Chayei Sarah
Genesis 23:1-25:8
With some commentary by Marty
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Sarah died in Kiryat Arba, which is Hebron, in Canaan. Abraham came to eulogize Sarah and weep for her.
Sarah’s death is written immediately following the binding of Isaac because through her hearing about the binding – that her son had been designated to be slaughtered and was indeed almost sacrificed – her soul departed from her and she died.
Abraham was so embroiled in sorrow, finding himself in need of a place to bury his beloved among the land controlled by the Hittites. He explained to them that he was a stranger from a land a far off in need of a place where he could bury his wife. He told them that if they would sell him a parcel, he would act as a stranger and buy it from you. But if not, he would act as a citizen and take it from him because the Holy One, blessed be He, said to me, said to me, “I shall give this land as a heritage for your offsprings.
In keeping with the way of the Hittite ancestors, they replied, “Listen to us, my lord, you are a prince of G-d in our midst; honor us, therefore, bury your dead.”
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Abraham rose, and he bowed down to the people of that region, the Hittites. He spoke to them, saying, “If it is really your Let him grant me the Cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is located at the edge of his field. Let him sell it to me for its full price, in your presence, so I can make it into a family burial ground.” Of course, this Hittite offered to give him the cave and his entire field that it held for free. But Abraham demonstrated his profound understanding of the culture and insisted on paying for it at the full price in silver. And so began the backwards bargaining, in which Ephron says, “I have already given it to you,” and Abraham replies, “No, I must pay you for it.” To which Ephron says, “Okay, but I shall only accept 400 shekels of silver.” This was an incredibly harsh amount of money for a field, even with a cave in it, perfect for burial. But Abraham immediately weighs out the silver and pays him. This act of overt generosity has played well, throughout the generations, because it gave Israel proof of ownership of land in the Promised Land. There Abraham buried his wife in the cave of Machpelah, whose name means double, since it was a cave with two distinct sections, that Abraham paid a double portion for. Chapter 24 opens with a declaration that G-d had blessed Abraham with everything. The Hebrew word used for everything is בַּכֹּל b’kol and it has the same numeric value בֵּן , ben, son. And in keeping with the awesomeness of this parashah The servant made the camels kneel outside the city, at a well in the afternoon when the women would come to fetch water. There, he knelt and prayed to the G-d of his master, “Let it be that the maiden to whom I say, ‘Please tilt your pitcher so that I may drink,’ and who replies, ‘Drink, and I will also give water to your men and camels,’ will be the one whom You have designated for Your servant Isaac. I will know through her that You have acted kindly with my master.” He had not yet finished his prayer when Rebecca came out. She had been born to Betheul, son of Milkah, the wife of Abraham’s brother, Nachor, whose son, Lot, Abraham had taken with him to Canaan. Her pitcher was on her shoulder. She was very beautiful, a virgin, of pure moral character. “If you would, let me sip a little water from your pitcher,” asked the servant. “Here, drink sir,” she answered as she tipped her pitcher to give him water. Now, her beauty is made complete. This sweet young thing pulled 120 gallons of water from the well, at 8 pounds/gallon; nearly half a ton. The man wondered if this could really be the one he was sent to fetch back as a bride for Isaac. Had the G-d of his master made his journey successful? When the camels had drunk their fill he took a gold nose ring, weighing a beka (half a shekel) and two gold bracelets weighing 10 gold shekels for her arms, and gave them to her. And he asked her whose daughter she was. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night? She answered, “I am the daughter of Betheul son of Malkah, whom she bore to Nachor.” “Blessed be G-d, G-d of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and truth from my master. G-d has led me right to the house of my master’s brother. |
Now Rachel ran to her mother’s quarters and related all these events. Rachel had a brother named Laban. Laban ran outside to the man at the spring. Having seen the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms having heard the word to their mother.
“Come, you who are blessed by G-d! Why are you standing outside when I have prepared the house and prepared space for the camels.” When the servant come to the place for the camels, he unmuzzled them, gave them straw and fodder and gave the men who were with them water to bathe their feet.
Food was served but the servant said, “I will not eat until I have spoken my peace.” Laban said “Speak.”
So, he told of his master, Abraham; of his wealth, lands, cattle, sheep, silver and gold, bondswomen and bondmen, camels & donkeys.
My master’s wife Sarah bore my master a son after they had grown old, and he gave the son all that he owned. My master bound me by oath to not take a wife among the Canaanites where he now lives, but that I must come here to the place where his brother still dwells and find a wife for his son among his family.
“I arrived today at the spring and I prayed that the G-d of my master would bring me a wife for the son. I would know it is the right own when I ask her for some water and she says, after you are satisfied, I will draw water for your camels. And this is exactly as it has occurred. And so now, if you act with kindness towards me and my master, tell me. If not, then I shall go to the right of to the left.”
Betheul & Laban said together, “This has surely come from G-d! We therefore cannot say anything to refuse you, neither in a bad, disrespectful manner nor in a nice, polite manner.”
“Rebecca is here in front of you; take her and go to me a wife to the son of your master as G-d has spoken.”
The servant gave gifts of gold and silver, as well as lovely articles of clothes, and gave them to Rebecca. And he also gave her mother and brother delectable fruits.
Then, he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night.
In the morning Rebecca’s mother & brother said, “Let the girl stay with us a year or 10 months. Afterwards, she may go.
Buit he replied, “Do not cause me to tarry, now that G-d has made my way prosper. Send me forth so I can return to my master.
“Let us summon the girl and ask her opinion.
“I will go now,” said Rebecca.
And so, Rebecca and a group of women were sent to serve her.
And in the afternoons, Isaac was known to go out into the field to meditate and pray.
From this activity, all Israel now has Minchah prayers in the afternoons.
And as they approached the place of Abraham’s dwelling, a young man was seen by Rebecca coming across the field. She asked, “Who is that man?”
“It is Isaac, my master’s son, for whom I was sent to find you.”
The servant told Isaac all that he had done. Isaac brought her to the tent of Sarah. He married her and loved her. And so, Isaac was consoled over the loss of his mother.
Chapter 25 opens with a statement that has the cause of much debate among scholars for generations. Abraham married another woman, who was called Keturah. Most believe that he actually married Hagar again. She was called Keturah because her deeds were as sweet as incense. And because she had “tied up” her reproductive organs having been with no man since Abraham had sent her away. She bore him Zimrah, Medan, Yishbak, and Shu’ach.
All the days of Abraham were a hundred years, seventy years, and five years.
When he was 100 years old, he maintained his youthful virility like a man of seventy. At 70, he was like a five-year-old, without sin.
He two sons, Isaac & Ishmael buried him in the Cave of Machpelah. It is said that Ishmael repented and allowed Isaac to lead the procession.
I hope you have enjoyed learning this lesson as I have in bringing it to you.
My desire is for you to share this teaching with everyone you know and that you continue to pray that Debra & I remain in strength with good health so that we may continue to serve HaShem through
our service to His people.
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