THE VALLEY OF MAMRE AND THE TOMBS OF THE FOUR PATRIARCHS
9. (1) On the east of Hebron is a field, facing the Double Cave of Mamre, which Abraham bought from Ephron to possess it.
10. (2) In the valley containing this plot holy Arculf made a pilgrimage to the place of the Tombs of the Arbe (the Four Patriarchs), Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Adam the First Man. (3) They are buried with their feet to the south (not east, as is usual in other parts of the world) and their heads to the north. (4) Round the place where they are buried runs a low wall in a rectangle. (5) Adam, the First of Creation, was told by God the Creator. as soon as he had sinned, "Dust thou art, and to dust thou shall go" <Gen. 3:19>. He is buried not far to the north of the other three, at one end of the rectangular stone enclosure. His is not an honourable burial in a rock-cut stone tomb like the rest of his offspring, but he is buried in the earth, covered with earth, dust himself and turned to dust, and awaits the resurrection with all his offspring. And such a burial fulfils the sentence which God uttered on him. (6) The Three Patriarchs follow the example of their first parent, and rest beneath humble dust. All the Four have tombs surmounted by small monuments constructed of dressed stones laid in such a way as to form a shape like a church, corresponding with the length and breadth of each tomb. (7) The three tombs belonging to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are grouped together. They are protected by three monuments of the shape we have described, and made, as has been said, of hard white stones. Adam's tomb also has a superstructure. but it is of darker-coloured stone, and is less well-made. (8) Arculf also saw in this place the tombs for their three wives, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah. They are buried in the ground, and their monuments are humbler and smaller. (9) One finds this small field containing these Tombs of the Patriarchs one stade to the east of the wall of ancient Hebron, (10) a city which is said to have been founded earlier not only than the cities of Palestine, but even earlier than any of those in Egypt. Even so it is in a sad state of ruin today. (11) So much for our description of the Tombs of the Patriarchs.
(transl. Wilkinson)
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