---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Genesis 23"
description: "CHAPTER 23  Genesis 23:1;
Genesis 23:2. AGE
AND DEATH OF SARAH. 1. Sarah was an hundred and seven
and twenty years old, &amp;c.—Sarah is the only woman in"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/genesis/23"
---

![Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible](/images/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible.jpg)

 The Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
 
Include 66 books
 
Denomination: calvinism
 
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CHAPTER 23

[Genesis 23:1](../../../kjv/genesis/23/1);
[Genesis 23:2](../../../kjv/genesis/23/2). AGE
AND DEATH OF SARAH.

**1. Sarah was an hundred and seven
and twenty years old,** &c.—Sarah is the only woman in
Scripture whose age, death, and burial are mentioned, probably to do
honor to the venerable mother of the Hebrew people.

**2. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah,**
c.—He came from his own tent to take his station at the door of
Sarah's. The "mourning" describes his conformity to the
customary usage of sitting on the ground for a time while the
"weeping" indicates the natural outburst of his sorrow.
. PURCHASE OF A
BURYING-PLACE.

**3. Abraham stood up,** c.—Eastern
people are always provided with family burying-places but Abraham's
life of faith—his pilgrim state—had prevented him acquiring even
so small a possession ([Acts 7:5](../../../kjv/acts/7/5)).
**spake unto the sons of
Heth**—He bespoke their kind offices to aid him in obtaining
possession of a cave that belonged to Ephron—a wealthy neighbor.

**9. Machpelah**—the "double
cave."

**10. Ephron dwelt**—literally,
was "sitting" among the children of Heth in the gate of the
city where all business was transacted. But, though a chief man among
them, he was probably unknown to Abraham.

**11-15. Ephron answered, Nay, my
lord,** c.—Here is a great show of generosity, but it was only a
show for while Abraham wanted only the cave, he joins "the field
and the cave"; and though he offered them both as free gifts,
he, of course, expected some costly presents in return, without
which, he would not have been satisfied. The patriarch, knowing this,
wished to make a purchase and asked the terms.

**15. the land is worth four hundred
shekels,** c.—as if Ephron had said, "Since you wish to know
the value of the property, it is so and so but that is a trifle,
which you may pay or not as it suits you." They spoke in the
common forms of Arab civility, and this indifference was mere
affectation.

**16. Abraham weighed . . . the
silver**—The money, amounting to £50 was paid in presence of the
assembled witnesses; and it was weighed. The practice of weighing
money, which is often in lumps or rings, each stamped with their
weight, is still common in many parts of the East; and every merchant
at the gates or the bazaar has his scales at his girdle.

**19. Abraham buried Sarah**—Thus
he got possession of Machpelah and deposited the remains of his
lamented partner in a family vault which was the only spot of ground
he owned.

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