This portion is Chayei Sarah and it means, “life of Sarah.” In this portion, Sarah dies at the age of 127 and Abraham buys the cave of Machpelah in Hebron to bury her there. Abraham pays Efron 400 silver shekels for the cave. It is evident that he finds this cave important; perhaps its past connections were meaningful to him. It was supposedly where Adam and Eve were buried. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all end up being buried there.

 

Abraham says he is a sojourner and a foreigner. He is an alien living among them. He asks to purchase a burial site in Genesis 23:4 NKJV, "I am a foreigner and a visitor among you." This is something that believers in the true God have been able to attach special meaning to. Just like Abraham, we are foreigners to this world as we live out our pilgrimage of life. Do we live as God's people and are foreigners to the ways of this world, or have we forgotten our way. The book of Hebrews talks about the believers of old who were strangers and pilgrims on the earth but will be in the future kingdom of God.

Hebrews 11:13-16 NKJV

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.