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 of the remnant of the Giants: behold, his iron bed is yet at Rabbah, among the children of Ammon: nine cubits long and four cubits broad, of the cubits of a man.
Kiriathbaal, which is Kiriathjearim, and Harabbah: Two cities with their villages.
After that, David beat the Philistines and subdued them, and took the bridle of bondage out of their hands. And he beat the Moabites and measured them with a line, making them lie along the earth; so that he brought two parts of them to death, and let one part live. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and paid tribute. read more. David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as he went to make the end of his coasts at the river Euphrates. And David took a thousand and seven hundred horsemen of his, and twenty thousand footmen, and destroyed all his chariots - reserving one hundred of them. Then came the Syrians of Damascus to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah. And David slew of them two and twenty thousand men and put soldiers in Syria, Damascus. And the Syrians became servants to David paying tribute. And thus the LORD saved David in all that he went to. And David took the shields of gold that were upon the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. And thereto out of Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, he brought exceeding great abundance of brass. When Toi, king of Hamath, had heard how David had discomforted all the host of Hadadezer, he sent Joram his son unto king David to salute him with peace and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and beaten him - for Toi kept war with Hadadezer - which son brought vessels of silver, gold and of brass with him. And them also King David did dedicate unto the LORD with the silver and gold that he consecrated of all nations which he subdued: of the Syrians, the Moabites, the children of Ammon, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. And David made him a name after he returned from the slaughter of the Syrians in the valley of salt where he slew eighteen thousand men. And he put keepers in Edom, even throughout all Edom put he soldiers; and all Edom became his servants. And the LORD kept David whatsoever he took in hand. And David reigned over all Israel and executed right and justice unto all his people.
And it came to pass in the beginning of a new year, in the times when kings are wont to go forth to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel. And they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
And as Joab fought against Rabbah, the city of the children of Ammon, he took the king's Tower, and sent messengers to David, saying, "I have made assault to Rabbah, and also have taken the castle from whence they had their water.
and sent messengers to David, saying, "I have made assault to Rabbah, and also have taken the castle from whence they had their water. Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and come and besiege the city and take it: lest if I take it, the victory be ascribed to me." read more. And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah and assaulted it and gat it. And he took the king's crown from off his head, which weighed a hundred weight of gold, and was set with precious stones. And David wore it on his head. And he brought out the spoil of the city in exceeding great abundance. And he brought out the people that was therein and sawed them and drew harrows of iron upon them, and shred some of them with shredding knives of iron, and thrust some into furnaces. And so he served all the cities of the children of Ammon. And then David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
Behold therefore, the time cometh, sayeth the LORD, that I will bring a noise of war into Rabbah of the Ammonites. And it shall be laid on a desolate heap, and her cities burnt up: and the Israelites shall be lords over those that had them in possession afore, sayeth the LORD. Heshbon shall mourn, for it shall be rooted out of the ground, sayeth the LORD. The cities of Rabbah shall cry out, and gird themselves with sackcloth. They shall mourn, and run about the walls; for their king shall be led away prisoner: yea his priests and princes with him.
Make thee a street, that the sword may come toward Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to the strong city of Jerusalem.
As for Rabbah, I will make of it a stall for camels, and of Ammon a sheepfold: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Therefore I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah, that shall consume her palaces: with a great cry, in the day of battle, in tempest and in the day of storm.
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/mstc'>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).
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Therefore in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, and smote the Giants in Ashteroth-Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Giants: behold, his iron bed is yet at Rabbah, among the children of Ammon: nine cubits long and four cubits broad, of the cubits of a man.
Kiriathbaal, which is Kiriathjearim, and Harabbah: Two cities with their villages.
Then Adonibezek said, "Three score and ten kings having their thumbs and great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table wherefore as I have done so God hath done to me again." And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.
And when the people were come into their tents, the elders of Israel said, "Wherefore hath the LORD beaten us this day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD, out of Shiloh unto us, and let it come among us and save us out of the hands of our enemies." And the people sent to Shiloh, and fetched from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts which dwelleth between the Cherubims. And there were the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas with the ark of the covenant of God. read more. And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the host, all Israel shouted a mighty shout, so that the earth rang again. When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout they said, "What meaneth the sound of this mighty shout in the host of the Hebrews?" And they understood how that the ark of the LORD was come into the host.
he said unto Nathan the prophet, "Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar trees, but the Ark of God dwelleth in the midst of curtains."
