Sarah's Passing

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:04 Speaker 2: Abram, you are to go out from your land, leave your father's house and your relatives behind, and go to the land. I will show you. 00:00:17 Speaker 3: You have to trust me, Sarah. I have weighed the cost, but more reportedly, I know in my heart that we must follow the words of this God. If this is your conviction, then I will follow you. Yes, I don't want to fail them. I I know I've been a coward before. This is my chance to. 00:00:47 Speaker 1: Abram turned his face away from Sarah. She tilted her head to meet his gaze, but he refused. Her voice was soft behind it was a well of unrequited love. 00:01:00 Speaker 3: Go ahead, save them, don't fail, and come back home to me. 00:01:07 Speaker 2: Now. As for your wife, Sarah, as I have given you a new name, she will receive a new one as well. She will be known as Sarah. As you will be the father of many nations. She will also be blessed. I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will produce these nations I have spoken of. Mighty kings of people will come from her. 00:01:46 Speaker 1: Oh, I can't help it. 00:01:49 Speaker 3: You're never going to believe it. It's finally happened. I've promised to us with child, you're going to be a father. I have always wondered how you sustained your faith all these years, waiting for the impossible. 00:02:07 Speaker 4: But now I hear his voice too. I hear his voice in the cries of our son here at last. 00:02:14 Speaker 3: And I hear it in all our laughter. God made me laugh when I first learned of his intentions for my. 00:02:21 Speaker 4: Life, but now everyone will laugh with me. Why son, it is time. 00:02:47 Speaker 1: Abraham's sorrow threatened to swallow him whole, Yet nothing could prepare him for the harrowing sight of his son stumbling forward toward his mother's still form, closing her eyes for the last time. Isaac's tormented whales pierced the air, etching the scene into Abraham's soul forever. Abraham and even Sarah knew this day would come. Her health had declined, and she found she was able to do less and less each day she struggled with the helplessness of it all. The worst part she longed to be by Abraham and Isaac's sides and run the householders always, but the task was proving to be too much, as each day she grew weaker and weaker. Isaac, whose spirits were never diminished by anything, stayed by her side as often as possible to bring comfort. Abraham could still hear her laugh, feeble, though it had become in her final days, filled with love for the sun she had borne in the twilight of her years, the living testament to the promise of her God. The hour had scarcely passed, yet already the news of Sarah's death had swept through the camp and reached even their closest neighbors. Abraham could hear the wailing, chanting, and lamentations rising outside the tent, each cry echoing the deep pangs of his own sorrow. The faint, mournful dirt song echoed in the din. Likely the contribution of hired mourners had been added to Abraham's own household. He knew that his faithful servant and friend, Elieza, was responsible for He loved Sarah as well. They sought to honor her. Now that only her memory remained, Abraham found it hard to focus on the moment. He felt untethered and unmoored. Movement upon Sarah's death bed drew his scattered attention. Isaac backed away from his mother's body, his sobs momentarily still as he gasped for breath. With the finality of in her eyes, he reared back and shrieked, collapsing to the ground and tearing at his garments. The shuddering sobs returned with renewed force. Abraham flung himself down beside his son, weeping with him. Isaac clung to his father, both of them lost in their shared devastation. Abraham had no idea how long they remained like that, lost in the ambient lament of the mourners outside into mingling with their own despondent keening. His thoughts scattered and frayed with memories of Sarah. Yet a nagging fragment of duty begged him to return to the moment. He needed to make decisions and delegate. There were things to be done, but the thought of doing anything at all was overwhelming. But preparations had to be made for her burial, For to not bury one's loved one and quickly in the heat of Canaan was to invite shame. Abraham tore himself from Isaac's embrace and weakly called for Eliza. He knew he would be closer to hand. 00:06:04 Speaker 5: Eliza, Master Abram, Master Isaac, my heart cries with you. Lady Sarah was. 00:06:12 Speaker 3: A remarkable woman. Thank you, Eliezer, you are a true and loyal friend. 