Arba
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(square, or fourfold) — the name of a person, and of a city: a) (Josh. 14:15) a Canaanite prince, forefather of the giants, according to Phoenician and Babylonian mythology; b) (Josh. 15:13) a Canaanite city founded by the aforesaid person, also called Kirjath-arba, otherwise Hebron (see Hebron). Here Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob dwelt after their return to Canaan. It was originally assigned to the tribe of Judah, but was afterward given to Caleb (Josh. 15:13), and later, without depriving Caleb of his right of ownership over the city’s fields and villages, was given to the sons of Kohath, of the priestly line of Aaron, and became a city of refuge (Josh. 21:11–13).