Dictionary Summary: Waters of quiet, an ancient Moabite town ([Num. 21:30](/num#Num.21.30)). It was assigned to the tribe of Reuben ([Josh. 13:16](/josh#Josh.13.16)). Here was fought the great battle in which Joab defeated the Ammonites and their allies ([1 Chr. 19:7-15](/1chr#1Chr.19.7); comp. [2 Sam. 10:6-14](/2sam#2Sam.10.6)). In the time of Isaiah (15:2) the Moabites regained possession of it from the Ammonites. (See HANUN.) The ruins of this important city, now Madeba or Madiyabah, are seen about 8 miles south-west of Heshbon, and 14 east of the Dead Sea. Among these are the ruins of what must have been a large temple, and of three cisterns of considerable extent, which are now dry. These cisterns may have originated the name Medeba, “waters of quiet.” (See OMRI.) ²