Genesis Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Overview

In our study of Genesis chapter twenty three, we will look at Abraham's purchase of a burial plot for Sarah and its implications for today. After Sarah's death, Abraham — still living as a foreigner in the land God had promised him — insists on paying full price for a burial site rather than accepting it as a gift. That single, carefully documented transaction becomes the first physical ground Abraham's family actually owned in Canaan.

Genesis 23:1 & 2

Sarah lived to be 127 years old; these were the years of Sarah's life. Sarah died in Kiryat-Arba, also known as Hevron, in the land of Kena'an; and Avraham came to mourn Sarah and weep for her.

As they say, Sarah lived to a ripe old age but then she died. Hevron is a city that is in what is called the West Bank today. There have been many disputes over the city but it is still a part of Israel even though it is somewhat controlled by the "Palestinian Authority". As we saw in chapter 22, Avraham was in Beersheba and we do not know why Sarah was in Hevron. When he found out, he went to mourn for her.

Genesis 23:3-6

Then he got up from his dead one and said to the sons of Het, "I am a foreigner living as an alien with you; let me have a burial site with you, so that I can bury my dead wife. The sons of Het answered Avraham, "Listen to us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us, so choose any of our tombs to bury your dead - not one of us would refuse you his tomb for burying your dead."

Avraham asked the local people to sell him a burial plot for Sarah but they offered him a tomb for free because they had great respect for him. This reminds us of our calling to be "in the world but not of the world". Avraham was in the land of Canaan but was considered, by himself as well as others, to be a foreigner. He was not from that land and people knew that he was different. We all have to ask ourselves whether people can tell that we are foreigners in this world or whether we blend in. As we see here, the locals can respect you but they need to still know that you belong to a heavenly kingdom.

Genesis 23:7-9

Avraham got up, bowed before the people of the land, the sons of Het, and spoke with them. "If it is your desire to help me bury my dead, then listen to me: ask 'Efron the son of Tzochar to give me the cave of Makhpelah, which he owns, the one at the end of his field. He should sell it to me in your presence at its full value; then I will have a burial site of my own."

Avraham replied to their generous offer by asking to buy the cave of Makhpelah. We see from this that he had already done the leg work and found the spot. Surely, he was led there by God and it reminds us of the fact that we must be listening to God in order to be led by Him. Makhpelah means double or pairs and the cave is known as "cave of the pairs" and this will be the burial place of Avraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rivkah, & Jacob & Leah.

Genesis 23:10 & 11

'Efron the Hitti was sitting among the sons of Het, and he gave Avraham his answer in the presence of the sons of Het who belonged to the ruling council of the city: "No, my lord, listen to me: I'm giving you the field, with its cave - I'm giving it to you. In the presence of my people I give it to you."

The owner of the cave was listening and offered to give not only the cave but also the field to Avraham. He was not only giving Avraham the cave but also the field which would have been giving away his food or income.

Genesis 23:12 & 13

Avraham bowed before the people of the land and spoke to 'Efron in their hearing: "Please be good enough to listen to me. I will pay the price of the field; accept it from me, and I will bury my dead there."

Avraham insisted on paying for the land and the cave because that would make it official. Just speaking and giving Avraham the land, even while in the presence of the people, did not officially make it Avraham's. Avraham was a wealthy man so he would have had plenty of money to buy it but the Hittites were trying to give him a gift.

Genesis 23:14-16

But 'Efron answered Avraham "My lord, listen to me. A plot of land worth 400 silver shekels - what is that between me and you? Just bury your dead." Avraham got the point of what 'Efron had said, so he weighed out for 'Efron the amount of money he had specified in the presence of the sons of Het, 400 silver shekels of the weight accepted among merchants.

The negotiations settle on a price and Avraham counts out the money which makes it a recorded transaction (official).

Genesis 23:17 & 18

Thus the field of 'Efron in Makhpelah, which is by Mamre - the field, its cave and all the trees in and around it - were deeded to Avraham as his possession in the presence of the sons of Het who belonged to the ruling council of the city.

So Avraham bought the field in Makhpelah which we have already saw is Hevron in what is called the "West Bank" today. There were witnesses there, as required by tradition and law. The Makhpelah purchase was, in fact, an acknowledgement that the land of Canaan was Avraham's new homeland.

Genesis 23:19

Then Avraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Makhpelah, by Mamre, also known as Hevron, in the land of Kena'an

Avraham buried Sarah in the cave and Avraham would be buried there as well. Today, the Ibrahimi Mosque is built on the site and it is also known as the Cave of the Patriarchs. As of the 1993 Oslo Accords, political control of the area has been given to what is known as the Palestinian Authority. This giving control of a part of Israel to any foreign authority is against the will of God and an attempt to forget God's covenant with Avraham.

Genesis 23:20

The field and its cave had been purchased by Avraham from the sons of Het as a burial-site which would belong to him.

Here, we see again that the land was sold to Abraham who is the father of the Judeo-Christian faith. After Avraham's death, the property would have been given to his son Isaac and passed on through the generations. One day, Hevron as well as all of the earth, will be claimed by its right owner which is Jesus Christ.