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ANAKIM

(Heb. ʿănāqîm)

Descendants of Anak (Num. 13:22) who lived in the southern part of Canaan, especially in the city of Hebron. The original name of Hebron was Kiriath-arba, named after its founder Arba, the forefather of Anak (Josh. 15:13) and the greatest of the Anakim (14:15).

Descendants of the Nephilim (Num. 13:32-33), the Anakim were a tall people (cf. Heb. ʿănāq, “long-necked” or “giant”), to whom were compared the Rephaim in Ammon (whom the Ammonites called Zamzummites; Deut. 2:20-21) and the Emim in Moab (v. 10). Anakim may be a generic term used in the OT to describe the imposing height of all the original inhabitants of Canaan, rather than a proper name for a particular nation or tribe (cf. Amos 2:9). When Moses sent the 12 spies to explore the land of Canaan, 10 of them brought back a pessimistic report, declaring that they were terrified by the size of the inhabitants of Canaan (Num. 13:32-33).

Despite their size, the Anakim were conquered by Joshua and driven from the land. Only a small remnant survived, finding refuge in the Philistine cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod (Josh. 11:21-22). When Caleb conquered Hebron, the stronghold of the Anakim, he drove out their three clans, Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai (Num. 13:22; Josh. 15:14).

Claude F. Mariottini

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ANAKIM

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)