Machpelah

MACHPE'LAH (double cave), a field in Hebron containing the cave which Abraham bought of Ephron the Hittite as a burial-place for his family. A full account of the negotiations, carried on after the Oriental forms still prevalent, is given in Gen 23. That cave became the burial-place of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah. Gen 23:19; Gen 25:9; Gen 49:29-32; Gen 50:12-13. The name does not occur except in the book of Genesis. The cave Machpelah is one of the Bible sites which are positively known. It was situated on the western slope of a hill in Hebron, the town lying for the most part to the south and west. Present Appearance. — A large structure called El Haram, "The Sacred Enclosure," surrounds the ancient cave. It stands high up the slope on the eastern side of the valley, conspicuous at a distance for its size. The outer wall, which contains not a single window, is 194 feet long, 109 feet wide, and from 48 to 58 feet high. The stones are of immense size (one of them 38 feet long and 4 wide), dressed and fitted with great care, and resemble those of the substructure of the temple at Jerusalem. Opinions differ as to the age of this building. Some ascribe it to David or Solomon, others to the period after the Captivity, still others to the time of Herod, who rebuilt the temple; but there seems to be no good reason for disputing the view of Robinson, who regarded the external structure of the Haram as the work of Jewish hands, erected long before the destruction of the nation. Tristram and Stanley also accept the identification of Machpelah as certain, and hold it beyond doubt that the main stone enclosure was built by the kings of Judah, and most probably by Solomon or David. Within the enclosure is a mosque, which was probably erected in the time of Justinian as a Christian church. Visitors are rigidly excluded; but by a special firman of the sultan the Prince of Wales was admitted in 1862. He was accompanied by Dean Stanley, and a full account of the visit is found in Stanley's Jewish Church (first series, appendix ii.). In separate apartments they were shown tombs or cenotaphs purporting to be those of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebekah, and Leah. These tombs were of stone and overhung with cloth embroidered with gold and silver. Joseph's tomb is shown in a structure joining the Haram on the west side. Between the tombs of Isaac and Mosque at Hebron, covering the Cave at Machpelah. Rebekah was a circular opening into a cavern below, which is supposed to be the real cave of Machpelah. Of the cave itself there is no detailed and trustworthy account. Captain Warren was told that it had not been entered for 600 years. The Moslems have a superstition that whoever attempts to enter it will be struck dead, and their fanaticism causes them to prohibit any one from making the attempt. It is thought to be possible that the embalmed body of Jacob may still be preserved in the cave, as Egyptian mummies have been found of as early a date. Since the visit of the Prince of Wales, the marquis of Bute (1866) and the Crown-Prince of Prussia (1869) have been admitted to the mosque. See Hebron. It is to be hoped that the political changes going on in the East may open the way for explorers to solve the ancient mystery respecting the cave of Machpelah, and perhaps bring to light the embalmed body of Jacob.