Bible Encyclopedias
Kirjath-Sepher

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

City in the hill-country of Judah (Joshua 15:49), situated to the south of Hebron (10:38), on a prominence not very far from that city (ib. 15:15). It was the former name of Debir (ib. 15:15; Judges 1:11), and was also known as "Kirjath-sannah" (Joshua 15:49), for which the Septuagint gives πόλιç γραμμάτων ("city of letters"), the usual translation of "Kirjath-sepher." Debir was among the cities which were assigned to the priests (Joshua 21:15; 1 Chronicles 6:58). It is identified with the present Al-Ḍahariyyah. The name seems to indicate that it was the "city of the roll," e., for enrolment or enlisting purposes; but the second element, "sepher," may possibly be the name of a deity. To explain it as "Library-city" appears to be assuming too much.

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Bibliography Information
Singer, Isidore, Ph.D, Projector and Managing Editor. Entry for 'Kirjath-Sepher'. 1901 The Jewish Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tje/​k/kirjath-sepher.html. 1901.