Hebron

Lore & Background

Hebron first appears as the place where Abram (Abraham) settled after moving his tent, building an altar to the LORD in the plain of Mamre (Genesis 13:18). It is also where Sarah died and was buried in the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:2, Genesis 23:19). Jacob later came to his father Isaac at Mamre, which is Hebron (Genesis 35:27), and from the vale of Hebron, Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers (Genesis 37:14). In the conquest narratives, Hebron was a royal city of the Amorites, ruled by King Hoham, who joined a coalition against Gibeon (Joshua 10:3, Joshua 10:5). Joshua defeated this coalition and later captured Hebron, killing its king and destroying all its inhabitants (Joshua 10:36-39). Joshua also cut off the Anakim from Hebron (Joshua 11:21). After the conquest, Hebron was given as an inheritance to Caleb son of Jephunneh because he wholly followed the LORD (Joshua 14:13-14). The city was previously called Kirjatharba, named after Arba, a great man among the Anakim (Joshua 14:15, Joshua 15:13).

Reader's Guide

The passages portray Hebron as a significant patriarchal center and a site of key events in Israel's early history. It is consistently identified with Mamre and Kirjatharba, linking it to Abraham's worship (Genesis 13:18), Sarah's death and burial (Genesis 23:2, 19), and Jacob's reunion with Isaac (Genesis 35:27). The city also serves as a geographical reference point for Joseph's mission to Shechem (Genesis 37:14). In the conquest accounts, Hebron is depicted as a fortified Amorite city with a king, part of a coalition that opposed Israel (Joshua 10:3, 5). Its capture by Joshua is described as total destruction (Joshua 10:36-39), and it was later associated with the Anakim, whom Joshua eliminated (Joshua 11:21). The city's pre-Israelite name, Kirjatharba, is explained as referring to Arba, a notable Anakim figure (Joshua 14:15, 15:13). Finally, Hebron becomes the inheritance of Caleb, a faithful spy, highlighting the theme of reward for obedience (Joshua 14:13-14). The passages do not mention any later history or modern identification, sticking strictly to the biblical narrative.

Did You Know?

• Hebron was also called Kirjatharba, named after Arba, a great man among the Anakim (Joshua 14:15, Joshua 15:13).
• The city was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt (Numbers 13:22).
• Abraham built an altar to the LORD in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron (Genesis 13:18).
• Caleb received Hebron as his inheritance because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel (Joshua 14:13-14).