00:06:20 Speaker 4: I know she. 00:06:27 Speaker 3: I know she appreciated your service and friendship. But now we must turn to duty, as she would want. We must prepare for burial right away. 00:06:38 Speaker 5: Of course, Master, have you decided where you will bury her? 00:06:43 Speaker 1: Isaac had quieted beside Abraham and waited for his answer. Abraham and decided where he would bury Sarah, where he would one day be buried himself and all their descendants after them. He had even disgusted with Sarah at times over the years that arose as they often moved around as their flocks required. Abraham had wanted to be prepared, as he did not know which of them would die first. As much as it pained him to outlive her, he knew that in this he could ensure the plan he had established would come to pass. 00:07:17 Speaker 5: I have here in hebron, very good Master. Should I arrange a place for her inside one of their cemeteries. 00:07:27 Speaker 3: No, I have a different location in mind, where Father, there is a cave not too far from here, known to the locals as Macpala. 00:07:37 Speaker 5: You wish to purchase a cave tomb. Such a space would surely accommodate your family for years to come. 00:07:45 Speaker 3: Yes, that is my intention. 00:07:48 Speaker 5: But Master Abraham, if your desire is to have Lady Sarah lay to rest in a tomb, what of your brother Nehor and the rest of your family. Your father Terra is buried back in Haran. Surely it would be proper to bring her back to the land of our family. 00:08:03 Speaker 3: Sarah and I discussed this many times, though it would break with tradition. I can think of no better place to lame my beloved Sarah the Rest than in the place promised by our God. We have long been strangers and guests, borrowing and renting, but I can think of no better way to establish ourselves here in the promised land. In this way, we will always occupy a small part of the land God promised to us, even in death. 00:08:37 Speaker 5: So we would now always remain in Hebron. 00:08:41 Speaker 3: Perhaps not always exactly here, we must follow the flocks and the crops as they require, but certainly in the land of Canaan. I wish for our family to always be buried here, and. 00:08:55 Speaker 5: I think Mother would be honored by that, if our families remain here in Canaan, I would never want to be too far from her. 00:09:04 Speaker 3: I know, my son, the cave of. 00:09:06 Speaker 5: Macpela, You said, are you sure this isn't because of the old stories, the one mother would tell, and I couldn't sleep. 00:09:14 Speaker 3: Oh oh. Sarah's sense of duty ran deep, even in keeping up with the family histories, but she especially loved the stories. 00:09:25 Speaker 5: Master, If you don't mind, what is this Hebrew story? 00:09:29 Speaker 3: I'm not familiar, Isaac. 00:09:32 Speaker 5: The stories say that Adam and Eve, the very first man and woman, the ones who walked with God in the garden, they were buried in a long forgotten cave in this land. The locals of Hebron claimed that this cave of Macpela is that very cave. Oh oh, I see that's fascinating, Master Isaac. So is that the reason for this particular cave, Master Abrahm. 00:09:59 Speaker 3: Not quite, though, I don't mind that reason at all. In truth, I have scouted the land and the past and found the cave to be spacious, and the land around it is not suitable for farming, so it will always be peaceful and undisturbed. I also happen to know who owns the land that contained the cave. 00:10:21 Speaker 5: I think mother would like the cave and the story. 00:10:25 Speaker 3: I would think so too. 00:10:27 Speaker 5: So there really is no going back to the land of our fathers, is there, Master Abraham, No. 00:10:34 Speaker 3: My friend, there's not. The land of my father is behind me. What lies ahead is the land of my son and his sons and their sons. 00:10:46 Speaker 1: When the matter of determining a burial spot for Sarah had been decided, Abraham and Isaac oversaw the preparation of her body. After she was washed, she was wrapped in linen. Abraham and Isaac cloughingly played spices between the folds of the material themselves before they departed for the city gate, where they hoped to make their sale. They placed her body on a bier within the tent. There it would wait until it could be placed in its final resting place. 00:11:18 Speaker 5: Now, Master Isaac, this would be a great opportunity to see your father's skills as a businessman and diplomat. You should take great heed with how he presents himself. 00:11:29 Speaker 3: Yes, Eliezer, Eliezer, the boy could also learn a great deal by heeding your advice. You sell yourself short. Your counsel has been invaluable to me over the years, you honor me, Master Ibrahm. 