Joshua 14:15

Modern

(Hebron used to be called Kiriath-arba, after Arba, the greatest man among the Anakim.) Then the land had rest from war.

Traditional

And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath–arba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

Literal

(And the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba; he was the great man among the Anakim.) And the land had rest from war.

Latin

Nomen Hebron ante vocabatur Cariath Arbe: Adam maximus ibi inter Enacim situs est: et terra cessavit a præliis.

Hebrew

English

(Hebron used to be called Kiriath-arba, after Arba, the greatest man among the Anakim.) Then the land had rest from war.

rest from war: See study note on 1:13.

The allotment of land to the tribes on the west side of the Jordan describes what God intended for each tribe to possess.
The one narrating the story begins this section with Caleb receiving land and ends with Joshua receiving land (14:6–15; 19:49–51). Only Caleb and Joshua had shown faith in God that Israel could conquer the land (Numbers 13:30; 14:6–9).

As he had promised, God brought Israel into the land. Joshua then focused on dividing the land among Israel's tribes.
The tribal allowances made the covenant of the Israelites with God real. It showed the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since God owned the land, giving it to the tribes was a gift. God gave them the land to live in and guided its distribution.
In these lists of tribal allowances, the author describes some borders in great detail, allowing them to be mapped. With others, they are less plainly defined.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua 11:23
So Joshua took the entire land, in keeping with all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to the allotments to their tribes. Then the land had rest from war.
Genesis 23:2
She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went out to mourn and to weep for her.
Joshua 15:13
According to the LORD’s command to him, Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah—Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)
Judges 3:11
So the land had rest for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.
Judges 8:28
In this way Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. So the land had rest for forty years in the days of Gideon,
Judges 5:31
So may all Your enemies perish, O LORD! But may those who love You shine like the sun at its brightest.” And the land had rest for forty years.
Judges 3:30
So Moab was subdued under the hand of Israel that day, and the land had rest for eighty years.

Anak: Ancestor of giant people in Canaan Arba: Father of Anak, former name of Hebron

Hebron: An important city in Judah; burial place of patriarchs