Reba was one of the five Midianite kings defeated and killed by the Israelites during their conquest of the Promised Land. His account is briefly mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Numbers. The account of Reba's demise is part of a larger narrative detailing the Israelites' battles and God's judgment against the Midianites.

Biblical Account

Reba's death is recorded in Numbers 31, where the Israelites, under the leadership of Moses, are commanded by God to take vengeance on the Midianites. This command comes as a response to the Midianites' role in leading the Israelites into idolatry and immorality at Peor, an event that had previously brought a severe plague upon the Israelite camp (Numbers 25).

In Numbers 31:7-8 , the text states: "They waged war against Midian, as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed every male. Among the slain were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword."

Reba, along with the other Midianite kings, was killed in this divinely sanctioned military campaign. The inclusion of Balaam's death in the same passage underscores the completeness of God's judgment against those who opposed His people and His purposes.

Historical and Theological Context

The Midianites were a nomadic people who often came into conflict with the Israelites. Their involvement in the seduction of Israel at Peor, as orchestrated by Balaam, was a significant affront to the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The execution of the Midianite kings, including Reba, served as a divine retribution and a means to purify the Israelite community from the corrupting influences of idolatry and immorality.

From a theological perspective, the account of Reba's death highlights the seriousness with which God views sin and the lengths to which He will go to protect His covenant people. It also serves as a reminder of the consequences of leading others into sin, as the Midianites did with Israel.

Legacy

Reba's legacy, like that of the other Midianite kings, is one of opposition to God's people and subsequent judgment. His death is a testament to the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel regarding the conquest of the land and the establishment of a holy nation set apart for His purposes. The narrative of Reba and the Midianite kings serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God and the dangers of aligning against His will.Numbers 31:8
And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
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Joshua 13:21
And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.
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Who was Hur in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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