Hebron

Hebron in the Bible

• Patriarchal period: Abraham lived by the oaks of Mamre at Hebron and built an altar there (Genesis 13:18). When Sarah died, he bought the cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite and buried her there (Genesis 23). Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob were later buried in this cave as well (Genesis 49:29-32; 50:13).
• Conquest period: The twelve spies saw the descendants of Anak at Hebron (Numbers 13:22). Caleb asked, "Now therefore give me this mountain," and received Hebron as his inheritance (Joshua 14:12-14). Hebron was one of the cities of refuge (Joshua 20:7) and was also among the cities given to the descendants of Aaron (Joshua 21:11-13).
• Period of the monarchy: David was anointed king over Judah at Hebron and reigned there for seven years and six months (2 Samuel 2:1-4, 11). It was also at Hebron that he was made king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-5). Later, the rebellion of Absalom began there (2 Samuel 15:10).

Background

The ancient name of Hebron was Kiriath-arba. The Bible explains that this name came from Arba, the greatest man among the Anakim (Joshua 14:15). The name "Hebron" is commonly explained as related to a Hebrew root meaning "to join" or "to unite." Numbers 13:22 records that Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.

Today Hebron is a city in the West Bank. Over the site traditionally identified as the cave of Machpelah stands a large structure attributed to the Herodian period, and the site is regarded as holy in both Judaism and Islam. The Arabic name "al-Khalil" means "the friend" and derives from Abraham's designation as "the friend of God" (Isaiah 41:8).

Significance in the Whole of Scripture

The cave of Machpelah was the first land Abraham owned in Canaan, the Promised Land. It is therefore read as the first visible sign of the fulfillment of God's promise of the land. The New Testament does not mention Hebron by name. Hebrews 11:9, 13-16, however, interprets the patriarchs' life in tents as that of strangers and pilgrims who desired a better country, and James 2:23 likewise calls Abraham the friend of God. In addition, David's accession at Hebron marks the beginning of the Davidic dynasty and, through it, of messianic expectation.

Interpretation and Issues

• Stephen's speech: In Acts 7:16, Stephen says that the patriarchs were laid in the tomb bought from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. This differs from the Genesis accounts of the purchase of the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23) and of Jacob's purchase of land at Shechem (Genesis 33:19). Proposed explanations include the view that Stephen telescoped the two events into a single statement and the view that the discrepancy arose in the course of transmission, among others.
• The "city of four" tradition: "Arba" means "four" in Hebrew. Drawing on this meaning, Jewish tradition holds that four couples, including Adam and Eve, were buried there. The biblical text, however, presents Arba as the name of a person.
• Location of the cave of Machpelah: Whether the site traditionally identified today as the cave of Machpelah is the same as the biblical cave has not been archaeologically confirmed.

In the Korean Church

The passage in which Caleb asks for the hill country of Hebron (Joshua 14:12) is frequently used in Korean churches as a sermon text at the New Year, at ordination and installation services, or to encourage older believers to take up new challenges of faith. "Hebron" is also used as a name for churches and mission organizations.