Genesis 23:17

Which was in Machpelah— Houbigant is of opinion, that the original word rendered Machpelah, refers to the field, not to the cave; and he renders the passage, possessio agri Ephron, qui erat in eo flexu qui ad Mambre vergebat, tam agri, quam speluncae, omniumq; arborum, quae, &c. "the possession of the field of Ephron, which was in the turning which leads to Mamre, of the field as well as the cave, the trees, &c. that were there." It cannot be supposed, that this cave, where Sarah was buried, had ever been used for that purpose by the Hittites. It was dedicated by Abraham to the immediate use of his own family: and it was secured to him in the presence of the children of Heth, Genesis 23:18 who were witnesses to the transaction, and to whom consequently he might appeal in case any controversy should arise.