Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
15. And the name of Hebron ] “Hebron would appear to have been the original name of the city, and it was not till after Abraham’s stay there that it received the name Kirjath-Arba, who was not the founder but the conqueror of the city, having led thither the tribe of the Anakim to which he belonged. It retained this name till it came into the possession of Caleb, when the Israelites restored the original name Hebron.” Keil in loc. “Caleb must have seen the spot, afterwards his own, when with the spies he passed through this very valley.” S. & P. p. 165. The translation of Wyclif here is very curious, “The name of Ebron was clepid bifore Cariatharbe. Adam, moost greet there in the loond of Enachym was set.”
And the land had rest from war ] This formula is repeated here to furnish a point of transition to the history of the peaceful distribution of the country.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A great man – literally, the great man; i. e. the renowned ancestor of the tribe, regarded as the founder of its greatness Jos 15:13.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 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 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 Jos 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 famous by acts proportioned to their strength and influence in the country. It appears however from Jos 15:13 that Arba was a proper name, as there he is called the father of Anak. The Septuagint call Hebron the metropolis of the Enakim, . It was probably the seat of government, being the residence of the above chiefs, from whose conjoint authority and power it might have been called chebron; as the word chabar literally signifies to associate, to join in fellowship, and appears to be used, Job 41:6, for “associated merchants, or merchants’ companions, who travelled in the same caravan.” Both these names are expressive, and serve to confirm the above conjecture. No notice need be taken of the tradition that this city was called the city of the four because it was the burial-place of Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Such traditions confute themselves.
The land had rest from war.] There were no more general wars; the inhabitants of Canaan collectively could make no longer any head, and when their confederacy was broken by the conquests of Joshua, he thought proper to divide the land, and let each tribe expel the ancient inhabitants that might still remain in its own territories. Hence the wars after this time were particular wars; there were no more general campaigns, as it was no longer necessary for the whole Israelitish body to act against an enemy now disjointed and broken. This appears to be the most rational meaning of the words, The land had rest from war.
THE Jewish economy furnishes, not only a history of God’s revelations to man, but also a history of his providence, and an ample, most luminous, and glorious comment on that providence. Is it possible that any man can seriously and considerately sit down to the reading even of this book, without rising up a wiser and a better man? This is the true history which everywhere exhibits God as the first mover and prime agent, and men only as subordinate actors. What a miracle of God’s power, wisdom, grace, justice, and providence are the people of Israel in every period of their history, and in every land of their dispersions! If their fall occasioned the salvation of the Gentile world, what shall their restoration produce! Their future inheritance is not left to what men would call the fortuitous decision of a lot; like Caleb’s possession it is confirmed by the oath of the Lord; and when the end shall be, this people shall stand in their lot at the end of the days, and shall again be great to the ends of the earth.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
A great man, in stature, and strength, and dignity, and authority, as being the progenitor of Anak, the father of those famous giants called
Anakims. The land had rest from war; which gave them opportunity for the distribution of the land.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15. Kirjath-arbathat is, thecity of Arba, a warrior among the native race remarkable for strengthand stature.
the land had rest fromwarMost of the kings having been slain and the nativesdispirited, there was no general or systematic attempt to resist theprogress and settlement of the Israelites.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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, 1Ch 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; both in stature and in dignity, and in authority, which some take to be Anak himself, the father of the Anakims; so Jarchi and Kimchi:
and the land had rest from war; as is observed in Jos 11:23; after Joshua had finished his conquest; and here again it is remarked just before the division of the land, as being now a proper time for it.
u De loc. Heb. fol. 87. F.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(15) Kirjath-arba.Arba the father of Anak (Jos. 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 mans 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 Genesis 14 (who are known to be giant races by Deuteronomy 2, 3) Hebron must have been named Hebron before it was Kirjath-arba. But the text of Gen. 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 Num. 13:22.)
A great man.Rather, the great man among the Anakim.
And the land had rest from war.This clause appears in Jos. 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 Jos. 15:14, and also on the next verse.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15. Before was Kirjath-arba That is, City of Arba. The original name, in Abraham’s day, was Hebron. Afterwards Arba, a giant, one of the Anakim, conquered the city and called it the City of Arba. See Jos 10:3, note.
And the land had rest from war This is only a repetition of Jos 11:23, to prepare the way for the account of the peaceful allotment of the land. As Caleb’s portion was really “among the children of Judah,” the actual conquest of it is recorded under the head of Judah’s lot. See Jos 15:13-19.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
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 gadol signifying greatness of size and strength, as well as greatness of authority and power. See Gen 24:35. Arba was the father of Anak; ch. Jos 15:13 Jos 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 Num 13:33 and particularly Gen 13:18.
