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MEPHAATH

(Heb. mêpaʿaṯ)

A town in central Transjordan located within the border region between Ammon and Moab. Originally an Amorite city, it later fell within the territory allotted to the Reubenites (Josh. 13:18) and was eventually assigned to the Merarite Levites (21:37; 1 Chr. 6:79[MT 64]). By the time of Jeremiah, Mephaath had come under Moabite jurisdiction (Jer. 48:21). Eusebius mentions that in later times a Roman military camp was stationed there (Onom. 128.21).

Although many scholars have identified Mephaath with Tell Jâwah (239140; 10 km. [6 mi.] S of Amman) because of its proximity to a town which seems to retain a corrupted form of the name (Khirbet Nefaʾah), geographical considerations as well as recent archaeological finds suggest a location further south at Umm er-Raṣaṣ (237101). Josh. 13:18; Jer. 48:21 strongly indicate that Mephaath was located on the Mishor (“plain”). The line of demarcation between the hill country S of Amman and the plain (the northern portion of which is called the Madaba Plain) is quite distinctive and abrupt. Neither Tell Jâwah nor Khirbet Nefaʾah is located on the plain. Also, excavations at Tell Jâwah indicate that the material culture of this site during Iron II is distinctively Ammonite, while Jer. 48:21 would suggest that a Moabite material culture would be expected. Umm er-Raṣaṣ is not only located on the Moabite Plateau (30 km. [18.5 mi. S of Amman), but has yielded Iron II pottery, which would correspond to Moabite occupation. A mosaic in the floor of the 8th-century c.e. Church of St. Stephen preserves the name, Kastron Mefaa. It was apparently this site to which Eusebius referred (Mephaat; Onom. 128.21). When all of the evidence is taken together, Umm er-Raṣaṣ appears to be the best candidate for Mephaath.

Randall W. Younker

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MEPHAATH

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)