Page:The Holy Bible Vol 1 (Thomson).djvu/44

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Ch. XXIV.
GENESIS.

Abraham, saying, Nay, Sir, I have indeed heard that the land is worth four hundred didrachms of silver; but what can that be between me and thee? But bury thou thy dead. And Abraham hearkened to Ephron; and Abraham paid down to Ephron the money which he mentioned in the hearing of the children of Chet, four hundred didrachms of silver current among merchants. So the field of Ephron including the double cave which is situate before Mambre, the field and the cave in it and all the wood in the field and all within the bounds thereof round about were conveyed to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Chet and of all who entered the city. After this Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the double cave of the field which is over against Mambre (the same is Chebron in the land of Chanaan.) And the property of the field and the cave in it was confirmed to Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the children of Chet.

XXIV.Now Abraham was old and far advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed him in all things. And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his family and who was ruler over all that he had. Put thy hand under my thigh, and let me cause thee to swear by the Lord the God of heaven and the God of earth, that thou wilt not take a wife for my son Isaak, of the daughters of the Chananites among whom I dwell; but that thou wilt go to the land where I was born, and to my tribe and take thence a wife for my son Isaak. And the servant said to him, Perhaps the woman will not be willing to come with me to this land; shall I take back thy son to the land from which thou earnest? Whereupon Abraham said to him. Beware that thou take not back my son thither. The Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my nativity; who spoke to me, and who sware to me saying, "To thee I will give this land and to thy seed;" he will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take thence a wife for my son. But if the woman will not come with thee into this land, thou shalt be absolved from this my oath, save that thou must not take my son back thither. Then the servant put his hand under his master Abraham's thigh, and swore to him respecting this matter. And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master; and of all the goods of his