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Who Was Abraham鈥檚 Last Wife?

Nov 10, 2023 By Claire Shoyer | Commentary | Hayyei Sarah

Parashat Hayyei Sarah focuses on the devoted relationships between two of our patriarchs and two of our matriarchs. We begin by reading of how Abraham strove to fully acquire the land for Sarah鈥檚 burial. We then see that Abraham wanted to find a fitting wife for his son, Isaac. Abraham鈥檚 servant brings back Rebecca, and she and Isaac begin a partnership which seems supportive and loving鈥攁s soon as Isaac and Rebecca meet, we read that Isaac loves Rebecca and finds comfort in her after his mother鈥檚 death (Gen. 24:67). In both accounts, we see that each of these pairs was specifically well-matched. Why, then, does the parshah end by saying, 鈥淎nd again, Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah鈥� (Gen. 25:1)? Who was this additional wife, Keturah, and why do we read about her in the context of the loving relationships of Abraham and Sarah, and Isaac and Rebecca? Is Keturah introduced simply to transmit information about Abraham鈥檚 geneaology, or does her presence signify something deeper?