Reference: Rabbah
Easton
or Rab'bath, great. (1.) "Rabbath of the children of Ammon," the chief city of the Ammonites, among the eastern hills, some 20 miles east of the Jordan, on the southern of the two streams which united with the Jabbok. Here the bedstead of Og was preserved (De 3:11), perhaps as a trophy of some victory gained by the Ammonites over the king of Bashan. After David had subdued all their allies in a great war, he sent Joab with a strong force to take their city. For two years it held out against its assailants. It was while his army was engaged in this protracted siege that David was guilty of that deed of shame which left a blot on his character and cast a gloom over the rest of his life. At length, having taken the "royal city" (or the "city of waters," 2Sa 12:27, i.e., the lower city on the river, as distinguished from the citadel), Joab sent for David to direct the final assault (2Sa 11:1; 12:26-31). The city was given up to plunder, and the people were ruthlessly put to death, and "thus did he with all the cities of the children of Ammon." The destruction of Rabbath was the last of David's conquests. His kingdom now reached its farthest limits (2Sa 8:1-15; 1Ch 18:1-15). The capture of this city is referred to by Amos (Am 1:14), Jeremiah (Jer 49:2-3), and Ezekiel (Eze 21:20; 25:5).
(2.) A city in the hill country of Judah (Jos 15:60), possibly the ruin Rubba, six miles north-east of Beit-Jibrin.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
For only Og, king Of Bashan, remained from the remnant of the Rephaims; behold, his bed, a bed of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the sons of Ammon? nine cubits its length and four cubits its breadth, according to the cubit of a man.
The city of Baal, (this the City of Forests) and Rabbah; two cities and their enclosures:
And it will be after this, and David will strike the rovers and subdue them: and David will take the bridle of the metropolis out of the hand of the rovers. And he will smite Moab, and measure them with a cord, laying them down upon the earth; and he will measure with two cords to put to death, and a full cord to save alive. And Moab will be to David for servants, lifting up gifts. read more. And David will strike Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah, in his going to turn back his hand upon the river. And David will take from him a thousand, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David will destroy all the chariots, and he will leave from them a hundred chariots. And Aram of Damascus will come to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, and David will strike of Aram twenty and two thousand men. And David will put garrisons in Aram of Damascus: and Aram will be to David for servants, lifting up gifts. And Jehovah saved David in all which he went And David will take the shields of gold which were upon the servants of Hadadezer, and he will bring them to Jerusalem. And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass. And Toi, king of Hamath will hear that David smote all the strength of Hadadezer; And Toi will send Joram his son to king David to ask him for peace and to bless him, because he fought with Hadadezer and struck him; (for Hadadezer was a man of war with Toi.) And in his hand were vessels of silver and vessels of gold and vessels of brass: Also king David consecrated them to Jehovah with the silver and the gold, which he consecrated from all the nations which he subdued: From Aram, and from Moab, and from the sons of Ammon, and from the rovers, and from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. And David will make a name in his turning back from his smiting Aram in the valley of salt, eighteen thousand. And he will put garrisons in Edom; in all Edom he put garrisons, and all Edom will be servants to David. And Jehovah will save David in all which he went And David will reign over all Israel; and David will be doing judgment and justice to all his people.
And it will be at the return of the year, at the time of the going forth of kings, and David will send Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they will destroy the sons of Ammon, and they will watch closely against Rabbah And David will dwell in Jerusalem.
And Joab will fight against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and he will take the city of the kingdom. And Joab will send messengers to David, and say, I fought against Rabbah, also I took the city of waters.
And Joab will send messengers to David, and say, I fought against Rabbah, also I took the city of waters. And now gather together the rest of the people and encamp against the city, and take it, lest I shall take the city, and my name was called upon it read more. And David will gather all the people together and go to Rabbah, and war against it and take it And he will take the crown of their king from his head; and its weight a talent of gold and a precious stone; and it will be upon David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city exceeding much. And the people which were in it he brought forth, and he will put at the saw and at the threshing-sledge of iron, and at axes of iron, and caused them to pass over through the brick-kiln: and thus he will do to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. And David will turn back, and all the people, to Jerusalem.
