Anakim

The Anakim were the people descended from Anak, who lived in Hebron and the hill country of Canaan. The report of the spies made Israel's heart melt: “The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to the sky. Moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there!” (Deuteronomy 1:28). Moses recalled the saying “Who can stand before the sons of Anak?” (Deuteronomy 9:2) and answered it with God's promise: “Know therefore today that Yahweh your God is he who goes over before you as a devouring fire. He will destroy them and he will bring them down before you” (Deuteronomy 9:3).

Moses compares other tall peoples to them: the Emim of Moab and the Zamzummim of Ammon were each tall “as the Anakim”, and all were counted among the Rephaim (Deuteronomy 2:10–11; Deuteronomy 2:20–21). Hebron's old name, Kiriath Arba, came from “the greatest man among the Anakim” (Joshua 14:15).

“Joshua came at that time, and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel” (Joshua 11:21); only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did some remain (Joshua 11:22). Caleb, who with Joshua had urged Israel not to fear the people of the land (Numbers 14:6–9), asked for their hill country: “It may be that Yahweh will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as Yahweh said” (Joshua 14:12), and he drove the three sons of Anak out of Hebron (Joshua 15:14).