Genesis 23:2

Kirjath-arba, or, the city of Arba; so called probably from a giant or great man called Arba, who lived and ruled in those parts. See Joshua 14:15, Joshua 15:13. It is objected against this scripture, that this city was not called Hebron till Joshua's time, Joshua 14:15; but this is a mistake, Joshua doth not say so, but only that the name of Hebron before, (or in old time), as this very particle is rendered, Deuteronomy 2:20, and elsewhere. So the sense is, the most ancient name of it was Kirjath-arba. Nor doth Joshua there give any account or reason of this change of the name at that time, or upon that occasion, as the sacred writers used to do in such cases, but rather supposeth that Hebron was the name of it before he came thither; and how long before that time he doth not express. Abraham came into Sarah's tent, \see Genesis 18:6,9\ to weep for her, according to the laudable custom of all ages and nations, to manifest their sense of God's hand upon them, and of their own loss. See Genesis 50:3 Deuteronomy 34:8, &c.