Joshua 14:15

_AND THE NAME OF HEBRON BEFORE WAS KIRJATH-ARBA; WHICH ARBA WAS A GREAT MAN AMONG THE ANAKIMS. AND THE LAND HAD REST FROM WAR._ Kirjath-arba - i:e., the city of Arba-a warrior among the native race remarkable for strength and stature. The verse literally rendered should stand thus: 'And the name of Hebron before was the city of Arba, the great man among the Anakims' (Robinson, 'Biblical Researches,' 2:, p. 454, note; Havernick's 'Introduction,' pp. 145, 146). х_ LªPAANIYM_ (H6440), "before" - i e., previous to the invasion, and when the spies went to search the land, the southern portion of which was occupied by the Anakim, who acquired it by conquest after the time of Abraham. The Septuagint has: to proteron. But that version reads, instead of Arba, the city of Argob.] The Israelites, on their settlement, restored the original name Hebron (see the note at Gen. 23:22). The land had res...

6-15 Caleb's request is, "Give me this mountain," or Hebron, because it was formerly in God's promise to him, and he would let Israel knows how much he valued the promise. Those who live by faith value that which is given by God's promise, far above what is given by his providence only. It was now in the Anakims' possession, and Caleb would let Israel know how little he feared the enemy, and that he would encourage them to push on their conquests. Caleb answered to his name, which signifies "all heart." Hebron was settled on Caleb and his heirs, because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. Happy are we if we follow him. Singular piety shall be crowned with singular favour....

Verse Joshua 14:15. _AND THE NAME OF HEBRON BEFORE_ WAS _KIRJATH-ARBA_] That is, _the city of Arba_, or rather, _the city of the four_, for thus קרית ארבע _kiryath arba_ may be literally translated. It is very likely that this city had its name from _four_ Anakim, gigantic or powerful men, probably _brothers_, who built or conquered it. This conjecture receives considerable strength from Joshua 15:14, where it is said that Caleb drove from _Hebron_ the _three sons of Anak,_ _Sheshai, Ahiman_, and _Talmai_: now it is quite possible that Hebron had its former name, _Kirjath-arba_, the _city of the four_, from these _three sons_ and their _father_, who, being men of uncommon stature or abilities, had rendered themselves fam...

A GREAT MAN - literally, the great man; i. e. the renowned ancestor of the tribe, regarded as the founder of its greatness Joshua 15:13....

EXPOSITION JOSHUA 14:1 TRIBES. The word here for "tribes," in connection with the word "fathers," is the one which implies genealogical descent (see note on Joshua 13:29). ELEAZAR THE PRIEST, AND JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN, AND THE HEADS OF THE FATHERS OF THE TRIBES. A picture of national unity; the head of the Church, representing the religious aspect of the community; the head of the State, representing its civil aspect; the heads of the tribes, to signify the general assent of the body politic. A work so begun was likely to be satisfactorily carried out. And accordingly the distribution of the land, recognised as carried out according to the will of God, displayed no partiality, and excited no jealousies....

AND THE NAME OF HEBRON BEFORE [WAS] KIRJATHARBA,.... According to Jerom u, it had its name of Hebron from a son or grandson of Caleb of that name, 1 Chronicles 2:42; and if so, then it is here, and in some other places, so called by anticipation: Kirjatharba may be rendered "the city of the four"; and had its name, as some think, from the four couple buried there, or near it, Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah; or from four eminent persons, who formerly dwelt there, Aner, Eshcol, Mamre, and Abraham; or rather from four persons that more lately dwelt there, Anak and his three sons, Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai; or Arba is the name of some great man, to whom this city belonged, and so was called the city of Arba, which is the sense of our version, as appears by the following supplement: [WHICH ARBA WAS] A GREAT MAN AMONG THE ANAKIMS;

2. CALEB'S REQUEST AND INHERITANCE CHAPTER 14 _ 1. The inheritance by lot (Joshua 14:1)_ 2. Caleb's request (Joshua 14:6) Judah's portion comes first, and as they draw near to Joshua to receive their inheritance by lot (See Proverbs 16:33 and Acts 1:26) at Gilgal (note the recurrence of this place and its significance), Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, steps to the front. It was not forwardness or love of the preeminence which led him to do this, but the burning zeal in that old, yet youthful soul. He comes to claim the inheritance, which forty-five years ago Moses had promised unto him. Caleb was eighty-five years old

KIRJATH-ARBA. Arba was the great man among the Anakims. See App-23 and App-25. Hebrew "city of Arba, he [was] the greatest man", &c. had rest. During the first Sabbatic year. See App-50. (p. 53)....

The Possession of Caleb 6. _in Gilgal_ Where the casting of the lots commenced. _and Caleb the son of Jephunneh_ Caleb was a prince of the tribe of Judah, a descendant of Hezron, the son of Pharez, and grandson of Judah (1Ch 2:5; 1 Chronicles 2:18; 1 Chronicles 2:25). He is first mentioned in the list of the princes who were sent to search the land of Canaan in the second year of the Exodus (Numbers 13:6), and he and Joshua were the only two who on their return encouraged the Israelites to go up and take possession of the land. In the plague that ensued, these two alone were spared, and deemed worthy to enter the Promised Land ...

_VER._ 15. _AND THE NAME OF HEBRON BEFORE WAS,_ &C.— Perhaps the words, _a great man,_ might be rendered _a strong man;_ the original word גדול _gadol_ signifying greatness of _size_ and _strength,_ as well as greatness of _authority_ and _power._ See Genesis 24:35. Arba was the father of Anak; ch. Judges 15:13 Joshua 21:11. He built or fortified _Kir-jath,_ or made it the city of his residence, after the manner of princes, and perhaps was there buried. Hence its name. See Numbers 13:33 and particularly...