Below the fragmented
black and red inscription there are three elements. Abraham's
holy oak or terebinth is in the middle. On the right is a partial
church that probably doesn't belong to the complex. On the left
the basilica is close to a two-storey edifice, probably the monastery
or the interior of the sanctuary.
|
Arbo (Gen 23:2). In our codices
it is written in a corrupted form, 'Arboc', while the Hebrew
text reads 'Arba', that is, 'four', because the three patriarchs,
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are buried there, as well as 'the great
Adam', as is written in the Book of Joshua (Jos 14:15),
although some suppose that he is buried on the Calvary. 'That
is Hebron', today a large village, in ancient times one of the
main cities of the Philistines [Eusebius: 'the aliens', i.e.
the Cannanites in general] and a dwelling place of giants, and
later royal seat of David. It fell into the lot of the tribe
of Judah, and was a priestly city and one of the cities of refuge.
It is south of Jerusalem at a distance of about 20 [22] miles.
(Eusebius, Onomasticon 6:8-12; Jerome 7:18-24; see also
77:1-5)
The oak of Abraham, also
called Mambre, could be seen standing until the reign of Constantius,
and the tomb of the same is visible to this day and while
a church has been erected there by our people, the place
of the oak is [greatly] venerated by all the pagan population
around, because under it Abraham gave hospitality to the angels.
At first the place was called Arbe, and later it was named Hebron
after Hebron, one of the sons of Caleb, as we read in the Chronicles.
(1Chron 2:42). (Eusebius, Onomasticon 6:12-16; Jerome
7:18-24)
|
