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I have sworn to my Lord that, as I transcribed the NIV Holy Bible, I would type every single keystroke, without fail....however, at this footnote, a confusion came up, and I could not, in good faith, type the footnote. I COULD NOT, however, in good faith, SKIP IT, either. Here is the deal:

When you see (or READ) a footnote, you are supposed to replace the word with the footnote, possibly, and it still makes sense. Like that, see? But in Genesis 23:7-15, there is a conversation going that makes NO sense. Replacing the word with the footnote gives us this:

Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. He said to them, "If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah...

and the response is this:

Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. "No, my lord," he said. "Listen to me; I give (or SELL) you the field and I give (or SELL) you the cave that is in it. I give (or SELL) it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead."

"Sell me the cave." "NO, I sell you the cave." "SELL ME THE CAVE." "NO, I SELL YOU THE CAVE."

I cross-referenced with King James, which has no footnotes, and says "I GIVE you the cave and field, ..." etc.

So there is your NIV footnote....