Difference between revisions of "Hebron"

<p> '''He'bron.''' ''(alliance).'' </p> <p> 1. The third son of Kohath, who was the second son of Levi. &nbsp;Exodus 6:18; &nbsp;Numbers 3:19; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 6:2; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 6:18; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 23:12. He was the founder of a family of Hebronites, &nbsp;Numbers 3:27; &nbsp;Numbers 26:58; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 26:23; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 30-31, or Bene-Hebron, (that is, sons of Hebron). &nbsp;1 Chronicles 15:9; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 23:19. </p> <p> 2. [[A]] city of Judah, &nbsp;Joshua 15:54, situated among the mountains, &nbsp;Joshua 20:7, 20 Roman miles south of Jerusalem, and the same distance north of Beersheba. Hebron is one of the most ancient cities in the world still existing; and in this respect, it is the rival of Damascus. It was a well-known town when Abraham entered Canaan, 3800 years ago. &nbsp;Genesis 13:18. </p> <p> Its original name was ''Kirjath-arba'' , &nbsp;Judges 1:10, ''"the city of Arba";'' so called from Arba, the father of Anak. &nbsp;Joshua 15:13-14; &nbsp;Joshua 21:13. Sarah died at Hebron; and Abraham then bought, from Ephron, the Hittite, the field and cave of Machpelah, to serve as a family tomb. &nbsp;Genesis 23:2-20. The cave is still there, and the massive walls of the ''Haram'' or mosque, within which it lies, form the most remarkable object in the whole city. </p> <p> Abraham is called, by Mohammedans, '''el-Khulil''' , ''"the Friend",'' that is, ''of God,'' and this is the modern name of Hebron. Hebron now contains about 5000 inhabitants, of whom some fifty families are Jews. It is picturesquely situated in a narrow valley, surrounded by rocky hills. The valley runs from north to south; and the main quarter of the town, surmounted by the lofty walls of the venerable '''Haram''' , lies partly on the eastern slope. &nbsp;Genesis 37:14. Compare &nbsp;Genesis 23:19. </p> <p> About a mile from the town, up the valley, is one of the largest oak trees in Palestine. This, say some, is the very tree beneath which Abraham pitched his tent, and it still bears the name of the patriarch. </p> <p> 3. One of the towns in the territory of Asher, &nbsp;Joshua 19:28, probably ''Ebdon'' or ''Abdom'' . </p>

<p> '''Hebron''' (''hç'bron'' ), ''friendship.'' An ancient town of Palestine, about 20 miles south of Jerusalem, first called Kirjath-arba, or city of Arba. &nbsp;Joshua 21:11; &nbsp;Joshua 15:13-14; &nbsp;Judges 1:10. It lies about 3000 feet above the level of the sea, and is one of the oldest towns in the world and mentioned before Damascus, &nbsp;Genesis 13:18; &nbsp;Genesis 14:13; and was built 7 years before Zoan, or Tanis, in Egypt, &nbsp;Numbers 13:22. Hebron is named about forty times in the Old Testament, but nowhere in the New. Abraham pitched his tent under the oaks of Mamre, near Hebron, &nbsp;Genesis 13:18, and he bought the cave of Machpelah, as a burial-place. &nbsp;Genesis 23:17-20. Hebron was taken by Joshua, &nbsp;Joshua 10:36-37; &nbsp;Joshua 12:10, and the region given to Caleb, &nbsp;Joshua 14:13; was rebuilt and made a Levitical city and a city of refuge, &nbsp;Joshua 20:7; &nbsp;Joshua 21:11; was the royal residence of David, &nbsp;2 Samuel 2:1-14; &nbsp;1 Kings 2:11; became the headquarters of the rebellious Absalom, &nbsp;2 Samuel 15:10; was fortified by Rehoboam and repeopled after the captivity. &nbsp;2 Chronicles 11:10; &nbsp;Nehemiah 11:25. [[A]] pool is still shown over which tradition says that David hung the murderers of Ishbosheth, and the tomb of [[Abner]] and [[Ishbosheth]] is also pointed out within an [[Arab]] house, and the mosque is known to conceal the noted cave of Machpelah, the burial-place of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their wives except Rachel. The mosque is closed against visitors and guarded with the strictest care by the Moslems. </p>