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Dibon (Dibon-Gad, Moabite City Near the Dead Sea)
Meaning
Dibon also called Dibon-Gad was a city located near the Dead Sea in the territory of the tribe of Gad. This was a Moabite city which figured prominently in Old Testament Biblical history. The city was located north of the Arnon River and east of the Dead Sea. This today is the modern nation of Jordan. Dibon was located just south of the modern city of Ammon. It was situated on the route called the King’s Highway. The King’s Highway stretched from Beersheba in the south near Egypt to the territory of Dan in the north which is modern day Syria. We have to remember the during the forty years of desert wanderings the Israelites ended up in what was today modern Jordan. They entered the Promise Land from east to west crossing the Jordan river from what is today Jordan into what is today Israel. As they did so the entire land was inhabited by several groups of people collectively referred to as Canaanites.
Among them was the nation of Moab who were collectively called the Moabites. The city of Dibon as a long history of activity and figures prominently in Bible history. In addition, many artifacts have been found from ancient Dibon. We remember that the wife of Moses was a Moabite. And if we remember our Biblical history, we recall the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Moab was the son of Lot, born of his oldest daughter. And the people of the nation of Moab were the descendants of Lot the nephew of Abraham. The Moabites because of their blood relationship with the Israelites should have defended and supported them. However, because of their sin, they instead chose to rebel against God and fight against the Israelites. The Moabites were eventually defeated for good by the Israelites who took control of all their cities including the city of Dibon. However, in Old Testament times before David became king, the city of Dibon changed ownership several times between Moab and Israel. One of the most famous kings of Dibon was Sihon who, along with Og king of Bashan were said to be giants.
“They departed from Oboth and camped at Ije Abarim, at the border of Moab. They departed from Ijim and camped at Dibon Gad. They moved from Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim. They moved from Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.” (Book of Numbers 33:44-47)
“The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying, ‘Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, and Beon, the country which the Lord defeated before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.’ Therefore they said, ‘If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us over the Jordan.'” (Book of Numbers 32:2-5)
“And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord strengthened Eglon king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord.” (Book of Judges 3:12)
“Then he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute.” (Book of 2nd Samuel 8:2)