After Sarah died at age 127, Abraham sought to purchase a burial place from the Hittites who lived in the region. Specifically, he wanted to obtain the cave of Machpelah, which was in a field owned by Ephron.
Genesis 23 describes the typical Middle Eastern negotiation that led to Abraham's purchase. First Ephron offered to give the field, including the cave, to Abraham (verse 11). This was Ephron's way of saying that he was willing to sell the cave to Abraham if Abraham was also willing to buy the field.
Abraham answered that he was indeed willing to buy the whole field, not just the cave (verse 12).
In the next stage of the negotiation, Ephron still offers to give the field to Abraham, but he also declares that the field is worth 400 shekels of silver. This was his initial asking price (verse 15).
It would have been OK for Abraham to make a counteroffer at this stage, but instead, he handed over the 400 shekels and sealed the deal. Perhaps he didn't want there to ever be a complaint that he had taken advantage of Ephron.
Abraham's purchase of the field and cave showed his faith in God's promise that his descendants would inherit this land. He and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah would all be buired there.
Why was he interested in that particular burial place? There is a legend that he had found out that Adam and Eve were buired there.
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