Abraham Purchases the Cave of Machpelah
During these events, Sarah, Abraham’s beloved wife had passed. Abraham legally and contractually purchased the estate in which Sarah was to be buried.
Genesis 23:19
And then Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre --now Hebron--in the land of Canaan.
Machpelah comes from the root word ‘Kefel” which means to multiply or double, referring to the three couples buried there. The site would ultimately become the burial place for the three patriarchs and three of the four matriarchs of the nation of Israel. Tradition also places it as the burial place of Adam and Eve.
Herod the Great who reigned from 37-4 BCE built a mighty enclosure upon the cave. The building was later reconstructed as a mosque in the Arab period of 637 CE.
Overview
Herod the Great (37-4 BCE) built a mighty enclosure upon the cave. The building was reconstructed as a mosque in the Arab period in 637 CE.
In the Bible
And then Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre, now Hebron, in the land of Canaan.
וְאַֽחֲרֵי-כֵן֩ קָבַ֨ר אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת-שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ אֶל-מְעָרַ֞ת שְׂדֵ֧ה הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה עַל-פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵ֖א הִ֣וא חֶבְר֑וֹן בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן:
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