And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron): came in this context suggests that he returned with the intention of remaining. We may say, for example, “came home,” or “came back home.” In 13.18 Mamre is at Hebron, and in 23.2 Kiriath-arba is also Hebron. In this verse the compiler is concerned to identify both Mamre and Kiriath-arba with Hebron, which was known to his readers in his day. Note that Good News Translation says “at Mamre, near Hebron.” Bible en français courant offers another model, “at Mamre, near Kiriath-Arba, which is now called Hebron.”

Hebron is about 24 kilometers (15 miles) south of Bethlehem and the same distance west of the Dead Sea. See the map, page 18. From Shechem to Hebron Jacob and his people have been traveling south.

Where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned: this may need to be restructured as a sentence: “This is where Abraham and Isaac had lived.” In some languages this will have to be something like “where Abraham stayed first, and where Isaac later stayed.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .