The Tomb of the Patriarchs is located in Hebron, some twenty-two miles southwest of Jerusalem. According to the Book of Genesis, Abraham purchased a field containing the cave of the Machpelah, his first plot of land, paying four hundred silver pieces for this property. He wanted the cave as a tomb in which to bury his deceased wife, Sarah (Gen. 23:4-20). According to Jewish tradition the field also contained the graves of Adam and Eve. At the heart of the cave, which is covered by a massive structure mostly built by King Herod around two thousand years ago, are two large stone monuments dating from the ninth century. Tradition says the one on the right is Abraham’s, while the one on the left marks Sarah’s final resting place. Venerated today by Jews, Christians, and Moslems alike, the Machpelah Cave is the burial place of almost all the Old Testament patriarchs and matriarchs – Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah. The outer structure is extremely impressive and the intricacies inside of the building make it an interesting place to film. Hebron is also a politically charged city, which adds another facet to filming at the Machpelah Cave.
MOVIEMAKING ON A DIFFERENT SCALE