Recorded as the city of a giant people called Emims (Gen. 14:5). Probably el-Qereiyât, between Dhiban and the Dead Sea.
Heshbon.
Another city that had manychanges of fortune. In ch. 21:25 it is in the possession of the Amorites. In Joshua 13:17, as here, Reuben has control of it. In Joshua 21:39 Gad is the possessor. Moab again possesses it according to Isa. 15:4; 16:9; Jer. 48:2. Eventually it comes under the power of the children of Ammon (Jer. 49:1-3).
Reuben built.
Again the idea is that of repairing and making habitable and secure, cities that had been damaged in war.