GENESIS 23
Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, 4 “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6 “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” 7 Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. 8 And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.” – Genesis 23:1-9
GENESIS 23 ABRAHAM’S SEARCH FOR SARAH’S GRAVE
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Sarah reached age one hundred and twenty -seven when she died
As sojourners, they have no place they can call their own
So, Abraham went to the Hittites to ask them if they could bury her there
The Hittites responded well because they considered him a prince of God
Abraham was given the choice to select whichever is the best place to bury Sarah
And he chose the cave of Machpelah at the end of the field as her burial ground.
I cannot imagine the grief that Abraham felt when he lost Sarah. In our present-day perspective, it is hard to comprehend how Abraham lived a life of no permanence. He was travelling from place to place with no permanent and comfortable home. Nowadays, we can prepare for the death of our loved ones by having funeral plans arranged for where our loved ones’ bodies can rest. In his day, Abraham had to ask permission from where he was to be able to buy a plot to bury his beloved wife. He was totally dependent on God and where he was taking him next. Because of his integrity, the Hittites considered him as a prince of God amongst them and he was blessed to pick whatever lot he desires to use for Sarah’s grave.
REFLECTION
- Explain how being a foreigner is an advantage or not in the case of Abraham?
