Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

CITY OF MOAB

A site vaguely noted in the narrative of Balaam and Balak (Num. 22:36; NRSV “Ir-Moab”; NIV “the Moabite town”). It is described as on the Arnon border, on the (northern) boundary of Balak’s territory. Given the current evidence, any attempt to link a specific place name with the town that held such important status in Balak’s day must remain speculative. Nevertheless, if “the city of Moab” is identified as “Ar of Moab” (Num. 21:28; Isa. 15:1), a number of possibilities exist — e.g., Rabbah (ancient Ar/Areopolis/Rabbath-moab), Karak (Kir/Kir-hareseth), Khirbet el-Misnaʿ (NE of Rabbah), Khirbet el-Medeineh (in the northeast region of Moab), and Khirbet el-Bālūʿ (NE of Qasr). All of these sites are located S of Wadi el-Môjib (Arnon), but most are too far from this canyon to be regarded as near Moab’s border. Scholars have often identified “the city of Moab” with Ar (Num. 21:15; Deut. 2:18), but Khirbet el-Bālūʿ is the most likely option because of its location, size, and history of occupation (i.e., evidence of Late Bronze and Iron Age settlement).

Bibliography. J. M. Miller, “The Israelite Journey through (around) Moab and Moabite Toponymy,” JBL 108 (1989): 577-95.

Gerald L. Mattingly

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

CITY OF MOAB

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)