Joshua 14:15 kjv
And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
Joshua 14:15 nkjv
And the name of Hebron formerly was Kirjath Arba (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim). Then the land had rest from war.
Joshua 14:15 niv
(Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) Then the land had rest from war.
Joshua 14:15 esv
Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba. (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.) And the land had rest from war.
Joshua 14:15 nlt
(Previously Hebron had been called Kiriath-arba. It had been named after Arba, a great hero of the descendants of Anak.) And the land had rest from war.
Joshua 14 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 23:2 | "And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan..." | Hebron's early name & significance. |
| Gen 35:27 | "...and he came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron)..." | Patriarchal connection to Hebron. |
| Num 13:22 | "...they went up through the Negeb and came to Hebron. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)" | Strategic, ancient city visited by spies. |
| Num 13:28 | "...the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the Anakim there." | Spies' fear of the Anakim. |
| Num 13:33 | "...there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim)..." | Anakim linked to the terrifying Nephilim. |
| Num 14:24 | "But my servant Caleb, because he had a different spirit and has followed me fully..." | Caleb's faithfulness promised his inheritance. |
| Deut 1:28 | "...the Anakim we have seen there are taller than we!" | Echoes Israel's fear of the Anakim. |
| Deut 2:10-11 | "(The Emim formerly lived there, a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim... they were accounted as Rephaim...)" | Mentions related giant peoples. |
| Deut 9:2 | "...a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim..." | Further emphasizes Anakim's stature. |
| Josh 11:21-22 | "And at that time Joshua came and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah... None of the Anakim were left in the land of the people of Israel..." | Earlier defeat of Anakim mentioned. |
| Josh 11:23 | "So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses... And the land had rest from war." | Precedes the current verse, similar statement. |
| Josh 12:7 | "These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated..." | Summary of conquests leading to rest. |
| Josh 14:6 | "...Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, 'You know what the Lord said to Moses...'" | Caleb reminds Joshua of God's promise. |
| Josh 14:9 | "Moses swore on that day, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you..." | Moses' oath to Caleb concerning his land. |
| Josh 21:44 | "And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them..." | God's full provision of rest for Israel. |
| Josh 22:4 | "And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them..." | Reminder of the granted rest. |
| Josh 23:1 | "A long time afterward, when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies..." | Later confirmation of long-term rest. |
| Deut 12:10 | "...when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your enemies around..." | Promise of rest tied to inheritance. |
| 2 Sam 7:1 | "Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies..." | Concept of rest continued into later periods (David). |
| 1 Kgs 5:4 | "But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune." | Solomon experiencing divine rest. |
| 1 Chr 22:9 | "...I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days." | Solomon's name and reign characterized by peace/rest. |
| Heb 4:1-11 | "Let us therefore strive to enter that rest..." | Theological parallel of "rest" in Christ. |
Joshua 14 verses
Joshua 14 15 Meaning
Joshua 14:15 explains the former name of Hebron, Kiriath-arba, associating it with Arba, a giant figure among the formidable Anakim. It concludes by noting that after the capture of Hebron by Caleb, "the land had rest from war." This verse encapsulates the achievement of a significant phase of the conquest, symbolizing divine provision of peace after overcoming a major obstacle, fulfilled through the steadfast faith of God’s servant, Caleb.
Joshua 14 15 Context
Joshua 14:15 appears at a pivotal moment in the Book of Joshua. The preceding verses (Josh 14:6-14) describe Caleb, at 85 years old, boldly claiming Hebron as his promised inheritance due to his unwavering faith and fidelity to God, demonstrated 45 years earlier when he alone (with Joshua) believed God could overcome the Anakim. This verse then provides additional background for Hebron, revealing its daunting past name, Kiriath-arba, and its connection to Arba, the chief of the Anakim giants, thereby highlighting the immense challenge Hebron represented. Its final clause, "Then the land had rest from war," signifies the culmination of the major conquest campaigns and the establishment of relative peace, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His promise to grant Israel their land and menuchah (rest/security) from their primary enemies. This rest, however, was provisional and foreshadows a deeper, spiritual rest.
Joshua 14 15 Word analysis
- The name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba:
- Hebron: חֶבְרוֹן (Khevron), derived from a root meaning "fellowship" or "association." This name change signifies a transformation from a stronghold of fearful giants to a place of covenant fulfillment and dwelling for God's people. It was also a burial place for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen 23, 35, 50).
- Kiriath-arba: קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע (Kiryat Arba), meaning "City of Arba." The continued use of both names emphasizes the historical identity and the significant change the conquest brought.
- for Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim:
- Arba: אַרְבַּע (Arba). A significant, fearsome figure whose name gives Kiriath-arba its identity. He personified the formidable resistance Israel faced.
- greatest man: הָאָדָם הַגָּדוֹל (ha'adam ha'gadol). This title underscores his physical stature and authority among the Anakim. It highlights the magnitude of the victory that overcame such a prominent enemy.
- Anakim: עֲנָקִים (Anakim), descendants of Anak, known for their enormous stature and strength. They represented the primary fear of the original spies and epitomized humanly impossible obstacles (Num 13:33, Deut 1:28, Deut 9:2). Their defeat by Israel through God’s power showcases divine sovereignty and promise-keeping.
- Then the land had rest from war:
- rest from war: שָׁקְטָה הָאָרֶץ מִמִּלְחָמָה (shaqetah ha'aretz mi'milchamah). The verb shaqat implies quietness, calm, or cessation. This indicates that the major, organized campaigns of conquest were completed. While skirmishes and ongoing tribal battles might occur, the significant military phases orchestrated under Joshua had largely concluded. This rest is a direct fulfillment of God's covenant promises (Ex 33:14, Deut 12:10). It is a divine provision, not merely a human achievement.
Joshua 14 15 Bonus section
- Theological Significance of "Rest": The concept of "rest" (menuchah) is central in the Old Testament, representing God's promised Sabbath-like security and dwelling place for His people after their trials. It’s not just an absence of war but a state of divine provision and settled peace in their inheritance. This particular verse signifies the entry into a stage of this promised rest for Israel in Canaan.
- Contrast and Fulfillment: Hebron, a place of patriarchal burials and ancestral promises (Gen 23), becomes a symbolic location for God's power to overcome even the most daunting opposition (the Anakim). The city, once representing fear and gigantic resistance, becomes a testament to faithful obedience and God's fulfilling power.
- Caleb's Example: This verse's concluding statement directly follows Caleb's request and conquest of Hebron. Caleb’s individual victory over the Anakim in his allotted portion directly contributes to and epitomizes the "rest" enjoyed by the entire land, illustrating that personal faith and obedience are instrumental in realizing God's corporate promises.
Joshua 14 15 Commentary
Joshua 14:15 serves as a theological anchor within the narrative of the land distribution. By explaining Hebron's past as Kiriath-arba and the stronghold of Arba and the Anakim, it amplifies the monumental nature of Caleb's victory and, by extension, God's power through Israel. This specific historical detail enhances the significance of the conquest and reinforces God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, despite seemingly insurmountable human obstacles (the giants). The phrase "the land had rest from war" marks a crucial point: the successful completion of the main military campaigns. This rest is a tangible demonstration of God providing the menuchah (divine peace and security) that He had promised His people. It is a moment of divine quietude after a long period of strenuous conflict, affirming that God fought for Israel and granted them peace in their inheritance, provided by the faith of Caleb. This peace, though temporal, foreshadows the deeper, eternal rest found in Christ (Heb 4).