Now this is another one of these articles that we should have posted a long time ago. Because Only after finding a suitable location for Bethel, which we believe would be not far from here, it becomes more likely that Gaborone is a good candidate for being the Biblical Hebron. And we know that this location, that pops up again and again in our Bibles, is a very important one. We would say it should be considered sacred place on par with ancient Jerusalem. In the blessed lands of Juda, not far from Jerusalem, was said to be Hebron and the Hebron hills. Could this be in or around the area what we know today as Gaborone of Botswana? Now apart from the obvious similarities in name and spelling, Gaborone was apparently given by the Tlokwa and their chief. We think the name is way older and may stem from Biblical times. Luckily for those that know were to look, there are many other clues we look at. So Lets dive !
We find the first mentions of Hebron in Genesis 13,18:
18 So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to SoNiNi naNiNi.
This is the place were Abram (before he was renamed Abraham) traveled to AFTER parting ways with his relative Lot. So, Mamre and Hebron would be after they had separated, and if you read the text, one went literally east and another west. And east from Gaborone are the plains of Gauteng and smoky/mirky places like Alexandra, said to be not far from Sodoma and Gomorra. The cities of the plains. Now this information might be key in mapping these areas for the future. Because Lot, we know did stay in these towns before he was called out as the only righteous man living there. Then they were indeed destroyed.
Now we know that after Sarah died, Abraham still lived in Hebron, and the land was said to belong to the Hittites (Genesis 23). So the story goes that Abraham wanted to bury Sarah there, and so he approached Ephron (presumably a Hittite) to buy a cave for the burial site. Abraham was well respected by the Hittites, and he was actually offered any cave he wanted as a gift. But Abraham insisted on paying full price for the location, and the area he selected was Machpelah (Mashapella), owned by Ephron. And Ephron even tried to give it to Abraham but he insisted still that it be payed for, in full (Genesis 23,17-20):
17 So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded 18 to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. 19 Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site.
So, the thing is that avid researchers will see that placing Hebron this far from Mamre (considered to be in the southern parts of the Western Cape), is problematic. Not disastrous, but surely problematic. Because this is a problem we have to consider that one, or perhaps both of these locations could be wrong. We will happily admit that, we have been wrong before and we will be wrong again. The important things is to bring information and theories out and into the light for more research and more truth to come forward. We are not excluding anything in our research, we are simply trying to put the ancient puzzle together. And by publishing, more truth will come to light by doing so. We share this for others to pick up the thread, and old things will be chronicled again.
Moving on, we can see from Scripture that at Hebron, called Kirjiat Arba, there was this Machpelah Cave, where Abraham is also said to be buried (Genesis 25,10). But there are more of the main characters of our Bibles there buried in the same spot, such as Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob (Genesis 47,29-30) and Leah (Genesis 49,30-32). The cave Machpelah (Mashapella) should be considered as a very sacred place for any readers of Scripture. Now the land around Hebron was a part of the allotment given by Joshua to Caleb, right when The Promised Land was taken for the first time (Joshua 14,13). Hebron was Calebs reward for service and loyalty. In this area was said to be the Valley of Eshkol said to be full of grapes and other delights (Numbers 13,23).
23 When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25 At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.
Now Hebron did become the Capital of the Lands of Juda, and it was from this place that David reigned for 7 and 1/2 years. You can read about David, King Sauls son, Ish-Bosheth, and Abner who came to King Davids side, then Abner killer Joab, and the Battle of Gibeon in The Books of Samuel (II Samuel 3,8-12 & II Samuel 3,24-25). Story lines way better than all of our modern day epics of Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, and these stories were true. Not fiction.
Now if you read up on these intricate stories, you will see that Ish-Bosheth was indeed assassinated, and David called out the assassins in Hebron, thereby building up his integrity in all the lands of Southern Africa (II Samuel 4). Not long after King David was eventually declared rightful King and moved his Capital from Hebron to Jerusalem (II Samuel 5,1-5).
Now it was later Absalom that made Hebron his HQ while he actively plotted against his own father (II Samuel 15,7-9). King of Hebron, Absalom called himself, though Absalom was not ordained by SoNiNi to rule, he was in other words self appointed. And we know Absaloms plans was not successful and he died in literal disgrace (II Samuel 15,10-14) brining his father David to tears and cries of deep pain. Remember, this was his son. All recorded in Samuels books.
