And then Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre–now Hebron–in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 23:19 (The Contemporary Torah, JPS, 2006)
One of my favorite things to find in Genesis is how much attention is given to the women.
Here in Genesis 23, we see the great lengths that Abraham takes to ensure a place of honor for his wife.
Consequently, Sarah’s burial site is established as a timeless memorial. Permanent. Forever.
What an honor for Sarah.
After Sarah is buried, the text reiterates that the field and all within it became Abraham’s rightful possession. Thus Sarah’s grave is the first permanent, legal presence in the land promised to Abraham and to their descendants.
The Torah: A Women’s Commentary on Genesis on Genesis 23:19