“Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamoth-baal, and Beth-baal-meon,”
Context:The verse is part of a larger passage in the book of Joshua that describes the division of the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel. After the death of Moses, Joshua led the Israelites in conquering various territories and distributing them as inheritance to the twelve tribes of Israel. In this particular verse, the territory of the Reubenites is being described.
Heshbon:Heshbon was an important city in ancient times located east of the Jordan River. It was originally inhabited by the Amorites and was later captured by the Israelites under Moses’ leadership (Numbers 21:26-30). Heshbon is mentioned in several other places in the Bible as well.
Cities in the plain:The verse mentions that Heshbon is part of a region that includes other cities situated in the plain. This suggests that Heshbon was not the only city in that area and that it had neighbouring settlements. The specific cities mentioned, such as Dibon and Beth-baal-meon, were also part of the inheritance of the Reubenites.
Dibon:Dibon was another city in the land of Moab. It was conquered by the Israelites and allotted to the tribe of Reuben (Numbers 32:34). Dibon is mentioned in various other Old Testament passages, often in relation to its conquest or destruction.
Bamoth-baal:Bamoth-baal was a place associated with the Moabite territory and was part of the inheritance of the Reubenites. It is mentioned elsewhere in the Bible as a place of significance in the region (Numbers 21:19; Numbers 22:41).
Beth-baal-meon:Beth-baal-meon, also known as Baal-meon, was an ancient city located east of the Jordan River. It was allotted to the tribe of Reuben as their inheritance (Joshua 21:37). The name “Baal-meon” suggests a connection to the worship of Baal, a pagan deity that was prevalent in the region.
Overall, Joshua 13:17 provides geographical details about the territory of the Reubenites, including the cities of Heshbon, Dibon, Bamoth-baal, and Beth-baal-meon. These cities were part of the inheritance given to the tribe of Reuben as they possessed the land. The verse gives us a glimpse into the historical context and the division of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel.