00:11:44 Speaker 1: The men finally approached the city gate, and Abraham's case was called before the judge. Stationed there, a modest crowd of head eyed onlookers were gathered to act as witnesses to whatever business was conducted there. As they stood before the judge, Abraham covertly scanned the gathered men. Ah, there he found the very man he was looking for. He was fairly unremarkable, but had the eye of a shrewd businessman. Abraham knew him by renown alone, but he seemed to be every inch that tycoon. The accounts made him out. 00:12:19 Speaker 4: To be clan leader. Abraham, we have heard of your great loss. We grieve with you for the death of your wife and your mother. 00:12:30 Speaker 3: Young Masteridswer, thank you, judge, what an. 00:12:35 Speaker 4: Honor to hear your inquiry prodect. Your reputation precedes you. You were considered among us as a mighty prince of your God, a prophet king. 00:12:45 Speaker 1: At the judge's words, a memory of King Milkisedek flashed. Abraham fought back the urge to smile at that. How Strange had the assent over his lifetime been to be compared to a true priest of the Godi of l Eleon. Sarah would have found it amusing as well. Abraham had passed their God's tests of faith, but there had also been many failures along the way. But he would put those failures from his mind. Today he had to secure what he was sure would be a lasting peace of their legacy. 00:13:21 Speaker 4: You honor me, judge, What matter do you wish to be heard before me? I know I need not warn you, but I must warn all who speak here before me. Let your words be true before both our great Hathied people as well as our thousand gods. Let their eyes be witnesses to your words and my ruling. 00:13:41 Speaker 3: Thank you, judge. 00:13:43 Speaker 4: You are right. 00:13:44 Speaker 3: My household has suffered a great loss in the death of my wife, Sarah. I would seek to bury her here within these lands. 00:13:53 Speaker 4: Of course, bury your dead in our finest burial place. None of us here will withhold from you. His bury pays for burying the dead good. 00:14:03 Speaker 1: Abraham's reputation throughout the land had given him favor in the eyes of the Heathites who held the city of Hebron. Clearly, his dealings with the Philistines and their abemelegs had only bolstered his good will with these foreign powers, but now he was to see how far that favor would go. Abraham stepped forward apart from his son and his servant, and despite his advanced years and esteem as a prominent clan leader, he kneeled before the judge and the Heathhite witnesses. Once he was kneeling before them, he laid his palms on the stone before him and lay prostrate before them. He was the picture of humility. 00:14:44 Speaker 3: If you are willing for me to bury my dead, listen to me and ask Ephron, son of Zohar, on my behalf, to give me the cave of Macpilla that belongs to him. The cave stands at the end of his field. Him give it to me in your presence, in front of your witnesses and your thousand gods, as well as my God, God Almighty, for the full price. The cave is intended to be a burial portion, so that my family would have a resting place that is passed down as an inheritance from generation to generation. 00:15:21 Speaker 1: There were murmurs in the crowd at that It was clear that they had been expecting Abraham to request a place in one of their cemeteries. The man Abraham had marked upon his arrival stepped forward. All had turned to face the wealthy landowner Ephron, as he strode confidently past the judge to stand before Abraham, eager to strike a bargain with the rich and renowned prophet. 00:15:45 Speaker 4: Clan Leader, Clan Leader, You may stand, my lord. I admits that I'm surprised that my plot of land has got your eye. But now these listen to me. You have proven yourself to be a great friend and ally in our land. Because you are such a friend, I will give you the field, and I will give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in sight of my people, the children of Heath into a thousand gods of. 00:16:12 Speaker 1: The crowd again murmured amongst itself. As Abraham considered this opening move of the bargain, Isaac looked triumphant behind him, but Elieza, ever the faithful adviser, tugged on his sleeve so that the boy would lean down so he could whisper discreetly in his ear. 00:16:29 Speaker 5: This is no gift, master Isaac. This is the way of the bedooin merchant. It is a ceremony of sorts begone long ago when your father first engaged this son of Zohar. Think of this as a gift for a gift, and certainly not this. I see what is next in this ceremony. Your father will insist on payment, as is right, especially with all these witnesses. They need to validate the eventual land purchase and make it a legal construct. 