Genesis 23 records the death of Sarah and Abraham’s desire to bury her within the Promised Land at the Cave of Machpelah. Family members were usually buried within their native land in Abraham’s day. The fact that Sarah was buried within the Promised Land indicates that Abraham had broken all ties with Ur.
God had made Abraham a powerful man. A cursory reading through this chapter seems to paint a warm, tender reply from the Hittites. While this is true in some respect, a question arises. Why did Ephron want to sell not only the cave but the entire plot of ground surrounding it? The answer may be found in Hittite law. This law would have constrained Ephron to continue to pay taxes on the land if he were to only sell part of it. If he sold the whole parcel, then the new owner had to pay the taxes.
It could be argued that Ephron acted shrewdly since he knew that Abraham had to move quickly in order to bury his wife. The money was exorbitant for such a small parcel. One commentator indicates that “the piece of property was no bargain for Abraham; 400 shekels would be more than a hundred pounds of silver …David paid …50 shekels of silver for the purchase of the temple site from Araunah (2 Sam. 2:24).”
What sounds generous from Ephron is actually selfish. Abraham would have given up quite a bit for this land. But Abraham believed God. It was important to him. God would give him the whole of the Promised Land eventually. This is similar to Jeremiah’s purchase of property within the Promised Land on the eve of the Babylonian captivity (Jer 32.6-15). These men trusted God.
Hebron was in the Promised Land (23.2, 19) and the negotiations were official (23.10, 13, 16, 18). The overriding concern of the chapter is the acquisition of this land from outsiders – the sons of Heth (see 23.20). Sarah’s death seems secondary. Abraham knew of the bondage in Egypt that would take place before God’s promise would be realized (see Genesis 15). He looked to the future. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah were all buried in this cave. Rachel was buried near Bethlehem. Even the death of the patriarchs became a statement of hope in the promises of God.
Our lives ought to be lived with an eye toward the ultimate future. Decisions within the temporal realm ought to communicate to others that we believe God’s promises and live out of them. Will we forsake the treasures of the world for far greater riches? How do we communicate that in our stewardship of God’s provision?