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Biblical Figures Buried in Hebron

Hebron, an ancient city in the land of Canaan, holds significant biblical importance as a burial site for several prominent figures. Originally known as Kiryat Arba, or "city of Arba," it was located in the forested highlands north of the Negev [8, 9]. The first recorded burial in Hebron is that of Sarah, Abraham's wife, which also marks the first commercial transaction detailed in the Bible: Abraham's purchase of the Cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite for 400 shekels of silver [3, 7]. This cave and the field surrounding it became a family burying-place for Abraham and his descendants [2].

The biblical figures explicitly stated to be buried in Hebron, specifically in the Cave of Machpelah, include:

The Cave of Machpelah is described as a "double cave" and is one of the few biblical localities whose identification is considered certain [2]. It was situated on the slope of a hill east of Hebron, "before Mamre" [2]. Over this cave, an ancient Christian church was reportedly erected, possibly during the reign of the Roman emperor Justinian [2].

Rabbinic traditions, such as those found in the Babylonian Talmud and Midrash Rabbah, expand on the significance of Hebron and the Cave of Machpelah. The city was known by several names, including Kiryat Arba, Eshkol, Mamre, and Hebron [9]. One interpretation of "Kiryat Arba" (city of four) is that it refers to the four righteous men who resided there (Aner, Eshkol, Mamre, and Abraham) or the four who were circumcised there [9]. Another tradition suggests it is called Kiryat Arba because four couples were buried there: Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah [11, 12]. This tradition is highlighted in a narrative where Esau disputes Jacob's burial spot in the cave, claiming the remaining plot for himself, as Jacob had buried Leah in his designated place [11, 12].

Beyond the patriarchal family, another significant biblical figure buried in Hebron is Abner, the commander of Saul's army. After Abner's assassination, David commanded that he be buried in Hebron [5, 6]. The text in 2 Samuel 4:12 mentions that the head of Ish-bosheth (Saul's son) was buried in the grave of Abner in Hebron [5, 6]. This indicates that Hebron served as a burial ground for other important individuals in Israelite history, not solely the patriarchs.

The practice of burial in caves or rock-hewn tombs was common among the Hebrews [4]. These tombs were sometimes located in gardens and were occasionally whitewashed [4]. The purchase of the Cave of Machpelah by Abraham for Sarah's burial is notable as it was the only piece of the land of Canaan that Abraham ever possessed [3]. This act underscored the patriarch's commitment to the promised land, even in death. Jacob's desire to be buried there further emphasizes this connection, viewing the land as a "consecrated place" and a "type of the rest that remains for the people of God" [14]. The burial of these foundational figures in Hebron thus links them permanently to the land promised to their descendants.

