Isaac, the son of Abraham, grew up to be a young man. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, lived for 127 years and passed away in the land of the Hittites. Abraham mourned for her and buried her in a cave in Machpelah near Mamre. After Sarah’s death, Abraham wanted to find a wife for Isaac from his hometown instead of the Canaanites where he was living. So he sent his best servant back to his land to find a girl for Isaac and bring her back.

The servant arrived in Abraham’s country and sat by a well. He prayed to God to show him the girl who was chosen to be Isaac’s wife. He asked for a sign that whoever offers water for him and his camels would be the chosen one. Rebecca, a pretty girl, offered him water from her jar and also watered his camels. The servant was pleased and asked if he could spend the night at her place. Rebecca took him to her tent where he met her father, Bethuel, her brother Laban, and her mother. The servant told them about Abraham and Isaac and how the Lord had shown him, Rebecca. The servant asked if he could take Rebecca with him to marry Isaac, and her parents agreed, realizing it was from the Lord. The servant offered gold, silver jewelry, and clothing as a gift to Rebecca, and expensive gifts to her brother and mother and took Rebecca back to Isaac. Isaac and Rebecca got married in his mother’s tent. Isaac loved Rebecca deeply.

Abraham lived for 175 years and passed away. He was buried in the same field next to his wife, Sarah. Rebecca was childless for a long time, so Isaac prayed to the Lord, who heard his prayers. Rebecca became pregnant with twins, and the babies jostled each other within her. When Rebecca inquired about this to the Lord, he revealed to her that two nations were in her womb, and the older would serve the younger. When it was time, the babies were born, with the second son, Jacob, holding onto the heel of his older brother, Esau.

Archaeological evidence of the existence of the Tombs of the Patriarchs

The shrine complex known as the Tombs of the Patriarchs is located in Hebron, a Palestinian city in the southern West Bank, 30 kilometers (19 mi) south of Jerusalem. It was constructed primarily during the reign of Herod in the 1st century BC and later underwent further additions by the Crusaders in the 12th century AD. The complex is centered around the ancient double cave known as the Cave of Machpelah, which has been revered as the burial site of the Hebrew patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, along with their wives, since at least 1000 BC.

The massive, 1st-century BC Tombs of the Patriarchs in the ancient city of Hebron. Photo Courtesy: oligopistos.