Ar
“City”
Summary
The ancient capital city of Moab, located on the southern border of Moabite territory near the river Arnon.
☩Location and Identity
Ar was a principal city of Moab, situated on the south side of the river Arnon and serving as a major settlement of the Moabites. The name appears to mean 'city' in Hebrew, and the place was sometimes called Ar of Moab to distinguish it from other locations. It formed the southern boundary of Moabite territory, with the Arnon river marking the border between Moab and the land given to Israel. The site is likely to be identified with the modern Rabba, south of the Arnon gorge.
☩Biblical Significance
When Israel journeyed through the wilderness, God commanded them not to distress Moab or contend with them in battle, 'for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.' This divine allocation of territory to Moab through their ancestor Lot reflected the kinship between the descendants of Abraham and Lot. The city is mentioned in the ancient 'Book of the Wars of the Lord' quoted in Numbers, and Isaiah later prophesied its destruction along with other Moabite cities.
Related Verses7 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Ar," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Ar," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).