Mephaath

Mephaath is a town on the plateau east of the Jordan, listed among the cities of Reuben and assigned to the Levites among Reuben's holdings. It later resurfaces in a judgment oracle against Moab, when the same plain has fallen out of Israelite hands.

A Town on the Reubenite Plain

Mephaath appears in the territorial allotment to the tribe of Reuben as one of the towns of the tableland: "and Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath," (Jos 13:18).

A Levitical City

Within Reuben's holdings, Mephaath is set aside for the Levites. The list of Levitical cities pairs it with Kedemoth: "Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities" (Jos 21:37). The chronicler's parallel listing repeats the assignment: "and Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs;" (1Ch 6:79).

In the Oracle Against Moab

By the time of Jeremiah's oracle, the plain country has reverted to Moabite control, and Mephaath stands among the towns marked for judgment: "And judgment has come upon the plain country, on Holon, and on Jahzah, and on Mephaath," (Jer 48:21).