Topical Bible: Valleys: Hebron

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Topical Encyclopedia

Hebron, one of the most ancient cities in the biblical narrative, is situated in the hill country of Judah, approximately 20 miles south of Jerusalem. The region surrounding Hebron is characterized by its valleys, which hold significant historical and theological importance in the biblical text.

Geographical Context

The valleys around Hebron are part of the Judean hill country, a region known for its rugged terrain and fertile land. These valleys provided a suitable environment for agriculture and livestock, which were central to the livelihoods of the patriarchs. The area is marked by its terraced hillsides, olive groves, and vineyards, reflecting the agricultural abundance described in the Scriptures.

Biblical Significance

Hebron is first mentioned in the Bible in connection with Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelite nation. In Genesis 13:18 , it is recorded that "Abram moved his tent and went to live near the oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD." This establishes Hebron as a place of worship and divine encounter. The valleys around Hebron thus become a backdrop for significant events in the lives of the patriarchs.

The Valley of Hebron is also the setting for the account of Joseph. In Genesis 37:14 , Jacob sends Joseph from the Valley of Hebron to check on his brothers who were pasturing their flocks in Shechem. This journey sets in motion the events leading to Joseph's eventual rise to power in Egypt, a pivotal moment in the history of Israel.

Historical and Theological Themes

Hebron's valleys are not only significant for their geographical and historical context but also for their theological implications. The region is a testament to God's covenantal promises to Abraham and his descendants. The burial site of the patriarchs, the Cave of Machpelah, is located in Hebron, underscoring the city's role as a place of ancestral heritage and divine promise.

In the time of Joshua, Hebron was designated as one of the cities of refuge (Joshua 20:7), highlighting its continued importance in the Israelite settlement of the Promised Land. The valleys around Hebron thus symbolize both a physical and spiritual refuge, a place where God's justice and mercy are manifest.

Cultural and Historical Legacy

Throughout the biblical narrative, Hebron and its valleys serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the enduring legacy of the patriarchs. The city's strategic location and fertile valleys made it a significant center throughout Israel's history, from the time of the patriarchs to the monarchy. King David was anointed in Hebron and reigned there for seven years before establishing Jerusalem as the capital (2 Samuel 2:11).

In summary, the valleys of Hebron are deeply woven into the fabric of biblical history, serving as a stage for divine encounters, covenantal promises, and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan for His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 37:14
And he said to him, Go, I pray you, see whether it be well with your brothers, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Angels of the Advent.
... It was eighty miles to Hebron, but it was early summer, and as Mary went through
the green valleys and fruitful plains, and along by the flowing Jordan, she ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter i the angels of.htm

One Fold and one Shepherd
... and Lord attains to His,"a path thickly strewn with thorns, and plunging into 'valleys
of the ... Hebron was too far south for the capital of the whole kingdom. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/one fold and one shepherd.htm

Joseph the Dreamer.
... grass was somewhat scarce in the Vale of Hebron, so at one time Jacob sent his sons
away with their sheep and cattle to seek food in other valleys where the ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/joseph the dreamer.htm

Six Cities
... nestling amid olive-groves and terebinths, and looking down on one of the most fertile
valleys in Palestine ... It was in Hebron David was anointed king over Israel ...
/.../macduff/the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/ii six cities.htm

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
... In Jerusalem itself even the features of the soil, the valleys, depressions, and ...
land and water, of mountain and valley, are the same; Hebron, Bethlehem, the ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 1 palestine eighteen centuries.htm

The Gospel Refuge.
... HEBRON, Fellowship. ... You can picture him, with merry heart, making the valleys through
which he hurried to his native dwelling, echo with songs of joy! ...
/.../macduff/the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/iii the gospel refuge.htm

The Nativity of Jesus the Messiah.
... hills eastward the heavy molten surface of the Sea of Judgement would appear in
view; westward wound the road to Hebron; behind them lay the valleys and hills ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi the nativity of.htm

A Nation's Struggle for a Home and Freedom.
... These valleys were especially fertile and attractive in the territory later known ...
other towns ultimately captured by the southern tribes were Hebron, with its ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study xii a nations struggle.htm

Death of Jesus.
... high, irregular plain which extends between the walls and the two valleys of Kedron ...
Calvary, a fragment of a Jewish wall analogous to that of Hebron, which, if ...
//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter xxv death of jesus.htm

The Woman of Samaria
... the year, of almost any kind which man may need; there are rich valleys well watered ...
or richer country upon earth, than the land of Israel, from Hebron on the ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxvi the woman of.htm