A Moabite city captured by the Israelites
Medeba
Named in 5 verses across 4 books, first in Numbers 21:30.
מֵידְבָאMedeba
The name means “waters of grief; waters springing up.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Medeba Written by AI
Medeba was an ancient city located in Moab, east of the Dead Sea. It was captured by the Israelites during their conquest of the region (Numbers 21:30; Joshua 13:9, 16). The city and its surrounding plain were allotted to the tribe of Reuben. During the reign of King David, the Ammonites hired Syrian mercenaries and gathered at Medeba to fight against Israel (1Ch.19.7). The Moabite Stone, an important archaeological find, mentions Medeba as a city that the Moabite King Mesha had captured from Israel. The prophet Isaiah, in his oracle against Moab, mentions Medeba as one of the cities that would mourn over the coming destruction (Isaiah 15:2).
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
Waters of quiet, an ancient Moabite town (Num. 21:30). It was assigned to the tribe of Reuben (Josh. 13:16). Here was fought the great battle in which Joab defeated the Ammonites and their allies (1 Chr. 19:7-15; comp. 2 Sam. 10:6-14). In the time of Isaiah (15:2) the Moabites regained possession of it from the Ammonites. (See HANUN.)
The ruins of this important city, now Madeba or Madiyabah, are seen about 8 miles south-west of Heshbon, and 14 east of the Dead Sea. Among these are the ruins of what must have been a large temple, and of three cisterns of considerable extent, which are now dry. These cisterns may have originated the name Medeba, “waters of quiet.” (See OMRI.)
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
31.720, 35.792 See it on a map
Where the Bible names it
- Numbers 21:30
But we have overthrown them; Heshbon is destroyed as far as Dibon. We demolished them as far as Nophah, which reaches to Medeba.”
- Joshua 13:9
The area from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon,
- Joshua 13:16
The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the middle of the valley, to the whole plateau beyond Medeba,
- 1 Chronicles 19:7
So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, as well as the king of Maacah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba while the Ammonites were mustered from their cities and marched out for battle.
- Isaiah 15:2
Dibon goes up to its temple to weep at its high places. Moab wails over Nebo, as well as over Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.