What is…
Heshbon

also known as: Hesbon (Ḥešbōn), Hesbân (Hesban), Hesebon, Hisban, Esebon, Esbous, Esbus; Esebus (Latin)

Hebrew: חֶשְׁבּוֹן  or חשבון —transliteration: Cheshbon

Ancient Greek: Ἐσεβών, Ἐσσεβών, Ἐσβούτα, Ἐσβούς, Ἔσβους, Ἔξβους

This is an ancient stronghold city in modern Jordan ruled over by Sihon, king of the Amorites (Joshua 3:10; 13:17).

…They took possession of the land of Sihon the king of Heshbon… —Nehemiah 9:22 excerpt

On the south, the city overlooks the Arnon River plain. To the north, it overlooks the Medeba plateau. One of this sites advantages is that there are springs here for watering herds and agriculture.

Heshbon was taken by Moses (Numbers 21:23-26), and became afterwards a Levitical city (Joshua 21:39) in the tribe of Reuben (Numbers 32:37).

After the Exile it was taken possession of by the Moabites (Isaiah 15:4; Jeremiah 48:2, 34, 45).

Archaeology

The ruins of this town are called Tel Ḥesban (Tell Ḥesbân). They are visible east of the Dead Sea’s north end. There are ancient reservoirs in this district, which are probably the “fishpools” referred to in Song of Songs 7:4.