Lexical Definition

‎אַרְנוֹן‎ ʼArnôwn (ar-nohn') Arnon ^N:N--L
or אַרְנֹן ʼArnôn (ar-nohn'); from ‎רָנַן‎; a brawling stream

Arnon.

• § Arnon = "rushing stream"
• the Arnon, a river east of the Jordan, also its territory

1) a river and surrounding valley in south Palestine, forms the border between Moab and the Amorites

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אַרְנוֺן‎, ‎אַרְנֹן‎ proper name, of a river Arnon, wady & stream in Moab (MI ‎ארנן‎, Thes Add Rob Ges MV derive from ‎רנן‎, i.e. the rushing, roaring stream) — ‎אַרְנוֺן‎ Num 21:13 (twice in verse) + 12 t., ‎אַרְנֹן‎ Num 21:14 + 10 t. — called boundary between Moab & Amorites Num 21:13; Judg 11:18; Judg 11:22 compare ‎גְּבוּלאַרְנֹן‎ Num 22:36 often ‎נַחַל אֵרְנֹן‎ Deut 2:24; Deut 2:36; Deut 3:8; Deut 3:12; Deut 3:16; Deut 4:48; 2Kgs 10:33 ‎אַרְנוֺן‎ ‎׳‎‎נ‎ Josh 12:1; Josh 12:2; Josh 13:9; Josh 13:16 ‎הַנְּחָלִים אַרְנוֺן‎ Num 21:14, i.e. the stream-ravines that unite to form Arnon, compare Di; also ‎בָּמוֺת אַרְנֹן‎ heights of Arnon Num 21:28 ‎מעברות אַרְנוֺן‎ fords of Arnon Isa 16:2 elsewhere Num 21:13; Num 21:24; Num 21:26; Judg 11:13; Judg 11:18; Judg 11:26 synonym of Moab Jer 48:20 (compare Tristr^{Moab 125 f.}; modern Môjib).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Arnon • A river and valley, serving as a boundary for Israel.

The Arnon, a river and valley that marked the boundary between Moab and the Amorites, later serving as Israel's southern border.

• A location first mentioned at Num.21.13;
• only referred to as Arnon אַרְנוֹן.
  

The Arnon is a river and its accompanying valley, located east of the Dead Sea, in what is now modern-day Jordan. It is mentioned numerous times in the Old Testament, primarily in the context of Israel's journey to the Promised Land and the subsequent division of the territory.

During the Israelites' wilderness wanderings, the Arnon served as a boundary between the Moabites and the Amorites (Numbers 21:13). The Amorites, led by King Sihon, had previously conquered the land north of the Arnon from the Moabites (Numbers 21:26). When the Israelites requested passage through Sihon's territory, he refused and engaged them in battle. Israel defeated Sihon and took possession of the land from the Arnon to the Jabbok (Numbers 21:24).

The Arnon later served as the southern border of the territory assigned to the tribes of Reuben and Gad (Deuteronomy 3:12, 16; Joshua 13:9, 16). It also marked the southern limit of the region controlled by King Sihon (Deuteronomy 2:36; Joshua 12:2) and, in later years, the extent of Jephthah's victories over the Ammonites (Judges 11:18, 22).

During the reign of Jehu, king of Israel, the territory east of the Jordan, including the area from the Arnon, was lost to Hazael, king of Aram (2 Kings 10:33). The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah also mention the Arnon in their prophecies concerning Moab (Isaiah 16:2; Jeremiah 48:20).

The Arnon's significance in the Bible lies in its role as a geographical boundary, marking the limits of territorial control for various nations and tribes throughout Israel's history. Its frequent mention in the context of military campaigns and territorial allotments underscores its importance as a strategic landmark in the region.

All entries for Arnon: אַרְנוֹן