Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography/Baal-meon

by William Smith (1813-1893)

BAAL-MEON, a city of the tribe of Reuben (Nwmb. xxxii. 38; 1 Chron. v. 8), afterwards occupied by the Moabites. (Ezek. xxv. 9.) It is mentioned by St Jerome as a large village in his time, and is placed by him and Eusebius nine miles distant from Heshbon, and near Bare (Baara). (Reland, Palaest. pp. 487, 611.) Burckhardt identifies it with Myoun, ¾ of an hour SE. of the ruins of Heshbon (Travels, p. 385); but this would not be more than 2 or 3 miles, which is too short an interval. Yet the name (written by Irby and Mangles "Mayt", p. 464), and the neighbouring hot springs (see St. Jerome, l. c.), seem to identify it with the Scripture site. It stands on a considerable eminence, in a fertile plain.[ G. W. ]