REKEM re’ kəm (רֶ֨קֶמ׃֙; LXX ̔Ροκομ, meaning friendship). 1. One of five Midianite kings killed by the Israelites in a battle on the plains of Moab (Num 31:8; Josh 13:21). According to Numbers 31, Moses was commanded by God to exact vengeance on the Midianites. Previously the Midianites had enticed Israel into worshiping Baal of Peor, and Zimri had taken Cozbi, the daughter of a Midianite king, to his family’s house (Num 25). Rekem is named as one of five kings of Midian who were prob. vassals of Sihon, the Amorite king (Josh 13:21). Apparently Sihon had taken possession of the area of Moab and made the Midianite tribes residing in Moab subject to him.

2. A descendant of Caleb; son of Hebron and the father of Shammai (1 Chron 2:43, 44).

3. One of several cities within the territory given by Joshua to the tribe of Benjamin (Josh 18:27). Its location is still uncertain.