Edrei

At a Glance

Edrei was a city in the Transjordan region of Bashan, associated in Scripture with Israel’s defeat of Og king of Bashan.

Key Points

• A real biblical place-name, not a theological concept
• Located east of the Jordan in the Bashan region
• Linked to Israel’s victory over Og in the wilderness era
• Helps anchor the conquest narrative in historical geography

Description

Edrei is a biblical city east of the Jordan River in the region of Bashan. It appears in narratives and summaries of Israel’s conquest of the Transjordan, especially in connection with the defeat of Og king of Bashan during the time of Moses. The city serves primarily as a historical and geographical reference point, helping locate the biblical account in a real setting. While the broader account carries theological significance—showing the Lord’s faithfulness and Israel’s victory by divine help—Edrei itself is not presented as a distinct theological doctrine or concept.

Biblical Context

Edrei is associated with the conquest of the land east of the Jordan. The city appears in the record of Israel’s victory over Og and in later summaries of the territory taken from the kings of the Amorites and Bashan. Its role is mainly locational, marking part of the inheritance and military history of Israel before the crossing of the Jordan.

Historical Context

In the biblical world, Edrei belonged to the Transjordan area known as Bashan, a region remembered for strong kings and fortified cities. The biblical references place it within the network of cities and territories encountered during Israel’s movement toward the land of promise.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient Jewish readers would have recognized Edrei as part of the remembered geography of Israel’s early wilderness victories. Like other city-names in the conquest narratives, it functioned as a marker of covenant history rather than as a separate theological term.

Primary Key Texts

• Numbers 21:33
• Deuteronomy 3:1-10
• Joshua 12:4
• Joshua 13:12, 31

Secondary Key Texts

• Deuteronomy 4:47
• Joshua 12:1-6

Original Language Note

The Hebrew name is usually transliterated Edrei (אֶדְרֶעִי).

Theological Significance

Edrei has theological significance only in context: it stands within the account of the Lord’s victory over Og of Bashan and the granting of land east of the Jordan to Israel. The place itself is not a doctrine, but the narrative attached to it displays God’s faithfulness and power.

Philosophical Explanation

As a place-name, Edrei illustrates how biblical theology is grounded in history and geography. Scripture often ties covenant events to specific locations, showing that God’s acts were not abstract ideas but real events in real places.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not treat Edrei as a theological category in its own right. Avoid speculative claims beyond the biblical text, especially about exact modern identification if not carefully sourced.

Major Views

There is no major doctrinal debate about Edrei itself. Discussion usually concerns its identification, location, and role within the Transjordan conquest narratives.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Edrei should be read as a geographical reference within the historical record of Scripture. It should not be turned into an allegory or used to support doctrines apart from the plain meaning of the text.

Practical Significance

Edrei reminds readers that biblical faith rests on God’s action in history. It also shows that even seemingly minor place-names can anchor major acts of deliverance and covenant fulfillment.

Related Entries

• Bashan
• Og
• Moses
• Transjordan
• Conquest of Canaan

See Also

• Numbers 21
• Deuteronomy 3
• Joshua 12
• Joshua 13