יהושע, פרק כ״א, פסוק י״א

The distribution of cities to the Levites and Priests was directly tied to the size of the territory each tribe received. Following this standard, the descendants of Aaron the Priest were granted the central city of Hebron, historically known as Kiriath-arba, along with its surrounding open lands [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Typically, any two tribes contributed a combined total of eight cities, providing four cities each. However, the tribes of Judah and Simeon collectively provided nine. This exception occurred because the territory of Simeon was entirely absorbed within the borders of Judah, merging them into a single shared estate. Additionally, Caleb the son of Jephunneh held a vast personal territory within this region. Operating under the rule that individuals must contribute to the Levites in proportion to their landholdings, Caleb was obligated to dedicate one city from his private portion. Consequently, he gave the city of Hebron itself to the Priests while retaining its surrounding fields and villages for his own use. This specific contribution from Caleb brought the total number of cities given by Judah and Simeon to exactly nine [מלבי״ם].

The alternative name for Hebron, Kiriath-arba, honors a prominent historical figure among the area's original inhabitants. While this figure is remembered as the father of the local giants, the title of father does not imply biological ancestry. Instead, it serves as a mark of authority, greatness, and high rank. The city was named after the most powerful and significant individual among these giant inhabitants [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].