For this, behold, the days coming, says Jehovah, and I caused to be heard the alarm of war to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon; and it was for a heap of desolation, and her daughters shall be burned with fire; and Israel shall inherit those inheriting him, says Jehovah. Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai was laid waste: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird yourselves with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro in the walled places; for their king shall go into captivity, his priests and his chiefs together.
Thou shalt set the way for the sword to come to Rabbath of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.
And I gave Rabbah for a rest of camels, and the sons of Ammon for a place of lying down of sheep, and ye knew that I am Jehovah.
And I kindled a fire in the walls of Rabbah, and it devoured her palaces with a loud noise in the day of war, with a storm in the day of whirlwind:
Fausets
("greatness of size or numbers".)
1. Ammon's chief city, its only city named in Scripture, in contrast to the more civilized Moab's numerous cities (De 3:11; 2Sa 12:26; 17:27; Jer 49:2; Eze 21:20). (See AMMON.) Conjectured to be the Ham of the Zuzim (Ge 14:5). After Hanun's insult Abishai and Joab defeated the allies Ammon and the Syrians of Bethrehob, Zoba, Ishtob, and Maachah (2 Samuel 10). The following year David in person defeated the Syrians at Helam. Next, Joab with the whole army and the king's bodyguard (including Uriah: 2Sa 23:39) besieged Ammon (11/type/juliasmith'>2 Samuel 11; 1 Chronicles 19; 20). The ark apparently accompanied the camp (2Sa 11:11), a rare occurrence (1Sa 4:3-6); but perhaps what is meant is only that the ark at Jerusalem was "in a tent" (2Sa 7:2,6) as was the army at Rabbah under Jehovah the Lord of the ark, therefore Uriah would not go home to his house.
The siege lasted nearly two years, from David's first connection with Bathsheba to the birth of Solomon. The Ammonites made unsuccessful sallies (2Sa 11:17). Joab finally took the lower town, which, from the stream rising in it and flowing through it perennially, is called "the city of waters," and from the king's palace "the royal city." Then in a characteristic speech, half jest half earnest (2Sa 12:28, compare 2Sa 19:6-7), which shows the power he had gained over David through David's secret and wicked commission (2Sa 11:14-15), he invited David to crown the capture by taking the citadel lest if he (Joab) took it, it should be called after his name. Josephus (Ant. 7:7, section 5) says the fortress had but one well, inadequate to supply the wants of its crowded occupants. (On its capture by David, and his putting the people under saws and harrows to cut them in pieces in retaliation for their cruelties, see DAVID, also Jg 1:7; 1Sa 11:2.)
Amos (Am 1:14) speaks of its "wall" and "palaces" and "king" (perhaps Moloch) about to be judged by God. So also Jer 49:2-3. Nebuchadnezzar attacked Ammon because of Baalis their king having instigated Ishmael to slay Gedaliah the Chaldaean governor (Jer 40:14). See 1Ma 5:6 as to subsequent judgments on Ammon. Ezekiel (Eze 21:20) depicts Nebuchadnezzar's divination to decide whether he should attack Jerusalem or Rabbah the first. Jerusalem's fall should be followed by that of Rabbah (compare Josephus, Ant. 10:9, section 7). Under the Ptolemies Rabbah still continued of importance as supplying water for the journey across the desert, and was made a garrison for repelling the Bedouins of that quarter.
Ptolemy Philadelphus named it Philadelphia. Josephus (B. J. 3:3, section 3) includes Rabbah in Decapolis. Now Amman, on a tributary (Moiet Amman) of the Zerka river (Jabbok), 19 miles S.E. of Es Salt ("Ramoth Gilead"), 22 E. of Jordan. Its temple, theater, and forum are remarkable ruins. Eight Corinthian columns of the theater (the largest known in Syria) remain. It has become as foretold "a stable for camels, a couching place for flocks a desolate heap" (Eze 25:5). Its coins bear the image of Astarte, and the word Heracleion from Hercules the idol which succeeded Moloch. The large square stones of the citadel are put together without cement, the massive walls are evidently very ancient.
