Topical Encyclopedia
1. Rehob as a City:Rehob is mentioned in the Bible as a city located in the northern part of ancient Canaan. It is often associated with the region of the tribe of Asher. The city is referenced in several passages, indicating its significance during the biblical period.
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Location and Territory: Rehob is described as being near the entrance to Hamath, a strategic location that marked the northern boundary of the Promised Land as described in
Numbers 13:21: "So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo-hamath."
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Tribal Allotment: In the division of the land among the tribes of Israel, Rehob was allotted to the tribe of Asher.
Joshua 19:28-30 lists Rehob among the cities within Asher's inheritance: "It went on to Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon. Then the boundary turned back toward Ramah and as far as the fortified city of Tyre. It turned toward Hosah and came out at the sea in the region of Achzib, Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob—twenty-two cities, along with their villages."
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Historical Context: Rehob's location near major trade routes and its proximity to other significant cities like Tyre and Sidon suggest it was an important urban center. Its mention in the context of the spies' exploration of Canaan highlights its role as a landmark in the northern extent of the land.
2. Rehob as a Personal Name:Rehob is also the name of several individuals in the Bible, indicating its use as a personal name during biblical times.
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Rehob, Father of Hadadezer: One notable figure is Rehob, the father of Hadadezer, king of Zobah. Hadadezer was a significant adversary of King David. In
2 Samuel 8:3, we read: "David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control along the Euphrates River."
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Military Conflicts: The mention of Rehob in the context of military conflicts underscores the political dynamics of the region during David's reign. The defeat of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, was part of David's broader campaign to establish Israelite dominance over neighboring territories.
3. Theological Significance:Rehob, both as a city and a personal name, reflects the broader themes of God's promises and the fulfillment of His covenant with Israel. The city's inclusion in the tribal allotments signifies the realization of God's promise to give the land of Canaan to the descendants of Abraham. The military victories over figures like Hadadezer, son of Rehob, demonstrate God's providence and support for Israel under David's leadership.
4. Archaeological Insights:While direct archaeological evidence for Rehob is limited, its identification with sites such as Tel Rehov in the Beth-Shean Valley provides some context for understanding its historical and cultural setting. Excavations in these areas have revealed insights into the Canaanite and Israelite periods, offering a glimpse into the life and times of the biblical Rehob.
5. Rehob in Biblical Narrative:Rehob's appearances in the biblical narrative, though brief, contribute to the larger account of Israel's conquest and settlement of the Promised Land. The city's mention alongside other significant locations underscores its role in the unfolding history of God's people as recorded in Scripture.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Rehobbreadth; space; extent
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Rehob- The father of Hadadezer king of Zobah, whom David smote at the Euphrates. (2 Samuel 8:3,12) (B.C. before 1043.)
- A Levite or family of Levites who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:11) (B.C. 410.)
- The northern limit of the exploration of the spies. (Numbers 13:21) Robinson fixes the position of Rehob as not far fromTell el-Kady andBanias .
- One of the towns allotted to Asher. (Joshua 19:28)
- Asher contained another Rehob, (Joshua 19:30) but the situation of these towns is unknown.
ATS Bible Dictionary
Rehob1. A Levitical city in Asher,Joshua 19:28; 21:31, on the northern border of the Holy Land, called also Beth-rehob, and lying in a valley south of Anti-Lebanon, not far north of Dan,Numbers 13:21; Jud 18:28. It was long governed by its own kings,Jude 1:31, but in the time of David was rendered tributary,2 Samuel 10:6,8,19. Some think there were two cities of this name in Asher.
2. The father of Hadadezer king of Zobah in Syria,2 Samuel 8:3.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Street; broad place.
(1.) The father of Hadadezer, king of Tobah (2 Samuel 8:3, 12).
(2.)Nehemiah 10:11.
(3.) The same, probably, as Beth-rehob (2 Samuel 10:6, 8;Judges 18:28), a place in the north of Palestine (Numbers 13:21). It is now supposed to be represented by the castle of Hunin, south-west of Dan, on the road from Hamath into Coele-Syria.
(4.) A town of Asher (Joshua 19:28), to the east of Zidon.
