Genesis Chapter 23
Sarah Dies and Is Buried
A. The Death of Sarah
(Genesis 23:1)
“Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah.”
Sarah’s age at death is significant because she is the only woman in all of Scripture whose lifespan is specifically recorded. This indicates the deep respect and honor that Scripture gives her. Sarah, though imperfect, is presented as a model of faith and obedience. Her life exemplified the role of a godly wife and mother who trusted the promises of God even when they seemed impossible.
Nowhere in the Bible are believers instructed to look to Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a model of godliness. Yet twice we are commanded to look to Sarah as an example of faith and submission. In Isaiah 51:1–2, the Lord says, “Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him.” Likewise, 1 Peter 3:3–6 instructs, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.”
These passages show that Sarah’s life was not only historically significant but spiritually exemplary. Her faith, submission, and trust in God’s promises make her a lasting model for all believing women.
B. Abraham’s Mourning
(Genesis 23:2)
“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.”
Sarah’s death took place in Kirjath Arba, later known as Hebron, one of the oldest cities in the world and a location tied to Abraham’s earlier fellowship with God (Genesis 13:18). The passage says Abraham “came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her,” showing both his deep love and humanity. Though Abraham was a man of great faith and called “the friend of God,” he was not above sorrow. His tears were not those of despair but of genuine grief mixed with hope.
The Apostle Paul reminds believers, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Abraham’s mourning was like that—real and heartfelt, yet rooted in hope. His mourning reflected his understanding that death, though sorrowful, is not the end for those who trust in God.
James Boice noted that Abraham “set himself deliberately to all the functions of a mourner,” meaning he fully entered the process of grieving without shame or pretense. There is nothing weak or faithless about tears. Abraham’s weeping reveals that mourning is not a lack of faith but a natural expression of love and loss. Boice further observed, “To weep for a loved one is to show that we have been close, that the loss is keenly felt, that death is an enemy, and that sin has brought this sad punishment upon the human race.”
Abraham’s tears teach us that faith does not cancel grief. Rather, faith sanctifies it, allowing the believer to mourn with the understanding that God will one day wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4).
C. Abraham Buys Land for Sarah’s Burial
(Genesis 23:3–9)
“Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, ‘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.’ And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, ‘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.’ Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. 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, 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.’”
Abraham arose from his mourning to secure a burial place for Sarah. His words, “I am a foreigner and a sojourner among you,” reveal his spiritual perspective. Though he had been in Canaan for decades, he still viewed himself as a pilgrim, recognizing that his true home was not on earth but in heaven. This attitude is echoed throughout Scripture. The Lord told Moses, “The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me” (Leviticus 25:23). King David expressed the same truth in prayer, saying, “For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, as were all our fathers; our days on earth are as a shadow, and without hope” (1 Chronicles 29:15). Likewise, “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; do not be silent at my tears; for I am a stranger with You, a sojourner, as all my fathers were” (Psalm 39:12).
Abraham’s request for land was not merely practical but also prophetic. He had faith that God would one day give his descendants this land. By purchasing a burial site in Canaan, Abraham expressed his confidence that his family’s inheritance was rooted there. This cave of Machpelah, located near Hebron, would become the family tomb, containing the remains of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah.
Abraham had already lived near this area earlier in his life and had built an altar to the Lord there (Genesis 13:18). He knew the land and its people, and he requested the cave of Machpelah specifically. Though the sons of Heth offered to give him any burial place freely, Abraham insisted on purchasing it “at the full price.” He did not want to owe anything to the Canaanites, preferring a rightful, permanent claim to the land rather than a favor. His actions demonstrate both integrity and faith.
D. Abraham Negotiates with Ephron the Hittite for the Land of Sarah’s Tomb
(Genesis 23:10–16)
“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, ‘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!’ Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land; 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.’ And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, ‘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.’ 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.”
The negotiation between Abraham and Ephron the Hittite demonstrates the cultural and ethical standards of the time. The Hittites were known for their structured legal and property customs, and public negotiations were typically conducted before witnesses at the city gate to ensure transparency and prevent future disputes.
Ephron’s initial statement, “I give you the field and the cave that is in it,” was a customary Near Eastern formality rather than a literal offer. It was a polite way to begin bargaining. In that culture, generosity in speech was part of the negotiation ritual. The buyer was expected to decline the gift and insist on paying, after which the seller would name a price—one that was usually inflated, since negotiation was expected. Ephron’s quote of “four hundred shekels of silver” was not a small amount. In later biblical times, that sum would be comparable to several hundred years’ wages for a laborer, revealing the true costliness of Abraham’s purchase.
Abraham’s response was gracious and firm. He bowed before the people, showing humility and respect for local customs, and then insisted, “I will give you money for the field; take it from me and I will bury my dead there.” Abraham’s conduct stands as an enduring model for how a follower of God should deal with the world—courteously, honestly, and with integrity. His actions display no manipulation, deceit, or exploitation. Instead, he treated his business dealings as an extension of his testimony before unbelievers.
Ephron again responded in the expected cultural fashion, appearing to downplay the cost: “The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that between you and me?” This was a subtle way of stating the price while preserving social grace, implying that friendship was more valuable than money. However, Abraham declined to haggle. He paid the full amount immediately, “weighing out the silver” publicly according to the “currency of the merchants.” This phrase indicates that Abraham used standard weights, not local or arbitrary measures, ensuring the transaction was fair and verifiable.
Adam Clarke’s commentary captures the essence of Abraham’s character: “They who, under the sanction of religion, trample under foot the decent forms of civil respect, supposing that because they are religious, they have a right to be rude, totally mistake the spirit of Christianity.” Abraham’s respectful conduct toward the Hittites reflects true godliness—one that values honesty, humility, and fairness even in dealing with those outside the covenant.
By paying such a steep price without protest, Abraham demonstrated both faith and foresight. He was not merely purchasing a burial plot but laying claim to the land that God had promised him. Though the entire region was already his by divine decree, Abraham desired a legal, public transaction that even the Canaanites could recognize. This act secured an earthly foothold in the Promised Land, a tangible testimony of his trust in God’s promises.
E. Abraham Buys the Field and Buries Sarah
(Genesis 23:17–20)
“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 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 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. 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.”
The transaction was finalized publicly. The text repeatedly emphasizes that the field, the cave, and all the trees within its borders were “deeded to Abraham as a possession.” This repetition underscores that Abraham’s ownership was both legal and permanent. Though God had already promised Abraham the entire land of Canaan (Genesis 15:18–21), this small plot at Machpelah was the only piece he ever owned during his lifetime. This demonstrates Abraham’s extraordinary faith. He believed God’s promises so completely that he was content to wait for their fulfillment in God’s timing, possessing only a single parcel of ground as a pledge of the greater inheritance to come.
The burial of Sarah in Machpelah marked the beginning of the patriarchal tomb, which would become sacred to Israel’s history. Later, Genesis 25:9 records, “And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite.” Genesis 49:31 adds, “There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife, there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah.” Finally, Genesis 50:13 says, “For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place.”
This tomb became the resting place of the patriarchs and matriarchs—Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah—serving as a continual reminder that God’s covenant promises were tied to the land. The location before Mamre, in Hebron, was not accidental. It was the very area where Abraham had once pitched his tent, built an altar, and met with the Lord (Genesis 13:18). Now it became the place where his faith in God’s eternal covenant was memorialized in stone.
Though Abraham owned little in this life, his true inheritance was eternal. His purchase of the field of Machpelah was an act of faith that looked beyond the grave to the resurrection and the fulfillment of God’s covenant with him and his descendants.
