“To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
2. Understanding Customs related to Death
a) The Death of Sarah
i) She was 127 years old Genesis 23:1
ii) She died at Hebron Genesis 23:2a
b) Mourning for Sarah
i) Abraham came to mourn for her Genesis 23:2b
ii) And to weep for her Genesis 23:2c
BURIAL CUSTOMS
1. Abraham’s search for Burial Ground
a) Addressing the sons of Heth Genesis 23:3
b) Heth
i) He was the 2nd son of Canaan Genesis 10:15
ii) He was the ancestor of the Hittites
(The sons of Heth)
c) Abraham’s humble speech
i) Presenting himself
“I am a foreigner and a visitor among you” Genesis 23:4a
ii) Property for burial
“Give me property for a burial place among you,
that I may bury my dead out of my sight” Genesis 23:4b
2. Appropriate response of the sons of Heth
a) Politeness of speech
“Hear us, my lord” Genesis 23:6a
b) A prince
“You are a mighty prince among us” Genesis 23:6b
c) Choicest place
“Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places.
None of us will withhold from you his burial place,
that you may bury your dead” Genesis 23:6c
3. Grateful response of Abraham
a) Bowing
“Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself
to the people of the land, the sons of Heth” Genesis 23:7
b) Ephron the son of Zohar
“If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight,
hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me” Genesis 23:8
c) The Cave of Machpelah
“That he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has,
which is at the end of his field.
Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for
a burial place among you” Genesis 23:9
4. The Response of Ephron
a) He was called a Hittite (general term) Genesis 23:10
b) He dwelt among the sons of Heth
(Thus, technically, he was not a Hittite)
c) He spoke in the presence of the sons of Heth
“No, my lord, hear me:
I give you the field and the cave that is in it;
I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people.
I give it to you. Bury your dead!” Genesis 23:11
5. Abraham’s response to Ephron
a) Humility
“He bowed himself down” Genesis 23:12
b) A word to Ephron (publicly)
“If you will give it, please hear me.
I will give you the money for the field;
take it from me and I will bury my dead there” Genesis 23:13
6. Sealing the deal
a) Ephron’s response
“My lord, listen to me; the land is worth four hundred
shekels of silver.
What is that between you and me? So bury your dead” Genesis 23:15
b) Payment for the land
“And Abraham listened to Ephron;
and Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron
which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth” Genesis 23:16
c) The land purchases
i) Machpelah
ii) The field and the cave
iii) And all the trees that were in the field Genesis 23:17
LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE BURIAL OF SARAH
1. Sarah was buried in the cave of the field of Machpelah Genesis 23:19
a) In Hebron
b) In the land of Canaan
c) This was officially purchased Genesis 23:20
2. Lessons that stand out
a) Dignity and honour shown by Abraham
b) Honour comes with a price
It cost him quite a bit to give a good burial to Sarah
c) What did Abraham honour?
i) A life together
ii) Loyalty
She followed Abraham from Ur of Chaldea