Bible Strands
Numbers 13:22
They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, dwelled. It had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The twelve scouts advance their reconnaissance route through the southern desert, moving from the Wilderness of Zin toward the fortified settlements of the Promised Land.
The words — וַ/יַּעֲל֣וּ (va/i.ya.'a.Lu) translates literally as "and they went up," marking the northward ascent into the hill country, while חֶבְרוֹן (chev.rOn) names the specific city they reached.
The thread — The mention of Zoan reappears in Psalms 78:12 and 78:43 as the location of Egyptian wonders, and Hebron is later identified as Kiriath-arb in Joshua 15:13 when distributed to Caleb.
Why it lands — The passage states Hebron was built seven years before Zoan, presenting a chronological comparison that forces the reader to assess the reported antiquity and defensive strength of the Anakite inhabitants.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
Cross-references
- Psalms 78:12 He worked wonders before their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.
- Psalms 78:43 when He performed His signs in Egypt and His wonders in the fields of Zoan.
- Joshua 15:13 According to the LORD’s command to him, Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah—Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)
- Isaiah 19:11 The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”?
- Joshua 11:21 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.
- Judges 1:10 Judah also marched against the Canaanites who were living in Hebron (formerly known as Kiriath-arba), and they struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
- Isaiah 30:4 For though their princes are at Zoan and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,
- Genesis 13:18 So Abram moved his tent and went to live near the Oaks of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.
- Genesis 23:2 She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went out to mourn and to weep for her.
- Numbers 13:17 When Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, he told them, “Go up through the Negev and into the hill country.