Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 23:2

"And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), in the land of Canaan. And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her." — Genesis 23:2 (ASV)

Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron. — This was a very ancient city, built seven years before Zoan in Egypt (Numbers 13:22), probably by a tribe of Semites on their way to the Delta. It lies on the very border of the Negeb of Judah, about twenty-two miles south of Jerusalem. Originally it was named Kirjath-arba. Though Arba is called “the father of Anak” (Joshua 15:13), the literal meaning City of Four (arba being the Hebrew numeral four), coupled with the fact that Hebron means alliance (Genesis 13:18), suggests that its building was the result of the union of four families. Afterwards, from the name of the city, Arba may have often been used as a proper name.

At the conquest of Palestine, descendants of Anak were still dwelling there. Apparently, they had restored the old title but were expelled by Caleb (Joshua 15:14). Caleb took it as his possession and seems to have named a grandchild after the city as a memorial of his victory (1 Chronicles 2:42). It is still an important town, with a population of 17,000 Moslems and about 600 Jews.

Abraham came to mourn. — At this period, Abraham was in quiet possession of several headquarters. He was apparently at Beer-sheba himself when Sarah died at Hebron. It is probable that he had left Isaac there, in charge of his mother and the cattle.