Anak is a significant figure mentioned in the Old Testament, particularly in the context of the Israelite conquest of Canaan. He is recognized as the progenitor of the Anakim, a race of giants who inhabited the land of Canaan prior to the arrival of the Israelites. The Anakim are often associated with great size and strength, and their presence in the land posed a formidable challenge to the Israelites.

Biblical References:

The first mention of Anak and his descendants occurs in the Book of Numbers. When Moses sent twelve spies to explore the land of Canaan, they reported back about the inhabitants, including the Anakim. Numbers 13:22 states, "They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were living." The spies' report instilled fear among the Israelites, as they described the Anakim as giants: "We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them" (Numbers 13:33).

The Anakim are further mentioned in Deuteronomy, where Moses recounts the journey of the Israelites and their encounters with various peoples. Deuteronomy 9:2 describes the Anakim as "a people great and tall, the descendants of the Anakim, whom you know and of whom you have heard it said, 'Who can stand against the sons of Anak?'"

Historical and Geographical Context:

The Anakim were primarily associated with the region around Hebron, a significant city in the southern part of Canaan. This area was known for its fertile land and strategic location. The presence of the Anakim in Hebron is significant, as it was later conquered by Caleb, one of the faithful spies, who trusted in God's promise to give the land to the Israelites. Joshua 15:13-14 records this conquest: "According to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, Caleb son of Jephunneh was given a portion among the descendants of Judah—Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the forefather of Anak). And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak—Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak."

Theological Significance:

The narrative of Anak and the Anakim serves as a testament to the challenges faced by the Israelites in claiming the Promised Land. The fearsome reputation of the Anakim highlighted the need for faith and reliance on God's promises. Despite the daunting presence of these giants, the Israelites were reminded that their success depended not on their own strength but on the power and faithfulness of God.

The defeat of the Anakim by Caleb and the Israelites is a powerful illustration of God's ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It underscores the theme of divine intervention and the fulfillment of God's promises to His people. The account of Anak and his descendants thus serves as an enduring reminder of the importance of faith and obedience in the face of adversity.Anak

a collar; ornament

Long-necked, the son of Arba, father of the Anakim (Joshua 15:13; 21:11, Hebrews Anok). ANAK

an'-nak. See ANAKIM.

594. anak -- to plummet
... 593, 594. anak. 595 . to plummet. Transliteration: anak Phonetic Spelling:
(an-awk') Short Definition: line. ... 593, 594. anak. 595 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/594.htm - 6k

8344. Sheshay -- a son of Anak
... 8343, 8344. Sheshay. 8345 . a son of Anak. Transliteration: Sheshay Phonetic
Spelling: (shay-shah'-ee) Short Definition: Sheshai. ...
/hebrew/8344.htm - 6k

8526. Talmay -- "plowman," a father-in-law of David, also a ...
... Talmay. 8527 . "plowman," a father-in-law of David, also a descendant of Anak.
Transliteration: Talmay Phonetic Spelling: (tal-mah'-ee) Short Definition: Talmai ...
/hebrew/8526.htm - 6k

289. Achiman -- a Levite, also a son of Anak
... 288, 289. Achiman. 290 . a Levite, also a son of Anak. Transliteration: Achiman
Phonetic Spelling: (akh-ee-man') Short Definition: Ahiman. ...
/hebrew/289.htm - 6k

6061. Anaq -- "neck," a Canaanite
... Anaq. 6062 . "neck," a Canaanite. Transliteration: Anaq Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-nawk') Short Definition: Anak. ... Anak. The same as anaq; Anak, a Canaanite -- Anak ...
/hebrew/6061.htm - 6k

6062. Anaq -- "neck," a giant people around Hebron and in ...
... Anakim. Patronymically from Anaq; an Anakite or descendant of Anak -- Anakim.
see HEBREW Anaq. 6061, 6062. Anaq. 6063 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6062.htm - 6k

8571. tenuk -- tip or lobe (of the ear)
... pinnacle. Perhaps from the same as 'anak through the idea of protraction; a pinnacle,
ie Extremity -- tip. see HEBREW 'anak. 8570, 8571. tenuk. 8572 . ...
/hebrew/8571.htm - 6k

