Rabbi Judan the son of Rabbi Simon cited Joseph's Tomb as one of three places where Scripture reports purchases in the Land of Israel, thus providing a defense against the nations of the world who might taunt the Jews, saying that the Israelites had stolen the Land. The three instances are: the cave of Machpelah, of which reports, "And Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver"; Joseph's Tomb, of which reports, "And he bought the parcel of ground"; and the Temple, of which reports, "So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold."