Genesis 23:2

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 23:2

Kirjath-arba, or, the city of Arba; so called probably from a giant or great man called Arba, who lived and ruled in those parts. See Joshua 14:15; Joshua 15:13. It is objected against this scripture, that this city was not called Hebron till Joshua's time, Joshua 14:15; but this is a mistake, Joshua doth not say so, but only that the name of Hebron before, ( or in old time), as this very particle is rendered, Deuteronomy 2:20, and elsewhere. So the sense is, the most ancient name of it was... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Genesis 23:1-2

CRITICAL NOTES.—Genesis 23:1. The years of the life of Sarah.] Heb. pl. lives. Probably used as the plural of eminence. Some of the Jewish expositors refer the expression to three stages in the life of Sarah.—Genesis 23:2. Hebron.] Same as Kirjath-Arba. “Here Abraham had resided, and, having been absent some forty years, had returned. This was a most ancient city, the earliest seat of civilised life, having been built seven years before Zoan, the oldest capital of Egypt (Numbers 13:22). It is... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Genesis 23:1-20

Chapter 23And so Sarah was a hundred and twenty-seven years old. And she died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah ( Genesis 23:1-2 ),Now evidently Abraham had been away with the flocks or something when Sarah died and he wasn't at her side at her death, which is a sad thing indeed. He came to mourn,and to weep for her. And he stood up from before his dead, and he spake to the sons of Heth, saying, I am a stranger and a sojourner with... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 23:1-20

Genesis 23:4. A burying-place. Abraham believed in a future state; therefore he, as well as the other patriarchs, buried his dead. Joseph, actuated by this belief, gave commandment for his bones to be brought out of Egypt. It is the most decent way of disposing of the dead, that the dust may return to its original dust. The practice of burning the dead, and depositing the ashes in an urn, with coins and trinkets, is of great antiquity, and there are few of the ancient nations who did not... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Genesis 23:1-2

Genesis 23:1-2Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for herAbraham in the house of mourningWhat lessons would such a man as Abraham learn in this house of mourning?I. THAT IN VIEW OF THE AWFUL FACT OF DEATH THE LITTLENESS OF HUMAN LIFE IS SEEN. II. TO REALIZE THE FACT OF HIS OWN MORTALITY. “I may be the next to go.” III. TO FEEL THAT THERE IS A LIFE BEYOND. IV. THE SACREDNESS OF SORROW FOR THE DEAD. (T. H. Leale.)Mourning for the departedThe true mourning a sanctified feeling of death.... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 23:2

Gen 23:2 And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same [is] Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. Ver. 2. And Sarah died. ] The Jews would persuade us that the devil represented to her the offering of Isaac, whereat she took sick and died. This is but a mere conceit of theirs; for Abraham then dwelt at Beersheba, now at Hebron. And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah. ] So she was the first that we read of mourned for at death; and it is mentioned as an... read more

Samuel Bagster

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - Genesis 23:2

Kirjatharba: Genesis 23:19, Genesis 13:18, Numbers 13:22, Joshua 10:39, Joshua 14:14, Joshua 14:15, Joshua 20:7, Judges 1:10, 1 Samuel 20:31, 2 Samuel 2:11, 2 Samuel 5:3, 2 Samuel 5:5, 1 Chronicles 6:57 came: For the convenience of feeding his numerous flocks, Abraham had several places of temporary residence; and it is likely, that while he sojourned at Beer-sheba, as we find he did from Genesis 23:19, of the preceding chapter, Sarah died at Hebron, which was 24 miles distant. mourn:... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Genesis 23:2

And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep — He did not only perform the ceremonies of mourning according to the custom of those times, but did sincerely lament the great loss he had, and gave proof of the constancy of his affection. Therefore these two words are used, he came both to mourn and to weep. read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 23:2

2. Sarah died in Kirjath-arba To this place Abraham had again brought his family after his residence in Beer-sheba . Genesis 22:19. Kirjath-arba appears to have been the original name of Hebron, named after its founder or distinguished resident, Arba, a chief among the Anakim . Joshua 14:15. Mamre was in the immediate neighbourhood . See on Genesis 13:18. In the land of Canaan As distinguished from the land of the Philistines . Genesis 21:34. Came to mourn This implies that he was... read more