Rekem

The name Rekem stands over three distinct figures in the UPDV: a Midianite king cut down beside Balaam in the wilderness, a son of Hebron in the Calebite genealogy of Judah, and a town apportioned to Benjamin. The texts do not link the three; only the name does.

A King of Midian

Rekem appears among the five Midianite kings put to the sword when Israel takes vengeance on Midian after the affair at Peor. The slaughter-list pairs the kings with Balaam: "And they slew the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword" (Num 31:8). Joshua's retrospective names the same five again and reframes them as Sihon's vassals: "all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses struck with the chiefs of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who dwelt in the land" (Jos 13:21). The two notices give Rekem the same companions in the same order; in Numbers they are "kings of Midian," in Joshua "princes of Sihon."

A Son of Hebron

A second Rekem stands in the Calebite line of Judah. The Chronicler lists him among Hebron's four sons: "And the sons of Hebron: Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema" (1 Chr 2:43). The next verse follows the line one generation further: "And Shema begot Raham, the father of Jorkeam; and Rekem begot Shammai" (1 Chr 2:44). Here Rekem is a link in the genealogy rather than a figure with a narrative; the text records only his father, his brothers, and his son.

A Town of Benjamin

The third Rekem is a place. In the town-list of Benjamin's allotment it is named in a short string with two other settlements: "and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah" (Jos 18:27). The verse offers no description beyond the name and its neighbors in the list.