Places of the Bible
Medeba
Waters of quiet, an ancient Moabite town ([Num. 21:30](/num#Num.21.30)). It was assigned to the tribe of Reuben ([Josh. 13:16](/josh#Josh.13.16)). Here was fought the great battle in which Joab defeated the Ammonites and their allies ([1 Chr. 19:7-15](/1chr#1Chr.19.7); comp. [2 Sam. 10:6-14](/2sam#2Sam.10.6)). 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.”
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.”