He·bron /ˈhibrən/



 Hebron
    a community; alliance. (1.) A city in the south end of the
    valley of Eshcol, about midway between Jerusalem and Beersheba,
    from which it is distant about 20 miles in a straight line. It
    was built "seven years before Zoan in Egypt" (Gen. 13:18; Num.
    13:22). It still exists under the same name, and is one of the
    most ancient cities in the world. Its earlier name was
    Kirjath-arba (Gen. 23:2; Josh. 14:15; 15:3). But "Hebron would
    appear to have been the original name of the city, and it was
    not till after Abraham's stay there that it received the name
    Kirjath-arba, who [i.e., Arba] was not the founder but the
    conqueror of the city, having led thither the tribe of the
    Anakim, to which he belonged. It retained this name till it came
    into the possession of Caleb, when the Israelites restored the
    original name Hebron" (Keil, Com.). The name of this city does
    not occur in any of the prophets or in the New Testament. It is
    found about forty times in the Old. It was the favorite home of
    Abraham. Here he pitched his tent under the oaks of Mamre, by
    which name it came afterwards to be known; and here Sarah died,
    and was buried in the cave of Machpelah (Gen. 23:17-20), which
    he bought from Ephron the Hittite. From this place the patriarch
    departed for Egypt by way of Beersheba (37:14; 46:1). It was
    taken by Joshua and given to Caleb (Josh. 10:36, 37; 12:10;
    14:13). It became a Levitical city and a city of refuge (20:7;
    21:11). When David became king of Judah this was his royal
    residence, and he resided here for seven and a half years (2
    Sam. 5:5); and here he was anointed as king over all Israel (2
    Sam. 2:1-4, 11; 1 Kings 2:11). It became the residence also of
    the rebellious Absalom (2 Sam. 15:10), who probably expected to
    find his chief support in the tribe of Judah, now called
    el-Khulil.

      In one part of the modern city is a great mosque, which is
    built over the grave of Machpelah. The first European who was
    permitted to enter this mosque was the Prince of Wales in 1862.
    It was also visited by the Marquis of Bute in 1866, and by the
    late Emperor Frederick of Germany (then Crown-Prince of Prussia)
    in 1869.

      One of the largest oaks in Palestine is found in the valley of
    Eshcol, about 3 miles north of the town. It is supposed by some
    to be the tree under which Abraham pitched his tent, and is
    called "Abraham's oak." (See OAK.)

      (2.) The third son of Kohath the Levite (Ex. 6:18; 1 Chr. 6:2,
    18).

      (3.) 1 Chr. 2:42, 43.

      (4.) A town in the north border of Asher (Josh. 19:28).



 Hebron, society; friendship