Genesis 23 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Genesis 23

WHEN:

• Abram was born in approximately 1996 B.C. and died in 1821 B.C. at 175 years old (Gen 25:7). Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90 years old (1896 B.C.). Sarah died at the age of 127 (approx. 1859 B.C.).

CHARACTERS:

• Abraham – A man from Ur of the Chaldeans who moved to Canaan at God’s instruction. God promised to make his descendants a great nation and to give them the land of Canaan.

• Sarah – The wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac.

• Ephron – A Hittite man who sold the cave of Machpelah to Abraham.  

WHERE:

• Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (Hebron). Sarah was buried in the cave of Machpelah which was “east of Mamre (that is, Hebron)” (23:17).

OUTLINE:

• THE DEATH OF SARAH (23:1-2):

  • Sarah died at the age of 127.

  • At the time of Sarah’s death Isaac would have been 37 and Abraham 137 years old.

  • Abraham mourned for her.

• ABRAHAM PURCHASES THE FIELD OF MACHPELAH (23:3-20):

  • Abraham visited the Hittites and asked to purchase a plot of land to bury Sarah.

  • The Hittites told him he could have any location he desired.

  • He asked if Ephron would be willing to sell him the field and cave of Machpelah.

  • Ephron told him he would give it to him for free, but Abraham insisted on paying a fair price.

  • The men agreed on a price of 400 shekels of silver.

  • Abraham buried Sarah in the cave.

APPLICATION:

• We often talk about the greatness of Abraham’s faith, but rarely consider Sarah’s faith.

• Sarah was willing to move hundreds of miles away from her home and family to obey God’s instructions to Abraham to move to Canaan.

• She patiently waited for her promised son until she was 90 years old (Heb 11:11).

• She had her faults, but so did Abraham, and so do we.

• The Apostle Peter wrote that Christian women should consider themselves daughters of Sarah if they “do good and do not fear anything that is frightening” (1Peter 3:6).

• She is a role model for modern women of all ages.