Chayei Sarah (parsha)

Chayei Sarah (Hebrew: חַיֵּי שָׂרָה, "The life of Sarah") is the fifth weekly Torah portion, covering Genesis 23:1–25:18. Despite its name ("the life of Sarah"), it begins with Sarah's death. It tells of Abraham's purchase of the Cave of Machpelah, the mission to find a wife for Isaac, Rebekah's arrival, Abraham's death, and the genealogy of Ishmael.

Death of Sarah

וַיִּהְיוּ חַיֵּי שָׂרָה מֵאָה שָׁנָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וְשֶׁבַע שָׁנִים שְׁנֵי חַיֵּי שָׂרָה

"And the life of Sarah was a hundred and seven and twenty years; these were the years of the life of Sarah." (Genesis 23:1)

Sarah dies in Kiryat Arba (Hebron). Abraham comes to mourn and weep for her. The parasha's name, "The life of Sarah," is ironic — it opens with her death, yet the word "life" (חַיִּים) suggests that her legacy lives on through Isaac and the Jewish people.

Purchase of the Cave of Machpelah

Abraham needs a burial place. He approaches the Hittites (sons of Heth) and says: "I am a stranger and a sojourner with you; give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight" (Genesis 23:4). Ephron the Hittite offers the cave of Machpelah (מְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה) and the field around it for free, but Abraham insists on paying the full price — 400 shekels of silver. The transaction is conducted publicly at the gate of the city, with witnesses. Abraham buries Sarah in the cave. This is the first piece of land in Canaan legally acquired by Abraham, establishing a legal claim to the land.

Finding a Wife for Isaac

Abraham is old and well-stricken in age. He calls his eldest servant (traditionally identified as Eliezer of Damascus) and makes him swear by God, "the Lord of heaven and the Lord of the earth," that he will not take a wife for Isaac from the daughters of the Canaanites, but will go to Abraham's country and kindred (Mesopotamia) to find a wife. The servant asks: "Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land; shall I bring your son back to the land from which you came?" Abraham says: "Beware that you bring not my son thither again" (Genesis 24:6). Abraham affirms that God will send His angel before the servant and make his way prosperous.

Rebekah at the Well

The servant takes ten camels and travels to Nahor in Mesopotamia. He makes the camels kneel by the well outside the city at evening, when women come to draw water. He prays: "O Lord, God of my master Abraham, I pray You, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water. Let it come to pass that the maiden to whom I shall say, 'Let down your pitcher, I pray you, that I may drink,' and she shall say, 'Drink, and I will give your camels drink also' — let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac" (Genesis 24:12–14).

Before he finishes speaking, Rebekah (רִבְקָה), daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, comes out with her pitcher. She is "very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her" (Genesis 24:16). She draws water; the servant runs to meet her and asks for a drink. She says, "Drink, my lord," and quickly lets down her pitcher and gives him drink. Then she says: "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have done drinking" (Genesis 24:19). She draws for all ten camels. The servant gives her a golden ring (half a shekel) and two bracelets (ten shekels of gold) and asks whose daughter she is. She says she is the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah and Nahor. The servant bows and worships God: "Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not left destitute my master of His mercy and His truth" (Genesis 24:27).

Rebekah and Isaac Marry

The servant is brought to Rebekah's family home. He tells the story of his mission. Laban and Bethuel answer: "The thing proceeds from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as the Lord has spoken" (Genesis 24:50–51). The servant gives gifts to Rebekah, her mother, and her brother. He asks to leave the next morning. The family asks Rebekah: "Will you go with this man?" She says, "I will go" (Genesis 24:58). They bless her: "Our sister, be you the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your seed possess the gate of those that hate them" (Genesis 24:60).

Rebekah and her nurse (Deborah) and her damsels ride on camels and follow the servant. Isaac, who had been dwelling in the south (the Negev), goes out to meditate in the field at evening. He lifts his eyes and sees camels coming. Rebekah lifts her eyes, sees Isaac, and falls off her camel. She asks the servant: "What man is this that walks in the field to meet us?" The servant says: "It is my master." She takes her veil and covers herself. Isaac brings her into his mother Sarah's tent, and she becomes his wife, and he loved her. Isaac is comforted after his mother's death.

Death of Abraham

Abraham takes another wife, Keturah (קְטוּרָה), who bears him six sons: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Abraham gives all that he has to Isaac, and gives gifts to the sons of his concubines, sending them eastward away from Isaac. Abraham dies at age 175, "an old man, and full of years" (Genesis 25:8), and is gathered to his people. Isaac and Ishmael bury him in the Cave of Machpelah, beside Sarah. After Abraham's death, God blesses Isaac, who dwells by Beer-lahai-roi.

Genealogy of Ishmael

Genesis 25:12–18 lists the twelve sons of Ishmael (Nebaioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, Kedemah) — "twelve princes according to their nations" (Genesis 25:16). Ishmael dies at age 137. His descendants dwell from Havilah to Shur, which is before Egypt, toward Assyria.

Major themes

• Mourning and burial: Abraham's grief and the purchase of the Cave of Machpelah as a permanent resting place.
• Land and legal claim: The purchase establishes a legal, documented claim to the land of Canaan.
• Divine providence: The servant's prayer and its immediate answer; God guiding the selection of Rebekah.
• Kindness (chesed): Rebekah's hospitality to the servant and camels — the quality that marks her as Isaac's wife.
• Continuity: The transition from Abraham to Isaac; the covenant continuing through the next generation.
• Marriage and family: The importance of finding a suitable partner within the family line.

Classical commentaries

Rashi

Rashi explains that Sarah's death is connected to the Akeidah: the Satan told Sarah that Abraham had slaughtered Isaac, and she died of grief. On the purchase, Rashi notes that Abraham insisted on paying full price to establish a legal claim. On Rebekah, Rashi emphasizes her kindness: she gave water not only to the servant but to all ten camels, a sign of her character.

Ramban

Ramban explains that Abraham sent Eliezer (not Isaac) to find a wife, so that Isaac would not leave the Land of Israel. On the servant's prayer, Ramban notes that it was a test of character, not a magical sign.

Ibn Ezra

Ibn Ezra identifies the servant as Eliezer and explains the geography of the journey. He notes that Rebekah's name means "to tie" or "to bind," foreshadowing her role in continuing the covenant.

Midrashic interpretations

• Bereshit Rabbah 58:1: Sarah died when she heard about the Akeidah.
• Bereshit Rabbah 58:4: Ephron was greedy; he charged an exorbitant price but disguised it as a gift.
• Bereshit Rabbah 60:7: Rebekah was 3 years old when she was betrothed (according to one opinion) — a debated view.
• Bereshit Rabbah 60:12: Isaac was praying (meditating) in the field when Rebekah arrived — the origin of the afternoon (Mincha) prayer.
• Tanhuma, Chayei Sarah 4: The servant's test at the well was a sign of Rebekah's kindness and worthiness.

Haftarah

The haftarah (1 Kings 1:1–31) tells of King David's old age and the succession crisis: Adonijah tries to seize the throne, but Bathsheba and Nathan ensure Solomon's anointing. This connects to the themes of aging, succession, and the continuation of the covenant line.

References

1. Genesis 23:1 – 25:18 (Masoretic Text)
2. Rashi, Commentary on the Torah
3. Ramban, Commentary on the Torah
4. Ibn Ezra, Commentary on the Torah
5. Bereshit Rabbah (Midrash)
6. Tanhuma, Chayei Sarah
7. The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis (Nahum M. Sarna, 1989)
8. Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary (JPS, 2001)
9. Sefaria.org, "Chayei Sarah" (parasha)