Sources

  1. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 22, section 1: . How Isaac Died, And Was Buried In Hebron. FOOTNOTES:”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Machpelah — Portion; double cave, the cave which Abraham bought, together with the field in which it stood, from Ephron the Hittite, for a family burying-place (Gen. 23). It is one of those Bible localities about the identification of which there can be no doubt. It was on the slope of a hill on the east of Hebron, "before Mamre." Here were laid the bodies of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah (Gen. 23:19; 25:9; 49:31; 50:13). Over the cave an ancient Christian church was erected, probably in the time of Justinian, the Roman emperor. This church has”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Burial — The first burial we have an account of is that of Sarah (Gen. 23). The first commercial transaction recorded is that of the purchase of a burial-place, for which Abraham weighed to Ephron "four hundred shekels of silver current money with the merchants." Thus the patriarch became the owner of a part of the land of Canaan, the only part he ever possessed. When he himself died, "his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah," beside Sarah his wife (Gen. 25:9). Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, was buried under Allon-bachuth, "the oak of weeping" (Gen.”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Tombs — Of the Hebrews were generally excavated in the solid rock, or were natural caves. Mention is made of such tombs in Judg. 8:32; 2 Sam. 2:32; 2 Kings 9:28; 23:30. They were sometimes made in gardens (2 Kings 21:26; 23:16; Matt. 27:60). They are found in great numbers in and around Jerusalem and all over the land. They were sometimes whitewashed (Matt. 23:27, 29). The body of Jesus was laid in Joseph's new rock-hewn tomb, in a garden near to Calvary. All evidence is in favour of the opinion that this tomb was somewhere near the Damascus gate, and outside the cit”
  5. 2 Samuel “2 Samuel 4:12 (NASB) — Then David commanded the young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hung them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.”
  6. II Samuel “II Samuel 4:12 (Darby) — And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged [them] up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.”
  7. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 14, section 1: . Concerning Sarah Abraham's Wife; And How She Ended Her Days. Now Sarah died a little while after, having lived one hundred and twenty-seven years. They buried her in Hebron; the Canaanites publicly allowing them a burying-place; which piece of ground Abraham bought for four hundred shekels, of Ephron, an inhabitant of Hebron. And both Abraham and his descendants built themselves sepulchers in that place.”
  8. Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 13:18: 13:18 Hebron was an Anakite city (Num 13:22) originally called Kiriath-arba (“city of Arba”), located in forested highlands just north of the Negev (Gen 12:9; Josh 17:15). Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all settled there (Gen 18:1; 35:27; 37:14), and Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah were buried there (23:19; 35:27-29; 49:29-32; 50:13). • Mamre was an Amorite (14:13; 15:16).”
  9. Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 58:4: “Sarah died in Kiryat Arba, which is Hebron, in the land of Canaan; Abraham came to lament for Sarah, and to weep for her” (Genesis 23:2). “Sarah died in Kiryat Arba” – it was called by four names: Eshkol, 9 See Numbers 13:22–24. Mamre, 10 See Genesis 13:18. Kiryat Arba, Hebron. Why does it [the Torah] call it Kiryat Arba? It is because four [ arba’a ] righteous men resided there: Aner, Eshkol and Mamre, and Abraham, and four righteous men were circumcised there: Abraham, Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre. Alternatively, it is because four righteous men, patriarchs”
  10. Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 35:27: 35:27-29 Esau and Jacob (listed here in ordinary birth order) came together—probably for the first time since they had reconciled (33:16-17)—to bury Isaac in Hebron (see 13:18; 23:1-2, 17-19).”
  11. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 99b.25:7: Once they reached the Cave of Machpelah, Esau came and was preventing them from burying Jacob there. He said to them: It says: “And Jacob came unto Isaac his father to Mamre, to Kiryat Arba, the same is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned” (Genesis 35:27). And Rabbi Yitzḥak says: It is called Kiryat Arba because there were four couples buried there: Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Leah. Esau said: Jacob buried Leah in his spot, and the spot that is remaining is mine.”
  12. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 99a.25:7: Once they reached the Cave of Machpelah, Esau came and was preventing them from burying Jacob there. He said to them: It says: “And Jacob came unto Isaac his father to Mamre, to Kiryat Arba, the same is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned” (Genesis 35:27). And Rabbi Yitzḥak says: It is called Kiryat Arba because there were four couples buried there: Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Leah. Esau said: Jacob buried Leah in his spot, and the spot that is remaining is mine.”
  13. Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 49:29: 49:29-33 Bury me with my father: This grave in the land of Canaan represented hope for the future (cp. 47:29-30). Others buried at the cave of Machpelah near Hebron were Sarah (23:19), Abraham (25:7-9), Isaac (35:27-29), Rebekah, and Leah.”
  14. Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 47:30: I will lie with my fathers - As God had promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and his posterity, Jacob considered it as a consecrated place, under the particular superintendence and blessing of God: and as Sarah, Abraham, and Isaac were interred near to Hebron, he in all probability wished to lie, not only in the same place, but in the same grave; and it is not likely that he would have been solicitous about this, had he not considered that promised land as being a type of the rest that remains for the people of God, and a pledge of the inheritance among the sain”
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