Medeba

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A town east of the Jordan in the tribe of Reuben, Joshua 13:9,16 . Near it the army of David gained a great victory, 1 Chronicles 19:7 . Long afterwards, it fell again into the hands of the Moabites its ancient masters, Numbers 21:30; Isaiah 15:2 . Its ruins, on rising ground a few miles southeast of Heshbon, still retain the old name.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Numbers 21:30Joshua 13:161 Chronicles 19:7-152 Samuel 10:6-14Isaiah 15:2Hanun

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 .)

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

E. of Jordan. The Hebrew means "waters of quiet," but, except tank water, none is there. Mesha in the famous Dibon stone writes: "Omri took the land, Medeba, and occupied it (in his days and in) the days of his son 40 years"; no doubt as a fortress to command the surrounding district. At the time of the Exodus the Amorites had dispossessed Moab of part of the land which Moab had wrested from the Emims (Deuteronomy 2:9-11; Numbers 21:23-26). Israel in turn wrested from the Amorite Sihon "from Arnon even unto Jabbok." The national lay, Numbers 21:27-29, first describes Sihon's defeat of Moab: "a flame from the city of Sihon ... hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.

Woe unto thee Moab, ... He hath given ... his daughters into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites (so far the ballad describes Sihon's triumph over Moat; Israel's triumph over Sihon follows) ... We have shot at them. Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nopha, which reacheth (rather with fire) unto Medeba." Heshbon was northernmost, Medeba now Madeba in the pastoral district of the Belka (called "the plain" or level downs, the mishor "of Moab," Joshua 13:9 assigned to Reuben) was four miles S.E. of it. A fortress in David's time (1 Chronicles 19:7-15), before which Joab defeated Ammon and the Syrians of Maachah, Mesopotamia, and Zobah. In Ahaz' time Medeba was a sanctuary of Moab (Isaiah 15:2).

Holman Bible Dictionary

Numbers 21:2421:2621:30Joshua 13:913:162 Kings 3:272 Kings 14:25Isaiah 15:2

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

A city beyond Jordan, Joshua 13:16. The name signifies the waters of trouble, from Mi, water—and Daab, trouble.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

MEDEBA ( Numbers 21:30 , Joshua 13:9; Joshua 13:16 , 1 Chronicles 19:7 , Isaiah 15:2 ). A town in the Mishor , or ‘plain’ E. of Jordan, an hour and a half S. of Heshbon on the Roman road from Heshbon to Kerak. It was taken from Moab by Sihon and then conquered by Israel ( Numbers 21:24-35 ) and assigned to Reuben ( Joshua 13:9-16 [ Joshua 13:9 ‘all the tableland Medeba to Dibon’; Joshua 13:16 ‘all the tableland to Medeba’]). The Syrians who came to assist Ammon ( 1 Chronicles 19:6-15 ) pitched at Medeba, which was apparently then Ammonite. Later, Moab regained Medeba, for Omri, according to the Moabite Stone, 1. 8, took Mehedeba , and Israel held it forty years, till Mesha recovered it and rebuilt the cities held by Omri and Ahab. Joram and Jehoshaphat made an unsuccessful attempt to retake these cities ( 2 Kings 3:1-27 ), but Jeroboam II. drove out the Moabites. Moab again held Medeba ( Isaiah 15:2 , and probably also Jeremiah 48:2; but see Madmen). In Maccabæan times it was the stronghold of a robber clan, Jambri, which killed John, eldest son of Mattathias. Jonathan a venged this ( 1Ma 9:36-42; Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant . XIII. i. 2, 4). John Hyrcanus besieged Medeba (Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant . XIII. ix. 1). Alexander Jannæus took it from the Arabians, and Hyrcanus ii. promised to restore it to Aretas ( ib . XIII. xv. 4, XIV. i. 4). During the Byzantine period Medeba was a flourishing Christian centre, the seat of a bishopric, and represented at the Council of Chalcedon. In 1880 a colony of Christians from Kerak settled there. Many ancient remains have come to light, a large pool with solid walls, remains of gates, towers, four churches, some fine mosaics, especially a deeply interesting and important mosaic map of Christian Palestine and Egypt.

