Rehob

At a Glance

A biblical proper name used for multiple Old Testament referents.

Key Points

• Used for more than one person and place
• Appears in genealogical and territorial lists
• Often requires context to identify the referent
• Related to biblical geography rather than doctrine

Description

Rehob is a Hebrew proper name used for more than one individual and several places in the Old Testament. In the biblical text it occurs in genealogical lists, territorial descriptions, and geographic references, including contexts associated with Israel’s northern regions and boundary notices. The name itself does not function as a theological concept; its significance lies in the historical and literary settings in which it appears. A useful dictionary entry should therefore identify Rehob as a biblical proper name and distinguish its different referents by context rather than treat it as a doctrine or abstract term.

Biblical Context

The Old Testament uses Rehob in settings where names identify people, towns, or regions. Some occurrences belong to tribal boundary descriptions and settlement lists, while others belong to genealogical or narrative material. Readers should read each occurrence in its immediate context to determine which Rehob is in view.

Historical Context

Rehob reflects the ordinary naming practices of the ancient Near East, where the same name could be borne by different people or attached to more than one location. In Scripture, such names often preserve historical memory tied to clans, settlements, borders, and local identity.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In ancient Israelite usage, names were often reused across persons and places. A name like Rehob would have been understood as a normal proper name, with context supplying the referent. In biblical study, this makes careful textual and geographic reading essential.

Primary Key Texts

• Numbers 13:21
• Joshua 19:28, 30
• 2 Samuel 10:6, 8

Secondary Key Texts

• 1 Chronicles genealogical and list references where the name Rehob appears in context
• related geographical notices involving northern tribal boundaries and town names

Original Language Note

From Hebrew Reḥōb, likely meaning "broad place" or "open space."

Theological Significance

Rehob has no direct doctrinal content of its own, but it contributes to the historical reliability and geographic specificity of Scripture by preserving named persons and locations in the biblical record.

Philosophical Explanation

This is an onomastic entry, not an abstract concept. Its significance is historical and textual: the same name can refer to different realities, so interpretation depends on context.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not treat every occurrence of Rehob as the same person or place. The name is used for multiple referents, so the immediate passage and surrounding geography must guide identification.

Major Views

There are no major doctrinal views to reconcile. The main editorial issue is disambiguation of the different biblical referents.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Rehob is a proper name, not a teaching on God, salvation, covenant, or ethics. Any theological application must come from the surrounding passage, not from the name itself.

Practical Significance

Rehob helps readers follow Old Testament genealogies, tribal allotments, and boundary notices more accurately. It is especially useful for Bible atlas work and for distinguishing similarly named people or places.

Related Entries

• Beth-rehob
• Rehoboth
• Dan
• Naphtali
• Numbers
• Joshua
• 2 Samuel

See Also

• Proper names
• Place names
• Biblical geography
• Genealogies
• Tribal boundaries