Geographical and Historical Context:

Dibon, an ancient city located east of the Jordan River, is situated in the region historically known as Moab. Today, it is identified with the archaeological site of Dhiban in modern-day Jordan. The city is strategically positioned on the King's Highway, an ancient trade route that connected the region with the broader Near Eastern world. Dibon's location made it a significant center for commerce and military activity throughout its history.

Biblical References:

Dibon is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, primarily in the context of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land and the territorial disputes between Israel and Moab. In Numbers 21:30, Dibon is referenced in a victory song celebrating Israel's conquest over the Amorites: "But we have overthrown them; Heshbon is destroyed as far as Dibon; we have demolished them as far as Nophah, which reaches to Medeba" .

The city is also noted in the allotment of land to the tribes of Israel. In Numbers 32:3, the tribes of Reuben and Gad request the lands of Jazer and Gilead, including Dibon, for their inheritance: "Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon" . Later, in Numbers 32:34, the Reubenites rebuild Dibon: "And the sons of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer" .

In Isaiah 15:2, Dibon is mentioned in a prophecy against Moab, highlighting its significance and the impending judgment: "Dibon goes up to its temple, to its high places to weep; Moab wails over Nebo and Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off" . This passage underscores the city's religious importance and its role in Moabite worship practices.

Archaeological Insights:

The archaeological site of Dhiban has yielded significant findings that illuminate the historical and cultural context of ancient Dibon. Excavations have uncovered remnants of fortifications, pottery, and inscriptions, including the famous Mesha Stele. This stele, discovered in 1868, is a Moabite stone inscription that provides a parallel account to the biblical narrative, detailing King Mesha of Moab's rebellion against Israel. The stele corroborates the biblical account of Moabite-Israelite interactions and offers insights into the language, religion, and politics of the time.

Cultural and Religious Significance:

Dibon was not only a political and military hub but also a center of religious activity. The city's high places, mentioned in Isaiah 15:2, indicate the presence of altars or temples dedicated to the worship of Moabite deities, such as Chemosh. The religious practices in Dibon reflect the broader Moabite culture, which often stood in contrast to the monotheistic worship of Yahweh by the Israelites.

Theological Implications:

The biblical narrative surrounding Dibon highlights themes of divine judgment, covenant, and the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. The city's repeated mention in the context of Israel's conquests and territorial claims underscores the fulfillment of God's promise to give the land to the descendants of Abraham. Additionally, the prophetic declarations against Moab, including Dibon, serve as a reminder of God's sovereignty over all nations and His ultimate authority in executing justice.

Dibon's account, as recorded in the Bible, serves as a testament to the historical realities of the ancient Near East and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through His chosen people, Israel.Dibon

abundance of knowledge

Dibon

(wasting).

1. A town on the east side of Jordan, in the rich pastoral country, which was taken possession of and rebuilt by the children of Gad. (Numbers 32:3,34) From this circumstance it possibly received the name of DIBON-GAD. (Numbers 33:45,46) Its first mention is in (Numbers 21:30) and from this it appears to have belonged originally to the Moabites. We find Dibon counted to Reuben in the lists of Joshua. (Joshua 13:9,17) In the time of Isaiah and Jeremiah, however, it was again in possession of Moab. (Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 48:18,22) comp. Jere 48:24 In modern times the name Dhiban has been discovered as attached to extensive ruins on the Roman road, about three miles north of the Arnon (Wady Modjeb).
2. One of the towns which were reinhabited by the men of Judah after the return from captivity, (Nehemiah 11:25) identical with DIMONAH.

Dibon

DIMON, Isaiah 15:9, and DI-BON-GAD, Numbers 33:45,46, a town of Gad, Numbers 32:34, but afterwards of Reuben, Joshua 13:17. It lay in a plain just north of the Arnon, and was the first encampment of the Israelites upon crossing that river. Later we find it in the hands of the Moabites, Isaiah 15:2 Jeremiah 48:22. Traces of it remain at a place now called Diban.

Pining; wasting.

(1.) A city in Moab (Numbers 21:30); called also Dibon-gad (33:45), because it was built by Gad and Dimon (Isaiah 15:9). It has been identified with the modern Diban, about 3 miles north of the Arnon and 12 miles east of the Dead Sea. (see Moabite Stone.)

(2.) A city of the tribe of Judah, inhabited after the Captivity (Nehemiah 11:25); called also Dimonah (Joshua 15:22). It is probably the modern ed-Dheib.

DIBON; DIBON-GAD

di'-bon (dibhon, "washing"; Daibon):

(1) A city of Moab captured by the Amorites (Numbers 21:30), and held by them at the invasion by Israel. It was taken and given to the tribe of Gad, whence it is called Dibon-gad (Numbers 32:34; Numbers 33:45). In Joshua 13:17 it is reckoned to Reuben. Along with other cities in the territory North of the Arnon, Dibon changed hands several times between Moab and Israel. Mesha claims it (MS), and in Jeremiah 48:18, 22 it is named among the cities of Moab. The form of the name, Dimon, in Isaiah 15:9, may have been given to make it resemble the Hebrew dam, "blood," to support the play upon words in the verse (HDB, under the word). It is represented by the modern Dhiban, about 4 miles North of Aroer (`Ara`ir), on the line of the old Roman road. The ruins that spread over two adjacent knolls are of no importance: walls, a tower, cistern, etc. Near Dibon the famous Moabite Stone was found.

