### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Cheber**, represented by `{{H2268}}`, translates to **community** and is used as the name for a Kenite and three different Israelites. It appears **11 times** across **10 unique verses** in the Bible, establishing its significance in both narrative and genealogical contexts.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The most prominent individual named Heber is a Kenite featured in the book of Judges. He is defined by his choice to have `severed{H6504}` himself from the other Kenites and `pitched{H5186}` his tent in a new location [[Judges 4:11]]. This separation is a key plot point, as his household had `peace{H7965}` with Jabin, the king of Hazor. This alliance led the enemy general Sisera to `fled away{H5127}` to the tent of Jael, `Heber's{H2268}` wife, for safety [[Judges 4:17]]. The name Heber also appears in several genealogies, identifying a son of Beriah in the tribe of Asher ([[Genesis 46:17]], [[Numbers 26:45]]), a descendant of Judah who was the father of Socho [[1 Chronicles 4:18]], and a son of the tribe of Benjamin [[1 Chronicles 8:17]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide context to the actions surrounding the figures named Heber:
* `{{H6504}}` **pârad** (to break through, i.e. spread or separate (oneself)): This action is central to the identity of Heber the Kenite, who `severed{H6504}` himself from his people, setting the stage for the events in Judges [[Judges 4:11]].
* `{{H5186}}` **nâṭâh** (to stretch or spread out... pitch): After separating himself, Heber `pitched{H5186}` his tent, an act which established his new, independent household [[Judges 4:11]].
* `{{H7965}}` **shâlôwm** (welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace): This term describes the treaty between the house of Heber and King Jabin, which gave Sisera a false sense of security and led him to Heber's tent [[Judges 4:17]].
* `{{H3205}}` **yâlad** (to bear young; causatively, to beget... to show lineage): This word is used in the genealogical records to describe how Heber, the descendant of Judah, `bare{H3205}` sons, and how another Heber `begat{H3205}` children, reinforcing the name's role in marking family lines ([[1 Chronicles 4:18]], [[1 Chronicles 7:32]]).
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H2268}}` is revealed in several key themes:
* **Identity through Separation:** Heber the Kenite’s story demonstrates how an individual’s identity can be forged through a deliberate act of separation. His decision to part from his kin [[Judges 4:11]] places him in a unique position to influence Israel's history.
* **Alliance and Sanctuary:** The `peace{H7965}` between Heber’s house and an enemy of Israel highlights the complex political landscape of the time. This alliance created a perceived sanctuary that ultimately became a place of judgment for Sisera ([[Judges 4:17]], [[Judges 4:21]]).
* **Genealogical Marker:** In Chronicles, Numbers, and Genesis, the name Heber functions to preserve lineage. It marks individuals as members of a specific family and tribe, such as the `family{H4940} of the Heberites{H2277}` [[Numbers 26:45]], ensuring the continuity of the community record.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2268}}` is a name that carries dual importance. In the narrative of Judges, **Cheber** is defined by his separation from one community and his pivotal, if indirect, role in the affairs of another. In the Bible's extensive genealogies, the name serves its literal meaning of **community** by anchoring individuals within the larger family structures of Israel, ensuring their lineage is recorded for future generations.
TRV