Medeba

H12 on the Map

Medeba, Madaba. (medeba; "water of quiet"). A city of great antiquity in Moab (Num 21:30), belonging to Reuben (Josh 13:16). It was a sanctuary of the Moabites in the days of Ahaz and was named as one of the cities of Moab in the prophetic curse recorded in Isa 15:2. When the Ammonites were defeated by Joab they found refuge in Medeba (1 Chron 19:1-15). The ruins, are located about 18 miles E of the Dead Sea. In the Christian era Medeba was a bishopric. Most important of the discoveries was a 6th century Byzantine floor mosaic discovered in the Greek Orthodox church at Medeba late in the nineteenth century when a new church was being constructed at the site. Though much of it was destroyed, the section representing Jerusalem remains intact. Several 6th-7th cent. A.D. churches, whose floors survive; one includes famous mosaic map. The map has now been incorporated into the pavement of the church.

Num. 21:30; Josh. 13:9, 16; 1 Chr. 19:7; Isa. 15:2.