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Jahaz

biblical_place_name theological_term standard

Jahaz is a biblical place-name east of the Jordan, remembered for Israel’s defeat of Sihon the Amorite and later references in tribal and prophetic texts.

At a Glance

A biblical place east of the Jordan linked to Israel’s defeat of Sihon and later tribal and prophetic references.

Key Points

Description

Jahaz is a place-name in the Old Testament, remembered especially as the site associated with Israel’s victory over Sihon king of the Amorites east of the Jordan. It also appears in tribal allotment and Levitical-city lists and is later mentioned in prophetic texts concerning Moab. The biblical record establishes its narrative significance, though the exact archaeological location remains uncertain. As a geographic entry, Jahaz should be treated as a place-name rather than a theological term.

Biblical Context

Jahaz is linked to Israel’s defeat of Sihon during the wilderness journey (Numbers 21; Deuteronomy 2). It also appears in the allotment of land to Reuben and in a Levitical-city list, then reappears in prophecies against Moab (Joshua 13; 21; Isaiah 15; Jeremiah 48).

Historical Context

The historical setting is Transjordan in the period before Israel entered Canaan west of the Jordan. The precise site of Jahaz has not been securely identified, but the biblical references place it within the region affected by Israel, Moab, and the Amorite kingdom.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In later Jewish reading, Jahaz functions as part of the remembered geography of Israel’s conquest history and the broader Transjordan narrative. The biblical text, not later speculation, remains the primary source for its significance.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew יַהַץ (transliterated Jahaz), a place-name with uncertain etymology.

Theological Significance

Jahaz matters because it anchors a real event in salvation history: God gave victory to Israel over Sihon and used actual places to mark covenant history. Its significance is historical and theological by association, not doctrinal in itself.

Philosophical Explanation

As a place-name, Jahaz reminds readers that biblical revelation is rooted in concrete history, geography, and public events rather than abstractions alone.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not overstate the archaeological identification of the site. Also avoid treating Jahaz as a doctrinal concept; it is a geographic reference with narrative and historical importance.

Major Views

The main discussion concerns identification of the site, not its biblical meaning. The exact location is uncertain, but the textual significance is clear.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Jahaz is a geographic reference, not a doctrine, symbol, or theological category. Its role is to locate biblical events in real history.

Practical Significance

Jahaz encourages confidence that Scripture speaks about real places and real acts of God in history. It also helps readers trace the movement of Israel east of the Jordan.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Jahaz

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