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Hebron

Judah

City in Judah · today Hebron (Al-Khalil), West Bank

Meaning: “Association, fellowship

One of the oldest cities in the land — burial place of the patriarchs and David’s first royal capital.

Location

Overview

Hebron, set in the Judean hills about nineteen miles south of Jerusalem, is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth. It is bound up with the patriarchs and with the rise of King David.

The city of Abraham

Abraham settled by the oaks of Mamre at Hebron and built an altar there (Genesis 13:18). When Sarah died, he bought the cave of Machpelah as a burying place (Genesis 23:19) — where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their wives were later laid.

Caleb's inheritance

At the conquest, Hebron was given to Caleb, who drove out the giant sons of Anak (Joshua 14:13–14). It became a city of refuge and a Levitical city.

David's first capital

It was at Hebron that the men of Judah anointed David king, and there he reigned seven and a half years before capturing Jerusalem (2 Samuel 2:4; 5:5). Years later Absalom launched his rebellion from the same city (2 Samuel 15:10).

Events Here

2000 BC

Abraham buys the cave of Machpelah as a burial place

Genesis 23:19
1400 BC

Caleb receives Hebron and drives out the Anakim

Joshua 14:13
1010 BC

David is anointed king of Judah at Hebron

2 Samuel 2:4

Scripture References

46 verses
Genesis5 verses

Genesis 13:18

Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD. plain: Heb. plains

Genesis 23:2

And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

Genesis 23:19

And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 35:27

And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

Genesis 37:14

And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. see: Heb. see the peace of thy brethren, etc.

Joshua16 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 10:5

Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.

Joshua 10:23

And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.

Joshua 10:36

And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they 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 12:10

The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;

Joshua 14:13

And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

Joshua 14:14

Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.

Joshua 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.

Joshua 15:13

And 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. the city: or, Kirjatharba

Joshua 15:54

And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages:

Joshua 19:28

And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;

Joshua 20:7

And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. appointed: Heb. sanctified

Joshua 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: or, Kirjatharba

Joshua 21:13

Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,

Judges3 verses

Judges 1:10

And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.

Judges 1:20

And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.

Judges 16:3

And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron. bar: Heb. with the bar

1 Samuel1 verse

1 Samuel 30:31

And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.

2 Samuel21 verses

2 Samuel 2:1

And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.

2 Samuel 2:3

And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

2 Samuel 2:11

And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. time: Heb. number of days

2 Samuel 2:32

And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

2 Samuel 3:2

And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

2 Samuel 3:5

And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

2 Samuel 3:19

And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

2 Samuel 3:20

So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

2 Samuel 3:22

And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

2 Samuel 3:27

And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. quietly: or, peaceably

2 Samuel 3:32

And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

2 Samuel 4:1

And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

2 Samuel 4:8

And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.

2 Samuel 4:12

And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

2 Samuel 5:1

Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

2 Samuel 5:3

So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.

2 Samuel 5:5

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

2 Samuel 5:13

And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

2 Samuel 15:7

And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

2 Samuel 15:9

And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

2 Samuel 15:10

But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

Archaeology & History

The traditional cave of Machpelah lies beneath the massive Herodian enclosure known today as the Cave of the Patriarchs / Ibrahimi Mosque — its great ashlar walls built by Herod the Great in the 1st century BC and still standing. Hebron is revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims as the patriarchs' resting place.

People who appear here

David14×
Abner7×
Abraham4×
Joshua4×
Caleb4×
Joab3×
Sarah2×
Asahel2×
Saul2×
Ishbosheth2×
Absalom2×
Isaac1×
Jacob1×
Adonizedek1×
Aaron1×
Moses1×
Samson1×
Amnon1×

Frequently asked about Hebron

Where is Hebron today?

Today, Hebron corresponds to Hebron (Al-Khalil), West Bank.

What does the name Hebron mean?

The name Hebron means “Association, fellowship”.

What happened at Hebron in the Bible?

Key biblical events at Hebron include abraham buys the cave of machpelah as a burial place; caleb receives hebron and drives out the anakim; david is anointed king of judah at hebron.

Where is Hebron first mentioned in the Bible?

Hebron is first mentioned in Genesis 13:18.

How often is Hebron mentioned in the Bible?

Hebron is mentioned in 46 verses across 5 books: Genesis, Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel.

Who is buried at Hebron?

According to Genesis, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah were buried in the cave of Machpelah at Hebron.

Why is Hebron important to King David?

Hebron was David’s first capital; the men of Judah anointed him king there, and he reigned over Judah from Hebron for seven and a half years before taking Jerusalem.