And then Avraham buried his wife Sara in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre—now Chevron—in the land of CanaanGenesis 23:19 (The Israel Bible™)
וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן קָבַר אַבְרָהָם אֶת־שָׂרָה אִשְׁתּוֹ אֶל־מְעָרַת שְׂדֵה הַמַּכְפֵּלָה עַל־פְּנֵי מַמְרֵא הִוא חֶבְרוֹן בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן
Hear the verse in Hebrew
v’-a-kha-ray KHAYN ka-VAR av-ra-HAM et sa-RAH ish-TO el m’-a-RAT s’-DAY ha-makh-pay-LAH al p’-NAY mam-RAY HEE khev-RON b’-E-retz k’-NA-an
The Hidden Meaning of Chevron
Genesis 23 records Avraham’s (Abraham’s) purchase of Chevron (Hebron). The name Chevron has profound significance. The Hebrew name Chevron (חברון) is a contraction of the word chaver (חבר), friend, and the word na–eh (נאה), beloved. The very name of the city of Chevron alludes to its most famous resident Avraham, who was the first beloved friend of the Lord, as is written in Isaiah (41:8), “Seed of Avraham My friend.” The Israeli army maintains a strong presence in Chevron to defend the city’s Jewish residents and all worshippers at the Mearat Hamachpela (Cave of the Patriarchs) pictured above.
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