Genesis 23
Genesis 23. Abraham Buries Sarah with Tender Honor
23 And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah.
2 And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
3 And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,
4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
5 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,
6 Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.
7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.
8 And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,
9 That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.
10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,
11 Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.
12 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.
13 And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.
14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,
15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
16 And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.
17 And the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure
18 Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.
19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.
20 And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.
Though Sorrow Fills
The tent was still where laughter stayed. Her gentle touch now gone.
The warmth that once lit Abraham fades softly with the dawn.
He knelt beside her quiet form. His tears upon the sand
And whispered, “Love, though death has come, your memory will stand.”
Though sorrow fills his trembling heart, his faith holds firm and true.
For every breath of love they shared was shaped by God’s own view.
The promise spoken long ago still studies every part.
He mourns yet hope remains alive within his aching heart.
He rose from dust where grief had pressed and stood with quiet grace.
For love deserves a resting-home, a sacred honored place.
He carried all their years with him. The joys, the trials they knew,
And vowed to sleep would lie secure in peace both deep and true.
Though sorrow fills his trembling heart, his faith holds firm and true.
For every breath of love they shared was shaped by God’s own view.
The promise spoken long ago still steadies every part.
He mourns yet hope remains alive within his aching heart.
At Hebron’s gate. He bargained fair, pure silver in his hand.
No gift for her. Her worth surpassed what custom might have planned.
He purchased, then a quiet field, a sheltered place of rest.
The first small piece of promised ground where love would stand confessed.
Though sorrow fills his trembling heart, his faith holds firm and true.
For every breath of love they shared was shaped by God’s own view.
The promise spoken long ago still steadies every part.
He mourns yet hope remains alive within his aching heart.
He laid her in the silent cave beneath the ancient tree.
And there his tears and promise joined in gentle unity.
For faith and love together sow what grief cannot reclaim
A resting place a seed of hope held fast in God’s great name.
Rick McCollum
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