Jogbehah
Jogbehah is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Transjordan in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khirbet Jubeiha. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Jogbehah appears in Scripture in connection with two distinct episodes in Israel's early history. In Numbers 32:35, it is listed among the cities rebuilt and fortified by the tribe of Gad after Moses granted the Transjordanian tribes permission to settle east of the Jordan River. The Gadites saw the land as suitable for their extensive livestock and pledged to cross the Jordan to fight alongside their brothers before returning to their allotted territory. Jogbehah thus became part of the Gadite inheritance in Gilead. The city surfaces again in Judges 8:11, during Gideon's pursuit of the Midianite kings Zebah and Zalmunna. After his dramatic victory with three hundred men, Gideon pursued the fleeing Midianite army eastward across the Jordan. He attacked the unsuspecting camp by the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, routing them decisively. This episode demonstrates how Jogbehah sat along a significant trade and military route through Transjordan, making it a strategic settlement in the tribal landscape of ancient Israel.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Jogbehah is generally identified with Khirbet Jubeiha (also spelled Ajbehat), located approximately seven miles northwest of modern Amman, Jordan. The site sits on elevated terrain in the Gilead region, consistent with its biblical role as a fortified Gadite city along a major Transjordanian route. Surface surveys have revealed pottery remains from the Iron Age, confirming occupation during the period of the Israelite settlement. The surrounding area preserves evidence of ancient caravan routes linking the Jordan Valley to the eastern desert, supporting the Judges 8 narrative of Gideon's pursuit along a nomadic trail. No major systematic excavation has been conducted at the site, though its identification remains widely accepted among biblical geographers.
Verse Appearances (2)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →