ANAKIM

(Anʹa·kim) [Those of (Belonging to) Anak].

The second, Joshua 11:21-23, is likely a recapitulation of the same conquest (since verse 18 refers to the ‘many days when Joshua waged war with all these kings’), while supplying the additional information that Joshua “cut off the Anakim . . . from Debir” and other cities.

This supplementary material may have been included to show that even the tall Anakim, who had struck such fear in the hearts of Israel’s spies more than 40 years earlier (Nu 13:28, 31-33; De 9:2), had not proved invulnerable.

He is called “the father” or “the great man” of the Anakim and appears to have been the founder of Kiriath-arba, later called Hebron. (Jos 14:15; 15:13; 21:11)

Some consider Anak to be a name applying to the giant race descended from Arba rather than to be the personal name of Arba’s son and thus view Arba as the actual progenitor of the Anakim.​—See ANAK; ANAKIM.

Likely Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai are to be understood as representing three families of Anakim residing in Hebron when Canaan was spied out by the Israelites in 1512 B.C.E. (Nu 13:22, 28, 33)

Many years later these Anakim were dispossessed by Caleb and the conquering Judeans.​—Jos 14:10-15; 15:13, 14; Jg 1:10.

If it is the personal name of the son of “Arba . . . the father of Anak” (Jos 15:13), the name thereafter was also applied to his progeny. (Compare Jos 15:14 with 14:15, where Arba is called “the great man among the Anakim.”)​—See ANAKIM.

When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Gaza itself was a Philistine city and its inhabitants included some of the Anakim.

It remained a Philistine city, and some of the Anakim continued to live there. (Jos 10:41; 11:22; 13:2, 3)

Hebron’s ancient name “Kiriath-arba” (Town of Arba) appears to have been derived from its Anakim founder, Arba. (Ge 23:2; Jos 14:15)

Evidently while Israel was warring elsewhere, the Anakim reestablished themselves at Hebron, making it necessary for Caleb (or the sons of Judah under Caleb’s leadership) to wrest the city from their control sometime afterward. (Jos 11:21-23; 14:12-15; 15:13, 14; Jg 1:10)

The campaign evidently covered a considerable period of time and was followed by another offensive action in the mountainous region in the S, this attack being directed at the giantlike Anakim and their cities.​—Jos 11:21, 22; see ANAKIM.

The city of Hebron (the stronghold called Kiriath-arba, which was held by the giant Anakim) as well as its surrounding territory, including nearby Debir, was assigned to Caleb for his possession.

Gath was the birthplace of Goliath and other giant warriors, and it was occupied by the Anakim at the time that Israel crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land. (Jos 11:22; 1Sa 17:4; 2Sa 21:15-22; 1Ch 20:4-8)

This city, as its name suggests, appears to have been founded by Arba, “the great man among the Anakim.”​—Jos 14:15; see HEBRON No. 3.

They are described as being great, numerous, and tall “like the Anakim.” (De 2:10)

A town in the S part of the hill country of Judah from which the giant Anakim were expelled by Joshua. (Jos 11:21; 15:48, 50)

It is first mentioned at Joshua 11:22 as the residing place, along with Gaza and Gath, of the remnant of the giantlike Anakim.