What and who is…
Hebron
Meaning: a community; alliance
This was the name of 2 biblical cities and a man.
Hebron, a city in the Judean mountains
It is located in the south end of the valley of Eshcol, about midway between Jerusalem and Beersheba, from which it is about 20 miles away in a straight line.
It was built “7 years before Zoan in Egypt” (Genesis 13:18; Numbers 13:22).
It still exists under the same name, and is one of the most ancient cities in the world.
Modern Hebron, Israel (West Bank)—satellite viewIts earlier name was Kirjath-arba (Genesis 23:2; Joshua 14:15; 15:3). But “Hebron would appear to have been the original name of the city, and it was not till after Abraham’s stay there that it received the name Kirjath-arba, who [i.e., Arba] was not the founder but the conqueror of the city, having led thither the tribe of the Anakim, to which he belonged. It retained this name till it came into the possession of Caleb, when the Israelites restored the original name Hebron” (Keil, Com.).
The name of this city does not occur in any of the prophets or in the New Testament. It is found about 40 times in the Old Testament.
It was the favorite home of Abraham. Here he pitched his tent under the oaks of Mamre, by which name it came afterwards to be known; and here Sarah died, and was buried in the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:17-20), which he bought from Ephron the Hittite. From this place the patriarch departed for Egypt by way of Beersheba (37:14; 46:1).
It was taken by Joshua and given to Caleb (Joshua 10:36, 37; 12:10; 14:13). It became a Levitical city and a city of refuge (20:7; 21:11).
When David became king of Judah this was his royal residence, and he resided here for seven and a half years (2 Samuel 5:5); and here he was anointed as king over all Israel (2 Samuel 2:1-4, 11; 1 Kings 2:11).
It became the residence also of the rebellious Absalom (2 Samuel 15:10), who probably expected to find his chief support in the tribe of Judah, now called el-Khulil.
In one part of the modern city is a great mosque, which is built over the grave of Machpelah. The first European who was permitted to enter this mosque was the Prince of Wales in 1862. It was also visited by the Marquis of Bute in 1866, and by the late Emperor Frederick of Germany (then Crown-Prince of Prussia) in 1869.
One of the largest oaks in Israel is found in the valley of Eshcol, about 3 miles north of the town. It is supposed by some to be the tree under which Abraham pitched his tent, and is called “Abraham’s oak.” (See: oak.)
Hebron, the 3rd son of Kohath the Levite
Hebron, a son of Mareshah
Hebron, a town in the north border of Asher