Now Hebron was said to be among the Judaean Mountains, so if Hebron is Gaborone it would mean Tribe of Juda could be found in large parts of Botswana, towards the Orange River (Jordan River) as a border in the South and North, up towards Zambia and Zimbabwe. Now Gaborone (Hebron) is situated among many Hills, Kgale and Oodi Hill, not far from the Notwane and Segodisthane River.
Now the Hebron Hills is what makes Gaborone such an interesting candidate for being Hebron of the Bible, it was called the southern parts of the Judaean Mountains, in the Kingdom of Juda. In the parts of Gaborone you will find peaks like: Monalanong Hills (1494m), Otse Hill (1493m), Mnamotshwane Hill (1434m), Pyetle Hill (1412m), Bopharamo Hill (1396m), Male Hill (1390m), Tswapong Hill (1299m), Mabeleapodi Hill (1280m), Phiriyabokwete Hill (1331m), Mowana Hill (1237), Marakalalo Hill (1313m) and many others. A hilly place indeed !
Now the Kingdom of Juda deserves a post of its own because it is often mentioned in Scripture as being an "appendix" to the the Promised Lands. In the same group we often find both Juda and Gilead, mentioned as being extended parts of the Holy Lands, OR simply lands on the East side of the River Jordan. As that River was the outer limits of the Promised Land. You can find proof in quotes like I Samuel 13,7:
7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.
So lots of interesting things here. A crossing of the Jordan (Orange River) to Dan and Gilead. The mention of Gilgal (a mountain) is then presumed to be on the West side of the Jordan, placing Juda, Dan and Gilead on the East side.
Now Remember Juda is also mentioned as being an area that has had lots of outside influences, determined after which civilisation was in charge in its given century, did have its cultural tentacles into Juda. Like Romans and Greeks, but before that it would have been Babylonians, Assyrians, Kanaanites and others. So it stands to reason that Juda would be on the more accessible side of the Jordan. The East side. The image on the right (above) would be fort people to imagine what these places, like New Jerusalem, are going to look like when uncorrupted, now in Heaven. Coming down to earth. And not in its current fallen state. But that is another topic.
Now back to the Greeks, and speaking of accessibility know the Idumaeans (Edomites) they kinda assimilated into the Hebrews at some point, books of Maccabees and all those stories confirm this. A people that Could very well also be connected to the Namaqua and Damara (Daroma), the people of the South. Nestled not far from the Negev Desert, also of the South as we know from Hebrew, Negev meant south.
Furthermore we can read that the Nabateans went north from Juda, and the Edomites was driven out of Edom (which was south of the Dead Sea) and they were driven towards the Hebron Hills between the southern part of the Dead Sea and the Ancient Sea (which would be The Great Sea to the West). Therefore we will find ancient cities like Idumaea in that area. So, remember the Edomites were dominant in the Hebron Hills, with Idumea not far off, and other historical cities Marisa, Ziph and Adoraim also in the area. These areas would be filled with ancient Greek but also Phoenician culture, although with many Traits of the Books of Moses (like circumcision and Sabbath) literally imbedded in the Peoples customs and skin. So much culture to go through and so little time.
Lets get back to Hebron.
So, why is Hebron so interesting when placing Gaborone there? Well if we read the Books of Joshua, we can find mention of Maon, Carmel, Adora and Juttah, as being a part of the territory of Juda. In Botswana we can find the first place even by name today, Maon. Today its the 5th largest town in Botswana, in the Ngamiland district. This is Safari country people, before the plunge into the Okavango Delta. Now if we look closer at Maon, mentioned in Book of Joshua, we find a good candidate for Mount Carmel being in these areas as well (we know Table mountain is also a good candidate, but all locations must fit, not just one). Other interesting locations are Adora and Juttah.
