Chapter Twenty-Three
Sarah’s Death and Burial
23:1 Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
After the event on Mount Moriah, nothing is mentioned until Sarah dies at the age of 127. By this time Abraham and his family had moved from Beersheba back to Hebron (see Genesis 13:18). The text here includes the name of Kiriath-arba, meaning “the city of Arba,” who was the father of Anak whose offspring became known as the Anakim (or Anakites) and were directly related to the Nephilim[1], making Kiriath-arba (or Hebron) the future hometown for the Anakim.
Sarah is the only woman in the Bible whose age is mentioned at the time of death. Apparently, Abraham was not present during Sarah’s death as he, “went in” (Hebrew ‘yā·ḇō’,[2] referring to a change in location) to mourn and weep for Sarah. She is also highly revered in both the Old and New Testaments. Her faith in God is acknowledged in the book of Hebrews (see Hebrews 11:11-13). Plus, the apostle Peter considered her a model for all Christian women (see 1 Peter 3:1-6).
23:3 And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, 4 “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6 “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” 7 Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. 8 And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.”
Sarah was the first in Abraham’s family to die in the land of Canaan. Since Canaan was now their home, Abraham starts to look for a place to bury Sarah. Abraham was very wealthy and influential, however at this point there is no mention of him owning any land other than well rights. Abraham, his family, and all that traveled with him all lived in tents, no structures (see Hebrews 11:9). Faced with the urgent need to find a suitable parcel to bury Sarah and possibly himself (as well as future family members), Abraham begins his search by first talking to the Hittites (also known as the “sons of Heth”).
Referring to Abraham as a “prince of God” (undoubtedly due to his reputation), the Hittites generously offer him the use of their tombs, however, knowing that there will be others that will follow and that the family dynamics and politics will be different in the future, Abraham declines the offer. He then approaches Ephron, the son of Zohar to purchase a plot of land that includes a cave, not too far from their home. Being respectful and humble, Abraham was willing to buy the parcel at full price.
23:10 Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city, 11 “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” 12 Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. 13 And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” 16 Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants. 17 So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city.
Since the gate of the city would be where the city elders sat and was generally considered the primary location for buying and selling along with any commerce related transactions, it was the appropriate location for Abraham to meet with Ephron. At first Ephron offered to give Abraham the field free of charge, an offer that Abraham also declined. Ephron said the land was worth 400 shekels of silver, probably a wealthy man himself, essentially says, “what’s 400 shekels of silver for men like us? Just go and bury your dead.” Abraham listened but then went ahead and gave him the full price in front of the other Hittites, the transaction was now finalized. In the deal he received the field, the cave, and all the trees that were on the field.
Sarah was the first to be buried in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, who was followed by Abraham (see Genesis 25:9); Isaac (see Genesis 35:27-29); Rebekah (see Genesis 49:31); Leah (see Genesis 49:31); and Jacob (see Genesis 50:13).
23:19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.
After the business of purchasing a field is done, Abraham proceeds to bury his wife. The Hebrew word ‘yā’·qǔm’[3] (translated here as “were made over,”) denotes the physical action of rising up, here it depicts the valid transfer of property (equivalent to a land deed).
Considerations
Abraham asked Ephron for only the cave (see verse nine), however it seems that Ephron was more interested in either giving away or selling the whole field. Some scholars believe Ephron was hoping to get out from having to pay taxes on the property, based on what is known of Hittite law. Archaeologists have discovered several cuneiform tablets that contain various portions of Hittite law covering a wide range of subjects. Here is a translation of what is referred to as “Paragraph 46,” believed to have been in effect during Abraham’s era:
If anyone holds land and obligation to perform šaḫḫan-services as an inheritance share in a village, if the land was given him in its entirety, he shall render the luzzi-services. If the land was not given him in its entirety, but only a small portion was given to him, he shall not render the luzzi-services. They shall render them from his father’s estate. If the land of the heir is vacated, and the men of the village give him other public land, he shall render the luzzi-services.[4]
The terms ‘šaḫḫan-services’ and ‘luzzi-services’ are explained as:
In laws dealing with land tenure or ownership two terms occur denoting obligations required of holders or owners of certain types of land. The terms, šaḫḫan and luzzi, have been claimed to denote “feudal” obligations but one cannot indiscriminately apply a model of medieval European society to Hittite society. The conditions were quite different. The issue is further complicated by the fact that our documentation doesn’t always make it clear to whom the luzzi or šaḫḫan was rendered, luzzi is clearly at times, and possibly always, a service rather than a transfer of goods (i.e., a tax).[5]
It is often thought that the Bible contains contradictions, this idea alone has been responsible for many refusing to read or believe the Bible. It is interesting to note that most that proudly speak of Scriptural contradictions have never read the Bible. When challenged, the majority cannot offer a single example. However, there are indeed several ‘apparent’ contradictions in the Bible, verses that will require closer examination to fully understand. Instead of avoiding areas of apparent contradiction, a believer should accept the challenge to investigate as the process will inevitably bring one closer to God (and be better equipped to evangelize).
This story in Genesis chapter 23 is one that often creates some confusion as it seemingly conflicts with other passages in the Bible. Earlier in the Considerations under Genesis 12:8-9, we discussed Stephen’s testimony recorded in Acts chapter seven. As part of that testimony, he offered a concise survey of an otherwise sizable section of the Old Testament. Stephen said: “And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.” (Acts 7:15-16) Here the text clearly states that Abraham bought property in Shechem, which is approximately 50 miles north of Mamre (or Hebron). Many commentators are quick to point their finger at Stephen saying he made a mistake. If that were true than his very knowledgeable audience probably would have said something or at least stop him. Some believe that Stephen was using a literary device called ‘telescoping’, to compress the timeline. Then there are others who say it was the author’s fault, that Luke really didn’t know much about Jewish history. We should never blindly follow any commentator or teaching, diligent readers of the Bible should always attempt to resolve what may be seen as potential conflicts, contradictions, or historical inaccuracies (see Acts 17:11).
Regarding this story, it is plausible that Abraham bought two parcels of land for his family, or should we say families (plural). One possibility to consider is that since Abraham, after Sarah’s death, married Keturah and had six additional sons (see Genesis 25:1-6; 1 Chronicles 1:32-33), that he may have purchased a separate burial ground for those that were not included in the promised lineage. However, the more puzzling question is, who bought the field from the sons of Hamor? Was it Abraham or Jacob? As we will see referenced later in Genesis 33:18-19, “And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent.” Both Abraham and Jacob may have purchased property from the sons of Hamor. Since the Hebrew language does not have a word for grandson (see Considerations under Genesis 10:21-32), the wording would not change if there were more generations in between. Plus, if we continue reading in the next verse we can see that Jacob did not purchase the land for a tomb, but for an altar. “There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.” (Genesis 33:20) Perhaps Abraham bought the tomb and Jacob purchased the land.
So, who is buried in the cave at Machpelah? Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah (see Genesis 23:17; 50:13). While Joseph and possibly his brothers are buried in Shechem (see Genesis 33:19; Joshua 24:32).
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[1] See commentary under Genesis 6:4.
[2] Strong’s Hebrew 935.
[3] Strong’s Hebrew 6965.
[4] Roth, M. T., Hoffner, H. A., & Michalowski, P. (1997). Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor (2nd ed., Vol. 6, p. 224). Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press.
[5] Roth, M. T., Hoffner, H. A., & Michalowski, P. (1997). Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor (2nd ed., Vol. 6, pp. 244–245). Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press.