Difference between revisions of "Mamre"

<p> An ancient Amorite. &nbsp;Genesis 13:18, "the plain (rather the oaks or terebinths) of Mamre"; &nbsp;Genesis 14:13; &nbsp;Genesis 14:24, brother of Eshcol, friend and ally of Abraham. The chieftain had planted the terebinths, or was associated with them as his tenting place; so "the oak of Deborah" (&nbsp;Judges 4:5). Mamre was less than a mile from Hebron (Josephus, B. J. 4:9, section 7); but Robinson makes it two Roman miles off, now the hill ''Er Rameh'' . </p> <p> Constantine, to suppress the superstitions veneration to the terebinths, erected a '''''Basilica''''' or church on the spot. That it was on an elevation appears from the record that [[Machpelah]] faces it (&nbsp;Genesis 23:17-19; &nbsp;Genesis 25:9). [[Abram]] resided under the oak grove shade in the interval between his stay at [[Bethel]] and at [[Beersheba]] (&nbsp;Genesis 13:18; &nbsp;Genesis 18:1; &nbsp;Genesis 20:1; &nbsp;Genesis 21:31). If Machpelah be on the N.E. side of the Hebron valley, then Mamre as "facing it" must have been on the opposite slope, where the governor's house now is. (See [[Hebron]] .) </p>

<p> an Amorite, brother of [[Aner]] and Eshcol, and friend of Abraham, &nbsp;Genesis 14:13 . It was with these three persons, together with his own and their domestics, that Abraham pursued and overcame the kings after their conquest of [[Sodom]] and Gomorrah. </p> <p> <strong> 2. </strong> MAMRE, the same as Hebron. In &nbsp; Genesis 23:19 , it is said, that "Abraham buried [[Sarah]] in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan." And in &nbsp;Genesis 35:27 , it is said, that "Jacob came unto Isaac his father, unto Mamre, unto the city of Arba, which is Hebron." The city probably derived its name from that Mamre who joined Abraham in the pursuit of Chedorlaomer, and the rescue of Lot, Genesis 14. </p> <p> [[Mamre, Plain Of]] a plain near Mamre, or Hebron, said to be about two miles to the south of the town. Here Abraham dwelt after his separation from Lot; here he received from God himself a promise of the land, in which he was then a stranger, for his posterity; here he entertained the angels under an oak, and received a second promise of a son; and here he purchased a burying place for Sarah; which served also as a sepulchre for himself and the rest of his family. </p>

<li> The name of the place in the neighbourhood of Hebron (q.v.) where Abraham dwelt (&nbsp;Genesis 23:17,19; &nbsp;35:27 ); called also in Authorized Version (13:18) the "plain of Mamre," but in Revised Version more correctly "the oaks [marg., 'terebinths'] of Mamre." The name probably denotes the "oak grove" or the "wood of Mamre," thus designated after Abraham's ally. <p> This "grove" must have been within sight of or "facing" Machpelah (q.v.). The site of Mamre has been identified with Ballatet Selta, i.e., "the oak of rest", where there is a tree called "Abraham's oak," about a mile and a half west of Hebron. Others identify it with er-Rameh, 2 miles north of Hebron. </p> <div> <p> '''Copyright Statement''' These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton [[M.A., DD]]  Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> '''Bibliography Information''' Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Mamre'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/m/mamre.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>

