Hebron
Meaning - confederacy; friend or a community; alliance; or seat of association
Hebron is believed to be one of the most ancient cities in the world. It ia located about 23 miles south of Jerusalem, about 10 miles west of the Dead Sea and is about 3,050 feet (926 meters) above sea level. Abraham moved to Hebron and stayed there until after the destruction of Sodom.
Hebron was originally known as Kiriath-arba (Gen 23:2; Josh 14:15) and also as Mamre (Gen 13:18; 23:19; 35:27).
It was also the location of the plot of land and cave purchased by Abraham as a burial place for Sarah and later Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah were buried there (described in Genesis 23:2,7-9,17-19). The place is known as Machpelah, meaning the double cave. Abraham bought it from Ephron the Hittite for a family burial place. Currently, a mosque, the Haram al-Khalil sits on top of the cave.
Hebron was also the place where the spies went (while the Israelites were camped at Kadesh-barnea) to scout the land of Canaan. It was Hebron that the descendants of the Anakim lived (Numbers 13: 22). After the Israelites wandered in the desert for another 38 years, Hebron was finally taken by Joshua (Joshua 10:36-37) and given to Caleb (Joshua 14:6-15). It later became a Levitical city , and a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7, 21:11).
Later, Hebron was where King David was anointed King and he reigned for seven years (2 Samuel 5:5).
The Edomites took Hebron in 587 BC. It did not fall into Jewish hands again until 164 BC.
During the Jewish revolt against the Romans, Hebron was the scene of major fighting. It didn't fall into Jewish hands again until 1967.
Hebron was connected to the Patriarch’s Highway which also connected it with Shechem in the north and Beersheba to the south.
Scriptures
Genesis 13: 18
Genesis 23: 2,19
Genesis 35: 27
Genesis 37: 14
Exodus 6: 18
Numbers 3: 19
Numbers 13: 22
Joshua 10: 3-39
Joshua 11: 21
Joshua 12: 10
Joshua 14: 13-15
Joshua 15: 13,54
Joshua 20: 7
Joshua 21: 11,13
Judges 1: 10,20
Judges 16: 3
1 Samuel 30: 31
2 Samuel 2: 1-5:13
2 Samuel 15: 7-10
1 Kings 2: 11
1 Chronicles 2: 42,43
1 Chronicles 3: 1,4
1 Chronicles 6: 2,18,55,57
1 Chronicles 11: 1,3
1 Chronicles 12: 23,38
1 Chronicles 15: 9
1 Chronicles 23: 12,19
1 Chronicles 26: 23-31
1 Chronicles 29: 27
2 Chronicles 11: 10
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