City
Hebron
HEE-bron · Modern Hebron (Al-Khalil), West Bank · Also called Kiriath-arba
Hebron is a city of the biblical world.
What is known
- Abraham purchased the Cave of Machpelah at Hebron from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site for Sarah, and it later became the burial place of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebekah, and Leah (Genesis 23; Genesis 49:29-32)
- David reigned from Hebron for seven and a half years as king over Judah before relocating his capital to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 2:1-4; 2 Samuel 5:5)
- Hebron was one of the six Levitical cities of refuge designated in Joshua (Joshua 20:7)
- The Cave of Machpelah is enclosed today by the Cave of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque complex, whose massive lower wall was built by Herod the Great in the 1st century BC and still stands, making it one of the oldest continuously used religious structures in the world
History
- Founded
- One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the region, with settlement traced to at least the 4th millennium BC; described in Numbers 13:22 as having been built seven years before Zoan (Tanis) in Egypt
- Population
- A significant Judean hill-country town through the Iron Age; modern Hebron/Al-Khalil is one of the largest Palestinian cities in the West Bank
- Industry
- Hill-country agriculture (notably viniculture — the Valley of Eshcol near Hebron is described as producing enormous grape clusters in Numbers 13:23-24) and, later, glass and pottery craft trades
- Coordinates
- 31.5326° N, 35.0956° E
Rulers and powers
- David (first capital, reigning from Hebron) — c. 1010-1003 BC
Archaeology
The Cave of the Patriarchs (Ibrahimi Mosque) complex in Hebron encloses the traditional Cave of Machpelah within a massive rectangular enclosure wall built by Herod the Great in the 1st century BC, using the same monumental Herodian ashlar masonry style as the Jerusalem Temple Mount walls. Separate excavations at nearby Tel Hebron (Tell er-Rumeida) have uncovered Bronze and Iron Age fortification walls consistent with a substantial ancient city.
Scripture references
- Genesis 13:18 — Abram settles near Hebron
- Genesis 23:2-20 — Sarah dies at Hebron; Abraham buys the Cave of Machpelah
- Numbers 13:22 — Spies pass through Hebron; note on its ancient founding
- Joshua 14:13-15 — Hebron given to Caleb
- Joshua 20:7 — Hebron designated a city of refuge
- Judges 1:10 — Judah captures Hebron
- 2 Samuel 2:1-4 — David anointed king at Hebron
- 2 Samuel 5:1-5 — David's reign at Hebron before moving to Jerusalem
On a modern map
Further reading
Reflect
Caleb claimed Hebron's hill country at eighty-five, still eager for a challenge — what do you assume you're too old, or too late, for?
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