Drash
Genesis 23:1-4
Blaine Robison, M.A.
Delivered 15 November 2025
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The Legacy of Sarah
1 Now the life of
Sarah was one hundred twenty-seven years. 2 And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba,
that is, Hebron in the land of Canaan; and Abraham came to lament Sarah and
to mourn. 3 Then Abraham stood up from the face of his dead, and spoke to
the sons of Heth, saying, 4 "I am a sojourner and an immigrant among you;
give me property for a burial place among you that I may bury my dead out of
my sight.” (Bereshit/Genesis 23:1-4 BR; cf.
LXX)
NOTE: See the Additional Textual Note following the exposition.
The parashah for today focuses on the
life of Sarah. She is introduced in Scripture as the wife and half-sister of
Abraham. The first mention of her name also notes that she was barren and
had no child, but also that she was very beautiful. Her name was originally
Sarai, but God changed it at the same time He changed Abraham's name and
declared to him according to the Hebrew text: "I will bless her and also give you a
son by her and I will bless her and she shall become nations, kings of
peoples will come from her" (Gen 17:16).
However, the Septuagint Text, which is
the Jewish translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek and much earlier than
the Masoretic Text reads differently: "Now I will bless her and give to you
from her a son, and I will bless him and he will be for the nations and
kings of nations will be from him." Thus the promise is of a line of
descendants that would result in the Messiah. Giving birth after natural
hope had expired demonstrates that the covenant people originate from divine
intervention, not human capability.
Sarah's life was marked with important
milestones. She trekked on foot with her husband from Ur of the Chaldees to
Haran to Canaan then to Egypt and back to Canaan, about 1500 miles total.
She encouraged Abraham to take her servant Hagar as a concubine-wife in
order to have a child by surrogacy, a decision much criticized by Bible
commentators. However, it's important for us to remember that God never
finds fault with Sarah. When God is silent He is still making a choice.
More significant than this family drama
is that Sarah prepared a meal for ADONAI, a pre-incarnate visit of Yeshua,
with three angels, during which she heard God's promise of a son. After a
lifetime of barrenness she gave birth at the age of 90, and by the miracle
son the Messianic line was confirmed. When Ishmael mocked Isaac Sarah
demanded Abraham divorce Hagar and send her away. Abraham was not happy with
her demand, but God agreed with her (Gen 21:10-12). She reminds me of an old
proverb that many a man has married a wisp of a woman only to be surprised
by the will of the wisp.
Twice Sarah was kidnapped into the harem
of a pagan king because Abraham did not declare their marriage. Yet God
intervened to preserve her purity and brought judgment on those kings. The
narrative of Chapter 23 is unique because Sarah is the only woman whose age
at her death is mentioned in the Bible, an honor doubtless given her as the
mother of the Israelite people (Isa 51:2; Gal 4:26).
The Scripture
narrative emphasizes Abraham's great love for Sarah since he both mourned
and loudly wept over her. Afterward Abraham purchased a burial site for four hundred
shekels of silver, which included the cave of Machpelah. The cave of
Machpelah would later become his own tomb, as well as the burial site for
Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob. This burial site became Israel’s first
legal foothold in Canaan, a tangible pledge of future possession.
Sarah is one of the most outstanding and
important women in the Bible. Kefa (Peter) holds her up as a model of godly
behavior for all women believers (1Pet 3:7). Sha'ul/Paul allegorizes Sarah
and Hagar in his Galatian letter. Sarah represents the Jerusalem above,
freedom, and life by promise; whereas Hagar pictures the Jerusalem of the
first century, the Sinai covenant and bondage. Thus Sarah represents the
grace of God and the new covenant.
Sarah is also included in the list of
heroes in Hebrews 11 known for trust in God and faithfulness to God. Sarah's
legacy extended far into the future, including creating the twelve tribes of
Israel through her grandson, Jacob. And because of her faithfulness
Scripture reports that Abraham's descendants became a multitude as the stars
of heaven and innumerable as the sand by the sea shore.
What lessons can we take from
considering the life of Sarah? First, to trust in God and His timing for
your life. There is nothing wrong with making plans but as Jacob the Lord's
brother said, "We should say, if the Lord wills, we will do this or that"
[Jas 4:15). We need to be mindful of God's sovereign working in our lives.
Second, walking by faith as Sarah did requires patience, which goes along
with trusting in God’s sovereign timing. Finally, Sarah discovered that
nothing is impossible with God and God delivers on His promises. We can have
the same confidence that God will work in our lives. God still performs
miracles and He will do big things for His people.
Barukh
Hashem
Additional Textual Note
According to Genesis 23:2 Sarah
died in Kiryat-Arba, a village in Hebron, but the text does not mention
precisely the presence of Abraham. Since the account of Sarah's death
follows closely after the narrative of the binding of Isaac, the Talmudic
era midrash suggested Sarah died as a result of hearing news from Satan of the
"binding" [Gen. Rab.
58:1;
Perkei of Rabbi Eliezer
32:8]. When she was told that her son
had been slaughtered as a burnt offering, "her soul
flew out of her," and she died. Abraham came directly from Mt. Moriah to find
her dead [Targum Jonathan
23:2; Gen. Rab.
58:5].
However, Scripture offers no support for this imagined scenario,
but simply says Abraham came to her, which would have been to her tent where she
lay. The
Book of Jubilees, a Jewish text much earlier than the Midrash
and Targum commentaries, says that Abraham was at Kiryat-Arba at the time.
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