Ramat Haram el-Khalil: Abraham’s Oaks of Mamre

Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. (Gen. 18:1 BEREAN)

Ramat Haram el-Khalil, located north of the ancient city of Hebron, is a place deeply connected to Abraham. According to Genesis 18, Abraham received three divine visitors at the Oaks of Mamre. This was a significant event in the biblical narrative where God renewed His promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah. 

This site, just 2.2 miles from the cave where Abraham and Sarah lie buried, has fascinated pilgrims, historians, and archaeologists for centuries. Excavations have revealed layers of history that may connect directly to the biblical account. Among the notable archaeological findings are a Bronze Age altar, Iron Age enclosure (with the altar at its center), an ancient gate, and evidence of a Herodian structure that highlights the site’s continued significance.

Biblical and Historical Context

The biblical account describes the Oaks of Mamre as a significant location in the life of Abraham. Genesis 13 records Abraham settling at Mamre, near Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord. 

So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD. (Gen. 13:18 BEREAN)

Genesis 18:1 further underscores the sacred nature of this place, where Abraham hosted divine visitors who prophesied the birth of his son. The area became a revered site, remembered not only for Abraham’s hospitality but also as a physical space where heaven and earth met in a moment of divine promise.

Archaeological discoveries at Ramat Haram el-Khalil

Archaeological findings at Ramat Haram el-Khalil provide intriguing evidence that ties this location to the ancient narratives of the Bible. Excavations have uncovered ruins from the biblical periods, and other artifacts that offer a glimpse into the past and provide clues about the site’s connection to Abraham.

Iron Age enclosure and Bronze Age altar  

Archaeologist Evaristus Mader, who conducted excavations at the site in the early 20th century, uncovered an enclosure that dates back to the time of the Israelite kings. Who built this enclosure – David, Solomon, a later king? We can’t be certain, but what seems evident is that the Israelites of this period considered this a very important site. The reason for that importance lay at the center of the enclosure. 

At the center, Mader identified the remains of a large, rectangular altar. He discovered Bronze Age pottery dated to around 2000 BC, showing that people occupied the site during the time of Abraham.¹ Abraham would have been at this location in about 1850 BC.

Someone constructed the altar from unhewn stones. This is interesting, because about 400 years later, God commanded that people should make altars only from uncut stones (Ex 20:25). The presence of the altar at such a central point within the enclosure highlights the site’s sacred character and lends credence to its traditional identification as the place where Abraham built an altar, and received three visitors, one of which was God.

Water source

Mader uncovered a well at the enclosure’s southwest corner.² Although the Bible doesn’t explicitly mention a water source at this site, it aligns with the biblical account. Genesis describes trees growing in this area, which an underground water source would sustain. Additionally, Abraham’s extended stay at this location would have necessitated a readily available water supply. According to Mader, there is a tradition that Abraham himself dug the well:

“In the southwest corner of the two walls lies the famous Abraham’s Well, so called because Abraham himself is said to have dug it for himself and his herds when he camped here and built an altar to the Lord.”³

Iron Age gate  

Mader’s excavations also revealed an Iron Age gate located on the southwest side of the enclosure. This gate, built from large stones and designed to control access, underscores the site’s importance and suggests it was a protected and significant space. The gate’s design resembles other Iron Age gates found in ancient Israelite cities, further linking the site to the period described in the biblical narratives. The gate structure indicates that the enclosure was not merely a domestic or agricultural site but one of ceremonial or religious significance, fitting with the tradition of Abraham’s altar at Mamre.

Herodian enclosure wall

During the first century BC, Herod the Great constructed an impressive enclosure around the site, further cementing its importance. The Herodian wall, measuring approximately 60 by 50 meters, remains visible today. It serves as a testament to the site’s enduring sacred status. The masonry style of the stones matches Herod’s other construction projects, namely the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and the nearby Machpelah enclosure.⁴

Herod’s construction around what was traditionally believed to be the Oaks of Mamre suggests a desire to preserve a place deeply rooted in Jewish tradition. The fact that Herod built an enclosure around this site indicates that even centuries after Abraham, the location continued to hold significant cultural and religious weight.

Pilgrimage site

Historical records from the Roman and Byzantine periods describe the Oaks of Mamre as a pilgrimage site. Here, Jews, Christians, and others gathered to connect with the biblical past. According to ancient texts, people offered sacrifices and conducted rituals at this location, believing it to be directly connected to Abraham. The archaeological remains of various artifacts, including pottery and coins, further support the idea of ongoing activity and reverence at the site across different historical periods. Mader commented about the site’s importance to believers of many different periods:

“From further details of the excavation, which cannot be discussed here, it appears that the place was venerated as the Mamre of the Bible until the Crusader period. But backwards beyond Herod, the thread of the history of this place is lost in a time depth not yet calculable.”⁵

Connecting the past with the present

The discoveries at Ramat Haram el-Khalil invite us to consider the historical and spiritual connections that have endured for millennia. The Bronze Age altar and Iron Age gate, along with the Herodian enclosure, link this site to Abraham. These findings provide a tangible connection to the biblical stories of Abraham’s encounters with God.

Ramat Haram el-Khalil is more than just an archaeological site. It is a living testament to the past, offering glimpses of a world where faith, history, and tradition intersect. The evidence unearthed by Mader and others does not just tell the story of stones and structures. It speaks of a place where God met with man. It is a place where the echoes of biblical events resonate down to the present.

1. Kramer, Joel P. Where God Came Down: The Archaeological Evidence. The Bible and Archaeology Speak Series, book 1. Brigham City, Utah: Expedition Bible, 2020. 11.
2. Kramer, Joel P. Where God Came Down: The Archaeological Evidence. The Bible and Archaeology Speak Series, book 1. Brigham City, Utah: Expedition Bible, 2020. 14.
3. Mader, Andreas Evaristus. “Die Deutsche Ausgrabung in Mambre Bei Hebron.” Biblica 9, no. 1 (January 1928): 120–26.
4. Kramer, Joel P. Where God Came Down: The Archaeological Evidence. The Bible and Archaeology Speak Series, book 1. Brigham City, Utah: Expedition Bible, 2020. 19.
5. Mader, Andreas Evaristus. “Die Deutsche Ausgrabung in Mambre Bei Hebron.” Biblica 9, no. 1 (January 1928): 120–26.