Kiriath-huzoth
Kiriath-huzoth is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Transjordan in modern-day Israel. Known today as Tall Dhiban. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Kiriath-huzoth appears only once in Scripture, in Numbers 22:39, during the narrative of Balak and Balaam. After King Balak of Moab summoned the diviner Balaam to curse Israel, Balaam arrived in Moab and Balak took him to Kiriath-huzoth, where the king sacrificed cattle and sheep. From this staging point, Balak then brought Balaam to the high places of Baal (Bamoth-baal) to overlook the Israelite camp and pronounce his intended curse (Numbers 22:41). The name Kiriath-huzoth means "city of streets" or "city of open places," suggesting it was a significant urban center in Moab. Though Balaam had been hired to curse Israel, God turned every intended curse into a blessing (Numbers 23-24), culminating in one of Scripture's most remarkable messianic prophecies: "A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel" (Numbers 24:17). Kiriath-huzoth thus served as the launching point for one of the Old Testament's most powerful demonstrations of God's protective sovereignty over His people.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Kiriath-huzoth has been tentatively identified with Tall Dhiban (Dibon), the ancient Moabite capital located approximately 60 kilometers south of Amman in modern Jordan. However, this identification is uncertain, and other scholars have proposed different sites along the Arnon River region. The primary candidate, Dhiban, has been excavated in several campaigns beginning in the 1950s, revealing significant Iron Age remains including fortifications, a large administrative building, and domestic structures. Most notably, the famous Mesha Stele was discovered at Dhiban in 1868. If the identification with Dhiban is incorrect, Kiriath-huzoth may correspond to another as-yet-unidentified Moabite site. The biblical description implies it was near the border region where Balak first met Balaam.
Verse Appearances (1)
Num
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →