In Chapter 23 of the book of Genesis it is related that Abraham after the death of Sarah bought a plot of land near Hebron from Ephron the Hittite, the Cave of Mechpelah, for 400 shekels of silver. There he buried his wife Sarah. Later Abraham himself Isaac, Jacob, Rebecca, and Leah were buried there. (Rachel was buried near Bethlehem). This site is now known as the Tomb of the Patriarchs or Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs and is a shrine for both Jews and Arabs most of whom are Muslims
The site has been occupied since the time of Herod the Great by a large structure, since the Arab conquest a mosque under the control of the Muslim Waqf a traditional trust holding land for Islamic religious purposes. During periods such as the Crusades when Christians were in control of the site it has been a church. Despite Israeli occupation of the West Bank, access by Jews remains limited.
