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.
Original Language Analysis
וְשֵׁ֨ם
And the name
H8034
וְשֵׁ֨ם
And the name
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
1 of 12
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
לְפָנִים֙
before
H6440
לְפָנִים֙
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
3 of 12
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אַרְבַּ֔ע
was Kirjatharba
H7153
אַרְבַּ֔ע
was Kirjatharba
Strong's:
H7153
Word #:
5 of 12
kirjath-arba or kirjath-ha-arba, a place in palestine
הָֽאָדָ֧ם
man
H120
הָֽאָדָ֧ם
man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
6 of 12
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
הַגָּד֛וֹל
which Arba was a great
H1419
הַגָּד֛וֹל
which Arba was a great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
7 of 12
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
ה֑וּא
H1931
ה֑וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
9 of 12
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
Cross References
Joshua 11:23So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.Genesis 23:2And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.Joshua 15:13And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.Judges 3:11And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
Historical Context
The phrase "land had rest from war" marks the end of the major conquest phase (circa 1400 BC). While pockets of resistance remained and individual tribes still had work to do, the systematic national campaigns under Joshua's unified command were complete. This rest lasted until later oppression during the period of Judges, demonstrating that maintaining rest requires continued obedience.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Caleb's conquest of Israel's greatest former fear (Anakim giants) illustrate faith overcoming fear?
- What does it mean that 'the land had rest from war' when some enemies still remained unconquered?
- How might naming Hebron after its former giant king serve as perpetual reminder of God's power to overcome our greatest obstacles?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba—Kirjath-arba (קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע) means "city of Arba" or "city of four." Arba (אַרְבַּע) was "a great man among the Anakims"—perhaps the greatest of the giant clans that terrorized the ten spies (Numbers 13:28, 33). The Hebrew ha-adam ha-gadol (הָאָדָם הַגָּדוֹל, "the great man") could mean physically great (giant) or socially great (chief). Either way, his city represented Israel's greatest fear forty years earlier.
And the land had rest from war—This concluding phrase marks a major transition. The Hebrew shaqat (שָׁקַט, "rest/quiet") appears at key points in Joshua and Judges, indicating periods when God's people experienced peace through obedience. The conquest of Hebron—symbol of Israel's former fear now possessed by Caleb's faith—appropriately introduces this rest. True rest comes not from absence of enemies but from God's faithfulness rewarding wholehearted obedience. Caleb's conquest of giants brought rest to the land.