C. H. W. Johns.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Plain and city on the east of the Jordan. It fell to the lot of Reuben, but was possessed at times both by the Amorites and the Moabites. Numbers 21:30; Joshua 13:9,16; 1 Chronicles 19:7; Isaiah 15:2 . Identified with Madeba, 31 43' N, 35 47' E .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Medeba (mĕd'e-bah), waters of quiet. A city of Moab, first mentioned with Heshbon and Dibon. Numbers 21:30. It was afterward taken by the Israelites and allotted to the tribe of Reuben, Joshua 13:16; held by the Ammonites during the reign of David, 1 Chronicles 19:7-15, it later again reverted to Moab. Isaiah 15:2. After the return from the captivity it was alternately in the possession of the Jews and of the Gentiles.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Med'eba. (water of rest). A town on the eastern side of Jordan, first alluded to in Numbers 21:30. Here it seems to denote the limit of the territory of Heshbon. It next occurs in the enumeration of the country divided among the TransJordanic tribes, Joshua 13:9, as giving its name to a district of level downs called "the Mishor of Medeba" or "the Mishor on Medeba."

At the time of the conquest, Medeba belonged to the Amorites, apparently one of the towns taken from Moab by them. In the time of Ahaz, Medeba was a sanctuary of Moab. Isaiah 15:2. It has retained its name down to our own times, and lies four miles southeast of Heshbon, on a rounded but rocky hill.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

med´ḗ - ba ( מידבא , mēdhebhā'  ; Μαιδαβά , Maidabá , Μηδαβά , Mēdabá ): The name may mean "gently flowing water," but the sense is doubtful. This city is first mentioned along with Heshbon and Dibon in an account of Israel's conquests ( Numbers 21:30 ). It lay in the Mı̄shōr , the high pastoral land of Moab. The district in which the city stood is called the Mı̄shōr or plain of Medeba in the description of the territory assigned to Reuben (Joshua 13:9 ), or the plain by Medeba (Joshua 13:16 ). Here the Ammonites and their Syrian allies put the battle in array against Joab, and were signally defeated (1 Chronicles 19:7 ). This must have left the place definitely in the possession of Israel. But it must have changed hands several times. It was taken by Omri, evidently from Moab; and Mesha claims to have recovered possession of it (M S, ll. 7, 8, 29, 30). It would naturally fall to Israel under Jeroboam II; but in Isaiah 15:2 it is referred to as a city of Moab. It also figures in later Jewish history. John, son of Mattathias, was captured and put to death by the Jambri, a robber tribe from Medeba. This outrage was amply avenged by Jonathan and Simon, who ambushed a marriage party of the Jambri as they were bringing a noble bride from Gabbatha, slew them all and took their ornaments (1 Macc 9:36 ff; Ant. , Xii , i, 2, 4). Medeba was captured by Hyrcanus "not without the greatest distress of his army" ( Ant. , Xiii , ix, 1). It was taken by Janneus from the Nabateans. Hyrcanus promised to restore it with other cities so taken to Aretas in return for help to secure him on the Judean throne (ibid., xv, 4; Xiv , i, 4). Ptolemy speaks of it as a town in Arabia Petrea, between Bostra and Petra. Eusebius and Jerome knew it under its ancient name ( Onomasticon , under the word). It became the seat of a bishropric, and is mentioned in the Acts of the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD), and in other ecclesiastical lists.

