Parshat Chayei Sarah
(Bereishit 23:1-25:18)
Sarah dies at age 127 and is buried in the Machpeilah Cave in Hebron, which Avraham (Abraham) purchases from Ephron the Hittite for 400 shekels of silver.
Avraham's servant, Eliezer, is sent laden with gifts to Charan to find a wife for Yitzchak (Isaac). At the village well, Eliezer asks God for a sign: when the maidens come to the well, he will ask for some water to drink; the woman who will offer to give his camels to drink as well, shall be the one destined for his master's son.
Rivka (Rebecca), the daughter of Avraham's nephew Bethuel, appears at the well and passes the "test". Eliezer is invited to their home, where he repeats the story of the day's events. Rikva returns with Eliezer to the land of Canaan, where they encounter Yitzchak praying in the field. Yitzchak marries Rivka, loves her, and is comforted over the loss of his mother.
Avraham takes a new wife, Keturah (Hagar) and fathers six additional sons, but Yitzchak is designated as his only heir. Avraham dies at age 175 and is buried beside Sarah by his two eldest sons, Yitzchak and Yishmael (Ishmael).