Daily Chumash & Rashi Chayeh Sarah Sunday – Avraham purchases Mearas Hamachpeila and buries Sarah

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Summary of Text

Rishon

  1. Sarah passes away:
  • Sarah was 127 years old upon her passing.
  • Sarah passed away in Kiryat Araba, in Chevron.
  • Avraham mourned over her passing and came to eulogize her.

 

  1. Avraham purchases Mearas Hamachpeila and buries Sarah:
  • Avraham approaches Bnei Cheis to purchase the Mearas Hamachpeila. Bnei Cheis reply that he can bury Sarah wherever he wishes, without any protest.
  • Avraham bows to them [as a sign of greeting] and kindly rejects their offer. He asks to meet with the land owner of the Mearas Hamachpeilah, Efron Hachiti, in order to purchase it from him for its full price.
  • Efron offers the field as a gift: Efron offers Avraham to take the entire field, including the cave, as a present from him, without payment. Avraham once again kindly rejects the offer and asks to purchase the field for its full price. Efron offers Avraham to purchase the land for 400 Shekel Kesef.
  • Avraham paid Efron 400 Shekel Kesef of the best currency.

Rashi Q&A – Bereishit 23:1–16

Sarah’s Life and Death

Q: Why does the Torah separate Sarah’s age into 100, 20, and 7 years?
A: To teach that each stage was equally good: At 100, she was as sinless as at 20; at 20, as beautiful as at 7.

 

Q: What does “שְׁנֵי חַיֵּי שָׂרָה” (the years of Sarah’s life) teach?
A: All her years were equally good.

 

Q: Why is Sarah’s death written after the Akeidah?
A: She died upon hearing that Yitzchak was nearly sacrificed.

 

Q: Where did Sarah die?
A: Kiryat Arba (Hebron). Called so for four giants or four couples buried there: Adam & Chava, Avraham & Sarah, Yitzchak & Rivka, Yaakov & Leah.

 

Avraham’s Negotiation

Q: What does “גֵּר וְתוֹשָׁב” (foreigner and sojourner) mean?
A: If you sell, I’ll act as a stranger and pay; if not, I’ll claim it as a citizen by Divine right.

 

Q: Why did Avraham bow to the Hittites?
A: As a gesture of respect during negotiations.

Q: What is Machpelah and why is it called so?
A: From “כפל” (double): either a two-level structure or because couples were buried there.

 

Q: What does “בְּכֶסֶף מָלֵא” mean?
A: Full price—complete payment, not partial.

 

Ephron’s Role

Q: Why is Ephron’s name written defectively (without ו)?
A: To hint at his deficiency—he promised generously but acted greedily.

 

Q: Why was Ephron seated among the Hittites?
A: He was appointed as an officer that day due to Avraham’s need.

 

Q: How much did Avraham pay?
A: 400 silver shekels—large centenaria coins, universally accepted.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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