Kedemoth

Kedemoth is a town east of the Jordan, taken from Moabite territory and assigned within Reuben's portion. It also gives its name to the surrounding wilderness from which Moses opened diplomatic contact with Sihon.

A Reubenite town, given to the Merarite Levites

In the allotment east of the Jordan, Kedemoth appears in the list of cities falling to Reuben: "and Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath," (Jos 13:18). It is later named in the roster of Levitical cities given to the Merarite branch of Levi: "and Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs;" (1Ch 6:79). The town thus stands within Reuben's territorial inheritance while also serving as a residence-and-pasture allotment for the Merarites.

The wilderness of Kedemoth

Before Israel's crossing into Sihon's land, Moses sent envoys from the surrounding wilderness: "And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying," (De 2:26). The wilderness shares its name with the town and locates the staging-ground for Israel's overture of peace to the Amorite king.