Genesis 23: They Might be Giants: Chevron (Not Kiryat-arba)

YINR 929: Tanach Yomi · Sep 30, 2025 · 3m

“Sarah died in Kiriath-arba—Chevron—in the land of Canaan; and Abraham proceeded to mourn for Sarah.”

וַתָּ֤מָת שָׂרָה֙ בְּקִרְיַ֣ת אַרְבַּ֔ע הִ֖וא חֶבְר֑וֹן בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן וַיָּבֹ֥א אַבְרָהָ֛ם לִסְפֹּ֥ד לְשָׂרָ֖ה וְלִבְכֹּתָֽהּ׃

(Bereishit 23:1)

Why does Chevron have two names?

Rashi gives two explanations:

Kiryat-arba refers to the four (arba) giants who lived there.

It refers to the four couples who would eventually be buried there:

Adam and Chava

Avraham and Sarah

Yitzchak and Rivka

Yaakov and Leah

Interestingly, Rashi does not explain why it was called Chevron. Based on his…