Burial of Sarah

For your reference, turn to Genesis 23.

Abraham mourned and weeped for Sarah when she passed away at one hundred twenty-seven years old in the land of Canaan (Genesis 23:1,2). It was a strange land for Abraham and he sought a burial site for Sarah from the sons of Heth who dwelled in the area (Genesis 23:3,4).

The children of Heth viewed Abraham as a mighty prince among them and offered Abraham his choice of tombs (Genesis 23:6). "And Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth" (Genesis 23:7).

Abraham requested to purchase the cave of Machpelah, located in the end of the field, owned by the Hittite, Ephron, son of Zohar (Genesis 23:8,9,10).

Ephron was in the audience with the children of Heth and said to Abraham, "Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead" (Genesis 23:10,11).

"And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land" (Genesis 23:12).

"And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there" (Genesis 23:13).

"And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,
My lord, hearken unto me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead" (Genesis 23:14,15).

"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 23:16).

"And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure [u]nto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city" (Genesis 23:17,18).

"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" (Genesis 23:19).

"And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth" (Genesis 23:20).