This short verse serves as a testimony of God’s ongoing faithfulness to protect His people and bring peace after tumultuous conflicts.
In this verse we read, “Now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba; for Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. Then the land had rest from war.” (v.15). Hebron is located approximately nineteen miles south of Jerusalem in the region known today as the West Bank, a mountainous area with a long biblical history tracing back to Abraham (Genesis 13:18). It was originally called Kiriath-arba, meaning “the city of Arba,” and this name highlights the significance of Arba, who was recognized as an important leader among the formidable Anakim people (Numbers 13:33). These Anakim were described as giants who lived in the hill country of Canaan and whose presence intimidated many Israelite scouts. In the context of Joshua’s conquests (around 1400-1390 BC), the renaming to Hebron signifies the transition of the land’s identity under Israelite authority.
The verse continues by noting that “Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim” (v.15), underscoring the might and reputation of Arba. This brief historical reference suggests how Joshua’s victories, by the grace of God, overcame the strongest of human opposition and led to the Israelites taking possession of the land. Once these battles ended, “Then the land had rest from war” (v.15). Such rest points forward spiritually to the ultimate rest offered by Jesus Christ, where believers find peace and victory over spiritual battles (Matthew 11:28-29). Joshua’s campaign to settle the Promised Land not only fulfilled the covenant promise made to Abraham but also foreshadowed the greater inheritance in God’s kingdom.
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Joshua 14:15 meaning
In this verse we read, “Now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba; for Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. Then the land had rest from war.” (v.15). Hebron is located approximately nineteen miles south of Jerusalem in the region known today as the West Bank, a mountainous area with a long biblical history tracing back to Abraham (Genesis 13:18). It was originally called Kiriath-arba, meaning “the city of Arba,” and this name highlights the significance of Arba, who was recognized as an important leader among the formidable Anakim people (Numbers 13:33). These Anakim were described as giants who lived in the hill country of Canaan and whose presence intimidated many Israelite scouts. In the context of Joshua’s conquests (around 1400-1390 BC), the renaming to Hebron signifies the transition of the land’s identity under Israelite authority.
The verse continues by noting that “Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim” (v.15), underscoring the might and reputation of Arba. This brief historical reference suggests how Joshua’s victories, by the grace of God, overcame the strongest of human opposition and led to the Israelites taking possession of the land. Once these battles ended, “Then the land had rest from war” (v.15). Such rest points forward spiritually to the ultimate rest offered by Jesus Christ, where believers find peace and victory over spiritual battles (Matthew 11:28-29). Joshua’s campaign to settle the Promised Land not only fulfilled the covenant promise made to Abraham but also foreshadowed the greater inheritance in God’s kingdom.