Genesis 23:1-8

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.
8 And he spoke with them, saying, "If it is your wish for me to bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and approach 7Ephron the son of Zohar for me,

Genesis 23:1-8 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 7

  • 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
  • 7. Genesis 25:9

Footnotes 5

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