Debir, also known as Kiriath-sannah or Kiriath-sepher, was a Canaanite city captured by Joshua and later by Caleb's family.
Also known as Kiriath-sepher · Kirjath–sepher · Kiriath Sepher · Kiriath-sannah · Kirjath–sannah · Kiriath Sannah
Debir, also referred to as Kiriath-sannah or Kiriath-sepher, was a Canaanite city located in the hill country of Judah. It was conquered by Joshua during the initial Israelite conquest of Canaan (Joshua 10:38-39; 11:21; 12:13). Later, Caleb offered his daughter Achsah in marriage to whoever would capture Debir, and Othniel, Caleb's nephew, successfully took the city (Joshua 15:15-16; Judges 1:11-12). The city was also known as Kiriath-sannah, meaning "city of palm," and Kiriath-sepher, meaning "city of books," possibly indicating it was a center of learning. After its capture, Debir was allotted to the priests (Joshua 21:15; 1Ch.6.58).
Approximate location: 31.417, 34.967 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
11 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H1688
Finally Joshua and all Israel with him turned toward Debir and fought against it.
And they captured Debir, its king, and all its villages. They put them to the sword and devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors. Joshua did to Debir and its king as he had done to Hebron and as he had done to Libnah and its king.
At that time Joshua proceeded to eliminate the Anakim from the hill country of Hebron, Debir, and Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah and of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction, along with their cities.
the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher).
And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.”
Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir),
Holon, Debir,
From there they marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly known as Kiriath-sepher).
And Caleb said, “To the man who strikes down Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage.”
Hilen, Debir,
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.