23:10 (Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth.) Ephron the Hethite23 replied to Abraham in the hearing24 of the sons of Heth—before all who entered the gate25 of his city—
tn Or perhaps “Hittite,” but see the note on the name “Heth” in v. 3.
24
tnHeb “ears.” By metonymy the “ears” stand for the presence or proximity (i.e., within earshot) of the persons named.
25
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.