Where was the biblical city of Rekem located?

Rekem was an ancient city in the region of Judea, located in what is now modern-day Israel. It is identified by archaeologists with a site known as Feldstein et al Site 43.

What happened at Rekem in the Bible?

The Bible does not record any specific events at Rekem. It is simply listed as one of the cities in the territory of Judah, mentioned in a single verse (Joshua 15:27).

Why is Rekem mentioned in the Bible?

Rekem is significant because its inclusion in the list of Judah's cities (Joshua 15:27) helps define the tribe's territorial boundaries as promised by God. It serves as a historical marker of the land's division.

Rekem

cityOld TestamentJudea

Loading map...

Modern Name

Feldstein et al Site 43

Country

Israel

Region

Judea

Coordinates

31.8706, 35.1922

Rekem is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Feldstein et al Site 43. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.

Biblical History

Rekem appears in the tribal allotment of Benjamin as one of the cities assigned to that tribe in the distribution of the Promised Land (Joshua 18:27). The name Rekem, meaning 'variegated' or 'multicolored,' was shared with a Midianite king slain by Israel during the wilderness period (Numbers 31:8; Joshua 13:21), though the city and the king are distinct. As part of Benjamin's inheritance, Rekem was situated in the hill country west of the Jordan, in the strategically important territory between the tribal lands of Judah to the south and Ephraim to the north. Benjamin's allotment, though small, included significant cities such as Jerusalem (Jebus) and Bethel, and Rekem was part of this cluster of settlements. The city's mention within Joshua's detailed land distribution records serves the broader theological purpose of demonstrating God's orderly fulfillment of His covenant promise to give Abraham's descendants specific territories within Canaan.

Archaeological & Historical Notes

Rekem has been tentatively identified with Feldstein et al. Site 43, an archaeological site in the Judean hill country west of Jerusalem. The identification is based on geographic analysis of the cities listed in Benjamin's allotment in Joshua 18:21-28 and their probable spatial arrangement. The site shows evidence of Iron Age occupation consistent with the period of Israelite settlement. The surrounding region of the Benjamin plateau contains numerous small tells and settlement remains from the Bronze and Iron Ages, reflecting the dense habitation of this agriculturally productive highland zone. Systematic survey work in the area has cataloged many such sites, though excavation of this particular location has been limited.

Verse Appearances (1)

Josh

Josh 18:27

Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources