Joshua 13:17

17. Heshbon The ancient capital of Sihon, king of the Amorites. See on Numbers 21:26-28. Its ruins, some twenty miles east of the Jordan at the spot where it empties into the Dead Sea, still bear the name of Hesban. It was on the summit and sides of a low hill that rises from the undulating plain, and commands a wide prospect. After its capture by the Israelites it was rebuilt by the tribe of Reuben, (Numbers 32:37,) and afterwards assigned to the Levites. Joshua 21:39.

Dibon A city three miles north of the Arnon, captured and occupied by the Israelites after they defeated Sihon. Numbers 21:30. It was rebuilt by the tribe of Gad, and called Dibon-gad. Numbers 32:34; Numbers 33:45. In Isaiah 15:9, it is called Dimon. It is identified with extensive ruins still bearing the name of Diban. Both Medeba and Dibon are mentioned on the famous Moabite stone recently discovered near this place. See note on 1 Kings 16:23.

Bamoth-baal That is, high places of Baal, so called, probably, because it had been a noted place of Baal worship. Knobel regards this place as identical with the modern Jebel Attarus, a mountain a few miles northwest of Dibon, but the true site of the place is as yet only a matter of conjecture.

Bethbaal-meon Called also Baal-meon (Numbers 32:38) and Beon. Numbers 32:3. It was evidently also associated with the worship of Baal. Its ruins are found in the modern Main, a few miles southwest of Medeba and a little north of the Wady Zerka.