<p> ''''' mam´rḗ ''''' ( ממרא , <i> ''''' mamrē' ''''' </i> ; [[Septuagint]] Μαμβρή , <i> ''''' Mambrḗ ''''' </i> ): </p> <p> (1) In &nbsp;Genesis 14:24 Mamre is mentioned as the name of one of Abraham's allies, who in &nbsp; Genesis 14:13 is described as the Amorite, brother of Eschcol and Aner. </p> 1. Biblical Data: <p> The name of the grove of trees is evidently considered as derived from this sheikh or chieftain. The "oaks" ("terebinths") of Mamre where Abram pitched his tent (&nbsp;Genesis 14:13; &nbsp;Genesis 18:1 ) are described (&nbsp;Genesis 13:18 ) as "in Hebron." Later on Machpelah (which see) is described as "before," i.e. "to the East of Mamre" (&nbsp;Genesis 23:17; &nbsp;Genesis 25:9; &nbsp;Genesis 49:30; &nbsp;Genesis 50:13 ), and Mamre is identified with Hebron itself (&nbsp;Genesis 23:19 ). </p> 2. Traditional Sites: <p> While Mamre has always been looked for in the vicinity of Hebron, the traditions have varied greatly, determined apparently by the presence of a suitable tree. The one site which has a claim on grounds other than tradition is that called <i> ''''' Khirbet ''''' </i> and <i> ''''' ‛Ain ''''' </i> <i> ''''' Nimreh ''''' </i> (literally, the "ruin" and "spring" of "the leopard"), about 1/2 mile North-Northwest of modern Hebron. The word <i> ''''' Nimreh ''''' </i> may be a survival of the ancient Mamre, the name, as often happens, being assimilated by a familiar word. The site is a possible one, but, beyond this, the name has not much to commend it. </p> <p> Tradition has centered round three different sites at various periods: (1) The modern tradition points to a magnificent oak ( <i> Quercus ilex </i> , Arabic <i> ''''' Sindian ''''' </i> ), 1 1/2 miles West-Northwest of the modern city, as the terebinth of Abraham; its trunk has a girth of 32 ft. It is now in a dying condition, but when Robinson visited it ( <i> Br </i> , II, 72,81) it was in fine condition; he mentions a Mohammedan tradition that this was "Abraham's oak." Since then the site had been bought by the Russians, a hospice and church have been erected, and the tradition, though of no antiquity, has become crystallized. (2) The second tradition, which flourished from the 16th century down to the commencement of the 19th century, pointed to the hill of <i> ''''' Deir ''''' </i> <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> <i> ''''' Arba‛in ''''' </i> (see [[Hebron]] ) as that of Mamre, relying especially, no doubt, in its inception on the identity of Mamre and Hebron (&nbsp;Genesis 23:19 ). A magnificent terebinth which stood there was pointed out as that of Abraham. The site agrees well with the statement that the cave of Machpelah was "before," i.e. to the East of Mamre (&nbsp;Genesis 23:17 , etc.). (3) The third and much older tradition, mentioned in several [[Christian]] writers, refers to a great terebinth which once stood in an enclosure some 2 miles North of Hebron, near the road to Jerusalem. It is practically certain that the site of this enclosure is the strange <i> ''''' Ramet ''''' </i> <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Khalı̂l ''''' </i> . This is an enclosure some 214 ft. long and 162 ft. wide. The enclosing walls are made of extremely fine and massive masonry and are 6 ft. thick; the stones are very well laid and the jointing is very fine, but the building was evidently never completed. In one corner is a well - <i> ''''' Bı̂r ''''' </i> <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Khalı̂l ''''' </i> - lined with beautiful ashlar masonry, cut to the curve of the circumference. </p> <p> It is probable that this enclosure surrounded a magnificent terebinth; if so, it was at this spot that before the days of [[Constantine]] a great annual fair was held, attended by Jews, [[Christians]] and heathen who united a pay honor to the sacred tree, while the well was on the same occasion illuminated, and offerings were made to it. [[Similar]] customs survive today at several shrines in Palestine. Constantine suppressed these "superstitions," and built a church in the neighborhood, probably the so-called "Abraham's house," <i> ''''' Beit ''''' </i> <i> ''''' Ibrahim ''''' </i> of today. The tree which stood here is apparently that mentioned by Josephus ( <i> Bj </i> , IV, ix, 7) as having continued "since the creation of the world." At this enclosure, too, [[Jewish]] women and children were sold at auction after the suppression of the revolt of Bar Cochba. Whatever the origin of the veneration paid to this terebinth - now long centuries dead and gone - early Christian tradition associated it with Abraham and located Mamre here. This tradition is mentioned by [[Jerome]] (4th century), by [[Eucherius]] (6th century), by Areulphus (700 AD) and by [[Benjamin]] of [[Tudela]] (1163 AD). Among the modern [[Jews]] it is looked upon as the site of "Abraham's oak." It is probable that the view that Abraham was connected with this tree is one attached to it much later than its original sanctity; it was originally one of the many "holy trees" of the land venerated by primitive Semitic religions feeling, and the nearness of Hebron caused the Bible story to be attached to it. [[Judging]] from the Bible data, it appears to be too far from Hebron and Machpelah to suit the conditions; the site of Mamre must have been nearer to <i> ''''' Deir ''''' </i> <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> <i> ''''' Arba‛in ''''' </i> , but it has probably been entirely lost since very early times. </p> <p> For a very good discussion about Mamre see <i> Mambre </i> by Le R. P. [[Abel]] des Freres Precheurs in the <i> Conferences de Saint Etienne </i> , 1909-10 (Paris). </p> <p> (2) An Amorite chief, owner of the "oaks" mentioned above (&nbsp;Genesis 14:13 , &nbsp;Genesis 14:14 ). </p>