00:17:06 Speaker 3: Once Master Abraham confirms. 00:17:08 Speaker 5: He will pay, Efron will name his price, and the bargaining will begin in earnest. So much pretending amongst these city dwellers. I prefer the plane maneuvers of the herders, I confess I do as well, Master Isaac, But it will be beneficial for you to know the ways of the traders as well as the shepherds. 00:17:30 Speaker 1: Abraham placed his hand over his heart and again bowed before Ephron and the heathdes standing around him. 00:17:38 Speaker 3: Listen to me, if you please let me pay the price of the field, accept it from me, and let me bury my dead there. 00:17:46 Speaker 1: With a satisfied smile on his lips, Efron again slyly sized up Abraham with a greedy glint in his eye, no doubt weighing how much silver he could squeeze from Abraham. 00:17:59 Speaker 4: My lord to me, the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. 00:18:05 Speaker 1: Eyes and brows shot up through the onlookers. This was not an outrageous sum of money for the size of the field, but considering that the land could not yield crops or support livestock, Efron was proposing a severely inflated number that overvalued the land. Starting so high would strike a bold bargain. Indeed, Abraham would be forced to keep his figures within range of Efron's number, not to disrespect him in front of all these witnesses. 00:18:34 Speaker 4: After all, my lord, what is the sum between men such as you and me? Accept my offer and go bury your dead. 00:18:44 Speaker 1: Elias obawked at the merchant's boldness, and eyes of gleaned forward to see what his father would do. 00:18:49 Speaker 3: In response, I accept Efron, son of Zohar. 00:18:53 Speaker 1: Efron blinked in surprise, the entire crowd along with him. It was as if Abraham cut out all his bold posturing at the knees, but he quickly recovered, and a triumphant glee spread across his cunning face. 00:19:08 Speaker 4: I must admit, Glen either you are full of surprises. 00:19:13 Speaker 3: Elieza weigh out the full amount for Efron before all these witnesses. I would have no one argue that I did not pay the full amount Efron thought was right for his property. Are you fully satisfied with this bargain, Ephron? I am ah. Then to day I mark as the day my family takes possession of a portion of the land in Canaan. 00:19:37 Speaker 1: Elies has stayed behind and weighed out the full ten pounds worth of silver lived amount to the four hundred shettles as soum of the average man would make in wages in forty years. Sarah was laid to rest in the cave of Macpeller, an act that renounced her in Abraham's homeland of Heron and claimed Canaan as their legal and official home. Mourners, adorned in sackcloths and throwing dust, gathered at the edge of the field to mourn their lady and to comfort her grieving father and son. The tomb was sealed, and in the coming days an upright stone was prepared and brought to the mouth of the cave to mark Sarah's grave. A portion of the inscription upon it read, and the life of Sarah was one hundred and twenty seven years. These were all the years of her life, a long life, to be sure, and Abraham hoped that her legacy, just like the promise of his family, would be everlasting. Long after the other mourners and members of the household had departed. Abraham and Isaac sat together, talking and reminiscing about their life with Sarah. 00:20:48 Speaker 3: Though we were and continue to be so journers in this land, I can't help but think of the significant moments that took place here. 00:20:59 Speaker 5: Tell me, father, you know these stories, my son, I know, But tell me again. 00:21:06 Speaker 3: You do love your stories, don't you. 00:21:10 Speaker 2: Let's see. 00:21:11 Speaker 3: Ah, Yes, it was over in those oaks where we first came to settle here in Hebron. That was after I separated from your uncle Lot. I was saddened to be parted from him, but I was able to forge great friendships and alliances here in Hebron. Why outside these city walls is where our God appeared to me and told me to gaze up at the stars and try to count them. 00:21:38 Speaker 4: Ah. 00:21:39 Speaker 3: But you could not, ah ha ha, I could not. 00:21:45 Speaker 1: The two men sat outside the cave until the very stars they spoke of began to appear overhead. This prayed door conproduction is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People. Narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. 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