The parasha opens with the death of the matriarch Sara. The mention of her passing is surprising, since the Torah does not provide these details concerning the other matriarchs. In fact, this phenomenon is directly related to another question that should be raised in the context of the first section of our parasha: what is the central subject of the story? Does the text really want to tell us about Sara's death and burial, or are these events the background to the real subject of the story – the purchase of Me'arat ha-Makhpela?

Sarah's burial
The Cave of Makhpela
Sarah's death
Avraham Purchases the Cave of Makhpela