb, בוא.
• Embedded Typology 1 (לִסְפֹּ֥ד לְשָׂרָ֖ה): V-O
• Embedded Typology 2 (וְלִבְכֹּתָֽהּ): V-O
• The final 3fs suffix designated by the mappiq refers to Sarah.