HEBRON, the most southern of the three cities of refuge west of Jordan (Josh. xx. 7), built “seven years before Zoan (Tanis) in Egypt” (Num. xiii. 22). Tanis, according to Brugsch, was standing at least 2100 years b.c. Hebron was originally called Mamre and Kirjath Arba, after Arba, one of the Anakiιn (Josh. xiv. 15), It is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament (Gen. xiii. 18 and xxiii. 19; 2 Sam. iii. 20 and v. 5). The present town encloses the Haram or sanctuary built over the supposed site of Machpelah; but if this site be (as seems probable) genuine, the ancient Hebron must have faced the cave, as is remarked by many ancient writers (Gen. xxiii. 17). The name Machpelah signifies “place of division,” and the cave was therefore called as early as the 6th century Spelunca Duplex. In the 12th century an iron door (still visible) is mentioned as leading from the Haram wall to the cavern. In 1167 a d. Hebron became the see of a Latin bishop, and it was taken in 1187 by Saladin. In 1834 it joined the rebellion against Ibrahim Pasha, who took the town and pillaged it. Modern Hebron rises on the east slope of a shallow valley—a long narrow town of stone houses, the fl it roofs having small stone domes. The main quarter is about 700 yards long, and two smaller groups of houses exist north and south of this. The hill behind is terraced, and luxuriant vineyards surround the place, which is well watered on the north by three principal springs, including the Well Sirah, now 'Ain Sdrah (2 Sam. iii. 26). Three conspicuous minarets rise, two from the Haram the other in the north quarter. The population includes 17,000 Moslems and 600 Jews. The Bedawin bring wool and camel’s hair to the market; and glass bracelets, lamps, and leather water-skins are manufactured in ...

one of the most ancient cities in the world; for it was built seven years before Zoan, the capital of Lower Egypt, Numbers xiii, 22. Now, as the Egyptians gloried much in the antiquity of their cities, and their country was indeed one of the first that was peopled after the dispersion of Babel, it may be from hence concluded that it was one of the most ancient. Some think it was founded by Arba, one of the oldest giants in Palestine; for which reason it was called Kirjath-arba, or Arba’s city, Joshua xiv, 15; which name was afterward changed to that of Hebron, Joshua xv, 13. Arba was the father of Anak; and from Anak the giants, called Anakim, took their name, who were still dwelling at Hebron when Joshua conquered the land of Canaan. When it was first called Hebron, is uncertain; some think, not till it was conquered by Caleb, and that he called it so from his son of that name. But Calmet is of opinion that the name of Hebron is more ancient; and that Caleb, to do honour to his son, named him after this ancient and celebrated place. Hebron was situated upon an eminence, twenty miles southward from Jerusalem, and twenty miles north from Beersheba. Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac were buried near Hebron, in the cave of Machpelah, or the double cave, which Abraham bought of Ephron, Genesis xxiii, 7–9. Hebron was the allotment of Judah. The Lord assigned it for the inheritance of Caleb, Joshua xiv, 13; x, 3, 23, 37. Joshua first took Hebron, and killed the king, whose name was Hoham. But afterward Caleb again made a conquest of it, assisted by the troops of his tribe, and the valour of Othniel, Judges i, 12, 13. It was appointed to be a dwelling for priests, and declared to be a city of refuge, Joshua xxi, 13. David, after the death of Saul, fixed the seat of his government ...