See Genesis xxiii.

While Abraham has come down to us as the noblest type of the patriarchal chief in all history, Sarah may be regarded as the type of conjugal love and obedience. The Bible speaks of her as lovely in person and affectionate in disposition. She was married to Abraham before his departure from Chaldea, and was with him through all his wanderings in Palestine. The grief manifested by Abraham at her death and his anxiety about her burial place show the depth of his affection for her. The sons of Heth had given him the choice of all their sepulchres; but he chose only the "field of Machpelah, with the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field "and these he desired for a possession. In the illustration we see Abraham led tenderly away at the close of the burial rites, but still turning back with eager and sorrowful gaze towards the sepulchre."And Sarah was a hundred and seven and twenty years old; these were the years of the life of Sarah. And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba, the same Hebron, in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, 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. And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, Hear us, my Lord, thou art a mighty Prince amongst us in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. And Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. And he communed with them, saying, if it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of lohar: That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field for as much money as it is worth he shall give it to me, for a possession of a burying place amongst you: And Ephron dwelt amongst the children of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gates of his city, saying, Nay, my lord, hear me, the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee, in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee, bury thy dead. And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. And he spake unto Ephron. Audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me; I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, My Lord, hearken unto me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that between me and thee Bury therefore thy dead. And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron, and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

"And after this Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre: the same is Hebron, in the land of Canaan. And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham, for a possession of a burying place, by the sons of Heth."