Joshua 10:38

“And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, etc.] A city, according to Kimchi, which he passed by when he went to Hebron, and did not fight against it; but, when he had taken Hebron, returned and took it; and which Bunting f206 says was but a mile from it, and twenty two miles from Jerusalem, towards the south; it is the same with Kirjathsepher and Kirjathsannah, (<061515>Joshua 15:15,49); the city of a book or books; and the Rabbins say f207, that with the Persians Debir signifies the same, and had its name from a library which was here kept, or from the archives in which the most memorable things since the flood were recorded; or from the making of paper or parchment, or…”

“Joshua returned - The words mark a change in the direction of the march. Joshua from Hebron turned to the southwest, and attacked Debir or Kirjath-sepher and its dependencies Joshua 15:15. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Joshua returned - He is said to return thither, not as if he had been there before, but because having gone as far westward and southward as he thought fit, even as far as Gaza, Jos 10:41, he now returned towards Gilgal, which lay north - ward and eastward from him, and in his return fell upon Debir. Joshua 10:40”

“10:38-39 Because settlement in the hill country was sparse, the surrounding villages—walled towns that could not maintain their independence—depended on the kingdoms of the dominant cities for protection.”

“Debir: Debir was situated in the south of the tribe of Judah, near Hebron. The expression of Joshua's returning to Debir, probably denotes, that having carried his conquests in the southern parts as far as Gaza ( Jos 10:41), which was in the south-west angle of Canaan, he then marched back to besiege Debir. Jos 12:13, Jos 15:15, Jos 15:49, Jos 21:15; Jdg 1:11-15 Joshua 10:39”