“Caleb the son of Jephunneh.” Caleb was from the tribe of Judah, and he and Joshua were the two spies who remained faithful to God when Moses sent a man from each of the tribes to spy out the Promised Land (Num. 13:1-33; 14:6-9). Yahweh rewarded Caleb with his own city in the Promised Land and did the same for Joshua (Josh. 19:49-50).

“Kiriath-arba.” “Kiriath-arba” means “the city of Arba.” Arba was one of the Nephilim, and the father of Anak. The term “Anakites” comes from Anak, the son of Arba. Abraham’s wife Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (Gen. 23:2).

[For more on the Nephilim, see commentary on Gen. 6:4.]