(2) A town in Judah, occupied after the exile (Nehemiah 11:25). It may be the same as Dimonah (Joshua 15:22); unidentified.

W. Ewing

1769. Dibon -- a city in Moab, also a place in Judah
Dibon or Dibon. 1768, 1769. Dibon or Dibon. 1770 . a city in Moab, also
a place in Judah. Transliteration: Dibon or Dibon Phonetic ...
/hebrew/1769.htm - 6k

1410. Gad -- a son of Jacob, also his tribe and its territory ...
... Word Origin perhaps from Gad Definition a son of Jacob, also his tribe and its
territory, also a prophet NASB Word Usage Dibon-gad* (2), Gad (71). Gad. ...
/hebrew/1410.htm - 6k

1776. Dimonah -- a place in Judah
... Dimonah. Word Origin of uncertain derivation, see also Dibon Definition a place
in Judah NASB Word Usage Dimonah (1). Dimonah. Feminine ...
/hebrew/1776.htm - 6k

1775. Dimon -- a city in Moab
... Definition: Dimon. Word Origin of uncertain derivation, see also Dibon Definition
a city in Moab NASB Word Usage Dimon (2). Dimon. Perhaps ...
/hebrew/1775.htm - 6k

Perea. Beyond Jordan.
... &c. "The plain of it was Heshbon, with all its cities, which are in the
plain, Dibon, and Bamoth-Baal, and Beth-Baal-Meon," &c. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 91 perea beyond jordan.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... He has left us a record of his victories, the so-called Moabite Stone, which
was discovered among the ruins of his capital, Dibon. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

The Early Training of a Race.
... commanding heights or natural fortresses. The important towns, like Dibon and
Heshbon, lay on slightly rising hills. The character of the ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study xi the early training.htm

Chapter xiv
... miles southeast of Mt. Attarus and 6?? miles north-northwest from Dibon seems
to serve pretty well as identification. This would be ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiv.htm

Appendices
... took. 20. to add to it Dibon. I ... ruins. 27. [And all the chiefs] of Dibou were
fifty, for all Dibon was subject (to me); and I placed. 28.100 ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... Jeroboam made a furious onslaught upon its cities"Ar of Moab, Kir of Moab, Dibon,
Medeba, Heshbon, Elealeh"and destroyed them all in succession. ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Dibon (12 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Pining; wasting. (1.) A city in Moab (Numbers 21:30);
called also Dibon-gad (33:45 ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DIBON; DIBON-GAD. ...
/d/dibon.htm - 12k

Dibon-gad (2 Occurrences)
Dibon-gad. Dibongad, Dibon-gad. Dibri . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DIBON; DIBON-GAD. di'-bon (dibhon, "washing"; Daibon ...
/d/dibon-gad.htm - 8k

Dibongad (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia DIBON; DIBON-GAD. ... It was taken and given to the
tribe of Gad, whence it is called Dibon-gad (Numbers 32:34; Numbers 33:45). ...
/d/dibongad.htm - 8k

Ataroth (7 Occurrences)
... It is named along with Dibon, which is identified with Dhiban. Eight miles
Northeast by North of Dibon, on the South of Wady Zerqa ...
/a/ataroth.htm - 10k

Medeba (5 Occurrences)
... This city is first mentioned along with Heshbon and Dibon in an account of Israel's
conquests (Numbers 21:30). ... Heshbon has perished even to Dibon. ...
/m/medeba.htm - 12k

Moabite (13 Occurrences)
... Moabite Stone. A basalt stone, bearing an inscription by King Mesha, which was
discovered at Dibon by Klein, a German missionary at Jerusalem, in 1868. ...
/m/moabite.htm - 23k

Diblathaim (3 Occurrences)
... Diblathaim (3 Occurrences). Numbers 33:46 They traveled from Dibon Gad, and encamped
in Almon Diblathaim. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/d/diblathaim.htm - 7k

Stone (290 Occurrences)
... A monument erected at Dibon (Dhiban) by Mesha, king of Moab (2 Kings 3:4, 5), to
commemorate his successful revolt from Israel and his conquest of Israelite ...
/s/stone.htm - 54k

Nebo (13 Occurrences)
... against Moab, Isaiah names it along with Medeba (Isaiah 15:2) and Jeremiah with
Kiriathaim (Jeremiah 48:1), and again (Jeremiah 48:22) between Dibon and Beth ...
/n/nebo.htm - 17k

Heshbon (37 Occurrences)
... Arnon. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Numbers 21:30 We
have shot at them. Heshbon has perished even to Dibon. We ...
/h/heshbon.htm - 22k

Who were the Moabites? | GotQuestions.org

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