(1) Sarah’s lifetime—the span of Sarah’s life—came to one hundred and twenty-seven years. (2) Sarah died in Kiriath-arba—now Hebron—in the land of Canaan; and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to bewail her.

(2) לספוד לשרה ולבכותה TO BEWAIL SARAH AND TO WEEP FOR HER — The narrative of the death of Sarah follows immediately on that of the Binding of Isaac, because through the announcement of the Binding — that her son had been made ready for sacrifice and had almost been sacrificed — she received a great shock (literally, her soul flew from her) and she died (Pirkei D'Rabbi Eliezer 32).

Normally speaking, one first cries by themselves, and only afterwards eulogizes in public...but since Avraham came from far away, in the meantime many people had gathered around their home... he therefore had to immediately eulogize her...

And there is an additional difference. If the death of a person causes a significant rift in the life of their mourners, and their pain is very great such that it overwhelms their praise for the deceased: in such a case, the crying is more central and comes prior to the eulogizing.... Here, Sarah's death did not cause Avraham a major change in the functioning of his world, i.e. Isaac was already grown... he therefore eulogized her greatly, according to her importance. He therefore eulogized her first, and then cried. 

(10) What a rare find is a capable wife! Her worth is far beyond that of rubies. (11) Her husband puts his confidence in her, And lacks no good thing. (12) She is good to him, never bad, All the days of her life. (13) She looks for wool and flax, And sets her hand to them with a will. (14) She is like a merchant fleet, Bringing her food from afar. (15) She rises while it is still night, And supplies provisions for her household, The daily fare of her maids. (16) She sets her mind on an estate and acquires it; She plants a vineyard by her own labors. (17) She girds herself with strength, And performs her tasks with vigor. (18) She sees that her business thrives; Her lamp never goes out at night. (19) She sets her hand to the distaff; Her fingers work the spindle. (20) She gives generously to the poor; Her hands are stretched out to the needy. (21) She is not worried for her household because of snow, For her whole household is dressed in crimson. (22) She makes covers for herself; Her clothing is linen and purple. (23) Her husband is prominent in the gates, As he sits among the elders of the land. (24) She makes cloth and sells it, And offers a girdle to the merchant. (25) She is clothed with strength and splendor; She looks to the future cheerfully. (26) Her mouth is full of wisdom, Her tongue with kindly teaching. (27) She oversees the activities of her household And never eats the bread of idleness. (28) Her children declare her happy; Her husband praises her, (29) “Many women have done well, But you surpass them all.” (30) Grace is deceptive, Beauty is illusory; It is for her fear of the LORD That a woman is to be praised. (31) Extol her for the fruit of her hand, And let her works praise her in the gates.

(5) .."A woman of valor is a crown for her husband." This is a reference to Avraham, who mourned for Sarah. The verse earlier stated, "And Sarah died, etc." Avraham began to cry for her, and to recite Ashet Chayil: "A woman of valor, who can find one? Her husband's heart trusts in her" - when was this? When he said to her "Say that you are my sister." "She repays his good, and not his bad, all the days of her life. She susses out linen and cloth" - this is between Isaac and Yishmael, as when she said, "kick out this maidservant and her son." "She is like a merchant's ships" - [this is like what is stated:] " And she was taken into Pharoah's palace," and then later, "and she was sent to Avimelech." "She rises in the night" - when was this? When "Avraham rose early in the morning." "She considered a field and then purchases it" - she considered, and then bought, the field of Machpela, where she was ultimately buried there, as is stated, "afterwards, Avraham buried Sarah. "She girds her loins with might" - when was this? When the angels came, as is stated, "Avraham hurried towards the tent, towards Sarah..." "She senses that her enterprise is good" - when the kings approached them, as is stated, "And [Avraham] divided his troops." "Her hands are spread towards the distaff" - she would give food to the passersby. "Her palm was outstretched to the poor" - she would give tzedaka and cloth the naked. "Her house needn't fear snow" - this is Gehenom, and why [needn't they fear]? "For the whole house is clothed in crimson." [Don't read shanim, crimson, but rather shnaim] two - Shabbat and circumcision. "She makes for herself a sheet" - this is the Kohanic garb. "From the fruit of her handiwork she plants a vineyard" - this is Israel, as is stated in Isaiah, "the vineyard of God are the multitudes of Israel." "Her husband is known at the gates of the city" - when Avraham requested from the Hittites a burial plot. "She makes garments" - this is circumcision, as it states in Psalms, "God's secret is revealed to those who fear God." "She is dressed in strength and splendor" - these are the clouds of glory that would surround Sarah's tent. "Her mouth speaks to wisdom" - when is this - when she said, "approach my maidservant." "She scouts the needs of her household" - everyday, Sarah would gaze outwards, anticipating when the angels would return who'd promised they'd come back in a year's time when she would become pregnant. "Her children stand and praise her," as is stated, "Who would have said to Avraham that Sarah would nurse?" "Many daughters are valorous" - these are the non-Jewish nations; "but you are greater than them all" - as it is stated, "Look up at Avraham your father, and to Sarah who birthed you. "Give her from the fruit of her labors" - as it is stated, "these are the years of Sarah's life."