For I have not dwelt in any house since the time I brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, unto this day: but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
And Uriah said unto David, "The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in pavilions; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord lie in tents upon the flat earth - and should I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? By thy life and as sure as thy soul liveth, I will not do that thing."
Wherefore on the morrow David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. And he wrote in the letter saying, "Put Uriah in the forefront of the battle where it is most strong, and come back from him that he may be smitten to death."
And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And there were certain overthrown of the people and of the servants of David - and Uriah the Hittite died also.
Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and come and besiege the city and take it: lest if I take it, the victory be ascribed to me."
in that thou lovest thine enemies and hatest thy friends. Thou hast declared this day that thou carest neither for thy lords nor servants. For this day I do perceive, if Absalom had lived, and all we died this day, that then it had pleased thee well. Now therefore up and come out, and speak kindly unto thy servants, I swear by the LORD, except thou come out, there will not tarry one man with thee this night. And that will be worse unto thee, than all the evil that fell on thee from thine youth unto this hour."
"Knowest thou not that Baalis king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, to slay thee?" But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
Behold therefore, the time cometh, sayeth the LORD, that I will bring a noise of war into Rabbah of the Ammonites. And it shall be laid on a desolate heap, and her cities burnt up: and the Israelites shall be lords over those that had them in possession afore, sayeth the LORD.
Behold therefore, the time cometh, sayeth the LORD, that I will bring a noise of war into Rabbah of the Ammonites. And it shall be laid on a desolate heap, and her cities burnt up: and the Israelites shall be lords over those that had them in possession afore, sayeth the LORD. Heshbon shall mourn, for it shall be rooted out of the ground, sayeth the LORD. The cities of Rabbah shall cry out, and gird themselves with sackcloth. They shall mourn, and run about the walls; for their king shall be led away prisoner: yea his priests and princes with him.
Make thee a street, that the sword may come toward Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to the strong city of Jerusalem.
Make thee a street, that the sword may come toward Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to the strong city of Jerusalem.
As for Rabbah, I will make of it a stall for camels, and of Ammon a sheepfold: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Therefore I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah, that shall consume her palaces: with a great cry, in the day of battle, in tempest and in the day of storm.
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 of the remnant of the Giants: behold, his iron bed is yet at Rabbah, among the children of Ammon: nine cubits long and four cubits broad, of the cubits of a man.
And their coasts were Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that lieth before Rabbah;
Kiriathbaal, which is Kiriathjearim, and Harabbah: Two cities with their villages.
And it came to pass in the beginning of a new year, in the times when kings are wont to go forth to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel. And they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
And he wrote in the letter saying, "Put Uriah in the forefront of the battle where it is most strong, and come back from him that he may be smitten to death."
And as Joab fought against Rabbah, the city of the children of Ammon, he took the king's Tower,
And as Joab fought against Rabbah, the city of the children of Ammon, he took the king's Tower, and sent messengers to David, saying, "I have made assault to Rabbah, and also have taken the castle from whence they had their water.
and sent messengers to David, saying, "I have made assault to Rabbah, and also have taken the castle from whence they had their water. Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and come and besiege the city and take it: lest if I take it, the victory be ascribed to me." read more. And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah and assaulted it and gat it.
And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah and assaulted it and gat it.
And when David was come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash out of Rabbah, the city of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel out of Lodebar and Barzillai the Gileadite out of Rogelim,
And the year following about the time that kings go out a warfare, Joab carried out the army of the host and destroyed the country of the children of Ammon, and went and besieged Rabbah and destroyed it: But David bode at Jerusalem while Joab smote Rabbah and destroyed it.
Behold therefore, the time cometh, sayeth the LORD, that I will bring a noise of war into Rabbah of the Ammonites. And it shall be laid on a desolate heap, and her cities burnt up: and the Israelites shall be lords over those that had them in possession afore, sayeth the LORD.
Make thee a street, that the sword may come toward Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to the strong city of Jerusalem.
As for Rabbah, I will make of it a stall for camels, and of Ammon a sheepfold: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Therefore I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah, that shall consume her palaces: with a great cry, in the day of battle, in tempest and in the day of storm.
