Medeba

Medeba, a city in Moab captured by the Israelites (Numbers 21:30; Joshua 13:9, 16), later a site of battle between the Ammonites and David's army (1Ch 19:7).

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).

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.

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.”