A Levitical town in the hill country of the territory of Judah, assigned to the clan of Aaron; formerly called Kiriath-Sepher and also known as Kiriath-Sannah. It was captured by Othniel, Israel's first judge (Judges 1:11–13).
About Debir (of Judah)
A Canaanite city where the Anakim lived there before the Israelites conquered it (Joshua 11:21; 15:15). There are two stories of the conquest of Debir (10:38–39; 15:13–17). In one story, Joshua leads the attack. In the other, Othniel leads the attack after Caleb asks for help. These might be two versions of the same event. Or, it could be that the Canaanites took Debir back, and Othniel helped the Israelites win it again.
However, the first explanation seems more likely. The story in Joshua sounds like the final defeat of the city.
Joshua later gave Debir and its pasturelands to the priests who were descendants of Aaron (Joshua 21:15; 1 Chronicles 6:58). This may seem appropriate because Debir had a famous pagan temple before the Israelites captured it. Debir also had other names. It was called Kiriath-sannah, which means “city of the scribes” (Joshua 15:49). It was also called Kiriath-sepher, which means “city of the books” (verse 15). Scholars do not agree on its exact location. But most scholars think it was near a place called Khirbet Rabud in the southern hill country of Judah.
Key References
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.
All Scripture References (11)
Joshua (8)
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,
Judges (2)
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.”
1 Chronicles (1)
the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.