(5.) Another town of Asher (Joshua 19:30), kept possession of by the Canaanites (Judges 1:31).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
REHOBre'-hob (rechobh; Rhoob, Rhaab):
(1) Etymologically the word means "broad" and might be applied either to a road or a plain. Rehob is given (Numbers 13:21) as the northern limit of Israel as reached by the spies. This agrees with the position assigned to Beth-rehob in the narrative of the settlement of the Danites (Judges 18:28). It is mentioned again along with the kingdom of Zobah in connection with the wars of Saul (1 Samuel 14:47 Septuagint Lag.), and as having been associated with, Zobah and Maacah against David in the Ammonite war and as having been defeated by him (2 Samuel 10:6). Robinson sought to identify it with Hunin, but it hardly suits the references. Buhl (GAP, 240) following Thomson (LB, II, 547) seeks it at Paneas (modern Banias). This would suit all the requirements of the capital, Beth-rehob, which might then be the second Rehob, assigned as part of the territory of Sidon to the tribe Asher (Joshua 19:28, 30Judges 18:28). We must, however, assign to the kingdom of Rehob a territory extending from the settlements of the Danites to the "entering in of Hamath" or to Libo (modern Leboue), i.e. the Great Plain of Coele-Syria bounded by Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon and within the limits indicated.
(2) Two separate towns belonging to Asher (Joshua 19:28;Joshua 19:30). One of them was given to the Gershonite Levites (Joshua 21:31), and one is mentioned as remaining in the hands of the Canaanites (Judges 1:31).
(3) Father of Hadadezer, king of Aram Zobah, who was overwhelmed by David at the Euphrates (2 Samuel 8:3, 12).
(4) One of the Levites who sealed Nehemiah's covenant on the 24th Tishri, 444 B.C. (Nehemiah 10:11).
W. M. Christie
Strong's Hebrew
1050. Beth-rechob -- "place of a street," a place near Dan... "place of a street," a place near Dan. Transliteration: Beth-rechob Phonetic Spelling:
(bayth re-khobe') Short Definition: Beth-
rehob.
... Beth-
rehob.
...7340. Rechob -- places in Aram (Syria) and Pal., also an Aramean...
... in Aram (Syria) and Pal., also an Aramean (Syrian) and an Israelite. Transliteration:
Rechob or Rechob Phonetic Spelling: (rekh-obe') Short Definition:Rehob....
Library
Afraid of Giants
... Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.21. So they went up, and searched
the land from the wilderness of Zin untoRehob, as men come to Hamath.22....
Persistency in Wrong Doing.
... He at once sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty
thousand foot soldiers, and of King Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob...
'More than Conquerors through Him'
... 'And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering
in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and ofRehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah...
How David Brought under the Philistines, and the Moabites, and the...
... He then made war against Iadadezer, the son ofRehob, king of Sophene; [10] and
when he had joined battle with him at 'the river Euphrates, he destroyed twenty...
The Nations of the South-East
... One of them, Baasha, the son ofRehob, was, like Ahab of Samaria, an ally of Damascus
against the Assyrian invader, and we hear of two others, one of whom...
Appendices
... Here is the place where all the mighty warriors are seen. Be good enough to
look and see how Qina is situated, and tell me aboutRehob....
Thesaurus
Rehob (12 Occurrences)... (2.) Nehemiah 10:11. (3.) The same, probably, as Beth-
rehob (2 Samuel 10:6, 8; Judges
18:28), a place in the north of Palestine (Numbers 13:21).
...REHOB.
...Beth-rehob (2 Occurrences)
Beth-rehob. Bethrehob, Beth-rehob. Beth-re'hob . Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia BETH-REHOB. beth-re'-hob (beth-rechobh...
Aram-rehob
Aram-rehob. Aramrehob, Aram-rehob. Aram's . Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia ARAM-REHOB. a-ram-re'-hob. See SYRIA....
Zobah (15 Occurrences)
... During David's Ammonite war, the enemy was strengthened by alliance with Zobah,
Maacah and Beth-rehob, and Israel was attacked from both North and South at the...
Bethrehob (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia BETH-REHOB.... It is probably identical withRehob
(Numbers 13:21), the northern limit of the spies' journey....
Hadadezer (18 Occurrences)
... their aid against the incensed king of Israel the Syrians of various adjoining
principalities, among them the Syrians of Zobah under Hadadezer, the son ofRehob...
Aram (130 Occurrences)
... 18:28 And they had no saviour, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business
with Aram; and it was in the valley which is the property of Beth-rehob....
Syrians (63 Occurrences)
... Old Testament times was Aram-dammesek, the Syria of Damascus, which sometimes dominated
all of the other divisions lying to the South, such asRehob, Tob, Zobah...
Bene-ammon (44 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 8:12 of Aram, and of Moab, and of the Bene-Ammon, and of the Philistines,
and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer son ofRehob king of Zobah....
Zidon (25 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS BBE DBY WBS YLT). Joshua 19:28 And Hebron, andRehob, and Hammon,
and Kanah, even unto great Zidon; (KJV JPS BBE DBY WBS YLT)....
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