Heshbon

HESHBON, a celebrated City beyond Jordan, otherwise called Esbus, Chesbon, Chasphon, Chascor. It was, as Eusebius says, twenty miles eastward from Jordan. Josh. xiii. 17.It was given to the Tribe of Reuben; but was probably made over to that of Gad, since we meet with it among the cities which this Tribe gave the Levites for their Josh. xxi. 37. 2 Chr. vi. 8.abode. It belonged at first to the Moabites, from whom King Sihon conquered it. It was retaken by the Israelites a little before the death of Moses. Lastly, after the ten Tribes were transplanted into the Country beyond Jordan, the Moabites made themselves Jerem. xlviii. 2.masters of it. Pliny makes it belong to Arabia. Solomon in his Song speaks of Plin. l. 5. c. 11.the waters of Heshbon; and the second Cant. vii. 4.book of Maccabees says, that the Lake of Caspis or Heshbon was two furlongs, or 2 Macc. xii. 16.three hundred paces broad.

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