And the land had rest from war The sacred writer repeats what he had said before, because, having gone aside by way of digression, which had a little diverted him from the history of the division of the conquered country, and now coming to that interesting detail, he would shew, that the enemies who remained still in the land of Canaan dared not lift the head to hinder the disposition of their territories.
Caleb, in right of former promise, when now the land was about to be divided, puts in his claim for a particular possession in Hebron, which, as being given him of God, ought not to be put into a lot, God’s will being determined before by his promise. The children of Judah accompany him to support his plea, which he urges with great simplicity, deep piety, and noble courage.
1. He mentions his faithful report among the faithless spies; not by way of proud boasting, but to the honour of God, whom he followed, speaking the truth from his heart. Note; (1.) It is not pride, but due acknowledgment, to declare what a gracious God has done for us, and by us. (2.) The more singular our fidelity to God has been, the more commendable. (3.) They who serve God in simplicity in their youth, will find the comfort and blessing of it when they are old.
2. He repeats his long experience of God’s care of him, as kept alive for the fulfilment of the promise. Five-and-forty years he had been preserved, when all the men of his own age had long since been buried: and he not only lived, but was as strong as ever, as if reserved at eighty-five more gloriously to magnify the Divine power, in the destruction of those sons of Anak who had so terrified the host of Israel in the wilderness. Note; (1.) The issues of life are in God’s hand; nor age, nor sickness, nor the sword, can hurt those whose preservation he determines. (2.) Every year that we are spared is a call for new thankfulness to him who keepeth our souls in life. (3.) The death of others around us should make us more sensible of the mercy which preserves us. (4.) A vigorous old age is an unusual blessing.
3. He offers now, aged as he was, to dispossess the Anakims, who had, after the taking of the city of Hebron, retired to the fastnesses of the mountains; and doubts not but by the Divine blessing, to which alone he trusted, to be able to subdue them. Note; (1.) They, who trust in God, will never find themselves disappointed of their hope. (2.) If God be with us, the sons of Anak, our giant-like corruptions, must fall before us.
4. Joshua admits the claim, and consents to the offer; commends his courage, and prays for his success. Thus Caleb received his reward for having wholly followed the Lord; and they who carefully copy his steps shall as surely share his blessing in a better country, that is, a heavenly.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
REFLECTIONS
IN beholding the Lord’s division of Canaan to his people, my soul would fain cry out, thou Lord shalt choose my heritage for me, and thou shalt be my hiding place forever. Instructed by thee, thou blessed Spirit, like Caleb, may the mountain of the spiritual Hebron be my portion, and there may I rest in Jesus in whom all fulness dwells. It is the well known character of the inhabitants of the gardens, to hearken to thy voice, to associate with thy people, to sit down at thine ordinances, and to dwell in thine house. Lord Jesus! let this be my employment while passing on and passing through this pilgrimage state. Thy God and Father will be my God and Father, and thy Holy Spirit will be my guide; then shall I sweetly drink out of the wells of salvation: then shall I be continually refreshed in the Hebron of my God, until having passed on from strength to strength, and from one manifestation of grace unto another, I shall at length with all the redeemed of the Lord appear before my God in Zion.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jos 14:15 And the name of Hebron before [was] Kirjatharba; [which Arba was] a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
Ver. 15. Was a great man. ] Both for his person and power; but there is a double greatness: (1.) Belluine; (2.) Genuine. In that, a beast may and doth exceed us. In this, we exceed ourselves and others.
And the land had rest from war.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Kirjath-arba. Arba was the great man among the Anakims. See App-23and App-25. Hebrew “city of Arba, he [was] the greatest man”, &c. had rest. During the first Sabbatic year. See App-50. (p. 53).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
And the name: Jos 15:13, Gen 23:2
And the land: Jos 11:23, Jdg 3:11, Jdg 3:30, Jdg 5:31, Jdg 8:28
Reciprocal: Gen 37:14 – Hebron Gen 49:15 – rest Jos 10:3 – Hebron Jos 15:54 – Kirjatharba Jos 20:7 – Kirjatharba Jdg 1:10 – Kirjatharba 2Sa 2:1 – Hebron Neh 11:25 – Kirjatharba
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 14:15. Arba was a great man, &c. In stature, and strength, and dignity, and authority, as being the progenitor of Anak, the father of those famous giants called Anakims.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
14:15 And the name of Hebron before [was] Kirjatharba; [which Arba was] a {f} great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
(f) Either for his power or person.