Besides brief mentions of the king of Eglon named Debir in Joshua 10:3 and 12:13, most references of Debir were of a city probably not far from Hebron.

Links open with New International Version (NIV) verses. Unless otherwise stated, links applicable in both King James & NIV.

Both Joshua 15:14-17 and Judges 1:9-13 (below) have parallel passages to another name for the city. 14. From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites--Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai--descendants of Anak. 15. From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). 16. And Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher." 17. Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage. Judges 1:9-13: 9. After that, the men of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev and the western foothills. 10. They advanced against the Canaanites living in Hebron (formerly called Kiriath Arba) and defeated Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai. 11. From there they advanced against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). 12. And Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher." 13. Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.

Joshua 15:48-51 gave yet another name for the city in verse 49 when talking about the allotment for the tribe of Judah.
48. In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
49. Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir),
50. Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
51. Goshen, Holon and Giloh--eleven towns and their villages.

Debir last showed in the Bible when it was listed as one of the towns given to the Levites in Joshua 21:9-16 and 1 Chronicles 6:58.
9. From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they allotted the following towns by name
10. (these towns were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them):
11. They gave them Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pastureland, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)
12. But the fields and villages around the city they had given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.
13. So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Libnah,
14. Jattir, Eshtemoa,
15. Holon, Debir,
16. Ain, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands--nine towns from these two tribes.

Return to top