창세기 Chapter 23

Translation: ESV

1

Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah.

Key Message

The recording of Sarah's age in Scripture shows that she is an indispensable figure in covenant history.

▸This is one of the very rare cases in Scripture where a woman's age is explicitly recorded.

This is one of the very rare cases in Scripture where a woman's age is explicitly recorded. Sarah lived 127 years. Given the birth dates of Abraham, Hagar, and Isaac, Isaac would have been 37 years old at this point. The fact that Scripture specifically records Sarah's age shows how important a figure she is in covenant history.

Related Verses

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
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.

Key Message

Even people of faith mourn and weep at the death of loved ones; grief is not something to be denied but expressed.

▸The expression that Abraham 'mourned and wept' for Sarah's death reveals deep human grief.

3

And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites,

Key Message

Rising up after a time of grief to carry out practical responsibility is the mark of mature faith.

▸After mourning, Abraham 'rose up' and took practical action to arrange a burial place.

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.'

Key Message

Abraham's sojourner identity shows the life of faith lived without full ownership of the land; this is also the identity of the Christian.

▸Abraham defines himself as 'a sojourner and foreigner.

5

The Hittites answered Abraham,

Key Message

From the response of foreigners toward Abraham, we learn how the life of a believer appears to those outside the faith.

▸The Hittites respond to Abraham's request.

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.'

Key Message

A true person of faith must live a life that is recognized as 'a prince of God' even by outsiders.

▸The Hittites call Abraham 'a prince of God (nesi Elohim).

7

Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land.

Key Message

The humility of Abraham bowing before local residents, despite being called 'a prince of God,' is the mark of true greatness.

▸Abraham bows to the Hittites.

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,

Key Message

Important matters must proceed with appropriate process and legal form; Abraham negotiates carefully and honestly.

▸Abraham specifies that he wants the land of a particular person, Ephron.

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.'

Key Message

Abraham pays the appropriate price and legally purchases land, practicing honest and fair dealing even as a sojourner.

▸What Abraham wants is the cave of Machpelah.

10

Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city,

Key Message

Transactions through a public legal process guarantee transparency and trust; Abraham's transaction is honest and fair in every way.

▸Ephron answers publicly before the Hittites at the gate.

11

'No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.'

Key Message

The wise choice of paying the proper price rather than accepting a gift is what clearly establishes legal ownership.

▸Ephron first offers both the field and the cave as gifts.

12

And Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.

Key Message

Humility is not a one-time act but a continuing attitude; Abraham maintains a humble posture throughout the negotiation.

▸Abraham bows again.

13

And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, 'But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field; accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.'

Key Message

Honest dealing is the social responsibility of the person of faith; Abraham models honesty even in a foreign land.

▸Abraham once more emphasizes to Ephron that he will pay the price.

14

Ephron answered Abraham,

Key Message

Approaching every stage of negotiation honestly is the social virtue of the person of faith.

▸Ephron now responds by presenting a specific price.

15

'My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.'

Key Message

Paying the proper price is the way to secure legal ownership; Abraham pays without hesitation even at a high price.

▸Four hundred shekels of silver was quite a high price at the time.

16

Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.

Key Message

Immediate and complete payment is the way to secure legal ownership; Abraham handles every part of the process transparently and fairly.

▸Abraham immediately weighs and pays 400 shekels of silver 'according to the weights current among the merchants.

17

So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over

Key Message

Legal ownership is secured through precise boundary setting and clear recording; Abraham fulfills this process thoroughly.

▸The boundaries of the purchased property are described in detail.

18

to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city.

Key Message

Legal ownership confirmed before public witnesses becomes the permanent foothold of Abraham's family in the land of Canaan.

▸The completion of the legal transaction is declared.

19

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

Key Message

By burying his loved one in a properly secured place, Abraham, even as a sojourner, establishes a permanent foothold in the land of God's promise.

▸After completing all the legal procedures, Sarah is buried in the cave of Machpelah.

20

The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.

Key Message

The purchase of the cave of Machpelah is the beginning of ownership in the land of Canaan in Abraham's sojourner life; God's promise is being fulfilled one step at a time.

▸This chapter concludes with the record of the first property Abraham officially owned in the land of Canaan.