Death of a matriarch

Genesis 23. In which Sarah dies and a burial ground is purchased.

Sarah dies at the age of 127. Her death is rather overshadowed by the account of Abraham’s purchase of land for the family tomb. The Hittites, whose land he lives in, drives a hard bargain, and Abraham eventually pays 400 shekels – which the Notes call an “exorbitant” price – for a field of Ephron in Machpelah with a cave, to the east of Mamre (Hebron). All of this is in Canaan. Abraham doesn’t haggle with the Hittites – the solemnity of the occasion probably makes this inappropriate.

This family tomb will be the final resting place of Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Leah. And, according to the Notes, the “purchase of the family tomb is the first step in the fulfilment of [the] promise [of the land of Canaan to Abraham's descendants] and marks the land with a prominent memorial to the dead ancestors”. The promise of Abraham’s lineage becoming a great nation has already had its first step – the existence of Isaac.

Abraham’s story is now almost done, and the spotlight moves onto Isaac in the following chapters.

~ by tamfuwing on June 25, 2008.