Or HaChaim on Genesis 23:5/אור החיים על בראשית כ״ג:ה׳

1 ויענו בני חת…<underline>לאמור לו</underline>. The Hittites answered, …<underline>to say to him.</underline> This means they appointed a single spokesman to speak on their behalf.

2It also means that they were not unanimous in their approach to the matter of the sale. As a result they delegated someone to "speak to him" i.e. without making an immediate and final commitment. The eventual outcome already indicates that it was their original intention to exact a very substantial price.