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Themes in Genesis 23

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Themes in Genesis 23

Genesis 23:1 (show verse)

Sarah lived for 127 years. That's how long Sarah's life was.

Abraham » Sarah, his wife, dies
Longevity » Instances of » Sarah, one-hundred and twenty-seven years

Genesis 23:2 (show verse)

She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, in Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

Abraham » Sarah, his wife, dies
Bereavement » Instances of » Abraham, of sarah
Canaan » Land of
The Dead » Mourning for » Examples of grief
The Dead » They who have departed this life
Hebron » A city » A city of the tribe of judah, south of jerusalem » Abraham lived there and sarah died at
Hebron » A city » A city of the tribe of judah, south of jerusalem » The burial place of sarah
Hebron » A city » A city of the tribe of judah, south of jerusalem » Called kirjath-arba
Hittites » Dwelt in hebron
Kirjath-arba » An early name of hebron
Mourning » Examples of grief
Mourning » Abraham mourned for sarah
Weeping » Instances of » Of abraham for sarah

Genesis 23:3 (show verse)

Then Abraham stood up from beside his dead wife and addressed the Hittites. He said,

Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Burial » Design of
Heth » Son of canaan, and ancestor of the hittites
Hittites » Dwelt in hebron
Hittites » Called the » Sons of heth
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Land » Bought and sold

Genesis 23:4 (show verse)

"I am an alien and an outsider among you. Give me a cemetery among you where I can bury my dead away from my presence."

Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Burial » Design of
Embalming » Unknown to early patriarchs
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Land » Bought and sold
Pilgrims and strangers » Exemplified

Genesis 23:5 (show verse)

The Hittites responded to Abraham,

Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Heth » Son of canaan, and ancestor of the hittites
Hittites » Called the » Children of heth
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Land » Bought and sold

Genesis 23:6 (show verse)

"Listen to us, sir. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial tombs. None of us would refuse you his tomb for burying your dead."

Abraham » Independence of, in character
Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Burying places » Sepulchres
the Canaanites » Kind to the patriarchs
The Dead » Places of burial of » Sepulchres
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Land » Bought and sold
Patriarchal government » Exercised in » The authority of heads of families for, acknowledged
Unselfishness » Instances of » The children of heth

Genesis 23:7 (show verse)

Abraham rose and bowed before the Hittites, the people of the land,

Abraham » Independence of, in character
Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Burial » Antiquity of purchasing places for
Heth » Son of canaan, and ancestor of the hittites
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Land » Bought and sold
Salutations » By bowing

Genesis 23:8 (show verse)

and addressed them, "If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, listen to me and make a request of Zohar's son Ephron on my behalf.

Abraham » Independence of, in character
Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Burial » Antiquity of purchasing places for
Ephron » Son of zohar, the hittite » Sells to abraham the field containing the cave machpelah
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Land » Bought and sold
Zohar » Father of ephron

Genesis 23:9 (show verse)

Give me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him, at the end of his field. He should sell it to me in your presence at full price for a burial site."

Abraham » Independence of, in character
Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Burial » Antiquity of purchasing places for
Burial » Burying places » Tombs » In caves
Cave » Burial place
Caves » Mentioned in scripture » Machpelah
Ephron » Son of zohar, the hittite » Sells to abraham the field containing the cave machpelah
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Land » Bought and sold
Machpelah » The burying place of sarah, abraham, isaac, rebekah, leah, and jacob
Money » Was given » For lands

Genesis 23:10 (show verse)

Now since Ephron the Hittite had taken a seat there among the Hittites, he responded publicly to Abraham where the Hittites and everyone who was entering the gate of his city could hear him:

Abraham » Independence of, in character
Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Burial » Antiquity of purchasing places for
Cave » Burial place
Ephron » Son of zohar, the hittite » Sells to abraham the field containing the cave machpelah
Gates » Place for public concourse
Gates » Of cities » Land sold at
Gates » The place for the transaction of public business, announcement of legal transactions
Heth » Son of canaan, and ancestor of the hittites
Hittites » The descendants of heth
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Land » Witnessed
Land » Bought and sold

Genesis 23:11 (show verse)

"No, sir. Listen to me! I'll give you the field, and I'll give you the cave that's in it. I give it to you publicly, in the sight of my people. Bury your dead."

