Mattanah
Mattanah is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Transjordan in modern-day Jordan. Known today as Khirbet el Medeiyineh. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Mattanah, meaning "gift" in Hebrew, is mentioned in the wilderness itinerary of Numbers 21:18-19 as one of the stopping points during Israel's journey through the Transjordan region. The passage places Mattanah in sequence after Beer ("well"), the site where God provided water and the people sang the famous "Song of the Well." From Mattanah the Israelites traveled to Nahaliel, and then to Bamoth. This itinerary traces the final stages of Israel's wilderness wanderings as they approached the Promised Land from the east, moving northward through territories east of the Dead Sea. The poetic context of Mattanah's mention is significant: the Song of the Well celebrates God's provision of water through the digging of nobles and leaders, and the progression from Beer ("well") to Mattanah ("gift") may itself carry symbolic meaning, suggesting that water in the desert was understood as a divine gift. The name fittingly captures the theological theme of God's gracious provision during the wilderness period.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Mattanah has been tentatively identified with Khirbet el-Medeiyineh, located on the eastern edge of the Transjordanian plateau in modern-day Jordan. The site sits along the Wadi ath-Thamed, northeast of Dibon. This identification is based on the geographical sequence described in Numbers 21 and the site's position along a plausible route through Moabite territory. Archaeological surveys of the region have documented numerous Bronze and Iron Age settlements along the wadis that drain westward toward the Dead Sea. However, no definitive excavation has confirmed this specific identification. The broader Madaba Plains region, through which Israel traveled, shows extensive evidence of ancient habitation and remains an active area of archaeological research.
Verse Appearances (2)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →