Edrei, an Amorite city east of the Jordan defeated by the Israelites under Moses.
Edrei was one of the chief cities of Bashan, located east of the Jordan River. It was ruled by Og, king of Bashan, who was defeated by the Israelites under Moses' leadership as they approached the Promised Land (Numbers 21:33-35).
After its capture, the city was allotted to the half-tribe of Manasseh. Edrei is mentioned alongside Ashtaroth as one of the main cities in Bashan. The ruins of Edrei are identified with modern-day Der'a in Syria.
Approximate location: 32.624, 36.099 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
Mighty; strength. (1.) One of the chief towns of the kingdom of Bashan (Josh. 12:4, 5). Here Og was defeated by the Israelites, and the strength of the Amorites broken (Num. 21:33-35). It subsequently belonged to Manasseh, for a short time apparently, and afterwards became the abode of banditti and outlaws (Josh. 13:31). It has been identified with the modern Edr’a, which stands on a rocky promontory on the south-west edge of the Lejah (the Argob of the Hebrews, and Trachonitis of the Greeks). The ruins of Edr’a are the most extensive in the Hauran. They are 3 miles in circumference. A number of the ancient houses still remain; the walls, roofs, and doors being all of stone. The wild region of which Edrei was the capital is thus described in its modern aspect: “Elevated about 20 feet above the plain, it is a labyrinth of clefts and crevasses in the rock, formed by volcanic action; and owing to its impenetrable condition, it has become a refuge for outlaws and turbulent characters, who make it a sort of Cave of Adullam...It is, in fact, an impregnable natural fortress, about 20 miles in length and 15 in breadth” (Porter’s Syria, etc.). Beneath this wonderful city there is also a subterranean city, hollowed out probably as a refuge for the population of the upper city in times of danger. (See BASHAN.) (2.) A town of Naphtali (Josh. 19:37).
a very great mass, or cloud
ED'REI (strength, stronghold). A capital city of Bashan. Num 21:33; Deut 3:1-10. It was in the territory of Manasseh beyond (east of) Jordan. Num 32:33. It is not noticed in later Bible history, although it was an important city until the seventh century of the Christian era. Its ruins, called Edhra, cover a circuit of 3 miles. Without a spring, river, or stream, without access except over rocks and through nearly impassable defiles, without tree or garden, it is a place of security and strength. Among the ruins are remains of churches, temples, and mosques. The place has now about 500 population. A town of Naphtali. Num 19:37. Porter identifies it with Tell Khuraiheh, near Kedesh; Conder with Yater.
ED'REI (strength, stronghold). A capital city of Bashan. Num 21:33; Deut 3:1-10. It was in the territory of Manasseh beyond (east of) Jordan. Num 32:33. It is not noticed in later Bible history, although it was an important city until the seventh century of the Christian era. Its ruins, called Edhra, cover a circuit of 3 miles. Without a spring, river, or stream, without access except over rocks and through nearly impassable defiles, without tree or garden, it is a place of security and strength. Among the ruins are remains of churches, temples, and mosques. The place has now about 500 population. A town of Naphtali. Num 19:37. Porter identifies it with Tell Khuraiheh, near Kedesh; Conder with Yater.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
8 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H0154
Then they turned and went up the road to Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army came out to meet them in battle at Edrei.
This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and then at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth.
Then we turned and went up the road to Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army came out to meet us in battle at Edrei.
all the cities of the plateau, all of Gilead, and all of Bashan as far as the cities of Salecah and Edrei in the kingdom of Og.
And Og king of Bashan, one of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei.
the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who had reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei and had remained as a remnant of the Rephaim. Moses had struck them down and dispossessed them,
half of Gilead; and Ashtaroth and Edrei, the royal cities of Og in Bashan. All this was for the clans of the descendants of Machir son of Manasseh, that is, half of the descendants of Machir.
Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.