Who painted Burial of Sarah?

Gustave Doré painted Burial of Sarah.

What Bible passage does Burial of Sarah depict?

Burial of Sarah depicts the biblical scene from Genesis 23.

Burial of Sarah by Gustave Doré

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One of the few sites in Palestine that remains undisputed is the cave of Machpelah in Hebron. This sacred location holds deep significance for Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions, as it is believed to be the oldest known burial place in the world. According to the shared beliefs, the cave houses the resting places of the three patriarchs, along with their wives (except Rachel, who was buried near Bethlehem), awaiting the resurrection.

For centuries, the mosque built over the cave was strictly restricted to Muslims, and it was not until 1862 that the Prince of Wales gained access to it. However, even esteemed visitors like him were not allowed to enter the actual cave itself.

The first occupant of this hallowed tomb was Sarah, whose passing led Abraham to purchase the land from the sons of Heth. This transaction, recorded in the twenty-third chapter of Genesis, is regarded as the first legal contract in history and aligns with the customary bargaining practices still observed in Oriental regions today.

Sarah, a prominent figure in Scripture, is distinguished as the first woman for whom we receive detailed information, and her age is notably mentioned in the sacred text. She was a loyal companion to Abraham throughout their nomadic journey, though not without her human flaws. Despite her imperfections, the First Epistle of Peter (3:5) praises her, along with other virtuous women of old, for their trust in God.

Abraham's affection for Sarah was profound, and upon her passing, he was deeply concerned with securing a permanent resting place for her remains. The illustration depicted with fine taste portrays him being led away from the cave after the funeral rites, yet casting a sorrowful and eager gaze back toward the place where his beloved wife now lay. This poignant moment exemplifies the test and strength of his faith.

Although Abraham had received numerous divine assurances that the land would belong to his descendants, he never personally owned any of it except this sepulchre. Nonetheless, Hebron remained inseparably associated with him, and the Arabs have known it for centuries by the name "El Klutlil," meaning "The Friend," in reference to the honorable title "The Friend of God" bestowed upon him thrice in Scripture.

Details

Artist: Gustave Doré
Medium: engraving
Passage: Genesis 23

Found in: Genesis, Genesis 23

Genesis 23

1 Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years. This was the length of Sarah’s life.

2 Sarah died in Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

3 Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spoke to the children of Heth, saying,

4 “I am a stranger and a foreigner living with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”

5 The children of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him,

6 “Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb. Bury your dead.”

7 Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.

8 He talked with them, saying, “If you agree that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,

9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me among you as a possession for a burial place.”

10 Now Ephron was sitting in the middle of the children of Heth. Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the children of Heth, even of all who went in at the gate of his city, saying,

11 “No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.”

12 Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land.

13 He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will, please hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there.”

14 Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,

15 “My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury your dead.”

16 Abraham listened to Ephron. Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the current merchants’ standard.

17 So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all of its borders, were deeded

18 to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.

19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan.

20 The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham by the children of Heth as a possession for a burial place.

Genesis 23 · World English Bible

The artist

Gustave Doré

1832 - 1883

Strasbourg, France

Paul Gustave Louis Christophe Doré (6 January 1832 – 23 January 1883) was a French artist, printmaker, illustrator, comics artist, caricaturist, and sculptor who worked primarily with wood-engraving.