Hisban is located on the edge of the highland plateau, overlooking the northern tip of the Dead Sea and the Lower Jordan Valley.
The edge of the highland plateau, overlooking the northern tip of the Dead Sea and the Lower Jordan Valley.
Modern-day Hisban is widely identified with one of the Cities of the Plain, Heshbon, due to the similarity in their names (Numbers 21:26). Formerly ruled by the Amorite King Sihon, this region of central Jordan was referenced in the Song of Solomon 7:5, “…your eyes are like pools in Heshbon”.
In the Bible, Hisban is named Heshbon – the city of the Sihon (Numbers 21:25f, 32:37) and Heshbon was conquered by the Israelites (Judges 11:26).
Later fortified in the Roman-Byzantine period, Hisban, also called Esbus, was an important station on early Christian pilgrims’ route from Jerusalem to Mount Nebo via the Jordan River.
Modern Hisban village is the first major antiquities site on the King’s Highway south of Amman. Some scholars believe that the nearby Tell Jalul is a better candidate for ancient Heshbon.
Heshbon is mentioned in the Tanakh in the Books of Numbers and Deuteronomy as the capital of Amorite king, Sihon (also known as Sehon). The biblical narrative records the story of the Israelite victory over Sihon during the time of the Exodus under the leadership of Moses. Heshbon is highlighted due to its importance as the capital of Sihon, King of the Amorites:
“For Heshbon was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon.
Similar passages appear in Deuteronomy and Joshua, with the primary emphasis being the victory of the Israelites over King Sihon at the site of Heshbon. Moses died soon after the victory, after viewing the “promised land” from the top of Mount Nebo.
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