JAHAZ

ja'-haz (yahats, Isaiah 16:4; Jeremiah 48:34, yahatsah, or yahtsah, Numbers 21:23; Deuteronomy 2:32; Joshua 13:18; 21:36, the King James Version "Jahazah"; Judges 11:20; Jeremiah 48:21; 1 Chronicles 6:78, "Jahzah"): This is the place where in a great battle Israel overwhelmed Sihon king of the Amorites, and then took possession of all his territory (Numbers 21:23, etc.). It is named along with Beth-baal-meon and Kedemoth (Joshua 13:18), with Kedemoth (Joshua 21:37) pointing to a position in the Southeast of the Amorite territory. It was given to Reuben by Moses, and was one of the cities in the portion of that tribe assigned to the Merarite Levites. Mesha (MS, ll. 18 if) says that the king of Israel dwelt in Jahaz when at war with him. Mesha drove him out, and the city passed into the hands of Moab. It is referred to as a city of Moab in Isaiah 15:4; Jeremiah 48:21,34. Cheyne thinks that either Jahaz or Kedemoth must be represented today by the important ruins of Umm er-Recac, about 2 1/2 hours North of Dibon toward the desert (EB, under the word). No certain identification is possible.

W. Ewing

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.