An'akim (Heb., Anakim', עֲנָקִים, De 2:10-11,21; Jos 11:21-22; Jos 14:12,15; also called sons of Anak, בּנֵי עֲנָק, Nu 13:33;
בּנֵי הָעֲנָק, Jos 15:14; children of Anak, ילִידֵי הָעֲנָק, Nu 13:22; Jos 15:14; sons of the Analkim, בּנֵי עֲנָקִים, De 9:2; Sept , Ε᾿νακὶμ υἱοὶ Ε᾿νάκ, γενεαὶ Ε᾿νάκ, γενεὰ Ε᾿νάκ, γίγαντες; Vulg. Enacim, filii Enakim, flii Enac, stirps Enac; Auth. Vers. "Anakims," "sons of Anak," "children of Anak," "sons of the Anakims"), a nomadic tribe of giants (Nu 13:33; De 9:2) SEE NEPHILIM descended from a certain Arba (Jos 14:15; Jos 15:13; Jos 21:11), and bearing the name of their immediate progenitor, Anak (Jos 11:21), dwelling in the southern part of Palestine, particularly in the vicinity of Hebron (q.v.), which was called Kirjath-Arba (city of Arba) from their ancestor (Ge 23:2; Jos 15:13). These designations serve to show that we must regard Anak as the name of the race as well as that of an individual, and this is confirmed by what is said of Arba, their progenitor, that he "was a great man among the Anakim" (Jos 14:15). The Anakim appear (see Bochart, Chanaan, 1, 1) to have been a tribe of Cushite wanderers from Babel, and of the same race as the Philistines, the Phoenicians, the Philistim, and the Egyptian shepherd- kings (see Jour. Sac. Lit. July, 1852, p. 303 sq.; Jan. 1853, p. 293 sq.). The supposition of Michaelis (Syntag. Comment. 1, 196; also Lowth, p. 133) that they were a fragment of the aboriginal Troglodytes is opposed to Jos 11:21 (see Faber, Archkeol. p. 44 sq.). They consisted of three tribes, descended from and named after the three sons of Anak-Ahiman, Sesai, and Talmai (Jos 15:14). When the Israelites invaded Canaan, the Anakim were in possession of Hebron, Debir, Anab, and other towns in the country of the south (Jos 11:21). Their formidable stature and warlike appearance struck the Israelites with terror in the time of Moses (Nu 13:28,33; De 9:2); but they were nevertheless dispossessed by Joshua, and utterly driven from the land, except a small remnant that found refuge in the Philistine cities, Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod (Jos 11:22). Their chief city, Hebron, became the possession of Caleb, who is said to have driven out from it the three sons of Anak mentioned above — that is, the three families or tribes of the Anakim (Jos 15:14; Jg 1:20). The Philistine giants, SEE GOLIATH that David on several occasions encountered (2Sa 21:15-22) seem to have sprung from the remnant of this stock. Josephus says (Ant. 5,2, 3) that their bones were still shown at Hebron, and Benjamin of Tudela tells a story respecting similar relics at Damascus (Itin. p. 56). SEE GIANT. According to Arabic tradition, Oa, king of Bashan, was of this race, and the same dubious authority states that the prophet Shoaib or Jethro was sent by the Lord to instruct the Anakim, having been born among them (D'Herbelot, Bibliotheque Orientale, p. 105). They are thought to be depicted on the Egyptian monuments. SEE TALMAI.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More