Bible Meaning: Association
Strong's Concordance #H2275
Two people are named Hebron in Scripture. The first is from the tribe of Levi whose father was Kohath (Exodus 6:18). The second was a son of Mareshah (1Chronicles 2:42).
The city of Hebron was first called Kirjatharba (Genesis 23:2, Joshua 14:15) or Arbah (Genesis 35:27). These names mean "city of Arba" or "city of the four giants" (Strong's #H7153). It also included an area named Mamre (Genesis 13:18).
City of Importance
After his separation from Lot, Abraham lived in Mamre for quite some time (Genesis 13:18). When his beautiful wife Sarah died, at the age of 127, he purchased a nearby cave and buried her in it (23:2, 19). The cave would also become his own burial location (25:9) and that of his son Isaac and his wife Rebekah (35:29), as well as of his grandson Jacob and his wife Leah (49:31, 50:13).
Hebron was given to the tribe of Judah after Israel entered the Promised Land. It was not only designated a Levitical city but also one of the six special cities of refuge (Joshua 20:7). Prior to Israel taking control of the town, it had joined an alliance that fought God's people and lost (Joshua 9 - 10).
Hebron, later in its history, became the home of David and his fighting men. When King Saul died, David was anointed ruler over Judah and Benjamin with the city as his capital (2Samuel 2:1 - 3, 11). After seven and one-half years, he was again anointed in the city, this time as king over a united Israel (2Samuel 5:1, 3, 5). He soon, however, moved his capital to Jerusalem.
Fearing the Egyptians might attack the kingdom, Judah's King Rehoboam fortified Hebron's defenses (2Chronicles 11:5 - 10).
Important Verses
Person
1Chronicles 2:42
Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were, Mesha his firstborn, which was the father of Ziph: and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.
Location
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.
Genesis 23:1 - 2
And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah. 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 25:9
And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him (Abraham) in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre . . .
Genesis 50:13
For his sons carried him (Jacob, renamed Israel) into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
2Samuel 2:3, 11
And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
2Samuel 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.
2Samuel 5:3, 5
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron: and king David made a league with them . . . and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
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.