Dictionaries :: Debir

Debir:

oracle town; sanctuary. (1.) One of the eleven cities to the west of Hebron, in the highlands of Judah (Jos 15:49; Jdg 1:11-15). It was originally one of the towns of the Anakim (Jos 15:15), and was also called Kirjath-sepher (q.v.) and Kirjath-sannah (49). Caleb, who had conquered and taken possession of the town and district of Hebron (Jos 14:6-15), offered the hand of his daughter to any one who would successfully lead a party against Debir. Othniel, his younger brother (Jdg 1:13; 3:9), achieved the conquest, and gained Achsah as his wife. She was not satisfied with the portion her father gave her, and as she was proceeding toward her new home, she "lighted from off her ass" and said to him, "Give me a blessing [i.e., a dowry]: for thou hast given me a south land" (Jos 15:19, A.V.); or, as in the Revised Version, "Thou hast set me in the land of the south", i.e., in the Negeb, outside the rich valley of Hebron, in the dry and barren land. "Give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs."

Debir has been identified with the modern Edh-Dhaheriyeh, i.e., "the well on the ridge", to the south of Hebron.

(2.) A place near the "valley of Achor" (Jos 15:7), on the north boundary of Judah, between Jerusalem and Jericho.

(3.) The king of Eglon, one of the five Canaanitish kings who were hanged by Joshua (Jos 10:3,23) after the victory at Gibeon. These kings fled and took refuge in a cave at Makkedah. Here they were kept confined till Joshua returned from the pursuit of their discomfited armies, when he caused them to be brought forth, and "Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees" (26).

Debir:

an orator; a word

Debir: 1. King of Eglon

Jos 10:3-27

Debir: 2. A Town in the Mountains of Judah

Also called KIRJATH-SANNAH, and KIRJATH-SEPHER,
which signifies a city of books,

Jos 15:15, 16.

Anakim expelled from, by Joshua,

Jos 11:21.

Taken by Othniel,

Jos 15:15-17, 49; Jdg 1:12, 13.

Allotted to the Aaronites,

Jos 21:15.

Debir: 3. A Place near the Valley of Achor

Jos 15:7

Debir:

(a sanctuary) (1.)the name of three places of Palestine.

(1). A town in the mountains of Judah (Joshua 15:49) one of a group of eleven cities to the west of Hebron. The earlier name of Debir was Kirjath‐sepher, "city of book," (Joshua 15:15; Judges 1:11) and Kirjath‐arba, "city of palm." (Joshua 15:49). It was one of the cities given with their "suburbs" to the priests (Joshua 21:15; 1 Chronicles 6:58). Debir has not been discovered with certainty in modern times; but about three miles to the west of Hebron is a deep and secluded valley called the Wady Nunkur, enclosed on the north by hills, of which one bears a name certainly suggestive of Debir- Dewir‐ban.

(2). A place on the north boundary of Judah, near the "valley of Achor." (Joshua 15:7). A Wady Dabor is marked in Van De Velde's map as close to the south of Neby Musa, at the northwest corner of the Dead Sea.

(3). The "border of Debir" is named as forming part of the boundary of Gad (Joshua 13:26) and as apparently not far from Mahanaim.

(2.) King of Eglon; one of the five kings hanged by Joshua (Joshua 10:3; 10:23). (B.C. 1440)