2. Rabbah of Moab, called in the Bible Ar, in the highlands S.E. of the Dead Sea.
3. Rabbah of Judah, near Kirjath Jearim (Jos 15:60).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and they shall smite the Rephaims in Ashtaroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim.
For only Og, king Of Bashan, remained from the remnant of the Rephaims; behold, his bed, a bed of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the sons of Ammon? nine cubits its length and four cubits its breadth, according to the cubit of a man.
The city of Baal, (this the City of Forests) and Rabbah; two cities and their enclosures:
And lord Bezek will say, Seventy kings with the thumbs of their hands and their feet being cut off, were gathering under my table; as I did so God requited me. And they will bring him to Jerusalem, and he will die there.
And the people will come to the camp, and the old men of Israel will, say, Wherefore did Jehovah smite us this day before Philisteim? We will take to us from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and it shall come into the midst of us and save us from the hand of our enemies. And the people will send to Shiloh, and they will lift up from thence the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of armies, sitting upon the Cherubims: and there the two sons of Eli with the ark of the covenant of God, Hophni and Phinehas. read more. And it will be when the ark of the covenant of Jehovah came to the camp, and all Israel will shout with great shouts, and the earth will be put in motion. And Philisteim will hear the voice of the shout, and they will say, What the voice of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? and they knew that the ark of Jehovah came into the camp.
And the king will say to Nathan the prophet, See now, me dwelling in a house of cedars, and the ark of God dwelling in midst of the curtains.
For I dwelt not in a house from the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt even to this day, and I shall be going in a tent and in a dwelling.
And Uriah will say to David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, dwell in tents; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamping upon the face of the field; and shall I come into my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? Thee living and thy soul living, if I shall do this word.
And it will be in the morning, and David will write a letter to Joab, and send by the hand of Uriah. And he will write in the letter: saying, Bring in Uriah to the front of the face of the strong battle, and turn ye back from after him, and he shall be smitten and die.
And the men of the city will go forth and fight with Joab: and there will fall of the people from the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite also will die.
And now gather together the rest of the people and encamp against the city, and take it, lest I shall take the city, and my name was called upon it
To love those hating thee, and hating those loving thee, for thou announcedst this day that not to the chiefs and servants: for I knew this day that if Absalom lived and all we this day died, that then it was straight in thine eyes. And now arise, go forth, and speak to the heart of thy servants: for in Jehovah I swore if thou wilt not go forth, if a man shall lodge with thee this night: and this evil to thee above all the evil which came upon thee from thy youth till now
And they will say to him, Knowing, wilt thou know that Baalis, king of the sons of Ammon sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to strike thee in soul? And Gedaliah son of Ahikam believed not in them.
For this, behold, the days coming, says Jehovah, and I caused to be heard the alarm of war to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon; and it was for a heap of desolation, and her daughters shall be burned with fire; and Israel shall inherit those inheriting him, says Jehovah.
For this, behold, the days coming, says Jehovah, and I caused to be heard the alarm of war to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon; and it was for a heap of desolation, and her daughters shall be burned with fire; and Israel shall inherit those inheriting him, says Jehovah. Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai was laid waste: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird yourselves with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro in the walled places; for their king shall go into captivity, his priests and his chiefs together.
Thou shalt set the way for the sword to come to Rabbath of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.
Thou shalt set the way for the sword to come to Rabbath of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.
And I gave Rabbah for a rest of camels, and the sons of Ammon for a place of lying down of sheep, and ye knew that I am Jehovah.
And I kindled a fire in the walls of Rabbah, and it devoured her palaces with a loud noise in the day of war, with a storm in the day of whirlwind:
Hastings
1. The capital city of the Ammonites (wh. see). Rabbah was situated on the upper Jabbok on the site of the modern 'Amm
See Verses Found in Dictionary
For only Og, king Of Bashan, remained from the remnant of the Rephaims; behold, his bed, a bed of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the sons of Ammon? nine cubits its length and four cubits its breadth, according to the cubit of a man.
And their bound shall be to them, Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the sons of Ammon, even to Aroer, which is upon the face of Rabbah;
The city of Baal, (this the City of Forests) and Rabbah; two cities and their enclosures:
And it will be at the return of the year, at the time of the going forth of kings, and David will send Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they will destroy the sons of Ammon, and they will watch closely against Rabbah And David will dwell in Jerusalem.
