Set in the ‘Mishor’ along the ‘Kings highway’ (today’s route 35), biblical Dibon was an Israelite city and later the capital of the Moabites. Today, Tel Dhiban is an archaeological site adjacent to Dhiban village.

History and Archaeology of Biblical Dibon

According to the bible, Dibon was one of the stations of the Israelites during their exodus (Numbers 33:45) and later part of the lot of Gad’s tribe (Number 32:3; Joshua 13:9).  During the 9th Century BCE, Dibon became the capital of the Moabites, and its Moabite king, Mesha, led a successful rebellion against the Israelites (II Kings 3). However, by the 8^th century BCE, the Assyrians subdued the Israelites and the Moabites.

In 1868 Bedouns found in Dibon a black basalt stele, 44-inch high, which proved to be a decree of King Mesha. Known as the ‘Moabite Stone,’ its 34-line inscription describes Mesha’s battles against the Israelites and his development of Moabite cities, all to please the chief Moabite god, Kemosh. This stele is one of the most important archaeological discoveries from biblical times. Unfortunately, shortly after its discovery, the Bedouins smashed the stele. However, French scholar Clermont-Genneau managed to piece its fragments and ship it to France. Today, it is displayed at the Louvre Museum in France.

Excavations in Dibon in the 1950s  uncovered a Byzantine-era church next to a temple from Roman times that had been built over a Nabatean temple. Both were perhaps built over a former Moabite high-place dedicated to Kemosh.

Touring Dibon

The site is accessible and free of charge. Unfortunately, despite its biblical significance, there is little that can be seen on the surface. There are also no marked trails or any signs at the site.

A tour of Dibon / Tell Dhiban can be combined with a multi-day tour of Jordan.