Lexical Summary Beth Hayshimoth: House of Desolations Original Word: בֵּית היְשִׁימוֹת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Beth-jeshimoth From bayith and the plural of yshiymah with the article interposed; house of the deserts; Beth-ha- Jeshimoth, a town East of the Jordan -- Beth-jeshimoth. see HEBREW bayith see HEBREW yshiymah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom bayith and yeshimah Definition "place of the desert," a place E. of the Jordan in Moab NASB Translation Beth-jeshimoth (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs בֵּית הַיְשִׁימוֺת proper name, of a location east of Jordan (place of the desert, ישׁם) in Moab Ezekiel 25:9; הַיְשִׁמֹת ׳בּ Numbers 33:49; Joshua 12:3; given to Reuben הַיְשִׁמוֺת ׳בּ Joshua 13:20; — perhaps modern es-Suweime, De SaulcyVoyage i. 315 f., compare MerrillPE Soc. iv. 1877 BdPal 172 SurveyEP i. 156. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Beth-jeshimoth lay on the eastern side of the Jordan River at the northern end of the Dead Sea. Scripture places it “in the plains of Moab” (Numbers 33:49) and on “the Arabah” (Joshua 12:3), the broad rift valley that runs from the Sea of Galilee to the Gulf of Aqaba. The site served as a natural gateway between the high plateau of Moab and the lower Jordan Valley. Modern identifications point to Tell el-‘Azeimeh (Khirbet es-Suwaimeh) about three miles east of the river, an area marked by arid steppe, sparse vegetation, and sweeping views across to Jericho and Canaan. In Israel’s Wilderness Encampment As the last staging ground before Israel crossed the Jordan, Beth-jeshimoth framed the closing scene of the forty-year journey. “They camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab” (Numbers 33:49). From this perimeter Moses delivered his final sermons recorded in Deuteronomy, charged Joshua, and viewed the land from Mount Nebo. The encampment therefore recalls both the faithfulness of God in bringing the nation to the threshold of promise and the responsibility laid upon the new generation to trust and obey as they entered it. Boundary Marker in the Conquest When the victories over Sihon and Og were summarized, Beth-jeshimoth marked the western limit of their former territory: the defeated king “ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), toward Beth-jeshimoth” (Joshua 12:3). The notice highlights God’s sovereignty in handing over strategic corridors. By naming the site again during the division of the land, Scripture underlines that Israel inherited precisely what the Lord had conquered on her behalf. Part of Reuben’s Allotment The plateau region allocated to the tribe of Reuben included “Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth” (Joshua 13:20). Although Reuben eventually faded from prominence, the inclusion of Beth-jeshimoth attests to the tribe’s initial stewardship of fertile grazing lands overlooking the Jordan traffic routes. The location would have offered Reubenite shepherds winter pasture and provided commercial access to caravans moving north–south along the valley. Prophetic Significance Centuries later Ezekiel pronounced judgment on Moab for its pride: “I will expose the flank of Moab, beginning with its frontier cities—Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim—the glory of the land” (Ezekiel 25:9). The verse indicates that Moab had retaken or retained Beth-jeshimoth, transforming it into a showcase of regional wealth. The oracle warns that centers which exalt themselves against the covenant people will themselves be humbled, a theme consistent with God’s dealings throughout redemptive history. Archaeological and Historical Notes Excavations around Sweimeh have unearthed Iron Age and later remains, suggesting intermittent occupation that fits the biblical timeline: early Israelite presence, subsequent Moabite control, and habitation into the Roman period. Papyrus Anastasi I (Egyptian, thirteenth century BC) also references a southwestern Moabite route that may correspond to this vicinity, corroborating its strategic value. Ministry Reflections 1. Transition points matter. Beth-jeshimoth reminds believers that liminal spaces—poised between promise given and promise possessed—require renewed faithfulness. Forms and Transliterations הַיְשִׁימֹ֔ת הַיְשִׁמ֑וֹת הַיְשִׁמֹ֔ת הַיְשִׁמֽוֹת׃ הישימת הישמות הישמות׃ הישמת hay·ši·mō·wṯ hay·ši·mōṯ hay·šî·mōṯ hayshiMot hayšimōṯ hayšîmōṯ hayšimōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 33:49 HEB: הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ מִבֵּ֣ית הַיְשִׁמֹ֔ת עַ֖ד אָבֵ֣ל NAS: by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth as far KJV: by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth [even] unto Abelshittim INT: by the Jordan Beth-jeshimoth far Abel-shittim Joshua 12:3 Joshua 13:20 Ezekiel 25:9 4 Occurrences |
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