Horonaim

HORONAIM (hôr-ŏ-nā'ĭm, two hollows, caves or ravines). A place in Moab, location uncertain (Isa.15.5; Jer.48.3, Jer.48.5, Jer.48.34).

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HORONAIM hôr’ ə nā’ əm (חוֹרֹנַ֔יִם, חֹ֣רֹנַ֔יִם, prob. two caves, holes). A city of Moab, mentioned in the oracles against Moab by Isaiah (15:5) and Jeremiah (48:3, 34). It was at the foot of a descent (Jer 48:5), but its exact site is unknown. It prob. lay on one of the roads leading from the Moabite plateau to the Arabah. Alexander Janneus took Oronain from the Arabs, but Hyrcanus later restored it to Aretas (Jos. Antiq. XIII. xv. 4; XIV. i. 4). In its early history Israel apparently never possessed it.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

an unidentified place in the South of Moab. It is named in Jer 48:5. Isaiah (15:5) and Jeremiah (48:3) speak of "the way to Horanaim"; and Jeremiah (48:5) of the , "descent," or "going down" of Horonaim. Mesha (MS) says he was bidden by Chemosh to "go down" and fight against Choronem. Probably, therefore, it lay on one of the roads leading down from the Moabite plateau to the Arabah. It is mentioned by Josephus as having been taken by Alexander Janneus (Ant., XIII, xv, 4). Hyrcanus promised to restore it and the rest to Aretas (XIV, i, 4). There is no indication that in early times it was ever possessed by Israel. Buhl (GAP 272 f) thinks it may be represented by some significant ruins near Wady ed-Dera`a (Wady Kerak).