Bible Chapter Summary
Genesis 23 Summary
Abraham Purchases a Burial Place for Sarah
Sarah dies at the age of 127 years in Kirjath-arba (Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham mourns and weeps for her. Abraham then approaches the sons of Heth, identifying himself as a stranger and sojourner, and requests a burial place among them. After a formal negotiation conducted publicly at the city gate, Abraham purchases the cave of Machpelah and its surrounding field from Ephron the Hittite for four hundred shekels of silver. The field and cave are legally confirmed as Abraham's possession, and he buries Sarah there in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre in Hebron.
Key themes
Key verses
Genesis 23:2
“And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.”
Genesis 23:4
“I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”
Genesis 23:16
“And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.”
Genesis 23:19
“And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.”
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