one of the most ancient cities in the world; for it was built
seven years before Zoan, the capital of Lower Egypt, Numbers xiii, 22.
Now, as the Egyptians gloried much in the antiquity of their cities, and
their country was indeed one of the first that was peopled after the
dispersion of Babel, it may be from hence concluded that it was one of
the most ancient. Some think it was founded by Arba, one of the oldest
giants in Palestine; for which reason it was called Kirjath-arba, or
Arba’s city, Joshua xiv, 15; which name was afterward changed to that of
Hebron, Joshua xv, 13. Arba was the father of Anak; and from Anak the
giants, called Anakim, took their name, who were still dwelling at
Hebron when Joshua conquered the land of Canaan. When it was first
called Hebron, is uncertain; some think, not till it was conquered by
Caleb, and that he called it so from his son of that name. But Calmet is
of opinion that the name of Hebron is more ancient; and that Caleb, to
do honour to his son, named him after this ancient and celebrated place.
Hebron was situated upon an eminence, twenty miles southward from
Jerusalem, and twenty miles north from Beersheba. Abraham, Sarah, and
Isaac were buried near Hebron, in the cave of Machpelah, or the double
cave, which Abraham bought of Ephron, Genesis xxiii, 7–9. Hebron was the
allotment of Judah. The Lord assigned it for the inheritance of Caleb,
Joshua xiv, 13; x, 3, 23, 37. Joshua first took Hebron, and killed the
king, whose name was Hoham. But afterward Caleb again made a conquest of
it, assisted by the troops of his tribe, and the valour of Othniel,
Judges i, 12, 13. It was appointed to be a dwelling for priests, and
declared to be a city of refuge, Joshua xxi, 13. David, after the death
of Saul, fixed the seat of his government there, 2 Sam. ii, 2–5. At
Hebron, Absalom began his rebellion, 2 Sam. xv, 7, 8, &c. During the
captivity of Babylon, the Edomites having invaded the southern parts of
Judea, made themselves masters of Hebron; hence Josephus sometimes makes
it a part of Edom. Here Zacharias and Elizabeth are believed to have
dwelt; and it is supposed to have been the birth place of John the
Baptist. Hebron is now called El Khalil; though not a town of large
dimensions, it has a considerable population. According to Ali Bey, it
contains about four hundred families of Arabs; but he does not notice
either the Jews, who are numerous, or the Turks. He describes it as
situated on the slope of a mountain, and having a strong castle.
Provisions, he says, are abundant, and there is a considerable number of
shops. The streets are winding, and the houses unusually high. The
country is well cultivated, to a considerable extent. Hebron is computed
to be twenty-seven miles south-west of Jerusalem.
seven years before Zoan, the capital of Lower Egypt, Numbers xiii, 22.
Now, as the Egyptians gloried much in the antiquity of their cities, and
their country was indeed one of the first that was peopled after the
dispersion of Babel, it may be from hence concluded that it was one of
the most ancient. Some think it was founded by Arba, one of the oldest
giants in Palestine; for which reason it was called Kirjath-arba, or
Arba’s city, Joshua xiv, 15; which name was afterward changed to that of
Hebron, Joshua xv, 13. Arba was the father of Anak; and from Anak the
giants, called Anakim, took their name, who were still dwelling at
Hebron when Joshua conquered the land of Canaan. When it was first
called Hebron, is uncertain; some think, not till it was conquered by
Caleb, and that he called it so from his son of that name. But Calmet is
of opinion that the name of Hebron is more ancient; and that Caleb, to
do honour to his son, named him after this ancient and celebrated place.
Hebron was situated upon an eminence, twenty miles southward from
Jerusalem, and twenty miles north from Beersheba. Abraham, Sarah, and
Isaac were buried near Hebron, in the cave of Machpelah, or the double
cave, which Abraham bought of Ephron, Genesis xxiii, 7–9. Hebron was the
allotment of Judah. The Lord assigned it for the inheritance of Caleb,
Joshua xiv, 13; x, 3, 23, 37. Joshua first took Hebron, and killed the
king, whose name was Hoham. But afterward Caleb again made a conquest of
it, assisted by the troops of his tribe, and the valour of Othniel,
Judges i, 12, 13. It was appointed to be a dwelling for priests, and
declared to be a city of refuge, Joshua xxi, 13. David, after the death
of Saul, fixed the seat of his government there, 2 Sam. ii, 2–5. At
Hebron, Absalom began his rebellion, 2 Sam. xv, 7, 8, &c. During the
captivity of Babylon, the Edomites having invaded the southern parts of
Judea, made themselves masters of Hebron; hence Josephus sometimes makes
it a part of Edom. Here Zacharias and Elizabeth are believed to have
dwelt; and it is supposed to have been the birth place of John the
Baptist. Hebron is now called El Khalil; though not a town of large
dimensions, it has a considerable population. According to Ali Bey, it
contains about four hundred families of Arabs; but he does not notice
either the Jews, who are numerous, or the Turks. He describes it as
situated on the slope of a mountain, and having a strong castle.
Provisions, he says, are abundant, and there is a considerable number of
shops. The streets are winding, and the houses unusually high. The
country is well cultivated, to a considerable extent. Hebron is computed
to be twenty-seven miles south-west of Jerusalem.