Hello! Welcome to today’s Bible study on Genesis 23 – Sarah’s death and burial. According to Bible scholars, the events of Genesis 23 took place approximately in 2030 B.C.
I encourage you to turn to Genesis 23 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Genesis 23 with me. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know. All the scriptures that you find highlighted in purple in this post are from the NKJV.
In the Bible Study on Genesis 22, we read about Abraham’s faith in the Lord confirmed. He was ready to sacrifice Isaac and the Lord provided a substitute. In today’s Bible study on Genesis 23, we will read about the death and burial of Sarah. At first glance, it might seem boring. However, if it was not important, it wouldn’t be in the bible.
Without any further delay, let us study together Genesis Chapter 23, shall we?
Sarah Died
1 Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
In Verses 1-2 of Genesis 23, it is recorded that Sarah after having lived upto 127 years, died at a place called Kirjath Arba, in Canaan – the present-day location of the southern west bank. Kirjath Arba was the old name of the city of Hebron named after Arba, one of the greatest man among the Anakites. The Jewish people interpret ‘Kirjath Arba’ or ‘Qiryat Arba’ as the ‘city of the four‘, referring to the burial of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Adam and also as the resting place of the four patriarchal couples – Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah.
Abraham came to mourn and weep for Sarah. She was, both, his half-sister and wife.
The Cave Of Machpelah
3 Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, 4 “I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”
5 And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, 6 “Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.”
7 Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. 8 And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.”
In Verses 3-9, Abraham inquired the sons of Heth (the Hittities) for a burial place, so that, he could bury his dead (Sarah) out of their sight. The sons of Heth esteemed Abraham as a mighty prince among them and gave him the liberty to bury Sarah wherever he chose. Therefore, Abraham asked the sons of Heth to speak to Ephron, Zohar’s son, on his behalf and to ask him for the Cave of Machpelah. Abraham wanted to buy the entire field as a burial property.
Interesting Facts
The Cave of Machpelah is still present today in Hebron. The large imposing stone building above the cave was built by Herod and, interestingly enough, it is the only fully intact Herodian structure. Also, this cave is the world’s most ancient Jewish site.
Abraham Buys The Land Where The Cave Is Located
10 Now Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, all who entered at the gate of his city, saying, 11 “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that is in it; I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!”
12 Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land; 13 and he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, “If you will give it, please hear me. I will give you money for the field; take it from me and I will bury my dead there.”
14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, 15 “My lord, listen to me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that between you and me? So bury your dead.” 16 And Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, currency of the merchants.
Verses 10-16 of Genesis 23, describe what transpired between Ephron and Abraham. Scripture says that Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth. He gave Abraham the field and its cave, in the presence of the sons of Heth, for burial. Abraham paid 4oo shekels of silver for the field and the cave. This is was their currency at that time and also today. Shekel is the Israeli currency. Abraham was already a wealthy man and 400 shekels of silver is about a hundred US dollars today. Therefore, during Abraham’s time, 400 shekels of silver would have been a lot of money.
Abraham Buries Sarah
17 So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.
19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.
In Verses 17-20 of Genesis 23, we see that the field was called the field of Ephron, because it belonged to him. It was a lush field with trees. The entire field with the cave, the trees and the surrounding borders were given as a ‘deed of transfer of possession‘ to Abraham. The sons of Heth and all who were in the city were witnesses to this.
Abraham, then, buried his wife Sarah in the Cave of Machpelah.
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of the bible study lesson on Genesis 23. I hope you learnt something from this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey. If you liked this bible study and found it useful kindly share it with others. Also, consider subscribing to receive more bible studies like this as and when I release them. If you have any comments or questions for me, kindly leave them in the comments box below. I highly appreciate it. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Until Next Time!