Nimrim

NIMRIM (nĭm'rĭm, Heb. nimrîm). A place in Moab noted for its waters (Isa.15.6; Jer.48.34). It was probably SE of the Dead Sea.

Both Isaiah and Jeremiah predicted, “The waters of Nimrim are a desolation” (Isa 15:6; Jer 48:34). If the former were in effect tracing the Moabites’ southwestward “route of flight...to Edom” (J. Simons, Geographical and Topographical Texts of the OT, 436), downstream from Horonaim (Isa 15:5-7) and then S across the brook of willows (=the Edomite border, Zered; NIC, OT, Isa, I:459), then Nimrim would be the Seil en Numeirah, or stream-oasis near the E coast of the Dead Sea, half way between El Lisan and the southern tip of the Sea. The present fertile Wadi Nimrin, which flows into the Jordan eight m. N of the Dead Sea and marks the N limit of the Plains of Moab, seems more probable to be identified with the OT נִמְרָ֔ה (בֵּ֥ית), q.v. (Num 32:3, 36); cf. N. Glueck, “Explorations in E Pal., II, IV” AASOR XV (1934-1935), 7, 8; XXV-XXVIII (1945-1948), 366, 367.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

(me nimrim; Codex Vaticanus Nebrein; Codex Alexandrinus Ebrim (Jer 48:34); to hudor tes Nimreim (Isa 15:6)): The meaning appears to be "pure" or "wholesome water." The name occurs only in Isa 15:6 and Jer 48:34 in oracles against Moab. In each case it is mentioned in association with Zoar and Horonaim. It is therefore probably to be sought to the Southeast of the Dead Sea. Eusebius, Onomasticon, places a town, Bennamareim, to the Nimrim of Zoar, and identifies it with the Old Testament "Nimrim," as it seems, correctly. The name is still found in Wady Numeireh, opening on the sea at Burj Numeirah, Nimrim of Ghor es-Safiyeh. The waters of Nimrim may be sought either in Moiyet Numeirah or in the spring higher up, where lie the ruins of a town in a well-watered and fruitful district (Buhl, GAP, 272).