The locations of some of the cities mentioned in verses 25-27 have not been identified; others have been identified and are to be found on modern biblical maps, such as the maps in the Revised Standard Version Oxford Study Edition and the New English Bible Oxford Study Edition.

The Aroer mentioned in this verse (also in Judges 11.33) is not the same as the Aroer in the territory of Reuben (verse 16); the text locates it to the east.Gray contends that the Hebrew phrase al-peney “opposite” does not mean “east” here but “west.” New American Bible has “toward”; Traduction œcuménique de la Bible Bible de Jérusalem Jerusalem Bible have “facing.” Rabbah is the shortened form of the name Rabbah-Ammon, today Amman, the capital of Jordan.

The translation of this verse may require: (1) that Jazar, Aroer, and Rabbah be identified as cities, and (2) that the sentence be divided into two or more parts. For example, “Their territory included the city of Jazar and all the cities in the region of Gilead. It also included the land of Ammon as far as the city of Aroer, which is east of the city of Rabbah.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .