Lexical Definition

‎רֶקֶם‎ Reqem (reh'-kem) Rekem ^N:N-M-P
from ‎רָקַם‎; versi-color

Rekem.

• § Rekem = "variegation"
• Rekem, the name of a place in Palestine, also of a Midianite and an Israelite

n pr m 1) one of the 5 kings of Midian killed by the Israelites
2) one of the 4 sons of Hebron and the father of Shammai
3) a Manassite, son of Machir by Maachah his wife
n pr loc
4) a town in Benjamin; site unknown

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎רֶ֫קֶם‎ proper name

1. masculine a. a king of Midian Num 31:8 (Ροκομ), Josh 13:21 (Ροβοκ, A Ροκομ, ᵐ5 Οροκομ).
b. a 'son' of Hebron 1Chr 2:43; 1Chr 2:44, Ρεκομ, Ροκομ, Ρωκημ.
c. name in Gilead 1Chr 7:16, ᵐ5^L Ρακαμ.

2. location in Benjamin, Josh 18:27, Νακαν, A ᵐ5^L Ρεκεμ[ν].

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • A Midianite king killed by the Israelites

Man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness

Rekem was one of the five Midianite kings killed by the Israelites during the time of Moses.

• A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.31.8;
• only referred to as Rekem רֶקֶם.

Rekem was one of the five kings of Midian who were defeated and killed by the Israelites during the time of Moses (Numbers 31:8; Joshua 13:21). The Midianites were a nomadic people who lived in the desert regions south and east of Canaan. They had engaged in hostilities against Israel and had led the Israelites into idolatry and immorality (Numbers 25). As a result, God commanded Moses to carry out a war of vengeance against the Midianites. The Israelite army, led by Phinehas, defeated the Midianites and killed their five kings, including Rekem (Numbers 31:1-12). The victory over the Midianites was seen as a judgment against their wickedness and a protection of Israel's spiritual and moral purity. The death of Rekem and the other Midianite kings marked the end of a significant threat to Israel's existence and integrity. The land that had belonged to these kings was later allocated to the tribes of Reuben and Gad as part of their inheritance in the Promised Land (Joshua 13:21).

All entries for Rekem: רֶקֶם