KirjathSepher

Kirjath-Sepher, also transliterated Qiryath-Sefer, is a biblical city mentioned in the southern part of the Land of Judah. The name is Hebrew in origin, with Qiryath meaning “city” and Sefer meaning “book” or “scroll,” commonly rendered as “City of the Book” or “City of the Scroll.” In the biblical narrative, Kirjath-Sepher is identified with the later city of Debir, and the two names are used interchangeably in different passages.

Biblical attestations and significance. Kirjath-Sepher appears in the Hebrew Bible as a Canaanite stronghold that was conquered by Caleb, who then granted it to the tribe of Judah. The conquest is linked to the pattern in which Caleb’s reward for victory in the land includes the bestowal of a wife and the establishment of the city’s status. In subsequent scriptures, the city is referred to as Debir, and Debir becomes a recognizable name in the Judean landscape. The association of Kirjath-Sepher with Debir is the basis for identifying the site in later biblical geography, though the two names reflect different historical layers of the same location.

Location and identification. The exact physical location of Kirjath-Sepher/Debir is a matter of scholarly discussion. The city is placed in the Judean foothills south of Jerusalem, within the territory allotted to Judah. Archaeological identification has proposed several candidates in the southern highlands and Shephelah, with Tell Beit Mirsim being among the more widely cited identifications for Debir. However, no single site has achieved universal consensus, and the identification remains tentative.

See also. Debir; Othniel; Caleb; Kiriath-arba.