The ancient city is represented by the modern Mādebā , a ruined site with an Arab village, crowning a low hill, some 6 miles South of Heshbon, with which it was connected by a Roman road. The ruins, which are considerable, date mainly from Christian times. The surrounding walls can be traced in practically their whole circuit. There is a large tank, now dry, measuring 108 yds. 10 103 yds., and about 12 ft. in depth. In 1880 it was colonized by some Christian families from Kerak, among whom the Latins carry on mission work. In December, 1896, a most interesting mosaic was found. It proved to be a map of part of Palestine and Lower Egypt of the time of Justinian. Unfortunately it is much damaged. An account of it will be found in Palestine Exploration Fund Statement , 1897,213 ff, 239; 1898,85, 177 ff, 251.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Med´eba, a town east of the Jordan, in the tribe of Reuben , before which was fought the great battle in which Joab defeated the Ammonites and their allies . It originally belonged to the Moabites and after the captivity of the tribes beyond the Jordan, they again took possession of it . The Onomasticon places it near Heshbon; and it was once the seat of one of the thirty-five bishoprics of Arabia (Reland, Palœstina, pp. 217, 223, 226). Medeba, now in ruins, still retains its ancient name, and is situated upon a round hill seven miles south of Heshbon. The ruins are about a mile and a half in circuit, but not a single edifice remains perfect.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Hebrews Meydeba', מֵידְבָא, water of quiet; Sept. Μηδαβά in Chron., Μαιδαβά in Josh., Μωάβ in Numb., and Μωαβῖτις v. r. Μηδαβά, Μηδαμά, Μιδαβά in Isa.; Vulg. Medaba; Joseph. Μηδάβα and Μεδάβη ), a town east of the Jordan, in a plain of the sapne name in the southern border of the tribe of Reuben (Joshua 13:9; Joshua 13:16), before which was fought the great battle where Joab defeated the Ammonites and their allies (1 Chronicles 19:7; comp. with 2 Samuel 10:8; 2 Samuel 10:14, etc.). In the time of Ahaz, Medeba was a sanctuary of Moab (Isaiah 15:2); but in the denunciation of Jeremiah (48), often parallel with that of Isaiah, it is not mentioned. It originally belonged to the Moabites (Numbers 21:30), from whom it was conquered by Sihon the Amoritish king (Josephus, Ant. 13:1, 2, and 4); but upon the captivity of the tribes beyond the Jordan, the Moabites again took possession of it (Isaiah 15:2), and retained it after the return from exile (1 Maccabees 9:36). (See Jambri).

It was the scene of the capture and possibly the death of John Maccabseus, and also of the revenge subsequently taken by Jonathan and Simon (Josephus, Ant. 13:1,4; the name is omitted in Maccabees on the second occasion, see v. 38). About BC. 110 it was, taken, after a long siege, by John Hyrcanus,(Ant. 13:9, 1; War, 1:2, 4), and then appears to have remained in the possession of the Jews for at least thirty years, till the time of Alexander Jannseus (13:15, 4); and it is mentioned as one of the twelve cities by the promise of which Aretas, the king of Arabia, was induced to assist Hyrcanus II to recover Jerusalem ‘ from his brother, Aristobulus (Ant. 14:1,4). Ptolemy calls it Medaua (Μήδανα ),,in Arabia Petraea, in long. 68° 30', lat. 300 45' (v. 17, 6). Stephen of Byzantium (p. 566) assigns it to Nabatene. The Onomasticon places it near Heshbon; and it was once the seat of one of the thirty-five bishoprics of Arabia (Reland, Palaestina, p. 217, 223, 226). The place, ‘ although in ruins, still retains the name Madeba, and is ‘ situated upon a round hill seven miles south of Heshbron. The ruins are about a mile and a half in circuit, but not a single edifice remains perfect, although the remains of the walls of private houses are traceable, and an immense tank (Irby and Mangles, p. 471) is visible (Seetzen, in Zach's Monat. Corresp. 18:431; Burckhardt, Trav. in Syria, p. 365 sq.). The foundations of an-ancient temple observed by these travellers on the west of the town are perhaps those of the Christian church which it once contained (ἡ πόλις Μηδάβων, Le Quien, Oriens Christianus, 769-772). A large tank, columns, and other marks of former structures are still to be seen; the remains of a Roman road exist near the town, which seems formerly to have connected it with Heshbon. "Taken as a Hebrew word, Me-deba means ‘ waters' of quiet; but, except the above tank, what waters can there ever have been on that high plain ? The Arabic name, though similar in sound, has a different signification."

The plain (מַישׁוֹר ) from Medeba to Dibon, given in Joshua 13:9 as the southern portion of the territory of the Amorites, is the modern Belka, a fertile tract thus described by Raumer (Palastina, p. 70): " Southwards from Rabbath Ammon as far as the Arnon the country is mostly table-land, in some places for a considerable distance without a tree, but covered with the ruins of cities that have been destroyed. Towards the east it stretches away into the desert of Arabia, and on the west it slopes away to the Jordan." The part of this plateau here referred to is elsewhere (Numbers 21:20) called, after its former inhabitants, "the field of Moab," or (Numbers 23:14) " the field of the watchmen" (comp. Hengstenberg, Bileam, p. 241, 243). (See Mishor).