创世记二十三章，记载撒拉的死与埋葬。圣经每个字既都是神的呼出，创世记二十三章就必定非常有意义。我们若认为创世记一章、二章是重要的，也必须认为创世记二十三章是重要的。每位基督徒都宝贵创世记一章，因为那是神创造的记载。我们不仅宝贵创世记一章是创造的记载，也宝贵它是生命的记载，因为那里说到神的形像和管治权，与神所创造的人有关。我们也宝贵创世记二章，因为那里说到生命树。然而，我们很少人宝贵坟地。但创世记二十三章是以坟地为中心，并且详细记载购买坟地的事。
创世记其他的记载都相当简略，这段却充分且清楚的记载坟地在那里，为谁所有，如何购买，以及亚伯拉罕所付的代价。这块坟地的说法非常有意义，因为圣经告诉我们，不仅撒拉葬在那里，并且亚伯拉罕、以撒、利百加、雅各和利亚也葬在那里。非常有意义的是，亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的名字，乃是复活之神神圣名称的组成成分（太二二32）。
创世记二十三章是一扇窗户，透过这扇窗户我们能看到新耶路撒冷。在这章里看不到新耶路撒冷，但透过这章却能看到。这章好像一架望远镜：透过它我们能看见在遥远的将来永远的帐幕。
创世记二十一章记载以撒的出生。这的确值得一题。接着，同章告诉我们，亚伯拉罕赎回一口井，栽上一棵垂丝柳树，并呼求耶和华以利俄拉姆的名。我们也已经看过，二十二章记载献以撒的事。然后，二十三章记载撒拉的死和埋葬。这三章至少包括了三十七年。在这三十七年中，亚伯拉罕必定遭遇了许多事，但圣经只题到四件事：以撒的出生，在别是巴的生活，以撒的献上，以及撒拉的死和埋葬。这三章略去了我们所认为重要的事，却包含了撒拉的死和埋葬的详细记载。因此，我们必须密切留意创世记二十三章。
请享受诗歌 (点击诗歌名）
Sarah Death and Burial – Gen. 23:1-2
Genesis 23 records the death and burial of Sarah. Since every word of the Bible is the breath of God, Genesis 23 must be significant. If we consider Genesis 1 and 2 to be important, we must also consider Genesis 23 to be important. Every Christian treasures Genesis 1 because it is the record of God’s creation. We treasure Genesis 1 not only because it is a record of creation but also because it is a record of life, speaking of God’s image and dominion, which relate to the man created by God. We also treasure Genesis 2 because it speaks of the tree of life. However, very few of us treasure the burying place. But Genesis 23 is centered on a burying place and records the purchase of the burying place in detail.
The other records in Genesis are quite brief, but this section records fully and clearly where the burying place was, to whom it belonged, how it was purchased, and the price Abraham paid. The account of this burying place is significant because the Bible tells us that not only was Sarah buried there, but Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah were also buried there. It is significant that the names of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are the components of the Divine Title of the God of resurrection (Matt. 22:32).
Genesis 23 is a window through which we can see the New Jerusalem. We cannot see the New Jerusalem in this chapter, but we can see it through this chapter. This chapter is like a telescope: through it, we can see the eternal tabernacle in the distant future.
Genesis 21 records the birth of Isaac. This is indeed worth mentioning. Then, the same chapter tells us that Abraham redeemed a well, planted a tamarisk tree, and called there on the name of Jehovah, the Eternal God (El Olam). We have also seen that chapter 22 records the offering of Isaac. Then, chapter 23 records Sarah’s death and burial. These three chapters cover at least thirty-seven years. During these thirty-seven years, Abraham must have experienced many things, but the Bible mentions only four things: the birth of Isaac, the living at Beersheba, the offering of Isaac, and the death and burial of Sarah. These three chapters omit things we would consider important, yet they contain a detailed record of Sarah’s death and burial. Therefore, we must pay close attention to Genesis 23.