Maon though, in our Scriptures was a town in the Mountains of Juda, not far from Carmel and Ziph (Joshua 15,55). This was the home of the flockmaster Nabal (I Samuel 25,2). Now Maon, we know was the son of Shammai was the father of Beth-Zur (I Chronicles 2,44-45). So then Shammai founded Maon, close to El-Karmil which is another name for Mount Carmel. This is off course also the place where David hid from King Saul, and the Men of Ziph (I Samuel 23,24). Maon is mentioned with Zidonians and Amalek, both peoples who oppressed Israel (Judges 10,12). Now if we read the original text we will find that the word Midian gets thrown around here (Madiam or Maonites). Now Hezekiah destroyed the Meunim, a pastoral people (I Chronicles 4,41). Again with ties to Ammonites, at the Battle of Jehoshaphat.
Now then, if this location indeed is Biblical Hebron, Bethel would be close. Bethel was a smaller location, and said to be a village in the Negev (Desert), one of the places that David sent the elders of Juda (I Samuel 30,26,27). Now is this the same Bethel mentioned as a city located very close to Jerusalem and again said to be close to AI? Bethel was said to stand in between these places and also became a place of trade. Now Only Jerusalem is mentioned more then Bethel in our Scriptures. That is something to think about. Bethel, House of SoNiNi.
Now keeping these locations in mind, Bethel and Hebron, we can see from its descriptions that they were indeed very close. So With Hebron to the South (which would be the other way around) and Shechem to the North, and Bethel in between. We will get these down on a map in the future.
Bethel sat at the boundary of Ephraim and Benjamin, and would eventually become the border between the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Southern Kingdom of the Tribe of Juda, who was given a big portion of land. To big actually, as a portion was given away of the internal parts to another tribe. Another big clue for Bethel is that is was in the dry country, as it was in the desert, but there are natural springs in the areas. So for Bethel, Hebron would be close and we have candidates for this location coming up in the Journeys of Jacob series we are finalising as we speak.
Back to Hebron, now to find the place there are several things we can look at, tangible, to be able to identify it. We know this was the place where David was anointed King of Israel. And it is said that King Herod the Great built a wall that surrounded the Cave of the Patriarchs, that wall, perhaps faded and possible run down, its foundation we believe would still be standing today. Other things to look for is the fact that Hebron was under Kanaanite control, meaning the three sons of Anak, ruled there. Therefore we have other native black tribes such as Kenite and Kenizzites migrating from Negev desert to Hebron. Then we have tribes like modern Herero which cold be connected to these also. These where said to be descendants of the Nephilim remember (another BIG topic), which is why we mention them, Kenizzites.
Now the Book of Genesis mentions Hebron as Kirjiat Arba, as The City of the Four, meaning the city of the 4 couples buried there, referring to them as four hills or four tribes, under the earth. Remember, to the east we have 5 cities. The 5 cities of the plains of Jordan, Sodom, Gomorra, Admah, Zeboiim and Zohar.
Now, the Story of how Abraham purchased the Cave for his descendants graves, we believe is the reason why the location has stood the test of time. Because Abraham insisted of paying the full price, was this the first Biblical legal transaction in the promised land? We believe so. Made with an alliance with two local Amorite clans. Remember this was LONG before Joshua came and took the land by conquest and force. And after Joshua came Caleb of Juda who took the town back from the Kanaanites, and gave the pasture lands to the Levites of Kohath, and villages went to Caleb (Joshua 21,3-12). Furthermore Caleb went on to expel and drive out 3 massive and large men, described as giants in Book of Chronicles. They were called Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, who used to rule this city. Caleb removed them (I Chronicles 6,54-56). One can only imagine the share size of these men. Remember, in the Days of Noah and also after the days of Noah, there where Giants in the earth.
Now for some more pinpoints towards the location of Hebron, called one of the 6 traditional cities of refuge, it was kinda in the centre of all this traffic in and around the area. It on the crossroads to the Dead Sea (which now seems to be in the vicinity of Lake Makgadikgadi) to the east, Jerusalem to the north, Negev to the South, Shepelah and the plains to the west. Put these directions on the modern map, and you wont get much, unless you rotate it. Overlooking the map from the east, and also reading south as toward the desert in relation to the location you are regarding your east and west from. We know its confusing, but that is how they found their way back then. If you read the directions like this - then, and only then, does it start making sense. And you will get something like the map below. Although Jerusalem gets thrown out of position when you use these directions. We have a better map for this we will publish in the future. For now this one can tickle you.
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