‘ And in the hill country Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh, and Dannah, and Kiriath-sannah, the same is Debir, and Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim, and Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh. Eleven cities with their villages.'
The hill country (literally ‘the mountain') signifies the central mountain range west of Jordan. It was divided up on the basis of the tribes occupying it (Joshua 20:7) into the hill country of Judah (Joshua 21:11), the hill country of Ephraim (Joshua 17:15-18) and the hill country of Naphtali (Joshua 20:7). But they recognised that it composed a single mountain range, even though interrupted by ravines and the Plain of Esdraelon. Thus they called it ‘the mountain' (Joshua 9:1; Joshua 10:40; Joshua 11:16). This was where Judah initially settled and carved out its territory, establishing itself securely in the hill country before expanding.
The hill country of Judah is broken up into grey limestone hills, generally bare of vegetation, but not altogether unfruitful, for olives and terraced vineyards are found on their slopes, and in the valleys small patches of cultivable soil. There are no perennial streams and few springs, the water supply depending chiefly on the winter rains stored in pools and cisterns.
Shamir is perhaps Khirbet Somerah, twenty kilometres (thirteen miles) south west of Hebron and 650 metres (2,100 feet) up. Jattir is Khirbet Attir on the south west escarpment of the hill country of Judah, twenty one kilometres (fourteen miles) from Hebron. It was offered as residence to the priests (Joshua 21:14). David shared the spoils of the Amalekites with its inhabitants (1 Samuel 30:27). Socoh is probably Khirbet Suweike, three kilometres (two miles) east of Dhahriya, not the same as Socoh in verse 35. Danna is not known.
Kiriath-sanna (‘city of palm leaf' - palm leaves were writing materials) is the ancient name of Debir. Compare verse 15 and Judges 1:11 where it is Kiriath-sepher (‘city of writing'). It would thus appear to have been a scribal city. The use of the names demonstrates the age of the sources. Debir was probably Khirbet Rabbud, thirteen kilometres (eight miles) south west of Hebron, a strong position overlooking the River Hevron. Anab (Joshua 11:22) was a small city which is now a ruin but still called ‘Anab, and was eight kilometres (five miles) south of Debir. It is mentioned as Kart-‘anabu in Papyrus Anastasi I and in the Amarna letters. For Eshtemoh compare Eshtemoa, one of the priests' towns (Joshua 21:14; 1 Chronicles 6:57). It is now es-Semu‘a and still inhabited, fourteen kilometres (eight miles) south south west of Hebron at a height of 680 metres (2200 feet).
Anim may be el-Ghuwein, four kilometres (three miles) south of es-Semu‘a. Goshen is not specifically identified, but is probably connected with the Judaean ‘country of Goshen' (Joshua 10:41; Joshua 11:16), the area of which is not yet known. Holon was a priestly town (Joshua 21:15 - compare Hilen (1 Chronicles 6:58)). Giloh was the home of Ahithophel, David's adviser (2 Samuel 15:12; 2 Samuel 23:34), possibly grandfather of Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:3 with 2 Samuel 23:34). ‘Eleven cities with their villages,' possibly looking to Debir as their centre.