Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity,…Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie,…

The opinion of others is that Hebron was called the City Arba, because it was inhabited of .4. Giants, namely Sesay, Ahimman, and Thalmay unto which three brethren they add Annak their Parent. But the opinion of these men is easily confuted, because that in the .14. chap. of Joshua toward the end, it is by manifest words declared that this word Arba is the proper name of a Giant. Wherefore it is manifest enough that this word must not be referred to the number of four. And by that means not only this latter sentence, but the first also is confuted, which would have this name Arba to have a respect to the four couple of men with their wives, buried in the old time in that City. And undoubtedly for the same cause also, the opinion of others is not to be allowed, which do think that the City was so called, because although it were but one City, yet it consisted of four Cities, and that this word Arba is all one with this greek word [Greek or Hebrew] which is four Cities. Wherefore I judge it best to think that it was so named of the builder thereof named Arba, ¹who how he came by that surname it is uncertain. Only this we may gather out of the scriptures, that what so ever he was, he had three children which are called in this place and also in the book of Joshua, Sehai, Ahimman and Thalmay. And it is very likely that they were dead long time before Joshua. And when they were now dead, then was there mention made of them, because their families which seem to have been of a wonderful huge stature were destroyed by Caleb and Othoniel. And this is the reason why I suppose that these three brethren lived not in Caleb and Othoniel's time, because this City as it is written in the book of Numbers, was a most ancient city, and was built .vii. years before zoham that is, Thamin the kingly City of the Egyptians. And in zoham did Moses and Aaron work the wonders before Pharaoh. And if so be it was the kingly and noble city then, it must needs be built long time before. Wherefore if Hebron were built before it, and had the name thereof of Arba, how could his children be on live at this time? It cannot be so. Besides this, Abraham had a lodging in this City, & bought there a double cave. And from that time to Joshua his time were almost .400. years.

The opinion of others is that Hebron was called the City Arba, bycause it was inhabited of .4. Giauntes, namely Sesay, Ahimman, and Thalmay vnto which three brethren they adde Annak their Parent. But the opinion of these men is easely confuted, bycause that in the .14. chap. of Iosua toward the end, it is by manifest wordes declared that this word Arba is the proper name of a Giaunt. Wherfore it is manifest enough that this woord must not be referred to the number of four. And by that meanes not onely this latter sentence, but the first also is confuted, which would haue this name Arba to haue a respect to the foure couple of men with their wyues, buried in the old tyme in that City. And vndoubtedly for the same cause also, the opinion of others is not to be allowed, which do thinke that the City was so called, bycause although it were but one City, yet it consisted of foure Cities, and that this woord Arba is all one wyth this greeke woorde whiche is foure Cities. Wherefore I iudge it best to thyncke that it was so named of the buylder thereof named Arba,