Arba

Arba, whose name means four, was a giant of the Anakim described as “the greatest man among the Anakim” (Josh. 14:15). From him the city of Hebron derived its earlier name Kirjath-arba, meaning “city of Arba” or possibly “city of four.” His son or descendant Anak gave his name to the Anakim, the race of giants whose presence in Canaan had terrified the ten unfaithful spies sent from Kadesh-barnea (Num. 13:28, 33).

After the conquest, Caleb specifically requested Hebron—the inheritance of the Anakim—as his portion, and the text notes that “Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim” as justification for the significance of Caleb's request (Josh. 14:15). Caleb subsequently drove out the three sons of Anak from Hebron (Josh. 15:13–14), and the city became his inheritance and later served as David's capital during the seven years before he captured Jerusalem. The ancient name Kirjath-arba continued to be used alongside Hebron in later texts (Gen. 23:2; Neh. 11:25).