Genesis23
New Living Translation
1When Sarah was 127 years old,
2she died at Kiriath-arba (now called Hebron) in the land of Canaan. There Abraham mourned and wept for her.
3Then, leaving her body, he said to the Hittite elders,
4“Here I am, a stranger and a foreigner among you. Please sell me a piece of land so I can give my wife a proper burial.”
5The Hittites replied to Abraham,
6“Listen, my lord, you are an honored prince among us. Choose the finest of our tombs and bury her there. No one here will refuse to help you in this way.”
7Then Abraham bowed low before the Hittites
8and said, “Since you are willing to help me in this way, be so kind as to ask Ephron son of Zohar
9to let me buy his cave at Machpelah, down at the end of his field. I will pay the full price in the presence of witnesses, so I will have a permanent burial place for my family.”
10Ephron was sitting there among the others, and he answered Abraham as the others listened, speaking publicly before all the Hittite elders of the town.
11“No, my lord,” he said to Abraham, “please listen to me. I will give you the field and the cave. Here in the presence of my people, I give it to you. Go and bury your dead.”
12Abraham again bowed low before the citizens of the land,
13and he replied to Ephron as everyone listened. “No, listen to me. I will buy it from you. Let me pay the full price for the field so I can bury my dead there.”
14Ephron answered Abraham,
15“My lord, please listen to me. The land is worth 400 pieces of silver, but what is that between friends? Go ahead and bury your dead.”
16So Abraham agreed to Ephron’s price and paid the amount he had suggested—400 pieces of silver, weighed according to the market standard. The Hittite elders witnessed the transaction.
17So Abraham bought the plot of land belonging to Ephron at Machpelah, near Mamre. This included the field itself, the cave that was in it, and all the surrounding trees.
18It was transferred to Abraham as his permanent possession in the presence of the Hittite elders at the city gate.
19Then Abraham buried his wife, Sarah, there in Canaan, in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre (also called Hebron).
20So the field and the cave were transferred from the Hittites to Abraham for use as a permanent burial place.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 23.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The death of Sarah, Abraham applies for a burying-place. (1–13). Sarah's burying-place. (14–20).
vv1-13
The longest life must shortly come to a close. Blessed be God that there is a world where sin, death, vanity, and vexation cannot enter. Blessed be his name, that even death cannot part believers from union with Christ. Those whom we most love, yea, even our own bodies, which we so care for, must soon become loathsome lumps of clays, and be buried out of sight. How loose then should we be to all earthly attachments and adornments! Let us seek rather that our souls be adorned with heavenly graces. Abraham rendered honour and respect to the princes of Heth, although of the ungodly Canaanites. The religion of the Bible enjoins to pay due respect to all in authority, without flattering their persons, or countenancing their crimes if they are unworthy characters. And the noble generosity of these Canaanites shames and condemns the closeness, selfishness, and ill-humour of many that call themselves Israelites. It was not in pride that Abraham refused the gift, because he scorned to be beholden to Ephron; but in justice and in prudence. Abraham was able to pay for the field, and therefore would not take advantage of Ephron's generosity. Honesty, as well as honour, forbids us to take advantage of our neighbour's liberality, and to impose, upon those who give freely.
vv14-20
Prudence, as well as justice, directs us to be fair and open in our dealings; cheating bargains will not bear the light. Abraham, without fraud or delay, pays the money. He pays it at once in full, without keeping any part back; and by weight, current money with the merchant, without deceit. See how anciently money was used for the help of trade, and how honestly it should be paid when it is due. Though all the land of Canaan was Abraham by promise, yet the time of his possessing it not being come, what he had occasion for he bought and paid for. Dominion is not founded in grace. The saints' title to an eternal inheritance does not entitle them to the possessions of this world, nor justify them in doing wrong. Ephron honestly and fairly makes a good title to the land. As that which is bought, must be honestly paid for, so that which is sold, must be honestly delivered and secured. Let us manage our concerns with punctuality and exactness, in order to avoid contention. Abraham buried Sarah in cave. or vault, which was in the purchased field. It would tend to endear the land to his posterity. And it is worth noting, that a burying-place was the only piece of the land which Abraham possessed in Canaan. Those who have least of this earth, find a grave in it. This sepulchre was at the end of the field; whatever our possessions are, there is a burial-place at the end of them. It was a token of his belief and expectation of the resurrection. Abraham is contented to be still a pilgrim while he lives, but secures a place where, when he dies, his flesh may rest in hope. After all, the chief concern is, with whom we shall rise.
Key Words
שָׂרָה: Sarah, Abraham's wife
חַי: alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
מוּת: to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע: Kirjath-Arba or Kirjath-ha-Arba, a place in Palestine
חֶבְרוֹן: Chebron, a place in Palestine, also the name of two Israelites
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
כְּנַעַן: Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him
אַבְרָהָם: Abraham, the later name of Abram
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Cross References
Genesis 23New Testament commentary on Abraham's confession as a stranger and pilgrim in the land of promise.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Stephen notes that Abraham owned no inheritance in Canaan, not even a foot of ground, except this tomb.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Stephen's speech referencing the patriarchal purchases of burial land in Canaan.
Supported by John Calvin
Jacob's dying charge to be buried in the same Machpelah cave purchased here by Abraham.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The fulfillment of Jacob's request as his sons carry him to the cave of Machpelah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Applies Abraham's 'stranger and pilgrim' status as a moral pattern for all New Testament believers.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jacob echoes Abraham's confession, describing his own life's years as a pilgrimage.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Isaac and Ishmael bury Abraham in this same cave of Machpelah alongside Sarah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms Kirjath-arba was the former name of Hebron, associated with Arba, a great Anakim.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God reminds Israel that they are merely strangers and sojourners with Him on His land.
Supported by Matthew Poole
David prays, confessing that Israel remains but strangers and sojourners before God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
David likewise insists on paying full price for Araunah's threshing floor rather than receiving free gifts.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The psalmist confesses to being a stranger and sojourner, echoing the language of Abraham.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jeremiah purchases a field with legal deeds and witnesses, reflecting the formal transaction of Abraham.
Supported by Matthew Henry