In this chapter, we read about the death of Sarah and Abraham mourning his loss.
Sarah died at a hundred and twenty-seven years old, Genesis 23:1, and she is the only woman in the Scriptures whose age of death is recorded. She died in the land of Canaan. Abraham went to Hebron with the purpose of mourning for her, Genesis 23:2.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This was done by loud wailing and falling upon the ground, after the customs of the times, and the statement that Abraham ‘came,’ KJV, etc., would indicate that he was not actually present for Sarah’s death. He might have been concluding arrangements necessary in the move to Hebron from Beersheba, or he might merely have been in some field or pasture looking after his herds. We cannot know for certain. In either case, it is probable that Sarah’s death came rather quickly.’
Their relationship had come to an end. Abraham wasn’t afraid to mourn because he mourned with hope, 1 Thessalonians 4:13. Death is a reminder that sin is in the world, Romans 5:12, which is another reason why we mourn.
Abraham now rises from Sarah’s side and speaks to the Hittites, Genesis 23:3. The footnote says, ‘or the sons of Heth’. Heth was the second son of Canaan, Genesis 10:15 / 1 Chronicles 1:13. The Hittites play an important role in key places in the Scriptures. Esau married Hittite women, and Rebecca despised them, Genesis 26:34.
They are listed as one of the inhabitants of Canaan, Exodus 13:5 / Numbers 13:29 / Joshua 11:3. King David had Uriah the Hittite killed in order to acquire Uriah’s wife, 2 Samuel 11.
King Solomon had Hittites among his many wives, 1 Kings 10:29-11:2 / 2 Chronicles 1:17, and the prophet Ezekiel degrades Israel with the metaphor of a Hittite mother, Ezekiel 16:3 / Ezekiel 16:45.
Abraham is a foreigner and a stranger among them and asks to buy some property for a burial site so he can bury Sarah, Genesis 23:4. This is the first mention of a ‘burial’, a grave in the Bible. The reputation of Abraham among the Hittites was notable as they offered Abraham to bury Sarah wherever he chose, free of charge, Genesis 23:5-6.
Roop, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Abraham has put himself at the bottom of the social ladder, and they put him at the top.’
Abraham now rises and bows down before the Hittites, Genesis 23:7. He asks if they are willing to allow him to bury Sarah and asks if Ephron, son of Zohar, will intercede on his behalf, Genesis 23:8, in order that he would sell Abraham the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him for the full price as a burial site, Genesis 23:9 / 1 Chronicles 21:24.
Kline, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Under the old Hittite law code, a landholder continued to be responsible for the dues (taxes) on a recognised unit of property unless he disposed of it in its entirety!’
Ephron the Hittite came to the gate of his city and told Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites, Genesis 23:10, no, because he wants to just give Abraham the field and give him the cave to bury Sarah, Genesis 23:11.
Abraham, though grateful, once again bows down before the people, Genesis 23:12, but isn’t willing to take up the offer as his respect for Sarah was too great. He wants to pay full price for the field, and urges him to accept the offer, Genesis 23:13.
Ephron tells Abraham that the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, which is around ten pounds in weight and agrees to sell him the land for the full price, Genesis 23:14-15. He more or less says this is really a small price between mighty and wealthy men like us, Genesis 23:15.
It was Ephron the Hittite who sold Abraham the family burial ground. Abraham agrees with Ephron’s terms and pays the full amount for the burial ground, Genesis 23:16. Through the mediation of the Hittites, a cave was purchased from Ephron, the son of Zohar, for what seemed to be a rather large amount of money.
Hamilton, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The piece of property was no bargain for Abraham; 400 shekels would be more than a hundred pounds of silver. David paid only one-eighth that amount, 50 shekels of silver for the purchase of the temple site from Araunah, 2 Samuel 24:24.’
The earth to Abraham was just a temporary place, and so there was a negotiation for land. Abraham was bargaining for the land, which was the way business was done in those days. He purchased the burial site and so only took possession of the only part of the Promised Land he would have in his lifetime.
Ephron’s field and cave were in Machpelah near Mamre, and the trees acted as borders. The deed was signed as Abraham’s property in the presence of all the Hittites who had gathered at the gate of the city, Genesis 23:17-18.
Abraham buys the land and the cave to bury Sarah, Genesis 23:19, although he already had the land as given by God in the promise. The field and the cave are now classed as a burial site, Genesis 23:20. Later, Abraham, Genesis 25:9-10, Isaac, Genesis 49:29-31, Rebekah, Genesis 49:31, Jacob, Genesis 50:13, and Joseph, Joshua 24:32, were all buried there.
The death of Sarah is the only event of a woman’s death and burial to be recorded in the Bible. She is the only woman in the Scriptures whose name was changed, from Sarai to Sarah, Genesis 15:17-22.
There’s no doubt that Sarah was a godly woman, Isaiah 51:1-2 / 1 Peter 3:3-6, and a very important woman from whom we can learn much. Yes, Sarah had her weaknesses as we all do, and at times, she doubted God. She had trouble believing God would fulfil his promises, so she went ahead to solve the problem herself.
Sarah also had her strengths; there’s no doubt that Sarah was loyal to Abraham, which resulted in her sharing in his blessings. She became the mother of the nation of Israel. Yes, she struggled in her faith, but her faith can’t go unnoticed as she is the first woman mentioned in Hebrews 11:11.
Sarah’s obedience to her husband, Abraham, is a prime example of a Christian woman. Even when Abraham passed her off as his sister, which landed her in Pharaoh’s harem, she didn’t object, Genesis 12:10-20.
Sarah was protective of Isaac and loved him deeply, and the Scriptures tell us that she was exceedingly beautiful in appearance, Genesis 12:11 / Genesis 12:14, but her real beauty was seen on the inside, 1 Peter 3:3-6.