Genesis 23: They Might be Giants: Chevron (Not Kiryat-arba)

“Sarah died in Kiriath-arba—Chevron—in the land of Canaan; and Abraham proceeded to mourn for Sarah.”וַתָּ֤מָת שָׂרָה֙ בְּקִרְיַ֣ת אַרְבַּ֔ע הִ֖וא חֶבְר֑וֹן בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן וַיָּבֹ֥א אַבְרָהָ֛ם לִסְפֹּ֥ד לְשָׂרָ֖ה וְלִבְכֹּתָֽהּ׃(Bereishit 23:1)Why does Chevron have two names?Rashi gives two explanations:Kiryat-arba refers to the four (arba) giants who lived there.It refers to the four couples who would eventually be buried there:Adam and ChavaAvraham and SarahYitzchak and RivkaYaakov and LeahInterestingly, Rashi does not explain why it was called Chevron. Based on his explanation, Kiryat-arba is the later name of the city. His second explanation would place that name after the death of Yaakov and Leah.Chevron in Genesis 13:18“And Abram moved his tent, and came to dwell at the terebinths of Mamre, which are in Chevron.”וַיֶּאֱהַל֙ אַבְרָ֔ם וַיָּבֹ֕א וַיֵּשֶׁב֙ בְּאֵלֹנֵ֣י מַמְרֵ֔א אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וַיִּ֖בֶן שָׁ֥ם מִזְבֵּֽחַ לַה'׃(Bereishit 13:18)Rashi seems to notice that Kiryat-arba is not mentioned here, which is why he links the name to Sarah’s death in one of his explanations.Chevron in Joshua 14:15“The name of Chevron was formerly Kiryat-arba: [Arba] was the great man among the Anakites.”וְשֵׁ֣ם חֶבְר֗וֹן לְפָנִים֙ קִרְיַ֣ת אַרְבַּ֔ע הָאָדָ֥ם הַגָּד֖וֹל בָּעֲנָקִ֑ים וְהָאָרֶץ֙ שָׁקְטָ֣ה מִמִּלְחָמָ֔ה׃(Yehoshua 14:15)The Anakim are the giants. Rashbam explains that naming a city after its most famous inhabitant was standard practice. Rashi’s first answer makes more sense here, as both names—Chevron and Kiryat-arba—could refer to the giants.Midrash Rabah adds that the “great man among the Anakites” was actually Avraham, but Ibn Ezra points out this is a homiletic reading, since Avraham was not of their lineage.Chizkuni offers another explanation:Kiryat-arba refers to the city changing hands four times:Belonged to the tribe of YehudahBecame private property of KalevBecame a city of KohanimBecame a city of refugeThis would place the naming well into the time of Yehoshua, after Moshe’s death.Which Name Came First?We have two verses that seem to conflict:Bereishit 13:18 uses Chevron first.Yehoshua 14:15 says Kiryat-arba was the earlier name.It’s possible that Chevron was the original name, then Kiryat-arba became dominant for a time, and later Chevron was restored as the principal name.Malbim explains that the name Chevron comes from the root חבר (chaver)—meaning connection. It was a place where souls of this world connect to the souls of the upper world.The dual naming of Chevron and Kiryat-arba reflects not only the city’s complex historical legacy, but also its enduring spiritual significance—a place where giants once walked, patriarchs were laid to rest, and souls continue to connect across worlds.”