- Abraham bought the Cave of Machpelah as his family’s burial plot for 400 shekels (Genesis 23), in one of the earliest recorded land purchases.
- Legend has it that he wanted this cave because he knew that Adam and Eve were already buried there (hence it contained earth from the Garden of Eden – and possibly was the entrance to the Garden of Eden itself).
- All the patriarchs and matriarchs (apart from Rachel) were buried there. Hence the name often used: Cave of the Patriarchs.
- King David was anointed in and ruled from Hebron – the city in which the cave lies.
- Since Abraham was the founder of three religious faiths, the cave has come to be seen as sacred by Christians and Muslims alike.
- The Byzantine Empire built a church by the cave.
- In 614, the Persians conquered the area and destroyed the church
- 637 – the area came under the control of the Muslims and the building was reconstructed as a mosque.
- In 1100, after the area was captured by the Crusaders, the enclosure once again became a church and Muslims were no longer permitted to enter.
- In 1188 Saladin conquered the area, reconverting the enclosure to a mosque but allowing Christians to continue worshipping there.
- In the late 14th century, the Marmalukes forbade Jews from entering the site, only allowing them as close as the 5th step on an outer staircase. Jews’ access to the site was limited from then on, with their access to a particular step (there are 7 in all) being regulated according to the whim of the ruler at the time.
- 23-24th August 1929 – local Arabs attacked the indigenous Jewish population of Hebron, killing 67. Soon thereafter all Jews were evacuated from Hebron by the British mandate forces, thus removing the Jewish presence in Hebron that had lasted since the days of the bible.
- 1967 After the Six Days’ War, Hebron came under Israeli rule. The building of the Cave of Machpelah was opened to Jews and Muslims alike. Jews moved back to Hebron, and to the new nearby city of Kiryat Arba.
- February 25th 1994 – Baruch Goldstein, a Jewish resident of Kiryat Arba, opened fire on unarmed Muslim worshippers at the Cave. 29 people were killed and 125 wounded.
- January 15th 1997 – Hebron Protocol signed by Prime Minister Netanyahu hands control of 80% of Hebron (H1) to the Palestinian authority.