Two Ways of Seeing
... And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we
were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight" (vs.31-33 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk eight two ways of.htm

Afraid of Giants
... And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and
Talmai, the children of Anak, were. ... 'All the people' are sons of Anak now. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/afraid of giants.htm

Caleb --A Green Old Age
... What were the three Anak chiefs, with their barbarous names, Sheshai, and Ahiman,
and Talmai, and their giant stature, to the onset of a warrior faith like that ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/caleba green old age.htm

On the Difficulties and Duties of the Christian Life.
... They have spied the land, and seen that it is exceeding good, that it floweth with
milk and honey; but they find they have the children of Anak to grapple with ...
/.../scougal/the life of god in the soul of man/part iii on the difficulties.htm

Independence of Christianity
... And tell me, if ye will, of slaughtered Anak, and the destruction of the tribes
of Canaan; tell me of Israel's possessing the promised land; tell me of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/independence of christianity.htm

The Battle of the Beanfield. 2 Samuel, xxiii, 11, 12.
... and is sent to Aldershot, we soon put the chaplain on his track, and shall we not
do something for those who are carried away by those sons of Anak which we ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/v the battle of the.htm

"Be Perfect. " 2 Cor. xiii. 11
... try to encourage those who are really anxious to possess the good land, by shewing
that Joshua and Caleb were right in saying of the sons of Anak, "They are ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/xvi be perfect 2 cor.htm

The Spies
... I do not think it was ever intended to be a picture of heaven, for there are no
Canaanites in heaven, certainly in heaven there are no sons of Anak, no giants ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the spies.htm

Of Former Times
... Such also were many of the children (or descendants) of Anak. But it does not appear
that in any age or nation men in general were larger than they are now. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 102 of former times.htm

Chapter vi
... For there the spies first call all Canaanites "men of stature," and then
they mention that even "Nephilim," sons of Anak, were there. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter vi.htm

Anak (8 Occurrences)
... Hebrews Anok). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ANAK. an'-nak. See ANAKIM.
Multi-Version Concordance Anak (8 Occurrences). Numbers 13 ...
/a/anak.htm - 9k

Anakim (10 Occurrences)
... The descendants of Anak (Joshua 11:21; Numbers 13:33; Deuteronomy 9:2). They dwelt
in the south of Palestine, in the neighbourhood of Hebron (Genesis 23:2 ...
/a/anakim.htm - 13k

Ahiman (4 Occurrences)
... man ('achiman, perhaps, "brother of fortune," or, "my brother is fortune"): (1)
One of the names given as those of the three "children of the Anak" (Numbers 13 ...
/a/ahiman.htm - 10k

Sheshai (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Whitish, one of the sons of Anak (Numbers 13:22). ...
she'-shi (sheshay): One of the sons of Anak, perhaps an old Hebronite clan name. ...
/s/sheshai.htm - 8k

Giants (18 Occurrences)
... and hence "monsters" or "prodigies." In Numbers 13:33 this name is given to a
Canaanitish tribe, a race of large stature, "the sons of Anak." The Revised ...
/g/giants.htm - 19k

Arba (9 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Four, a giant, father of Anak. From him the city
of Hebron derived its name of Kirjath-arba, ie, the city ...
/a/arba.htm - 10k

Talmai (6 Occurrences)
... Talmai (6 Occurrences). Numbers 13:22 They went up by the South, and came to Hebron;
and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. ...
/t/talmai.htm - 9k

Anakites (8 Occurrences)
... 9:2 a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom thou knowest, and of whom
thou hast heard say: 'Who can stand before the sons of Anak?' (See NIV). ...
/a/anakites.htm - 8k

Ahi'man (4 Occurrences)
... Ahi'man (4 Occurrences). Numbers 13:22 And they went up into the South, and came
unto Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. ...
/a/ahi'man.htm - 7k

She'shai (3 Occurrences)
... Numbers 13:22 And they went up into the South, and came unto Hebron; and Ahiman,
Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. ...
/s/she'shai.htm - 7k

Who is Caleb in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Are there descendants of the Nephilim in the world today? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Anakim / Anakites? | GotQuestions.org

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