Biblical places
Heshbon
Capital of the Amorite king Sihon; Israel's victory over him here inspired a celebratory song (Numbers 21:26-30). Traditionally identified with Tell Hesban, though the lack of clear Late Bronze/Early Iron Age strata leads some scholars to propose nearby alternatives.
Sources and location confidence
- Location confidence
- High
- Tell Hesban
- 31.8000, 35.8000
The traditional identification is Tell Hesban, but some scholars object due to the absence of an occupation layer corresponding to Sihon's era, so it is marked 'high' confidence.
Related Bible passages
These are selected indexed references, not an exhaustive list of every mention in the Bible.
Numbers 21:25
And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.
Deuteronomy 1:4
After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei:
Joshua 9:10
And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
Judges 11:19
And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place.
1 Chronicles 6:81
And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs.
Nehemiah 9:22
Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
Song of Solomon 7:4
Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.
Isaiah 15:4
And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him.