Lexical Summary Baal Meon: Baal Meon Original Word: בַּעַל מְעוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Baal-meon From Ba'al and ma'own; Baal of (the) habitation (of) (compare Beyth Ba'al m'own); Baal-Meon, a place East of the Jordan -- Baal-meon. see HEBREW Ba'al see HEBREW ma'own see HEBREW Beyth Ba'al m'own NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Baal and maon Definition "Baal of (the) habitation," a place E. of the Jordan NASB Translation Baal-meon (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs בַּ֫עַל מְעוֺן proper name, of a location Numbers 32:38; 1 Chronicles 5:8; Ezekiel 25:9 = בית בעל מעון Joshua 13:17 (compare MI30) = Ma±\în TristrMoab 316 BdPal 192 SurveyEP 176. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Baal-meon occupied the elevated plateau east of the Jordan River, about sixteen kilometers southeast of the northern tip of the Dead Sea. The site is commonly identified with modern Khirbet Maʿin in Jordan, overlooking the Wadi Zerqa Maʿin. Situated on the western edge of the ancient kingdom of Moab, the town commanded the trade routes that crossed the Arnon Gorge and descended toward Jericho. Its fertile grazing land made it attractive to pastoral tribes such as Reuben, while its strategic location drew the attention of later Moabite and Babylonian powers. Biblical Occurrences and Development • Numbers 32:38—Following the defeat of Sihon and Og, the tribe of Reuben “rebuilt Nebo and Baal-meon—names that were changed—and Sibmah”. The verse records both Israelite occupation and an attempt to strip the town of its pagan associations by renaming it, though the new name is not preserved. Historical Trajectory 1. Israelite Occupation (fifteenth–tenth centuries BC): After the conquest, Reuben fortified and repurposed several formerly pagan centers. The desire to change Baal-meon’s name (Numbers 32:38) reflects Israel’s broader mandate to eradicate idolatry (Deuteronomy 12:3). Religious and Theological Significance • Conflict of Worship: The name itself—“lord of habitation” or “Baal of the dwelling”—ties the town to the Canaanite storm-god. Reuben’s attempted renaming illustrates the tension between inherited idolatrous culture and covenant faithfulness. Archaeological Corroboration The Mesha Stele (circa 840 BC) refers explicitly to “BMN” (Baal-meon) and documents Moab’s reclamation efforts, preserving the same consonantal root found in Scripture. Pottery, fortification lines, and reservoir remains at Khirbet Maʿin correspond to Iron Age occupation layers, lending tangible support to the biblical record. Ministry Applications • Guarding against Syncretism: Believers today are called to demolish spiritual “strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4) just as Reuben sought to erase Baal’s name from the town they rebuilt. Forms and Transliterations מְע֖וֹן מְע֛וֹן מְעֽוֹן׃ מעון מעון׃ mə‘ōwn mə·‘ō·wn meonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 32:38 HEB: וְאֶת־ בַּ֧עַל מְע֛וֹן מֽוּסַבֹּ֥ת שֵׁ֖ם NAS: and Nebo and Baal-meon-- [their] names KJV: And Nebo, and Baalmeon, (their names INT: and Nebo and Baal-meon changed names 1 Chronicles 5:8 Ezekiel 25:9 3 Occurrences |