Kiriath-Arba
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [1]
Kiriath-Arba is used as a name for Hebron (wh. see) in Genesis 23:2 etc. Only in Genesis 35:27 and Nehemiah 11:25 is Arba‘ written with the article. The city may have been so called as the seat of a confederacy between four men or tribes, or the name may be = Tetrapolis , ‘the city of four quarters.’ The Heb. text explains it as ‘the city of Arba,’ ‘the greatest man among the Anakim’ (Jos 14:16 RV [Note: Revised Version.] ), or ‘the father of Anak’ ( Joshua 15:13; Joshua 21:11 ). In the first passage LXX [Note: Septuagint.] reads ‘the city Argob, the metropolis of the Anakim’: in the second ‘the city Arbok, metropolis,’ etc. Perhaps in the last two, therefore, we should read ’çm , ‘mother,’ i.e . ‘mother-city,’ instead of ’abi , ‘father.’
W. Ewing.
Holman Bible Dictionary [2]
Joshua 15:54 Joshua 15:54 Joshua 21:11 Joshua 20:7 Joshua 15:13-14 Joshua 14:15 Joshua 15:13Levitical CitiesCities Of RefugeHebron
