# Genesis 23 đź“–: The Death of Sarah
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### The Death of Sarah
[[#Verse 01.]] Sarah lived 127 years.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] Then she died in Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
[[#Verse 03.]] Then Abraham got up from mourning his dead wife and said to the sons of Heth,Â
[[#Verse 04.]] “I am a foreign resident, a temporary settler, among you. Grant me ownership of a burial site among you so that I may bury my dead.”
[[#Verse 05.]]Â The sons of Heth answered Abraham,Â
[[#Verse 06.]] “Listen, sir, you are a mighty princeamong us! You may bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb to prevent you from burying your dead.”
[[#Verse 07.]] Abraham got up and bowed down to the local people, the sons of Heth.Â
[[#Verse 08.]] Then he said to them, “If you agree that I may bury my dead, then hear me out. Ask Ephron the son of ZoharÂ
[[#Verse 09.]] if he will sell me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me publicly for the full price, so that I may own it as a burial site.”
[[#Verse 10.]] (Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth.) Ephron the Hittite replied to Abraham in the hearing of the sons of Heth—before all who entered the gate of his city—Â
[[#Verse 11.]] “No, my lord! Hear me out. I sell you both the field and the cave that is in it. In the presence of my people I sell it to you. Bury your dead.”
[[#Verse 12.]]Â Abraham bowed before the local peopleÂ
[[#Verse 13.]] and said to Ephron in their hearing, “Hear me, if you will. I pay to you the price of the field. Take it from me so that I may bury my dead there.”
[[#Verse 14.]]Â Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,Â
[[#Verse 15.]] “Hear me, my lord. The land is worth 400 pieces of silver, but what is that between me and you? So bury your dead.”
[[#Verse 16.]] So Abraham agreed to Ephron’s price and weighed out for him the pricethat Ephron had quoted in the hearing of the sons of Heth—400 pieces of silver, according to the standard measurement at the time.
[[#Verse 17.]] So Abraham secured Ephron’s field in Machpelah, next to Mamre, including the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were in the field and all around its border,Â
[[#Verse 18.]] as his property in the presence of the sons of Heth before all who entered the gate of Ephron’s city.
[[#Verse 19.]]Â After this Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah next to Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.Â
[[#Verse 20.]] So Abraham secured the field and the cave that was in it as a burial site from the sons of Heth.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Sarah is the only woman in the Bible whose age at death is recorded: 127 years (23:1).
2. Kiriath Arba (23:2) was the old name of Hebron.
3. The Hittites ("sons of Heth") lived around Hebron at this time.
4. Ephron's offer to give the land away was a polite way to begin bargaining in ancient culture.
5. Abraham paid 400 shekels of silver (23:15), likely a high price.
6. The deal was made at the city gate before witnesses (23:10, 18).
7. The cave of Machpelah became the burial place of Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob (49:29-31; 50:13).
8. The traditional site of the cave is covered today by a large structure built under Herod the Great.
9. This was Abraham's first legal ownership of land in Canaan.
10. Stephen notes that God gave Abraham no inheritance in the land, not even a foot of ground (Acts 7:5).
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the guarantee of our promised inheritance. Abraham's only property in Canaan was a grave (23:20), but through Jesus' resurrection we have a living hope and an inheritance that will never fade (1 Peter 1:3-4).
## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. Abraham mourned and wept for Sarah (23:2). What does this teach about grief for people of faith?
2. Abraham called himself a foreigner and temporary resident (23:4). How does seeing yourself that way change how you live?
3. Abraham insisted on paying full price (23:13). Why does integrity in business matter for believers?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 2: Abraham mourns and weeps for Sarah.
- đź“– verse 4: Abraham calls himself a foreigner and temporary resident.
- đź“– verse 20: The field and cave become Abraham's property as a burial site.
## đź”— Related Passages
- đź”— [[Hebrews 11#Verse 13.|Hebrews 11:13-16]] - They were strangers looking for a better country.
- đź”— [[Acts 07#Verse 05.|Acts 7:5]] - God promised the land to Abraham's offspring.
- đź”— [[1 Peter 01#Verse 03.|1 Peter 1:3-4]] - An inheritance that will never fade.
- đź”— [[1 Peter 02#Verse 11.|1 Peter 2:11]] - Live as foreigners and exiles.
- đź”— [[Genesis 49#Verse 29.|Genesis 49:29-32]] - Jacob asks to be buried in the cave of Machpelah.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[Genesis 23- SOAP|Pay Your Way]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes