The city of Hebron is one of, in the author's opinion, the most underappreciated cities in the Old Testament. From serving as a home to more than a few of our spiritual forebears, to being the location of King David's anointing as King over Judah and Israel, Hebron has a largely unsung history. (Did you know that it was one of a few sanctuary cities in ancient Israel?)
A place of association
The meaning of the name Hebron, according to Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon is, “Conjunction, joining.” Other definitions for Hebron include, “Association,” or even, “League.” This name seems to be derived from when Abraham purchased the Cave of Machpelah, where he buries Sarah, but could also reference the covenant made with God near Hebron, or what was then named Kirjath-Arba (Genesis 17.) The cave of Machpelah is in Hebron and is said to be the modern, “Tomb of the Patriarchs.”
Abraham, in Genesis 23, purchases a cave and field from Ephron, a Hittite, after Sarah dies.
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Gen 23:2 KJV - 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.
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Gen 23:16 KJV - And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current [money] with the merchant.
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Gen 23:17 KJV - And the field of Ephron, which [was] in Machpelah, which [was] before Mamre, the field, and the cave which [was] therein, and all the trees that [were] in the field, that [were] in all the borders round about, were made sure
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Gen 23:18 KJV - Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.
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Gen 23:19 KJV - 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.
Interestingly enough, the city becomes the first biblically recorded property in the promised land given to a descendant of a Hebrew and promised by God, as Abraham was a descendant of Eber (Genesis 11:16-26.)
In Genesis 13, Abraham settles in the plains of Mamre, the same area where he would later purchase the sepulchre or cave of Machpelah. Here he receives the promise from God that his progeny will inherit the land of Canaan, and later the Lord covenants with Abraham to make him a “Father of many nations.” (Genesis 13:15; 17:1-8) Later in Genesis 18, we see the account of Abraham as he is visited by The Lord and two angels – near the future Israelite city of Hebron, which was at that time named Kirjath-Arba and inhabited by Canaanites. Abraham will eventually die near Hebron and be buried in the sepulchre. In due time he will be joined by Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Leah.
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Gen 49:29 KJV - And he[Jacob] charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that [is] in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
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Gen 49:30 KJV - In the cave that [is] in the field of Machpelah, which [is] before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.
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Gen 49:31 KJV - There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.
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Gen 49:32 KJV - The purchase of the field and of the cave that [is] therein [was] from the children of Heth.
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Gen 49:33 KJV - And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.
Exodus, Judges and the city desired by Kings
As the Exodus period was in its final stage, Israel was preparing to enter into the Land of Promise. The campaign against the land of Canaan was to be initiated by Joshua and Caleb against the city of Jericho- and eventually culminated in the taking of Mount Hebron.
After the city of Jericho was destroyed (Joshua 4:13,19,) the city Ai was destroyed also by the Israelites (Joshua 7, 8,) and this prompted the Gibeonites to attempt to trick the Israelites into making peace with them. To this end the Gibeonites were successful. Some of the remaining Canaanites apprently felt compelled to form their own alliance and come against Gibeon, to the which Israel was now obligated to defend. Of the alliance, one of the 5 kings was from Kirjath-Arba, later to be called Hebron. The battle was a great slaughter, with the Lord raining stones upon the fleeing members of the confederation that had come against the Israelite army (Joshua 10:1-10.) After this, Caleb would request the opportunity to take Mount Hebron from the giants (Joshua 14:6-15.)
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Jos 14:13 KJV - And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
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Jos 14:14 KJV - 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.
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Jos 14:15 KJV - And the name of Hebron before [was] Kirjatharba; [which Arba was] a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
Hebron, now so named, would be instituted as one of six Refuge Cities, where people could flee to for justice and safety. Given to the sons of Aaron, the city proper would be a possession for the Levites, but the suburbs would be the possession of Judah. (Joshua 21: 11-13)
It was about this point where the era of the Judges begins. After Joshua dies, Israel falls into apostasy, a pattern that will unfortunately be repeated often. The first judge is Othniel, Caleb's younger brother (Judges 3:9.) After delivering the Israelites from their oppressors, Othniel will die as judge, and may be buried in or near Hebron. Though it cannot be confirmed, it is reasonable to suggest that Israel's first judge may be buried in Hebron, and may have lived near to it, as the area around the city became Caleb's possession, and wouldve been passed on to family members after his passing. Regardless of whether or not Othniel lived in the city, he was most likely near to it and can be reasonably reckoned to its history.
Samson, a judge after the time of Othniel, would up end the doors and posts of the Philistine city of Gaza, and carry them all the way to a hill before Hebron. (Be on the lookout for a future blog post on Weightlifting.) Samson was the last judge recorded in the book of the same name, and the last of the warrior judges, as Eli and Samuel were both priests. The significance of how this relates to Hebron is unknown, if there is any, but it is interesting that of all the places Samson could've taken the gate, he chooses Hebron.
David was first anointed King of Judah, in Hebron. In fact, when David sought the Lord's guidance after Saul's death, David is directed to Hebron (2nd Sam. 2:1.) Abner, who is betrayed and murdered by Joab in Hebron, was buried there (2nd Sam. 3:32.) A handful of years after David is anointed King of Israel in Hebron, Absalom rebels against his father because of the lack of justice regarding Amnon's cruelty to Tamar. Profoundly, Absalom was the Grandson of Talmai, the king of Hebron that was defeated by Caleb! Absalom son to the daughter (married to King David,) of Talmai, King of Kirjath-Arba.
Roots
An aspect of Hebron's importance to Hebron Clothing Co. is that of God's promises. The early patriarchs leaned on God's promises, which is not only evident in their lives, but in their deaths as well. The lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are early testaments to God's promises being fulfilled in the short and long term – Abraham and the patriarchs never lived to see the promises fulfilled. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob sought to buried in the land where the promises were guaranteed. Caleb later leaned on God's promises when he sought to take Hebron from the giants that inhabited the city and the area around it. The name of the city itself lends towards our goals – to join together Godly men for the express purpose of community and the edification of that community.
Hebron, the city of association or joining, the former Levitical city of refuge, and location of both instances of King David's anointing. Covenants were made near to it, and the patriarchs of our faith are buried in it. The ancient city was an attractive namesake for Hebron Clothing due to its biblical importance, special history and unique role in the grand story of God regarding salvation through Jesus Christ.
Though we here in this time are far removed from the events cataloged in this article, though not exhaustively, the intent and desire are to use this special namesake for the glory of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Lord willing.)
John