ABSTRACT
The Bible provides information about several cult centres located in the territory of Transjordan and in the vicinity of the Jordan. The epigraphical evidence provided by the Mesha stele shows a struggle for influence in the region of Gilead between Moab and Israel in the middle of the ninth century bce. Nadav Na'aman concluded that, on the basis of the inscription of Rezin, we can establish that the southern boundary of the Aramaean possessions went as far as Abel-Shittim, on a level with Jericho. Galeed (Mizpah), like Penuel and Mahanaim, has not been positively identified archaeologically. Several motifs typical of a story about the establishment of a holy place appear in the aetiology of Gilead: the heroes make a covenant with one another they set up a they call on God, or gods, in making an oath, they make a sacrifice, and receive a blessing.
