Mamre

Mamre was both the name of an Amorite chief allied with Abraham and the name of the place — a grove of terebinth trees (oaks) near Hebron — associated with Abraham's dwelling. The Amorite Mamre, along with his brothers Eshcol and Aner, was Abraham's ally in the pursuit of the kings who had captured Lot (Genesis 14:13, 24). The place called "the oaks of Mamre" or the "plain of Mamre" near Hebron became Abraham's primary residence in Canaan: he built an altar there (Genesis 13:18), received the three divine visitors who announced Isaac's birth there (Genesis 18:1), and it was to Mamre that he returned after the near-sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22:19).

The cave of Machpelah, the family burial site Abraham purchased, was located "before Mamre" or "to the east of Mamre" (Genesis 23:17, 19; 25:9; 49:30; 50:13), making Mamre the landmark that geographically identified the patriarchal burial ground. The site is associated with the modern Ramet el-Khalil, approximately two miles north of Hebron, where remains of ancient enclosures and a sacred grove tradition have been identified.