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Hebron - location profile

Location and Setting

• Originally known as Kiriath-arba (Gen 23:2; Josh 14:15), Hebron is located twenty miles southwest of Jerusalem. The site of Mamre was also identified with Hebron (Gen 13:18; 23:19; 35:27).
• Although Hebron’s elevation is 3,300 feet above sea level, it is situated in a well-watered valley. Its fertile soil supports the production of apples, plums, figs, nut trees, grapes, melons, and various vegetables.
• The Ridge Road ("Patriarch’s Highway") connected Hebron with Shechem in the north and Beersheba to the southwest. Hebron was also linked by road to Lachish to the west and Arad to the south.

Historical and Biblical Significance

• Abraham was living "by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron," (Gen 13:18) when his nephew Lot was taken captive by the kings of Mesopotamia. Taking 318 of his trained men, he overcame the kings at Hobah, north of Damascus, and rescued Lot and his possessions (Gen 14:1-16).
• When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, three angels visited him at Mamre and confirmed the Lord’s promise that his barren wife Sara would bear a son named Isaac (Gen 18:1-15).
• An angel (the Lord) revealed His intention to destroy the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. When Abraham pleaded for them, the Lord agreed to withhold judgment if at least ten righteous people were found there. This modest requirement was not met, and the cities were destroyed (Gen 18:16-33).
• When the nation was camped at Kadesh-barnea, spies went out to scout the land of Canaan to assess the strength of its inhabitants and the abundance of its fruit. They reported that descendants of the Anakim giants were residing in Hebron. The Israelites feared these and other Canaanites and refused to enter the Land. Their disobedience resulted in thirty-eight years of wandering in the wilderness (Num 13:22).
• After Joshua had taken possession of the Land, his old colleague Caleb asked him for Hebron. At eighty-five years of age, Caleb drove out the Anakim that still resided in Hebron and settled there (Josh 14:6-15).
• When King Saul died on Mount Gilboa, David became king. From Ziklag, where he had been living for seven years, God directed David to move to Hebron. This became his "capital" where he initially ruled over only the tribe of Judah. Almost eight years later, David took the city of Jebus (Jerusalem) where he eventually ruled over all of Israel (2 Sam 5:1-5).
• David’s son, Absalom, rebelled against his father. He gained a following from the northern tribes and moved to Hebron. From there he launched his takeover of Jerusalem and the throne (2 Sam 15-18:15).

Bibliography

1. Baly, Denis. The Geography of the Bible. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1957.
2. Lockyer, Sr., Herbert, ed. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986.
3. Stigers, H.G. "Hebron" The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible. Ed. Merrill C. Tenney. 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976.