Hebron
The Judean city of the patriarchs — where Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah — David's first capital.
Location
Hebron is a Judean hill-country city about twenty miles south of Jerusalem and eighteen miles south of Bethlehem. It rises to about 3,050 feet — the highest continuously inhabited town in Israel-Palestine. The Bible calls it 'Mamre' and 'Kirjath-arba' in earlier layers (Genesis 23:2; Judges 1:10).
Biblical importance
Hebron is the city of the patriarchs. Abraham pitched his tent at Mamre near Hebron, and here he bought the cave of Machpelah for a burial place (Genesis 23). Here Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob are all buried. Later David made Hebron his first capital, ruling seven years and six months from it before he moved to Jerusalem.
Important biblical events
- Genesis 13:18 (KJV) Abraham pitches his tent at the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron.
- Genesis 18 (KJV) The three visitors at the terebinths of Mamre.
- Genesis 23 (KJV) Abraham buys the cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite.
- Genesis 25:9-10 (KJV) Abraham is buried at Machpelah.
- Genesis 35:27-29 (KJV) Isaac dies at Mamre and is buried with Abraham.
- Genesis 49:29-33 // 50:13 (KJV) Jacob's body is brought back from Egypt and buried at Machpelah.
- 2 Samuel 2:1-4 (KJV) David is anointed king of Judah at Hebron.
- 2 Samuel 5:5 (KJV) David reigns at Hebron seven years and six months before moving to Jerusalem.
Related People
- Abraham — the buyer of Machpelah.
- Isaac and Jacob — buried here.
- Sarah, Rebekah, Leah — all buried at Machpelah.
- David — his first capital.
- Christ Jesus — descendant after the flesh of every patriarch buried here.
Connected Places
Christian tradition
- The Herodian enclosure (Cave of Machpelah / Tomb of the Patriarchs) is one of the oldest continuously venerated Christian, Jewish, and Muslim sites in the world.
- Christian pilgrimage to Hebron is described by Egeria (late fourth century) and continued through the medieval period.
- Byzantine and Crusader churches were built at Hebron; the Herodian walls have stood since the first century BC.
Household reflection
Hebron teaches the household that we honour our forebears. Abraham bought a grave for his wife. His descendants — every one of them for four generations — chose to be buried beside her. A household that remembers its dead is a household that knows how to live.
Room connections
Where this entry meets the household in the wider house of CrossAIHub.
- Read (Library) — Read Genesis 23 aloud when the household has lost a loved one.
- Pray (Chapel) — Pray for the household's forebears on the anniversary of their deaths.
- Family (Kitchen Table) — Keep a small book at the family table of the names of loved ones who have died.
- Sing (Choir Room) — Sing 'For All the Saints' (William Walsham How, 1864).
- Learn (Workshop) — Study the Herodian architecture of the Cave of Machpelah — the oldest continuously venerated tomb complex in the world.
Further reading
Genesis 23, 25, 35, 50 in the KJV.
2 Samuel 2 and 5.
Egeria, Travels (late fourth century).
Elsewhere in the Atlas
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