Chayei Sarah in a Nutshell

Sarah dies at age 127 and is buried in the Machpelah Cave in Hebron, which Abraham purchases from Ephron the Hittite for four hundred shekels of silver.

Abraham’s servant Eliezer is sent, laden with gifts, to Charan, to find a wife for Isaac. At the village well, Eliezer asks G‑d for a sign: when the maidens come to the well, he will ask for some water to drink; the woman who will offer to give his camels to drink as well shall be the one destined for his master’s son.

Rebecca, the daughter of Abraham’s nephew Bethuel, appears at the well and passes the “test.” Eliezer is invited to their home, where he repeats the story of the day’s events. Rebecca returns with Eliezer to the land of Canaan, where they encounter Isaac praying in the field. Isaac marries Rebecca, loves her, and is comforted over the loss of his mother.

Abraham takes a new wife, Keturah (Hagar), and fathers six additional sons, but Isaac is designated as his only heir. Abraham dies at age 175 and is buried beside Sarah by his two eldest sons, Isaac and Ishmael.

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November 9, 2012

I have a difficult time with Hagar marrying Abraham.If so, why is this not told to the arabs.?

Betie Newton
glendale(az)

November 8, 2012

Keturah/Hagar

Perhaps because after Hashem sent Hagar back to be obediant to Sarah, Hagar became a nice person...After all was she not promised a good future and Sarah being the strong kind faithful woman that she was may have helped Hagar to become a better wife, A wife Abraham would need after her passing.

Anonymous
Miami

November 20, 2011

Rivkah/Keturah

Rivkah, I think of the span of time lived by the patriarchs as the rise of an era marked by a certain novel event, like a cultural development that takes hold and never lets go, but supports and gives way to the next cultural development represent by the next patriarch, and so on.

Keturah: I wonder what it says in Hebrew??? When I read the King James bible, or any English translation, I wonder how much it veers from what is meant in Hebrew or Greek. Sometimes the entire message is completely transformed by the misapplication of one word. Not being able to read Hebrew and Greek will forever hold me back in my quest to plumb history through mythology.

anonymous
ottawa, canada

November 19, 2011

From a comment in the Geneva Bible of 1560 I have learned that Abraham was married to Ketura while Sarah was alive. Genesis 25 vs 1.

Jay Tompkins

November 19, 2011

Sarah and Abraham's ages at death

It is hard to believe Sarah and Abraham lived such long lives, but I guess Torah scholars accept it as fact.

Rivkah
williamsport, pa

November 18, 2011

Keturah

I too would like to know why Abraham remarried Keturah after Sarah's death, if indeed she WAS Hagar.There seems to be some question as to whether Keturah was indeed Hagar. Google Keturah and look at the WIkipedia article for further reference.

Rochie in Austin
Austin, Tx
chabadsa.com

November 16, 2011

Chayei Sarah

The last sentence makes sense to me. For Abraham Avinu was such special righteous man. I understand why a woman would not marry anyother man again after having such a wonderful husband.
Although, like me, I never married again because of the bad experience I had. Two opposite. Living for Hashem, Blessed be His Name, is the most rewarding life.

Anonymous
Mesa, Arizona, USA

November 16, 2011

To Anon in Mesa, AZ

Keturah's children were indeed not present at Abraham's passing. This is because, as we read in Gen. 25:6, Abraham had given them gifts and sent them to the land of the East.

As to what Keturah means, there are a number of suggestions, all of them pointing to her righteousness. According to some it is related to the word "ketoret," incense, a reference to the fact that her actions were as pleasing before G-d as incense. Other traditions associate it with the word for "tying," reflecting the fact that she had bound herself shut to all men other than Abraham. It was due to this special righteousness and loyalty that Abraham took her back after Sarah had died and Isaac and Rebecca were settled.

Rabbi Menachem Posner

November 15, 2011

Cave in Hebron

Very informative and lots to think about. The first question that popped up for me was about Sarah's burial in a cave. I wonder where that tradition originated.

annonymous
ottawa, canada

November 15, 2011

Response to Annonymous Arizonaf

Abraham's remarriage to Hagar was new to me too! I heard Hagar was actually royalty, maybe a princess before she became Sarah's handmaiden, then Abraham's second wife. This may explain why she treated Sarah with contempt, but I might be wrong.

annonymous
ottawa, canada

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Chayei Sarah in a Nutshell

Genesis 23:1–25:18