Editing Cave of the Patriarchs (section)

===Building===
[[File:Floor plan of al-Haram al-Ibrahimi.svg|thumb|Plan of the building]]
The rectangular stone enclosure lies on a northwest–southeast axis, and is divided into two sections by a wall running between the northwestern three fifths, and the southeastern two fifths. The northwestern section is roofed on three sides, the central area and north eastern side being open to the sky; the southeastern section is fully roofed, the roof being supported by four columns evenly distributed through the section.
Nearly the entire building itself was built by King Herod and it remains the only Herodian building surviving today virtually intact.<ref>''Herod: King of the Jews and Friend of the Romans'' by Peter Richardson p. 61 {{ISBN?}}</ref><ref>''The Oxford Guide to People & Places of the Bible'' by Bruce Manning Metzger, Michael David Coogan p. 99 {{ISBN?}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/hebron-tombs-of-the-patriarchs |title=Tombs of the Patriarchs – Hebron, State of Palestine |website=www.sacred-destinations.com |access-date=19 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013190659/http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/hebron-tombs-of-the-patriarchs |archive-date=13 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Abraham tomb.JPG|thumb|Cenotaph of Abraham]]
In the northwestern section are four [[cenotaph]]s, each housed in a separate octagonal room, those dedicated to Jacob and Leah being on the northwest, and those to Abraham and Sarah on the southeast. A corridor runs between the cenotaphs on the northwest, and another between those on the southeast. A third corridor runs the length of the southwestern side, through which access to the cenotaphs, and to the southeastern section, can be gained. An entrance to the enclosure exists on the southwestern side, entering this third corridor; a mosque outside this entrance must be passed through to gain access.

At the center of the northeastern side, there is another entrance, which enters the roofed area on the southeastern side of the northwestern section and through which access can also be gained to the southeastern (fully roofed) section. This entrance is approached on the outside by a corridor which leads from a long staircase running most of the length of the northwestern side.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.bib-arch.org/nph-proxy.pl/000000A/http/www.basarchive.org/bswb_graphics/BSBA/11/03/BSBA110303200.jpg |archive-date=20 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020092815/http://members.bib-arch.org/nph-proxy.pl/000000A/http/www.basarchive.org/bswb_graphics/BSBA/11/03/BSBA110303200.jpg |title=a floorplan}}</ref> The southeastern section, which functions primarily as a mosque, contains two cenotaphs, symmetrically placed, near the center, dedicated to Isaac and Rebecca. Between them, in the southeastern wall, is a [[mihrab]]. The cenotaphs have a distinctive red and white horizontal striped pattern to their stonework but are usually covered by decorative cloth.

Under the present arrangements, Jews are restricted to entering by the southwestern side, and limited to the southwestern corridor and the corridors that run between the cenotaphs, while Muslims may enter only by the northeastern side but are allowed free rein of the remainder of the enclosure.