Kirjathsepher was a town in the hills of Judah, and Joshua says its older name was later replaced: it “is Debir.” Caleb used it to offer a prize, saying that whoever “smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it” would marry his daughter Achsah. His younger relative Othniel took the town and received her. The story is brief, but it shows how land was claimed and families joined in the same moment. The town also goes by Kirjathsannah in the list of Judah’s cities. Joshua 15:15-19 tells the story, and Judges 1 repeats it.
5 verses
And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of Enshemesh, and the goings out thereof were at Enrogel:
And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher.
And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which is Debir,
Matthew George Easton, 1897
City of books, Josh. 15:15; same as Kirjath-sannah (q.v.), now represented by the valley of ed-Dhaberiyeh, south-west of Hebron. The name of this town is an evidence that the Canaanites were acquainted with writing and books. “The town probably contained a noted school, or was the site of an oracle and the residence of some learned priest.” The “books” were probably engraved stones or bricks.
William Smith, 1884
(city of books). (Joshua 15:15,16; Judges 1:11,12) [DEBIR]