Anak
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According to the [[Book of Numbers]], during the conquest of [[Canaan]] by the [[Israelite]]s, '''Anak''' (spelt as both ענק and as הענק depending upon the reference) was a well known figure, and a forefather of the ''Anakites'' (aka. [[Anakim]]) who were ''strong and tall'' descendants of the [[Nephilim]] ({{Bibleverse||Numbers|13:33|31}}). The text states that Anak was a [[Rephaite]] ({{Bibleverse||Deuteronomy|2:11|31}}) and a son of [[Arba]] ({{Bibleverse||Joshua|15:13|31}}). [[Etymology|Etymologically]], ''Anak'' means ''[long] neck''<ref>{{cite book |last = Black | first = Matthew W. | title = Peake's commentary on the Bible | publisher = Routledge | date = 2001 | id = ISBN 0-4152-6355-7 }}</ref>.
The sons of Anak are first mentioned in the 13th chapter of the book of Numbers, in the Biblical [[Old Testament]] or Jewish [[Torah]]. The [[Israelite]] leader [[Moses]] sends twelve spies representing the [[twelve tribes of Israel]] to scout out the land of [[Canaan]], and give a full report to the [[Wiktionary:congregation|congregation]]. The spies enter from the [[Negev]] desert and journey northward through the Judaean hills until they arrive at the brook of [[Eshcol]] near [[Hebron]], where reside [[Sheshai]], [[Ahiman]], and [[Talmai]], the sons of Anak. After the scouts have explored the entire land, they bring back samples of the fruit of the land; most notably a gigantic cluster of grapes which requires two men to carry it on a pole between them. The scouts then report to Moses and the congregation, that "the land indeed is a land flowing with milk and honey," but ten of the twelve spies discourage the Israelites from even attempting to possess the land, for they reported that the men were taller and stronger than the Israelites, and moreover the sons of Anak dwell in the land, and that they felt like grasshoppers in their presence.
The Anakites are later mentioned briefly in the books of [[Deuteronomy]], [[Joshua]], and [[Judges]]. In Joshua, Caleb, one of the twelve spies sent by Moses into Canaan, later drove out the descendants of Anak — his three sons — from [[Hebron]], also called Kirjath Arba.
Anak could be related to the Sumerian god [[Enki]].{{Fact|date=October 2007}} [[Robert Graves]], considering the relationship between the Anakites and [[Philistia]] ({{Bibleverse||Joshua|11:21|31}}, {{Bibleverse||Jeremiah|47:5|}}), identifies the Anakim with [[Anax]], the giant ruler of the [[Anactorians]] in [[Greek mythology]].<ref>"''These Anakim seem to have come from Greece, as members of the [[Sea Peoples|Sea-peoples]]' confederation which caused the Egyptians so much trouble in the fourteenth century B.C.''" [[Robert Graves]]. ''[[The Greek Myths]]'', 88.3. New York: 1955.</ref>
==Other uses==
* In [[Malayo-Polynesian languages]] such as [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]], [[Malaysian]], and [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], ''anak'' means "child".
* The [[ANAK Society]] is a secret society at the [[Georgia Institute of Technology]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia]].
* In the [[computer role-playing game]] ''[[Drakkhen]]'', an Anak is a temple in which full [[hit points]] can be magically restored.
* In Ch. LVIII of [[Moby-Dick]] by [[Herman Melville]], the author makes reference to Anak, referring to the species of giant squid as being related to the cuttle-fish, which he says "in certain external respects it would seem to belong, but only as the Anak of the tribe."
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Tagalog words and phrases]]
[[Category:Malay words and phrases]]
[[Category:Hebrew Bible people]]
[[fr:Anaq]]
[[nl:Enak]]
[[pt:Enaque]]