Discovery BoxGenesis 23:3 
Context23:3 Then Abraham got up from mourning his dead wife 1 and said to the sons of Heth, 2
Genesis 23:7
Context23:7 Abraham got up and bowed down to the local people, 3 the sons of Heth.
Genesis 49:32
Context49:32 The field and the cave in it were acquired from the sons of Heth.” 4
Genesis 23:10
Context23:10 (Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth.) Ephron the Hethite 5 replied to Abraham in the hearing 6 of the sons of Heth – before all who entered the gate 7 of his city –
Genesis 25:10
Context25:10 This was the field Abraham had purchased from the sons of Heth. 8 There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah.
Genesis 23:18
Context23:18 as his property in the presence of the sons of Heth before all who entered the gate of Ephron’s city. 9
Genesis 23:20
Context23:20 So Abraham secured the field and the cave that was in it as a burial site 10 from the sons of Heth.
Genesis 23:16
Context23:16 So Abraham agreed to Ephron’s price 11 and weighed 12 out for him 13 the price 14 that Ephron had quoted 15 in the hearing of the sons of Heth – 400 pieces of silver, according to the standard measurement at the time. 16
1 tn Heb “And Abraham arose from upon the face of his dead.”
2 tn Some translate the Hebrew term “Heth” as “Hittites” here (also in vv. 5, 7, 10, 16, 18, 20), but this gives the impression that these people were the classical Hittites of Anatolia. However, there is no known connection between these sons of Heth, apparently a Canaanite group (see Gen 10:15), and the Hittites of Asia Minor. See H. A. Hoffner, Jr., “Hittites,” Peoples of the Old Testament World, 152-53.
3 tn Heb “to the people of the land” (also in v. 12).
4 tn Some translate the Hebrew term “Heth” as “Hittites” here (see also Gen 23:3), but this gives the impression that these people were the classical Hittites of Anatolia. However, there is no known connection between these sons of Heth, apparently a Canaanite group (see Gen 10:15), and the Hittites of Asia Minor. See H. A. Hoffner, Jr., “Hittites,” Peoples of the Old Testament World, 152-53.
5 tn Or perhaps “Hittite,” but see the note on the name “Heth” in v. 3.
6 tn Heb “ears.” By metonymy the “ears” stand for the presence or proximity (i.e., within earshot) of the persons named.
7 sn On the expression all who entered the gate see E. A. Speiser, “‘Coming’ and ‘Going’ at the City Gate,” BASOR 144 (1956): 20-23; and G. Evans, “‘Coming’ and ‘Going’ at the City Gate: A Discussion of Professor Speiser’s Paper,” BASOR 150 (1958): 28-33.
8 tn See the note on the phrase “sons of Heth” in Gen 23:3.
9 tn Heb “his city”; the referent (Ephron) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
sn See G. M. Tucker, “The Legal Background of Genesis 23,” JBL 85 (1966):77-84; and M. R. Lehmann, “Abraham’s Purchase of Machpelah and Hittite Law,” BASOR 129 (1953): 15-18.
10 tn Heb “possession of a grave.”
11 tn Heb “listened to Ephron.”
12 tn Heb “and Abraham weighed out.”
13 tn Heb “to Ephron.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“him”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
14 tn Heb “silver.”
15 tn Heb “that he had spoken.” The referent (Ephron) has been specified here in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
16 tn Heb “passing for the merchant.” The final clause affirms that the measurement of silver was according to the standards used by the merchants of the time.
