Nobah is a biblical figure and location mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of the Israelite conquest and settlement of the Transjordan region. The name "Nobah" is associated with both a person and a place, reflecting the historical and territorial developments during the time of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land.

Nobah the Person

Nobah was a leader from the tribe of Manasseh, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. He is noted for his role in the conquest of the region east of the Jordan River. In the Book of Numbers, Nobah is mentioned as having captured a city and named it after himself. Numbers 32:42 states, "And Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages and called it Nobah after his own name." This act of naming a city after oneself was a common practice in the ancient Near East, signifying possession and authority over the conquered territory.

Nobah the Location

The city of Nobah, originally known as Kenath, was located in the region of Bashan, which is part of the modern-day Golan Heights. This area was known for its fertile land and strategic importance. The capture and renaming of Kenath to Nobah signified the expansion of the territory controlled by the tribe of Manasseh. The city of Nobah is mentioned again in the context of the territorial allotments given to the tribes of Israel. In Judges 8:11 , it is noted that Gideon, a judge of Israel, pursued the Midianites "by the route of the nomads east of Nobah and Jogbehah," indicating its geographical significance during the period of the Judges.

Historical and Theological Significance

The account of Nobah highlights the fulfillment of God's promise to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding the land they would inherit. The conquest and settlement of territories like Nobah were part of the broader narrative of the Israelites taking possession of the land promised to them by God. This event underscores the themes of divine providence, faithfulness, and the importance of obedience to God's commands in the history of Israel.

Nobah's account also reflects the tribal dynamics and leadership within the nation of Israel. As a leader from the tribe of Manasseh, Nobah's actions contributed to the establishment of his tribe's presence in the Transjordan region, which was crucial for the security and prosperity of the Israelite confederation.

In summary, Nobah serves as both a personal and geographical reference in the biblical narrative, illustrating the complex interplay of leadership, conquest, and divine promise in the history of Israel. The legacy of Nobah, as recorded in the Scriptures, continues to be a testament to the enduring faith and determination of the Israelite people in their journey to fulfill God's covenant.Nobah

that barks or yelps

Nobah

(barking), an Israelite warrior, (Numbers 32:42) who during the conquest of the territory on the east of Jordan possessed himself of the town of Kenath and the villages or hamlets dependent upon it, and gave them his own name. (B.C.1450.) For a certain period after the establishment of the Israelite rule the new name remained, (Judges 8:11) but it is not again heard of, and the original appellation, as is usual in such cases, appears to have recovered its hold, has since retained; for in the slightly-modified form of Kunawat it is the name of the place to the present day.

Howling.

(1.) Numbers 32:42.

(2.) The name given to Kenath (q.v.) by Nobah when he conquered it. It was on the east of Gilead (Judges 8:11).

NOBAH

no'-ba (nobhah; Codex Vaticanus Naboth, Nabai; Codex Alexandrinus Naboth, Nabeth):

(1) Nobah the Manassite, we are told, "went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name" (Numbers 32:42). There can be little doubt that the ancient Kenath is represented by the modern Qanawat, on the western slope of Jebel ed-Druze, the ancient name having survived that of Nobah.

(2) A city which marked-the course of Gideon's pursuit of the Midianites (Judges 8:11). It is possible that this may be identical with (1). Cheyne argues in favor of this (Encyclopaedia Biblica, under the word "Gideon"). But its mention along with Jogbehah points to a more southerly location. This may have been the original home of the clan Nobah. Some would read, following the Syriac in Numbers 21:30, "Nobah which is on the desert," instead of "Nophah which reacheth unto Medeba." No site with a name resembling this has yet been recovered. If it is to be distinguished from Kenath, then probably it will have to be sought somewhere to the Northeast of Rabbath-Ammon (`Amman).

W. Ewing

5025. Nobach -- a place in Gilead, also a Manassite
... 5024, 5025. Nobach. 5026 . a place in Gilead, also a Manassite. Transliteration:
Nobach Phonetic Spelling: (no'-bach) Short Definition: Nobah. ... Nobah. ...
/hebrew/5025.htm - 6k

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... The families of Machir and Jair migrated one after the other to the east of the
Lake of Gennesaret, while that of Nobah proceeded as far as the brook of Kanah ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Nobah (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Howling. (1.) Numbers 32:42. (2.) The name given to Kenath
(qv) by Nobah when he conquered it. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. NOBAH. ...
/n/nobah.htm - 8k

Kenath (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Possession, a city of Gilead. It was captured
by Nobah, who called it by his own name (Numbers 32:42). ...
/k/kenath.htm - 8k

Naming (21 Occurrences)
... Jair. (BBE). Numbers 32:42 And Nobah went and took Kenath and its small
towns, naming it Nobah, after himself. (BBE). Deuteronomy ...
/n/naming.htm - 12k

Villages (106 Occurrences)
... (See JPS RSV). Numbers 32:42 Nobah went and took Kenath, and its villages, and called
it Nobah, after his own name. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/v/villages.htm - 38k

Dependent (35 Occurrences)
... there. (DBY). Numbers 32:42 And Nobah went and took Kenath, and its dependent
villages, and called it Nobah, after his name. (DBY). ...
/d/dependent.htm - 17k

Captureth (24 Occurrences)
... YLT). Numbers 32:42 and Nobah hath gone and captureth Kenath, and its villages,
and calleth it Nobah, by his own name. (YLT). Joshua ...
/c/captureth.htm - 13k

Captured (143 Occurrences)
... NIV). Numbers 32:42 and Nobah hath gone and captureth Kenath, and its villages,
and calleth it Nobah, by his own name. (See NIV). ...
/c/captured.htm - 36k

Settlements (27 Occurrences)
... Jair. (See NIV). Numbers 32:42 Nobah went and took Kenath, and its villages,
and called it Nobah, after his own name. (See NIV). Joshua ...
/s/settlements.htm - 13k

Surrounding (78 Occurrences)
... land. (WEB NAS). Numbers 32:42 Nobah went and took Kenath, and its villages,
and called it Nobah, after his own name. (See NIV). Deuteronomy ...
/s/surrounding.htm - 30k

Nob (6 Occurrences)

/n/nob.htm - 12k

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