פַּ֫חַת מוֹאָב

# Pahath-moab: A Place Name in Biblical Geography Pahath-moab appears eight times in the Hebrew Bible as a proper noun referring to a specific geographical location. The name combines two Hebrew elements: "pahath" (pit or depression) and "moab" (the ancient kingdom east of the Dead Sea), literally translating to something like "the pit of Moab." This designation suggests either a geographical feature—a valley or depression within or bordering Moab—or possibly an administrative district associated with Moabite territory. The relatively modest frequency of occurrences (eight instances) indicates this was a recognized place in biblical geography without being a major narrative focal point. Rather than featuring as a setting for extended religious or military events, Pahath-moab appears to have served primarily as a geographical reference point or boundary marker. Its inclusion in the biblical record suggests it held administrative or territorial significance for ancient Israel during the periods covered by the biblical texts, likely relevant to matters of settlement, taxation, or territorial organization. The consistent use of this place name across multiple biblical texts indicates it was a stable, established location known to the biblical writers and their audiences. However, without additional context from the lexicon data regarding specific passages or historical circumstances, the precise nature of its significance—whether political, military, economic, or religious—cannot be determined from the name alone.