Genesis 23 Background Information with Maps and Images (Picture Study Bible - Genesis) Free Bible Online

Genesis 23

1 - Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years. This was the length of Sarah's life.

2 - Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

3 - Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spoke to the children of Heth, saying,

4 - "I am a stranger and a foreigner living with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight."

5 - The children of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him,

6 - "Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb. Bury your dead."

7 - Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.

8 - He talked with them, saying, "If you agree that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,

9 - that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me among you for a possession of a burying-place."

10 - Now Ephron was sitting in the middle of the children of Heth. Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the children of Heth, even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying,

11 - "No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead."

12 - Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land.

13 - He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, "But if you will, please hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there."

14 - Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,

15 - "My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead."

16 - Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants' standard.

17 - So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all of its borders, were deeded

18 - to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.

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

20 - The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the children of Heth.

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Genesis 23 Images and Notes

Brief Summary: Sarah dies at Hebron and is buried at the Cave of Machpelah, which Abraham buys from Ephron the Hittite and it becomes the family tomb.

Genesis Chapter 23

Genesis 23:19 - And Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same [is] Hebron in the land of Canaan.

Outline
Sarah Dies (Genesis 23:1-2)
Abraham Buries Sarah (Genesis 23:2-19)
Abraham Purchases the Cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:7-20)
The Hittites Sell the Cave (Genesis 23:7-20)

Summary
1 The age and death of Sarah
3 The purchase of Machpelah
19 where Sarah was buried

The Burying of Sarah

Abraham Buries Sarah at the Cave of Machpelah. Painting by Dore

Map of the Cave of Machpelah

The Mountains of Moriah During the Time of Abraham

Topics for Bible Study
Sarah Died at Age 127
Kirjatharba
Hebron
Buryingplace
Sons of Heth
Abraham the Prince
Abraham Bowed Himself
Ephron the Son of Zohar
Ephron the Hittite
The Cave of Machpelah
Before Mamre
The Gate of His City
Abraham Offered Money for the Field
The Land Value was 400 Shekels of Silver
Abraham Weighed the Money and Paid
Abraham Buried Sarah his Wife
Made Sure by the Sons of Heth
Possession of a Buryingplace

Clothing in the Time of Abraham

This is how a man or a patriarch would have dressed in ancient times about the time of Abraham which was around 1800 BC. From inside to out he wore an under garment which was bound by a girdle.

Historical Background
Sarah dies at Hebron and is buried at the Cave of Machpelah, which Abraham buys from Ephron the Hittite and it becomes the family tomb.

Ancient Customs
Buying Property
The City Gate
Death and Burial
Family Burying Places
Tombs
Sepulchres

Ancient People
Ephron the Hittite
The Sons of Heth
The Descendants of Abraham
Nahor

Geography
Hebron
Machpelah

Maps
Map of the Giants and Early Inhabitants of Ancient Israel - Bible Map Collection
Map of the Canaanite Nations - Bible Maps
Map of the World of Abraham - Bible Map Collection
Map of the Journeys of Abraham - Bible Map Collection
Map of Sodom and Gomorrah - - Background Bible Study
Map of the Moabites - Old Testament Israel

The Old Testament

Genesis Resources

Creation
Adam and Eve
The Flood
The Tower of Babel
Abraham the First Hebrew
Isaac, Son of Promise
Jacob and the 12 Tribes
Joseph and Egypt

Bibliography Information

Free Bible Online - Picture Study Bible, King James Version. New York: American Bible Society: www.free-bible.com, 1995-2013. Bible History Picture Study Bible. Dec 22, 2024.

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