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(Heb., Anakim', òֲðָ÷ִéí , Deu_2:10-11; Deu_2:21; Jos_11:21-22; Jos_14:12; Jos_14:15; also called sons of Anak, áְּðֵé òֲðָ÷ , Num_13:33; áְּðֵé äָòֲðָ÷ , Jos_15:14; children of Anak, éìִéãֵé äָòֲðָ÷ , Num_13:22; Jos_15:14; sons of the Analkim, áְּðֵé òֲðָ÷ִéí , Deu_9:2; Sept , Å᾿íáêὶì õἱïὶ Å᾿íÜê , ãåíåáὶ Å᾿íÜê , ãåíåὰ Å᾿íÜê , ãßãáíôåò ; Vulg. Enacim, filii Enakim, flii Enac, stirps Enac; Auth. Vers. “Anakims,” “sons of Anak,” “children of Anak,” “sons of the Anakims”), a nomadic tribe of giants (Num_13:34; Deu_9:2) SEE NEPHILIM descended from a certain Arba (Jos_14:15; Jos_15:13; Jos_21:11), and bearing the name of their immediate progenitor, Anak (Jos_11:21), dwelling in the southern part of Palestine, particularly in the vicinity of Hebron (q.v.), which was called Kirjath-Arba (city of Arba) from their ancestor (Gen_23:2; Jos_15:13). These designations serve to show that we must regard Anak as the name of the race as well as that of an individual, and this is confirmed by what is said of Arba, their progenitor, that he “was a great man among the Anakim” (Jos_14:15). The Anakim appear (see Bochart, Chanaan, 1, 1) to have been a tribe of Cushite wanderers from Babel, and of the same race as the Philistines, the Phoenicians, the Philistim, and the Egyptian shepherd- kings (see Jour. Sac. Lit. July, 1852, p. 303 sq.; Jan. 1853, p. 293 sq.). The supposition of Michaelis (Syntag. Comment. 1, 196; also Lowth, p. 133) that they were a fragment of the aboriginal Troglodytes is opposed to Jos_11:21 (see Faber, Archkeol. p. 44 sq.). They consisted of three tribes, descended from and named after the three sons of Anak-Ahiman, Sesai, and Talmai (Jos_15:14). When the Israelites invaded Canaan, the Anakim were in possession of Hebron, Debir, Anab, and other towns in the country of the south (Jos_11:21). Their formidable stature and warlike appearance struck the Israelites with terror in the time of Moses (Num_13:28; Num_13:33; Deu_9:2); but they were nevertheless dispossessed by Joshua, and utterly driven from the land, except a small remnant that found refuge in the Philistine cities, Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod (Jos_11:22). Their chief city, Hebron, became the possession of Caleb, who is said to have driven out from it the three sons of Anak mentioned above — that is, the three families or tribes of the Anakim (Jos_15:14; Jdg_1:20). The Philistine giants, SEE GOLIATH that David on several occasions encountered (2Sa_21:15-22) seem to have sprung from the remnant of this stock. Josephus says (Ant. 5,2, 3) that their bones were still shown at Hebron, and Benjamin of Tudela tells a story respecting similar relics at Damascus (Itin. p. 56). SEE GIANT. According to Arabic tradition, Oa, king of Bashan, was of this race, and the same dubious authority states that the prophet Shoaib or Jethro was sent by the Lord to instruct the Anakim, having been born among them (D'Herbelot, Bibliotheque Orientale, p. 105). They are thought to be depicted on the Egyptian monuments. SEE TALMAI.