Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 23:10

"Now Ephron was sitting in the midst of the children of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying," — Genesis 23:10 (ASV)

And Ephron dwelt among ... — Again a mistranslation. The Hebrew is, Ephron was sitting in the midst of the Hittites. At these assemblies held at the gate of the city, every free-born citizen had a right to be present, and matters were settled by common consent. As Ephron was the owner of the cave, his approval was necessary, and this Abraham treats as a favour, and requests that Ephron’s fellow citizens intercede in his behalf.