Genesis 23:1-20
Most likely not looking like she was a day over forty, Sarah dies
at 127 years old in Hebron and an entire chapter of the Bible is devoted to
Abraham’s purchase of a cave where all the Patriarchs and their first wives
will be buried (sorry Keturah and Rachel, but you're not in the first wives club). Cue all the expositors offering guesses and trying to explain
why the details of this transaction and burial cave are so significant. If the purpose was to
show that Abraham had a rightful claim to some land in Palestine, it seems kind
of silly given that it’s supposed to be Yahweh’s land anyway. If he wants to
give it to Abraham and exterminate the sons of Heth/Hittites, that’s his
prerogative, right? Why the need for all the described pomp and circumstance? Like I said, I'm sure someone has offered a guess that goes beyond the obvious political and cultural reasons.
