Josué 14:15

Kirjath-arba. — “Arba the father of Anak” (Josué 21:11). Arba means four in Hebrew, and therefore some have endeavoured to interpret it as the city of four. Rashi, for example, says it was “the city of Ahiman, and Sheshai, and Talmai, and their father.” Others have tried to make it one of four confederate cities like Gibeon and its allies. But the text of Joshua seems to leave no doubt that Arba was a man’s name, whatever may have been the

occasion of his being so named. Unless the Anakim are of the same date as the Zuzim, and Rephaim, and Emim of Gênesis 14 (who are known to be giant races by Deuteronômio 2:3) Hebron must have been named Hebron before it was Kirjath-arba. But the text of Gênesis 23:2 seems to make Kirjath-arba the name of the place where Sarah died, at the time of her death; and it is perfectly possible that it was so. (See Note on Números 13:22.)

A great man. — Rather, the great man among the Anakim.

And the land had rest from war. — This clause appears in Josué 11:23, where its position is perfectly natural. It closes the record of the wars of Joshua. It is not so easily accounted for here. If we were quite certain at what period the Anakim were dispossessed and slain, we might connect it with that portion of the story; but see Note on Josué 15:14, and also on the next verse.