And he will write in the letter: saying, Bring in Uriah to the front of the face of the strong battle, and turn ye back from after him, and he shall be smitten and die.
And Joab will fight against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and he will take the city of the kingdom.
And Joab will fight against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and he will take the city of the kingdom. And Joab will send messengers to David, and say, I fought against Rabbah, also I took the city of waters.
And Joab will send messengers to David, and say, I fought against Rabbah, also I took the city of waters. And now gather together the rest of the people and encamp against the city, and take it, lest I shall take the city, and my name was called upon it read more. And David will gather all the people together and go to Rabbah, and war against it and take it
And David will gather all the people together and go to Rabbah, and war against it and take it
And it will be as David went to Mahanaim, and Shobi, son of Nahash of Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and Machir son of Ammiel of Lo-Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
And it will be at the time of the return of the year, at the time of the going forth of kings, and Joab will lead the power of the army, and he will destroy the land of the sons of Ammon, and he will come and press upon Rabbah: and David dwelt in Jerusalem. And Joab will strike Rabbah and destroy it
For this, behold, the days coming, says Jehovah, and I caused to be heard the alarm of war to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon; and it was for a heap of desolation, and her daughters shall be burned with fire; and Israel shall inherit those inheriting him, says Jehovah.
Thou shalt set the way for the sword to come to Rabbath of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.
And I gave Rabbah for a rest of camels, and the sons of Ammon for a place of lying down of sheep, and ye knew that I am Jehovah.
And I kindled a fire in the walls of Rabbah, and it devoured her palaces with a loud noise in the day of war, with a storm in the day of whirlwind:
Morish
Rab'bah Rabbath. Rab'bath
1. The fortified capital of the Ammonites. It was not included in the cities taken by the tribes on the east of the Jordan. De 3:11; Jos 13:25. Joab, however, attacked it, and, during its siege, Uriah, by the instigation of David, lost his life. The city was eventually taken and destroyed. 2Sa 11:1; 12:26-29; 17:27; 1Ch 20:1. Subsequently, when the strength of Israel was broken, it appears to have recovered itself, for we find its doom announced in the prophets. Jer 49:2-3; Eze 21:20; 25:5; Am 1:14. Identified with Amman 31 57' N, 35 57' E. There are many ruins on the site, but they are judged to belong to the Roman period, when a city, called Philadelphia, was built there. A stream rises in the midst of the city, and this fact, together with its being the last place to obtain water for crossing the desert, doubtless was the cause of its being called 'the city of waters.' 2Sa 12:27.
2. City of Judah, near Kirjath-jearim. Jos 15:60. Identified by some with ruins at Rubba, 31 40' N, 34 58' E.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
For only Og, king Of Bashan, remained from the remnant of the Rephaims; behold, his bed, a bed of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the sons of Ammon? nine cubits its length and four cubits its breadth, according to the cubit of a man.
And their bound shall be to them, Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the sons of Ammon, even to Aroer, which is upon the face of Rabbah;
The city of Baal, (this the City of Forests) and Rabbah; two cities and their enclosures:
And it will be at the return of the year, at the time of the going forth of kings, and David will send Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they will destroy the sons of Ammon, and they will watch closely against Rabbah And David will dwell in Jerusalem.
And Joab will fight against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and he will take the city of the kingdom. And Joab will send messengers to David, and say, I fought against Rabbah, also I took the city of waters.
And Joab will send messengers to David, and say, I fought against Rabbah, also I took the city of waters. And now gather together the rest of the people and encamp against the city, and take it, lest I shall take the city, and my name was called upon it read more. And David will gather all the people together and go to Rabbah, and war against it and take it
And it will be as David went to Mahanaim, and Shobi, son of Nahash of Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and Machir son of Ammiel of Lo-Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
For this, behold, the days coming, says Jehovah, and I caused to be heard the alarm of war to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon; and it was for a heap of desolation, and her daughters shall be burned with fire; and Israel shall inherit those inheriting him, says Jehovah. Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai was laid waste: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird yourselves with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro in the walled places; for their king shall go into captivity, his priests and his chiefs together.