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 of the remnant of the Giants: behold, his iron bed is yet at Rabbah, among the children of Ammon: nine cubits long and four cubits broad, of the cubits of a man.
And their coasts were Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that lieth before Rabbah;
Kiriathbaal, which is Kiriathjearim, and Harabbah: Two cities with their villages.
And it came to pass in the beginning of a new year, in the times when kings are wont to go forth to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel. And they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
And as Joab fought against Rabbah, the city of the children of Ammon, he took the king's Tower, and sent messengers to David, saying, "I have made assault to Rabbah, and also have taken the castle from whence they had their water.
and sent messengers to David, saying, "I have made assault to Rabbah, and also have taken the castle from whence they had their water. Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and come and besiege the city and take it: lest if I take it, the victory be ascribed to me." read more. And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah and assaulted it and gat it.
And when David was come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash out of Rabbah, the city of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel out of Lodebar and Barzillai the Gileadite out of Rogelim,
Behold therefore, the time cometh, sayeth the LORD, that I will bring a noise of war into Rabbah of the Ammonites. And it shall be laid on a desolate heap, and her cities burnt up: and the Israelites shall be lords over those that had them in possession afore, sayeth the LORD. Heshbon shall mourn, for it shall be rooted out of the ground, sayeth the LORD. The cities of Rabbah shall cry out, and gird themselves with sackcloth. They shall mourn, and run about the walls; for their king shall be led away prisoner: yea his priests and princes with him.
Make thee a street, that the sword may come toward Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to the strong city of Jerusalem.
As for Rabbah, I will make of it a stall for camels, and of Ammon a sheepfold: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Therefore I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah, that shall consume her palaces: with a great cry, in the day of battle, in tempest and in the day of storm.
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 of the remnant of the Giants: behold, his iron bed is yet at Rabbah, among the children of Ammon: nine cubits long and four cubits broad, of the cubits of a man.
For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Giants: behold, his iron bed is yet at Rabbah, among the children of Ammon: nine cubits long and four cubits broad, of the cubits of a man.
And their coasts were Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that lieth before Rabbah;
Kiriathbaal, which is Kiriathjearim, and Harabbah: Two cities with their villages.
And it came to pass in the beginning of a new year, in the times when kings are wont to go forth to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel. And they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And there were certain overthrown of the people and of the servants of David - and Uriah the Hittite died also.
And as Joab fought against Rabbah, the city of the children of Ammon, he took the king's Tower, and sent messengers to David, saying, "I have made assault to Rabbah, and also have taken the castle from whence they had their water. read more. Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and come and besiege the city and take it: lest if I take it, the victory be ascribed to me." And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah and assaulted it and gat it. And he took the king's crown from off his head, which weighed a hundred weight of gold, and was set with precious stones. And David wore it on his head. And he brought out the spoil of the city in exceeding great abundance. And he brought out the people that was therein and sawed them and drew harrows of iron upon them, and shred some of them with shredding knives of iron, and thrust some into furnaces. And so he served all the cities of the children of Ammon. And then David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
Behold therefore, the time cometh, sayeth the LORD, that I will bring a noise of war into Rabbah of the Ammonites. And it shall be laid on a desolate heap, and her cities burnt up: and the Israelites shall be lords over those that had them in possession afore, sayeth the LORD.
Behold therefore, the time cometh, sayeth the LORD, that I will bring a noise of war into Rabbah of the Ammonites. And it shall be laid on a desolate heap, and her cities burnt up: and the Israelites shall be lords over those that had them in possession afore, sayeth the LORD. Heshbon shall mourn, for it shall be rooted out of the ground, sayeth the LORD. The cities of Rabbah shall cry out, and gird themselves with sackcloth. They shall mourn, and run about the walls; for their king shall be led away prisoner: yea his priests and princes with him.
Heshbon shall mourn, for it shall be rooted out of the ground, sayeth the LORD. The cities of Rabbah shall cry out, and gird themselves with sackcloth. They shall mourn, and run about the walls; for their king shall be led away prisoner: yea his priests and princes with him.
Make thee a street, that the sword may come toward Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to the strong city of Jerusalem.
Make thee a street, that the sword may come toward Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to the strong city of Jerusalem.