Abraham » Independence of, in character
Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Burial » Antiquity of purchasing places for
Cave » Burial place
Ephron » Son of zohar, the hittite » Sells to abraham the field containing the cave machpelah
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Land » Witnessed
Land » Bought and sold
Unselfishness » Instances of » The children of heth
Witness » To the transfer of land

Genesis 23:12 (show verse)

Abraham bowed before the people of the land

Genesis 23:13 (show verse)

and then addressed Ephron so all the people of the land could hear him: "Please listen to me! I'm willing to pay the price of the field. Accept it from me, so I may bury my dead there."

Abraham » Independence of, in character
Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Burial » Antiquity of purchasing places for
Cave » Burial place
Commerce » Articles of » Land
Ephron » Son of zohar, the hittite » Sells to abraham the field containing the cave machpelah
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Land » Bought and sold
Silver » Used for money

Genesis 23:14 (show verse)

So Ephron answered Abraham,

Genesis 23:15 (show verse)

"Sir, listen to me! The land is worth 400 shekels of silver, but what's that between us? You may bury your dead."

Abraham » Independence of, in character
Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Burial » Antiquity of purchasing places for
Cave » Burial place
Commerce » Articles of » Land
Covenants » Designed for » Selling land
Ephron » Son of zohar, the hittite » Sells to abraham the field containing the cave machpelah
Land » Land measure a cubit = 1824 ft » Sold
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Land » Bought and sold
Money » Originally stamped with the image of a lamb
Real estate » Land sold
Silver » Used for money
Silver » Used as money
Silver » Used as money from the earliest age

Genesis 23:16 (show verse)

Abraham agreed with Ephron, so he weighed out to Ephron the money to which he had agreed publicly while the Hittites were listening: 400 shekels of silver at the current merchant rate.

Abraham » Independence of, in character
Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Burial » Antiquity of purchasing places for
Cave » Burial place
Commerce » Articles of » Land
Covenants » Designed for » Selling land
Ephron » Son of zohar, the hittite » Sells to abraham the field containing the cave machpelah
Gates » Of cities » Land sold at
Gates » The place for the transaction of public business, announcement of legal transactions
Heth » Son of canaan, and ancestor of the hittites
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Land » Bought and sold
Money » Weighed
Money » Usually taken by weight
Money » Was current with the merchants
Silver » Used for money
Weights » Value of money estimated according to
Witness » To the transfer of land

Genesis 23:17 (show verse)

That's how Ephron's field in Machpelah, east of Mamre the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were within the boundaries of the field came to be deeded

Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Cave » Burial place
Courts of justice » Inferior » All transfers of property made before
Covenants » Conditions of » Witnessed
Ephron » Son of zohar, the hittite » Sells to abraham the field containing the cave machpelah
Hittites » Dwelling place of
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Land » Bought and sold
Machpelah » The burying place of sarah, abraham, isaac, rebekah, leah, and jacob
Property » In real estate
Trees » Were sold with the land on which they grew
Witness » To the transfer of land

Genesis 23:18 (show verse)

to Abraham in the presence of all the Hittites and everyone who was entering the city gate.

Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Cave » Burial place
Contracts » By consummating in the presence of the public at the gate of the city
Courts of justice » Inferior » All transfers of property made before
Covenants » Conditions of » Witnessed
Heth » Son of canaan, and ancestor of the hittites
Hittites » Dwelling place of
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Land » Bought and sold
Machpelah » The burying place of sarah, abraham, isaac, rebekah, leah, and jacob
Property » In real estate
Witness » To the transfer of land

Genesis 23:19 (show verse)

After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave at the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre (that is, in Hebron) in the land of Canaan.

Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Burial » Places used for » Natural caves
Cave » Burial place
Caves » Were used as » Burial places
Courts of justice » Inferior » All transfers of property made before
Hittites » Dwelling place of
Hittites » Dwelt in hebron
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Machpelah » The burying place of sarah, abraham, isaac, rebekah, leah, and jacob

Genesis 23:20 (show verse)

And so the field with its cave was deeded by the Hittites to Abraham as a burial site.

Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Business life » Contracts » Examples of
Cave » Burial place
Caves » Found in the » Open fields
Contracts » Examples of
Courts of justice » Inferior » All transfers of property made before
Hittites » Dwelling place of
Hittites » Called the » Sons of heth
Land » Conveyance of, by written deeds and other forms
Machpelah » The burying place of sarah, abraham, isaac, rebekah, leah, and jacob