Parashah Chayei Sarah
Genesis 23:1—25:18
© 2007 Chris O’Quin.
“And Abraham continued…” Genesis 25:1
I.
The Death of Sarah
1. Recap of the previous Parashah—the Akeidah
2. Abraham had completed all that the Lord had asked of him—he had done everything right.
3. He had risen to a new level of obedience and spirituality.
4. G-d was pleased with everything Abraham had done and even called Abraham His friend.
5. Yet, in spite of all this, what does he come home to find?
6. Why would G-d allow this to happen? Why now?
7. If we recap the 10 trials or Abraham this may seem even more unfair
A. The
“Calling" of Lech Lecha, leaving
behind a situation that is no longer working in order to surrender to the
unknown.
B. The famine in
C. the injustice he faced in
D. The war between the four kings and the five kings – being at the mercy of
the turbulent political climate of the times.
E. The marriage to Hagar that came as a result of having no children with Sarah
– family drama and relationship challenges
F. The command to circumcise himself at his advanced age – carrying out G-d’s Will can be painful.
G. The injustice and deception suffered at the hands of Abimelech of Grar when he also took Sarah – people could be cunning,
manipulative and self seeking at the expense of others.
H. The sending away of Hagar after having impregnated her – family drama,
heartbreak, and pain.
I. The sending away of his son Ishmael – family drama, heartbreak and pain.
J. And finally, the binding and attempted sacrifice of Yitzchak, his beloved
son, Isaac – testing the limits of sanity itself.
8. What can we learn from an event that, on the surface, seems so unfair?
9. Let’s first look at the events in context.
II.
Why and how did Sarah die?
1. The story of her death found in Pirkei D’Rabbi, Eliezer 32.
2. Frustrated with his inability to thwart Abraham and Isaac’s mission at the Akeidah, Satan then turns to revenge.
3. He visits Sarah and informs her that her husband has just slain her only son.
4. In her old age the news is more than she can bear and she dies of a broken heart.
5. Upon his return Abraham finds that his wife has passed.
III.
With his own heart breaking Abraham nevertheless kept
his eyes fixed steadfastly upon the future and the welfare of his people.
1. The
A. What was the history of the cave?
B. How did Abraham discover the cave?
C. Who else was buried there?
2. Abraham negotiates with Ephron
A. Was Ephron really willing to give Abraham the cave for free?
B. Why did Ephron choose 400 shekels for his sale price?
C. What would have been a more reasonable price?
IV.
Eliezer finds a wife for Isaac
1. Having secured a permanent burial place for the Jewish nation in the Promised Land, Abraham now turned his attention to finding a wife for his son.
2. What was Eliezer’s prayer? Genesis 24:12—14
3. What was he looking for in a wife for Isaac?
4. Why is this significant?
5. Where was Isaac when Rebecca first saw him?
6. Where were they married and why is this significant?
A. The three abiding miracles of Sarah
1. The Sabbath candles lasted all week
2. The challah remained fresh all week
3. A cloud remained over her tent
B. When Sarah died the miracles ceased
C. When Rebecca made the tent her home the miracles returned
D. What do we learn from this? Proverbs 31—that a godly woman brings untold blessings upon her home.
E. The sages tell us that even in the world to come the righteous continue to earn interest on the mitzvoth they did while here in this life. Explain
F. Isaac continued to be a blessing to his mother even after her passing
V.
Hagar returns
1. Rashi explains that Keturah was actually Hagar
2. Abraham continued to have children with her
3. What happened to them?
4. Why does the Torah add this detail?
5. What were the results of this restoration?
A. Hagar was restored to her husband
B. Hagar was rewarded for her chasteness
C. The knowledge of the One True G-d spread further into the world. As Bereishis Rabbah 61 and Sefer Chassidim point out, It was because He knew that some of the offspring would bring the light of the Torah to idolatrous peoples. Such was the case with Jethro, a descendant of Keturah who became the father-in-law of Moses (Seder Olam).
VI.
The death of Abraham
1. How old was Abraham when he died? 175 years old
2. Why did he die five years early?
VII.
In retrospect what lessons can we learn about the
lives and deaths of Abraham and Sarah?
1. Sarah died, it seemed, prematurely. But her death lead to
A. the restoration of Abraham and Hagar
B. the knowledge of the One True G-d being proclaimed out into the world
C. Jethro, Zipporah, Moses and the whole Jewish nation would derive blessing from this spreading of Ethical Monotheism.
2. The death of Abraham also came prematurely but it spared him from the sorrow of seeing Esau turn to idolatry
VIII. Conclusion
1. The story of the twins in their mother’s womb
2. The meaning of Exodus 33
3. In all of Abraham’s trials he demonstrated an unflinching resolve to persevere
A. Hebrews 12:1 reminds us to persevere in the face of hardships
B. In Philippians 3:12-14 Paul also demonstrates his very Abrahamic resolve to press on towards the mark.
C. Let us also walk as these great men did. Read from Munk p. 327.