Atroth-shophan
Atroth-shophan is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Transjordan in modern-day Israel. Known today as Rujm Ataruz. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Atroth-shophan appears only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 32:35, as one of the cities built or rebuilt by the tribe of Gad after they were granted the Transjordanian territory. Following the negotiations in which Gad and Reuben pledged to lead the military conquest of Canaan before settling in the Transjordan, Moses assigned them the land east of the Jordan, which they proceeded to fortify and settle. Atroth-shophan was part of this Gadite building program, alongside cities such as Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, Jogbehah, and Beth-nimrah. The name combines "Ataroth" (crowns) with "Shophan," possibly a personal name or a topographical descriptor meaning "prudent" or possibly relating to a rock badger. The site's location in the Transjordanian plateau placed it in territory that would be contested by Moab and Ammon throughout Israel's history. The Gadite settlements in Transjordan represent an important dimension of Israelite territorial expansion and demonstrate the tribe's initiative in claiming their inheritance. These fortified cities served both as livestock centers — the primary reason Gad and Reuben requested the region — and as defensive installations guarding Israel's eastern frontier.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Atroth-shophan is tentatively identified with Rujm Ataruz, a site in the Transjordanian plateau east of the Dead Sea in modern Jordan, near the better-attested Ataroth (Khirbet Ataruz). The identification rests on the proximity to other Gadite settlements mentioned in Numbers 32 and the phonetic similarity of the name. Surface surveys of the surrounding region have identified Iron Age pottery consistent with the period of Israelite settlement in Transjordan. The area around Khirbet Ataruz has been the focus of recent excavations revealing significant Iron Age remains. As with many Transjordanian sites, systematic large-scale excavation specifically targeting Atroth-shophan has not been conducted.
Verse Appearances (1)
Num
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →