Genesis 23: Sarah’s Death and Burial

Genesis_23

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Sarah's Death and Burial

23 Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, 4 “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6 “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” 7 Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. 8 And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.”

10 Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city, 11 “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” 12 Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. 13 And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” 16 Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.

17 So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.

Chapter Analysis

Genesis 23: Sarah Dies And Abraham Purchases A Burial Place

Genesis 23 records the death of Sarah and Abraham’s purchase of the cave of Machpelah as a burial place. Though God had promised the land to Abraham’s descendants, Abraham owned no land there until he purchased this burial site, which became a lasting testimony of his faith in God’s promise.

I. Sarah Dies And Abraham Mourns

Genesis 23:1–2

🔹 Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years.
🔹 She died in Kirjath Arba, which is Hebron, in the land of Canaan.
🔹 Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and weep for her.

II. Abraham Requests A Burial Place

Genesis 23:3–9

🔹 Abraham spoke to the sons of Heth after mourning for Sarah.
🔹 He identified himself as a foreigner and a temporary resident among them.
🔹 Abraham asked for a permanent burial place for Sarah.
🔹 The sons of Heth honored Abraham and called him a mighty prince among them.
🔹 They offered him the use of their best tombs.
🔹 Abraham asked them to speak with Ephron the son of Zohar.
🔹 He requested the cave of Machpelah at the end of Ephron’s field.
🔹 Abraham offered to pay the full price for the property.

III. Abraham Purchases The Cave Of Machpelah

Genesis 23:10–16

🔹 Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth when Abraham made his request.
🔹 Ephron publicly offered Abraham the field and the cave without payment.
🔹 Abraham bowed before the people of the land.
🔹 He insisted on paying for the field.
🔹 Ephron named the price as four hundred shekels of silver.
🔹 Abraham weighed out the silver according to the merchant’s standard.

IV. Sarah Is Buried In The Promised Land

Genesis 23:17–20

🔹 The field of Ephron, the cave of Machpelah, and all the trees within its borders were confirmed to Abraham as his possession.
🔹 The property was located near Mamre, which is Hebron, in Canaan.
🔹 Abraham buried Sarah in the cave of Machpelah.
🔹 The field and cave became Abraham’s permanent burial property among the sons of Heth.