Beth-nimrah
Beth-nimrah is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Transjordan in modern-day Israel. Known today as Tall Bleibel. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Beth-nimrah, meaning "house of pure water" or possibly "house of the leopard," was a settlement in the fertile Jordan Valley east of the river, within the region allocated to the tribe of Gad. Numbers 32:36 records that the Gadites built up Beth-nimrah along with other fortified cities in Transjordan as part of their agreement with Moses to settle east of the Jordan while still participating in the conquest of Canaan. Joshua 13:27 confirms its position in Gad's territorial inheritance, situating it in the valley of the Jordan. The name's likely reference to clear or fresh water is significant given the Jordan Valley's agricultural richness, well-watered land was a defining feature of the Gadite and Reubenite settlement choice, which Moses had initially compared to the land of Egypt in its productivity (Numbers 32:4–5). Beth-nimrah would have sustained agricultural communities dependent on the perennial streams flowing from the Transjordanian highlands. Though it does not appear in the later historical narratives, its fortification by the Gadites indicates it was considered strategically important, presumably guarding one of the eastern approaches to the Jordan fords.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Beth-nimrah is identified with Tall Bleibel (sometimes called Tell Nimrin), located in the Jordan Valley of modern Jordan, northeast of the Dead Sea. The site sits near Wadi Nimrin, whose name preserves the ancient toponym. Archaeological surveys have identified Iron Age pottery on the surface, consistent with Israelite period occupation in the Gad territory. The wadi provides a reliable water source, lending credence to the place-name's association with pure or clear water. Limited probes and surface surveys have been conducted, but no comprehensive stratigraphic excavation has been published. The persistence of the name "Nimrin" in the local wadi is a strong indicator of correct identification.
Verse Appearances (2)
Num
Josh
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- OpenBible.info (n.d.) Bible Geocoding. Available at: https://www.openbible.info/geo/. [CC BY 4.0]
- Bagnall, R. et al. (eds.) (n.d.) Pleiades: A Gazetteer of Past Places. Available at: https://pleiades.stoa.org. [CC BY 3.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]