Thou shalt set the way for the sword to come to Rabbath of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.
And I gave Rabbah for a rest of camels, and the sons of Ammon for a place of lying down of sheep, and ye knew that I am Jehovah.
And I kindled a fire in the walls of Rabbah, and it devoured her palaces with a loud noise in the day of war, with a storm in the day of whirlwind:
Smith
Rab'bah
(great).
1. A very strong place on the east of the Jordan, and the chief city of the Ammonites. In five passages --
De 3:11; 2Sa 12:26; 17:27; Jer 49:2; Eze 21:20
--it is styled at length Rabbath of the Ammonites, or the children of Ammon; but elsewhere,
Jos 13:25; 2Sa 11:1; 12:27,29; 1Ch 20:1; Jer 49:3
simply Rabbah. When first named it is mentioned as containing the bed or sarcophagus of the giant Og.
De 3:11
David sent Joab to besiege Rabbah.
etc. Joab succeeded in capturing a portion of the place --the "city of waters," that is, the lower town so called from its containing the perennial stream which rises in and still flows through it. The citadel still remained to be taken, but this was secured shortly after David's arrival.
Long after, at the date of the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar,
it had walls and palaces. It is named in such terms as to imply that it was of equal importance with Jerusalem.
From Ptolemy Philadelphus (B.C. 285-247) it received the name of Philadelphia. It was one of the cities of the Decapolis, and became the seat of a Christian bishop. Its ruins, which are considerable are found at Ammon about 22 miles from the Jordan. It lies in a valley which is a branch, or perhaps the main course, of the Wady Zerka usually identified with the Jabbok. The public buildings are said to be Roman, except the citadel, which is described as of large square stones put together without cement, and which is probably more ancient than the rest.
2. A city of Judah named with Kirjath-jearim in
only. No trace of its existence has yet been discovered.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
For only Og, king Of Bashan, remained from the remnant of the Rephaims; behold, his bed, a bed of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the sons of Ammon? nine cubits its length and four cubits its breadth, according to the cubit of a man.
For only Og, king Of Bashan, remained from the remnant of the Rephaims; behold, his bed, a bed of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the sons of Ammon? nine cubits its length and four cubits its breadth, according to the cubit of a man.
And their bound shall be to them, Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the sons of Ammon, even to Aroer, which is upon the face of Rabbah;
The city of Baal, (this the City of Forests) and Rabbah; two cities and their enclosures:
And it will be at the return of the year, at the time of the going forth of kings, and David will send Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they will destroy the sons of Ammon, and they will watch closely against Rabbah And David will dwell in Jerusalem.
And the men of the city will go forth and fight with Joab: and there will fall of the people from the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite also will die.
And Joab will fight against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and he will take the city of the kingdom. And Joab will send messengers to David, and say, I fought against Rabbah, also I took the city of waters. read more. And now gather together the rest of the people and encamp against the city, and take it, lest I shall take the city, and my name was called upon it And David will gather all the people together and go to Rabbah, and war against it and take it And he will take the crown of their king from his head; and its weight a talent of gold and a precious stone; and it will be upon David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city exceeding much. And the people which were in it he brought forth, and he will put at the saw and at the threshing-sledge of iron, and at axes of iron, and caused them to pass over through the brick-kiln: and thus he will do to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. And David will turn back, and all the people, to Jerusalem.
For this, behold, the days coming, says Jehovah, and I caused to be heard the alarm of war to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon; and it was for a heap of desolation, and her daughters shall be burned with fire; and Israel shall inherit those inheriting him, says Jehovah.
For this, behold, the days coming, says Jehovah, and I caused to be heard the alarm of war to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon; and it was for a heap of desolation, and her daughters shall be burned with fire; and Israel shall inherit those inheriting him, says Jehovah. Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai was laid waste: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird yourselves with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro in the walled places; for their king shall go into captivity, his priests and his chiefs together.
Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai was laid waste: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird yourselves with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro in the walled places; for their king shall go into captivity, his priests and his chiefs together.
Thou shalt set the way for the sword to come to Rabbath of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.
Thou shalt set the way for the sword to come to Rabbath of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.