Genesis 23:1-7

Death and Burial of Sarah

1 Now Sarah lived * one hundred and twenty-seven * years; these were the years of the life of Sarah.
2 Sarah died in 1Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron ) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
3 Then Abraham rose from before his dead, and spoke to the 2sons of Heth, saying,
4 "I am 3a stranger and a sojourner among you; 4give me a 5burial site among you that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
5 The sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him,
6 "Hear us, my lord, you are a 6mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our graves; none * of us will refuse you his grave for burying your dead."
7 So Abraham rose and bowed to the people of the land, the sons of Heth.

Genesis 23:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 23

This chapter treats of the age, death, and funeral of Sarah, and the place of her interment: of her age, Ge 23:1; of her death, Ge 23:2; of the motion Abraham made to the sons of Heth, to obtain a burial place among them, Ge 23:3,4; of the answer of them to him, giving him leave to bury in any of their sepulchres, Ge 23:5,6; of a second motion of his to them, to use their interest with Ephron the Hittite, to let him have the cave of Machpelah for the above purpose, Ge 23:7-9; of Ephron's consent unto it, Ge 23:10,11; of the purchase Abraham made of it for four hundred shekels of silver, Ge 23:12-16; and of its being secured unto him, which he interred Sarah his wife, Ge 23:17-20.

Cross References 6

  • 1. Joshua 14:15; Joshua 15:13; Joshua 21:11
  • 2. Genesis 10:15; Genesis 15:20
  • 3. Genesis 17:8; Leviticus 25:23; 1 Chronicles 29:15; Psalms 39:12; Psalms 105:12; Psalms 119:19; Hebrews 11:9, 13
  • 4. Acts 7:16
  • 5. Genesis 49:30
  • 6. Genesis 14:14; Genesis 20:7

Footnotes 4

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