Abraham's Joys and Sorrows from Isaac's Birth to Sarah's Burial

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Shmini 3:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

How much Abraham rejoiced! He was blessed in the world, and he was made great, and he slew several kings, and he caused the Holy One, blessed be He, to possess heaven and earth. And the Holy One, blessed be He, gave him a son at one hundred years, and he circumcised him and raised him. And in the end it was said to him (Gen. 22:2), "Take now your son, your only one," and so forth, "and offer him up there as a burnt offering." And he made a journey of three days, as it is said (Gen. 22:4), "On the third day," and so forth. He returned from Mount Moriah and buried Sarah; he did not find a place to bury her until he purchased one for four hundred shekels of silver. And after this, old age sprang upon him. Now if for Abram the righteous it was thus, for the rest of the children of man all the more so.

Themes

AbrahamJoyPatriarchsMatriarchsDeath

Biblical References

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Antiquities of the Jews (Josephus)Sarah Dies and Isaac Marries RebekahFour hundred shekels of silver. That was the price Abraham paid for a patch of dirt in Hebron, just enough ground to bury his wife. Sarah had died at one hundrePirkei DeRabbi EliezerHow Abraham's Marriage Customs Shaped Jewish TraditionPirkei DeRabbi Eliezer turns to How Abraham's Marriage Customs Shaped Jewish Tradition. The text It's a treasure trove of expansions on biblical narratives, offBook of JubileesCovenant of Abraham of IsaacIn this ancient text, which some consider to be part of the broader Jewish apocrypha, we find a pivotal moment concerning Abraham, his wife Sarah, and a promiseBook of JubileesJacob Discovers Abraham Has Died in His SleepThen… a chill. An unnatural cold that seeps into your bones. That’s how Jacob discovered the death of his grandfather, Abraham. The Book of Jubilees, a fascinatLegends of the JewsCovenant of Abraham of SarahThey were promised a child in their old age – a miracle, really. But when faced with the seemingly impossible, did they truly believe? The Torah tells us that wLegends of the JewsAbimelech's TransgressionHe and his people were terrified, convinced a similar fiery doom might be headed their way. Abimelech, understandably shaken, summons Abraham. He's not happy. H