Genesis 23:7-9

"And Abraham rose up and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for the full price let him give it to me in the midst of you as a possession of a burying-place."

Note that the "give me," as used by Abraham in Genesis 23:9, actually means "sell to me," for he mentioned paying the "full price." This whole account follows the formal, super-courteous style of bargaining used among the Orientals until this day.

"In the midst of you ..." indicated that Abraham was talking about a legal transaction to be concluded in the city gate, after the usual custom, and in the presence of witnesses. Note also that Abraham had no desire to purchase the field in which the cave was situated. Wiseman pointed out that "Legal and feudal requirements"[16] probably lay behind the request to buy only the cave, whereas Ephron insisted on selling the field also. Kline tells what was involved: "Under the old Hittite law code, a landholder continued to be responsible for the dues (taxes) on a recognized unit of property unless he disposed of it in its entirety!"[17]

Abraham's proposal to purchase Machpelah had been announced with approval in the city gate, where the rulers of the city customarily sat. And, evidently, Ephron himself, the owner of the desired Machpelah, was actually present. He responded at once.