Descendants of the Anakim in Biblical History

The Anakim were a race of giants, descendants of Anak, who was the son of Arba ^{[2, 5]}. They were known for their formidable stature and warlike appearance, which instilled terror in the Israelites during the time of Moses ^{[1, 4]}. The name "Anakim" itself refers to the race rather than a single individual ^[2].

These descendants of Anak primarily dwelt in the southern part of Canaan, particularly around Hebron, which was also known as "the city of Arba" after their progenitor ^{[1, 2, 3]}. In the days of Abraham, they inhabited the region east of the Jordan, later known as Edom and Moab ^[1]. The Anakim were likely a remnant of the original inhabitants of Palestine before the Canaanites, possibly a Cushite tribe from Babel ^[1].

The Anakim were divided into three main tribes or families: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai ^{[2, 3]}. Despite their intimidating presence, the Israelites were commanded to dispossess them ^[2]. Joshua led campaigns against them, cutting off the Anakim from the mountains, including Hebron, Debir (Kirjathsepher), and Anab ^{[3, 9]}. Caleb, for his faithfulness, was given Hebron as a possession and drove out these three sons of Anak from the city ^{[3, 10]}. Othniel, Caleb's nephew, subsequently drove them from Kirjathsepher ^[3].

While many Anakim were extirpated during these conquests, some took refuge in Philistine cities such as Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod ^[7]. Descendants of Anak were still found in these areas even in the time of David ^[7]. It is suggested that Goliath, the Philistine giant, might have been one of these descendants who migrated to the Philistine coastal plain ^[12]. The Anakim are sometimes associated with other giant races mentioned in the Bible, such as the Emim and Rephaim, who were also described as great and tall ^{[6, 11, 14]}. Some Jewish traditions even link the Anakim to the Nephilim mentioned in Genesis 6:4, suggesting they were "sons of the great ones" ^{[8, 13]}.

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Anakim — The descendants of Anak (Josh. 11:21; Num. 13:33; Deut. 9:2). They dwelt in the south of Palestine, in the neighbourhood of Hebron (Gen. 23:2; Josh. 15:13). In the days of Abraham (Gen. 14:5, 6) they inhabited the region afterwards known as Edom and Moab, east of the Jordan. They were probably a remnant of the original inhabitants of Palestine before the Canaanites, a Cushite tribe from Babel, and of the same race as the Phoenicians and the Egyptian shepherd kings. Their formidable warlike appearance, as described by the spies sent to search the land, filled”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Anakim — (long-necked), a race of giants, descendants of Arba, (Joshua 15:13; 21:11) dwelling in the southern part of Canaan, and particularly at Hebron, which from their progenitor received the name of "city of Arba." Anak was the name of the race rather than that of an individual. (Joshua 14:15) The race appears to have been divided into three tribes or families, bearing the names Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai. Though the war-like appearance of the Anakim had struck the Israelites with terror in the time of Moses, (Numbers 13:28; 9:2) they were nevertheless dispossesse”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anakim, The — Descent of -- Nu 13:22; Jos 15:13. Were called The sons of Anak. -- Nu 13:33. The sons of the Anakim. -- De 1:28. The children of the Anakims. -- De 9:2. Divided into three tribes -- Jos 15:14. Inhabited the mountains of Judah -- Jos 11:21. Hebron, chief city of -- Jos 14:15; 21:11. Of gigantic strength and stature -- De 2:10,11,21. Israel terrified by -- Nu 14:1; 13:33. Hebron a possession of, given to Caleb for his faithfulness -- Jos 14:6-14. Driven from Hebron by Caleb -- Jos 15:13,14. Driven from Kirjathsepher or Debir by Othniel -- Jos 15:15-17; J”
Deuteronomy “a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard say, “Who can stand before the sons of Anak?” -- Deuteronomy 9:2”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Anak — Long-necked, the son of Arba, father of the Anakim (Josh. 15:13; 21:11, Heb. Anok).”
Deuteronomy “(The Emim lived therein before, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim. -- Deuteronomy 2:10”
Joshua (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Joshua 11:22: In Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod - The whole race of the Anakims was extirpated in this war, except those who had taken refuge in the above cities, which belonged to the Philistines; and in which some of the descendants of Anak were found even in the days of David.”
Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 26:7: “The giants were on the earth in those days, and also thereafter, when the children of the great ones consorted with the daughters of man, and they bore them children; they are the mighty who were from ancient times, the men of renown” (Genesis 6:4). “The giants were on the earth in those days.” They were called by seven names: Eimim , Refa’im , Giborim , Zamzumim , Anakim , Avim , Nefilim . Eimim – as anyone who saw them, fear of them [ eimatan ] would descend upon them. Refa’im – as anyone who saw them, his heart would become soft [ rafeh ] like wax. Gi”
Joshua (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joshua 11:21: And at that time came Joshua,.... After he had made a conquest of the land, or at the time he made it, as before related: and cut off the Anakims from the mountains; whither, upon the conquest of the land, they had betaken themselves, and lived in dens and caves: these were giants, so called from Anak the father of them; though these are not to be restrained to his posterity, but include all other giants in the land; and the Targum renders the word by "mighty men"; and as some of them dwelt in mountains, others in cities, as follows: from Hebron; where the childr”
Joshua (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Joshua 15:14: drove thence the three sons of Anak--rather three chiefs of the Anakim race. This exploit is recorded to the honor of Caleb, as the success of it was the reward of his trust in God.”
Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 2:10: The Emims dwelt there in time past,.... We read of them as early as the times of Chedorlaomer, Gen 14:5 when their dwelling was in Kirjathaim, a city which Sihon king of the Amorites took from the Moabites, and which being taken from him, was with others given to the tribe of Reuben, Num 32:37. These are by some thought to be the same with the Yemim which Anah found and met with in the wilderness, and defeated, which we render "mules", Gen 36:24. They had their name from the fear and terror they put men into because of their gigantic stature and great strength, a”
Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 1:28: 1:28 Anak was a well-known man of gigantic physical stature (2:10, 21; 9:2; Num 13:33). Goliath (1 Sam 17:4) might have been one of the descendants of Anak who migrated to the Philistine coastal plain (Deut 2:23; Josh 11:21-23; 15:14; 1 Chr 20:4-8).”
Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Genesis 6:4: [AFTER THAT.] After the flood. Behold, the sons of Anak (Num. 13:33) were originally from the family of the sons of God . 17 Thus we see that the descendants of the nephilim lived on after the flood.”
Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 2:11: Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims,.... Because of their bulky size and tall stature; or,"the Rephaim were they accounted, even they as the Anakims;''they were reckoned Rephaim, a name for giants in early times, even as the Anakims were; see Gen 14:5. but the Moabites called them Emims; to distinguish them from the Rephaim; so that it seems this name of Emims was not originally their name, but they are called so by a prolepsis, or anticipation, in Gen 14:5 since they had it from the Moabites, a people of a later date.”

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