HEBRON. 
Hebron is one of the most memorable sites of Palestine, as the abiding place of Abraham, 
Isaac, and Jacob. It possessed one of the most ancient cities in the world, built “ seven 
years before Zoar in Egypt;” 1 whose original name was Kirjath-Arba (City of Arba), so 
called from Arba, the father of Anak and the Anakim; it also bore the name of Mamre. 2 
From this neighbourhood Jacob and his sons went to Egypt, to dwell with Joseph. After 
the conquest of Palestine by Joshua, it was made one of the six “ cities of refuge,” and 
assigned to the priesthood as a residence. It became the royal city of David, where he 
reigned seven years and a half over Judah, and in Hebron he was anointed King over all 
Israel. It was in this royal city that Absalom raised the standard of rebellion. This was 
also one of the cities fortified by Rehoboam, and rebuilt by the people after the Captivity. 3 
Hebron suffered the common reverses of Judah in its latter days. It fell into the power of 
the Idumaeans; but was recovered from them by Judas Maccabeus. In the revolt against 
Rome, it was captured and burnt by Cerealis, the lieutenant of Vespasian. In later days, 
its sanctity as the place of patriarchal burial superseded all other recollections; and in the 
eighth century it was called the Castle of Abraham. This was also the name preferred by 
the Crusaders. The Mohammedans called it EbKhalil (The Friend), Abiaham being- 
distinguished among them as the “ friend of God,” from the well-known expressions of 
Scripture. 
On the invasion of Palestine by the Crusaders, Hebron followed the fate of Jeru¬ 
salem, and was given (a.d. 1100) by Godfrey of Bouillon as a fief to Gerhard of Avenues. 
It was now to obtain another distinction, and (a.d. 1167) was raised to the rank of a 
Latin Episcopal See, of which Rainold was Bishop. The title of Bishop of Hebron was 
retained through a succession of prelates, but the Bishopric had soon fallen (a.d. 1187) 
under the dominion of Saladin; the Church was made a Mosque, and its possession given 
into the hands of a Mahometan population, who guard it with the most jealous vigilance, 
and are considered to be among the most violent bigots even of Mahometanism. 
It had still one disastrous chapter in its history. In 1834 the whole surrounding 
country rose in arms against Ibrahim Pasha. A battle was fought near “ Solomon’s 
pools,” and the revolters were driven back upon Hebron; they were followed, and the 
place was stormed, and given up to plunder. This inflicted a blow on the town, from 
which its trade has not yet recovered; that trade however consisting of little more than of 
fruits, and of rude specimens of glass manufacture; glass lamps, and rings of the same 
material worn on the arms. The population is about ten thousand, among whom are about 
fifty Jewish families. The Artist thus describes its aspect:—“ On turning the side of a hill, 
the little town of Hebron burst upon us. Its situation is beautiful: and the houses 
glittering in the noon-day sun had a look of English cleanliness, after the wretched 
hovels of Egypt. The children who came out to meet us, were among the most beautiful I 
1 Num. xiii. 22. Gen. xiii. 18. 
2 Gen. xxiii. 19. 
3 Chron. xi. 10. Neliem. xi. 25. 
