Sarah's Death

1 Genesis 23:3 is the account of the death and burial of Sarah. Sarah is unique in that she is the only female in the Bible that mentions her age at death. 

2 According to Genesis 17:17 Issac would have been 37 years old at Sarah’s Death and sixty-two years after entering Canaan.

3 Abraham would have been 137 years old, which means he would not die (until he was 175) for another 38 years.

4 Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Hebron means city of four. Which may have referred to a group of four related cities (Aner, Eshcol, Mamre, and Hebron.)

5 Hebron would have great significance for the children of Israel. 

6 It would be the burial place of Abraham and Sarah, in 1000 B.C. it is where David would rule (before moving to Jerusalem), in 721 B.C. it was the capital of Judah after Israel fell.

7 Verse 2 says that Abraham mourned for Sarah. This was in simian fashion to what Jacob did. 

8 Genesis 37:34-35 says, “And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose to comfort him; but he refused to find comfort; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.”

9 I find it of great interest how O.T. personalities dealt with grief. Their method is in stark contrast to our typical experience.

10 In the O.T. and some present-day cultures there is a great outward expression of grief, whereas our society internalizes and suppresses outward grieving.

11 Of course there are still some people who have strong outward expressions, but we would to refer them as show-boaters or seekers of attention.

12 The Bible does not give specific directives on the correct or expected method, but there are strengths and weaknesses in both.

13 The outward expression may allow for a more formal recognition of grief and normalize the grieving process, however, the internal method shows a strength of faith and a more in-depth processing of information. 

14 Weaknesses of outward grief may display a lack of faith (to the unbeliever), and an over representation of sorrow. It can also become more centered on a self-centered focus than on healthy reflection.

15 Weaknesses of inward grief is that the individual may never dal with their own emotions and may even obstruct the healing process. Also we can by default teach others that there is something wrong with the grieving process and thus deny individuals, and ourselves, of a basic human need for dealing with loss. 

16 Verse three is interesting in that the name of the people is different depending on the translation (although all refer to the same people). The KJV uses the term Heth, towhee other version use either Hittite, or Hethite. 

17 The manuscript used drives the difference, and it is the LXX Septuagint, or the Masoretic Text. 

18 The KJV uses the Masoretic text, but in this verse the Word Heth is from the Septuagint. There is no reason stated for this, but either way the census is that these pole were descendants of Heth or Cheth.

19 What we know about them is that they were descendants of Heth, the son of Canaan, or grandchild of Ham.

20 Go cursed ham and his descendants for the sin he had committed upon Noah.

21 Genesis 9:22 and Leviticus 20:11shows us that Hams sin was that he slept with Noah’s wife, their mother. 

22 Because of Ham’s sin, God had condemned him and his descendants to servitude. 

23 Today there is no information who or if any people groups are direct descendants from Ham. 

24 There have been many attempts to explain who they might be to justify slavery. One such attempt is with African peoples. This was common throughout early American history, even including religious people. 

25 The most likely scenario is that after 4000 years they mixed with other ethnicities and are no longer a distinct group. 

26 They originated near modern day turkey and Turkish people would have some heritage from the Hittite. 

27 This in no way to say that God condemned Turkish people to serve other races, but shows God allowed them to mix with other races and ease the burden of condemnation. 

28 This is a testimony of the goodness and mercy of God. 

29 Verse four is a pivotal point in the life of Abraham. It shows transition from alien in Canaan to becoming a permanent resident.

30 Gods promises were birthed when Abraham made Canaan his permanent home. 

31 Abraham began with a genuine display of humility. He stated he was a stranger and sojourner, although he had lived in Canaan for 62 years. 

32 For the child of God, we should strive to live a life of humility, without the expectation of benefit. Our trust should be in the promises of God and not the charity of others, Romans 12:3.

33 The end of the very shows that Abraham requested a place to bury Sarah. It was often customary in Biblical times to return to one’s place of birth for burial, yet Abrahams desire to bury Sarah in Canaan shows he had accepted that this was to be the home of him and his descendants. 

34 Verse 6 shows the testimony that Abraham had among the Hittites. 

35 God had blessed him and he lived a life or integrity to such a level that they regarded him as a prince. 

36 We should live a life with such prominent character that others may recognize the moral fortitude that we possess. 

37 Verses 7-18 shows the business transaction between Abraham and Ephron. We know nothing of Ephron other than he was willing to part with his land to show honor to Abraham. 

38 Abraham sets an example for us to follow in business. 

39 They offered him land but were steadfast in his determination to pay for it. We to would be wise to learn to be indebted to no man.

40 Romans 13:8 tells us we should owe no man. 

41 When we become indebted to someone it will change how we interact with them and it may also hamper our ability to share the gospel with them.

42 In verse18, we see Abraham was wise in his business adventures. He didn’t just make a deal, but did so with great wisdom.

43 He performed this transaction publicly and with witnesses. this would be the modern-day equivalent of a legal agreement. 

44 When it was done, in the city's gate, meant that it was verified and couldn’t be challenged later. 

45 Again, we would be wise to use caution in our business. The adage is “trust but verify”.

46 It is okay to be trusting of people, but we should not act foolishly. The resources that we have are not ours but God’s and we should seek to be wise stewards.

47 19-20 is the first time in scripture where we see Gods people possessing land in Israel. 

48 All the Israelites of today and of time gone by began here in these verses when Abraham took possession of the land that God had promised.