Joshua 21:11-13
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This verse reveals a significant detail: Hebron, the city given to the priests, was originally the stronghold of Anak, a name representing a race of giants. This highlights the incredible grace of God, turning a place known for fear and oppression into a sanctuary and center of worship for His people.
They gave them Kiriath-arba (Arba being the father of Anak), that is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with the pasturelands around it. But the fields of the city and its villages had been given to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as his possession. And to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for the manslayer, with its pasturelands, Libnah with its pasturelands,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Israelites are in the process of distributing land and cities throughout Canaan, fulfilling God's command that the Levites, who received no tribal inheritance, be given cities to live in from the other tribes. This specific verse details one of the significant cities assigned to the priests, descendants of Aaron, who are part of the Levites. This act of assigning cities to the Levites sets the stage for establishing religious centers and ensuring the continuity of worship across the promised land, also noting that the surrounding fields were given to Caleb for his own inheritance.
Why does this verse mention both 'Kiriath-arba' and 'Hebron'? It's more than just a name change; it points to a deep history.
The land of Canaan was filled with history and layers of meaning. Kiriath-arba, meaning 'City of Arba,' refers to a prominent ancestor of the Anakim, a formidable people known for their size and strength.
This name connects the land to its ancient, and in some ways intimidating, past. By giving this significant city to the Levites, God was symbolically giving them dominion over the formidable challenges and histories of the land.
Hebron, the name used more commonly and later, means 'fellowship' or 'union.' It highlights the ongoing communal life and shared destiny of God's people. The Levites, dedicated to serving God and the community, were given a central place in this fellowship.
The Levites were God's special servants, but they didn't inherit land like the other tribes. So, where did they live and why was it important?
Unlike the other tribes who received land for farming and inheritance, the Levites were given cities scattered throughout the Promised Land. This was by God's direct command.
Their role was unique: to serve God, teach His law, and be a spiritual center for all of Israel. Giving them cities, like Hebron, ensured they had a place to live, minister, and raise their families, while remaining distinct from the agrarian tribes.
Hebron was a significant city, strategically located in the hill country of Judah. By assigning it, along with its surrounding pasturelands ('suburbs'), to the Kohathite Levites (specifically, the priestly line of Aaron as noted in some commentaries), God provided them with both a dwelling and the resources necessary for their livelihood and ministry.
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Understand the original words
miqlat · Hebrew Noun
A city or area designated for the safety of one who killed a person unintentionally, protecting them from the avenger of blood until a fair trial or the death of the high priest. It reflects God’s justice and mercy in the administration of the law.
ratsach · Hebrew Noun
Refers to one who has caused the death of another person. In the Mosaic law, the distinction between intentional murder and accidental killing was critical for justice.
kohen · Hebrew Noun
An official set apart for sacred service, responsible for performing rituals, offering sacrifices, and mediating between God and the people. In the Old Testament, the priesthood was established in the line of Aaron.
achuzzah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to an inherited portion or land granted to an individual or tribe by God's providence. It carries the weight of stewardship and covenant inheritance.
migrash · Hebrew Noun
Open land surrounding a Levitical city, kept free from permanent buildings to allow for the grazing of the livestock belonging to the priests and Levites who lived there.
The assignment of Hebron, a city with a significant past tied to giants and conquered by Israel, to the Levites highlights God's gracious provision for His dedicated servants and the reordering of the land according to His commands.
~1400 BC
Israel's Conquest of Canaan
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, conquered the land of Canaan. This period involved numerous battles and the subjugation of various Canaanite city-states.
c. 1350 BC— this verse
Hebrew settlement in Hebron
The city of Hebron, originally known as Kiriath-arba and associated with the giant Anakites, was conquered by Joshua and assigned to the tribe of Judah. It was later designated as a Levitical city.
c. 1350 BC
Levitical Cities Assigned
After the conquest, the land was divided among the twelve tribes. As part of this division, forty-eight cities were specifically allocated to the Levites, who had no tribal land inheritance, to serve as centers for worship and education throughout Israel.
c. 1000 BC
David Reigns in Hebron
King David was anointed king over Judah in Hebron and reigned there for seven years before becoming king over all Israel and moving his capital to Jerusalem.
This passage first introduces Hebron, then called Kiriath-arba, as the place where Sarah was buried, establishing its ancient significance as a sacred burial site.
Joshua 14:13-15This shows Caleb specifically requesting and receiving Hebron as his inheritance, highlighting its importance and the context of its distribution, even before the Levites were fully settled.
Numbers 35:1-8This passage outlines God's command for the Levites to be given cities and pasturelands throughout Israel, setting the theological and legal foundation for the events in Joshua 21.
2 Samuel 5:3This verse demonstrates that Hebron later became a significant royal city, serving as David's capital for seven years, underscoring its enduring importance beyond its assignment to the Levites.
calvinJoshua 21:1-19: "Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;"
And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
Egressa est autem sors per familias Caethita…
clarkeJoshua 21:11: "And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it."
The city of Arba - See the note on Joshua 14:15 .
This verse reveals a significant detail: Hebron, the city given to the priests, was originally the stronghold of Anak, a name representing a race of giants. This highlights the incredible grace of God, turning a place known for fear and oppression into a sanctuary and center of worship for His people.
The Israelites are in the process of distributing land and cities throughout Canaan, fulfilling God's command that the Levites, who received no tribal inheritance, be given cities to live in from the other tribes. This specific verse details one of the significant cities assigned to the priests, descendants of Aaron, who are part of the Levites. This act of assigning cities to the Levites sets the stage for establishing religious centers and ensuring the continuity of worship across the promised land, also noting that the surrounding fields were given to Caleb for his own inheritance.
The Israelites are in the process of distributing land and cities throughout Canaan, fulfilling God's command that the Levites, who received no tribal inheritance, be given cities to live in from the other tribes. This specific verse details one of the significant cities assigned to the priests, descendants of Aaron, who are part of the Levites. This act of assigning cities to the Levites sets the stage for establishing religious centers and ensuring the continuity of worship across the promised land, also noting that the surrounding fields were given to Caleb for his own inheritance.
"They gave them Kiriath-arba (Arba being the father of Anak), that is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with the pasturelands around it. But the fields of the city and its villages had been given to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as h…" — This verse reveals a significant detail: Hebron, the city given to the priests, was originally the stronghold of Anak, a name representing a race of giants. This highlights the incredible grace of Go…
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Last reviewed October 2026
