Debir (Kirjath-sepher)
Hill country of JudahCity in Hill country of Judah · today Khirbet Rabud, West Bank (probable)
Meaning: “Sanctuary / oracle; old name = "city of the book"”
The hill-country city, once "city of the book," won by Othniel — who gained Achsah as his bride.
Location
Overview
Debir, also called Kirjath-sepher ("city of the book") and Kirjath-sannah, was a city in the hill country of Judah, taken in Joshua's southern campaign.
Captured in the conquest
Joshua "returned to Debir, and fought against it: and he took it... he left none remaining" (Joshua 10:38–39). It was a city of the Anakim that Joshua cut off from the hills (Joshua 11:21).
Othniel and Achsah
Caleb offered his daughter Achsah to whoever would take Kirjath-sepher. "And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife" (Joshua 15:16–17; Judges 1:11–13). Achsah then asked her father for springs of water as a blessing.
A Levitical city
Debir was later set apart for the priests as one of the Levitical cities of Judah (Joshua 21:15).
Events Here
Othniel captures Kirjath-sepher and wins Achsah as his bride
Scripture References
12 versesJoshua10 verses
Joshua 10:3
Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,
Joshua 10:38
And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:
Joshua 10:39
And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.
Joshua 11:21
And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.
Joshua 12:13
The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
Joshua 13:26
And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;
Joshua 15:7
And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of Enshemesh, and the goings out thereof were at Enrogel:
Joshua 15:15
And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher.
Joshua 15:49
And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which is Debir,
Joshua 21:15
And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,
Judges1 verse
Judges 1:11
And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:
1 Chronicles1 verse
1 Chronicles 6:58
And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs, Hilen: or, Holon
Archaeology & History
Debir is most often identified with Khirbet Rabud, south of Hebron in the Judean hills, where Bronze and Iron Age occupation has been found along with nearby springs that fit the story of Achsah's request for water. Other locations have also been proposed.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Debir (Kirjath-sepher)
Where is Debir (Kirjath-sepher) today?
Today, Debir (Kirjath-sepher) corresponds to Khirbet Rabud, West Bank (probable).
What does the name Debir (Kirjath-sepher) mean?
The name Debir (Kirjath-sepher) means “Sanctuary / oracle; old name = "city of the book"”.
What happened at Debir (Kirjath-sepher) in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Debir (Kirjath-sepher) include othniel captures kirjath-sepher and wins achsah as his bride.
Where is Debir (Kirjath-sepher) first mentioned in the Bible?
Debir (Kirjath-sepher) is first mentioned in Joshua 10:3.
How often is Debir (Kirjath-sepher) mentioned in the Bible?
Debir (Kirjath-sepher) is mentioned in 12 verses across 3 books: Joshua, Judges, 1 Chronicles.
Who captured Debir?
After Joshua’s campaign, Othniel son of Kenaz took Kirjath-sepher (Debir) at Caleb’s challenge and won Caleb’s daughter Achsah as his wife.
Why is Debir called "city of the book"?
Its older name, Kirjath-sepher, means "city of the book" or "city of writing," perhaps marking it as a scribal or administrative centre.