Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Numbers 22:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Nu 22:1	Strong Concordance	And the children [01121] of Israel [03478] set forward [05265], and pitched [02583] in the plains [06160] of Moab [04124] on this side [05676] Jordan [03383] by Jericho [03405].
	King James	And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
BALAK'S FIRST MESSAGE FOR BALAAM REFUSED. (Num. 22:1-20) Israel . . . pitched in the plains of Moab--so called from having formerly belonged to that people, though wrested from them by Sihon. It was a dry, sunken, desert region on the east of the Jordan valley, opposite Jericho.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

BALAK'S FIRST MESSAGE FOR BALAAM REFUSED. (Num. 22:1-20)

Israel . . . pitched in the plains of Moab--so called from having formerly belonged to that people, though wrested from them by Sihon. It was a dry, sunken, desert region on the east of the Jordan valley, opposite Jericho.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The plains - Hebrew ערבה ‛ărābâh; the word is the plural of that which is used to denote the whole depressed tract along the Jordan and the Dead Sea, and onward, where it is still called the Arabah (compare Num 21:4 note), to the Elanitic gulf. On this side Jordan by Jericho - Rather, across the Jordan of Jericho, i. e., that part of Jordan which skirted the territory of Jericho. This form of expression indicates the site of the camp in its relation to the well-known city of Jericho. See Deu 1:1.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
After the defeat of the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, and the conquest of their kingdoms in Gilead and Bashan, the Israelites removed from the height of Pisgah, on the mountains of Abarim before Nebo (see at Num 21:20), and encamped in the "Arboth Moab (the steppes of Moab), on the other side of the Jordan of Jericho," i.e., that part of the Jordan which skirted the province of Jericho. Arboth Moab was the name given to that portion of the Arabah, or large plain of the Jordan, the present Ghor (see at Deu 1:1), which belonged to the territory of the Moabites previous to the spread of the Amorites under Sihon in the land to the east of the Jordan, and which probably reached from the Dead Sea to the mouth of the Jabbok. The site of the Israelitish camp is therefore defined with greater minuteness by the clause "beyond the Jordan of Jericho." This place of encampment, which is frequently alluded to (Num 26:3, Num 26:63; Num 31:12; Num 33:48, Num 33:50; Num 35:1; Num 36:13; Jos 13:32), extended, according to Num 33:49, from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim. Beth-jeshimoth (i.e., house of wastes), on the north-eastern desert border (Jeishimon, Num 21:20) of the Dead Sea, a town allotted to the tribe of Reuben (Jos 12:3; Jos 13:20), was situated, according to the Onom. (s. v.Beethasimou'th, Bethsimuth), ten Roman miles, or four hours, to the south (S.E.) of Jericho, on the Dead Sea; according to Josephus (bell. jud. iv. 7, 6), it was to the south of Julias (Livias), i.e., Beth-haram, or Rameh, on the northern edge of the Wady Hesban (see at Num 32:36), or in the Ghor el Seisabn, on the northern coast of the Dead Sea, and the southern end of the plain of the Jordan. Abel Shittim (השּׁטּים אבל), i.e., the acacia-meadow, or, in its briefer form, Shittim (Num 35:1), was situated, according to Josephus (Ant. iv. 8, 1), on the same spot as the later town of Abila, in a locality rich in date-palms, sixty stadia from the Jordan, probably by the Wady Eshtah to the north of the Wady Hesban; even if Knobel's supposition that the name is connected with אשׁטה = שׁטּה with א prost. should not be a tenable one. From Shittim or Sittim the Israelites advanced, under Joshua, to the Jordan, to effect the conquest of Canaan (Jos 3:1). In the steppes of Moab the Israelites encamped upon the border of the promised land, from which they were only separated by the Jordan. But before this boundary line could be passed, there were many preparations that had to be made. In the first place, the whole congregation was to pass through a trial of great importance to all future generations, as bearing upon the relation in which it stood to the heathen world; and in the second place, it was here that Moses, who was not to enter Canaan because of his sin at the water of strife, was to bring the work of legislation to a close before his death, and not only to issue the requisite instructions concerning the conquest of the promised inheritance, and the division of it among the tribes of Israel, but to impress once more upon the hearts of the whole congregation the essential contents of the whole law, with all that the Lord had done for Israel, that they might be confirmed in their fidelity to the Lord, and preserved from the danger of apostasy. This last work of the faithful servant of God, with which he brought his mediatorial work to a close, is described in the book of Deuteronomy; whilst the laws relating to the conquest and partition of Canaan, with the experience of Israel in the steppes of Moab, fill up the latter portion of the present book.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

After the defeat of the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, and the conquest of their kingdoms in Gilead and Bashan, the Israelites removed from the height of Pisgah, on the mountains of Abarim before Nebo (see at Num 21:20), and encamped in the "Arboth Moab (the steppes of Moab), on the other side of the Jordan of Jericho," i.e., that part of the Jordan which skirted the province of Jericho. Arboth Moab was the name given to that portion of the Arabah, or large plain of the Jordan, the present Ghor (see at Deu 1:1), which belonged to the territory of the Moabites previous to the spread of the Amorites under Sihon in the land to the east of the Jordan, and which probably reached from the Dead Sea to the mouth of the Jabbok. The site of the Israelitish camp is therefore defined with greater minuteness by the clause "beyond the Jordan of Jericho." This place of encampment, which is frequently alluded to (Num 26:3, Num 26:63; Num 31:12; Num 33:48, Num 33:50; Num 35:1; Num 36:13; Jos 13:32), extended, according to Num 33:49, from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim. Beth-jeshimoth (i.e., house of wastes), on the north-eastern desert border (Jeishimon, Num 21:20) of the Dead Sea, a town allotted to the tribe of Reuben (Jos 12:3; Jos 13:20), was situated, according to the Onom. (s. v.Beethasimou'th, Bethsimuth), ten Roman miles, or four hours, to the south (S.E.) of Jericho, on the Dead Sea; according to Josephus (bell. jud. iv. 7, 6), it was to the south of Julias (Livias), i.e., Beth-haram, or Rameh, on the northern edge of the Wady Hesban (see at Num 32:36), or in the Ghor el Seisabn, on the northern coast of the Dead Sea, and the southern end of the plain of the Jordan. Abel Shittim (השּׁטּים אבל), i.e., the acacia-meadow, or, in its briefer form, Shittim (Num 35:1), was situated, according to Josephus (Ant. iv. 8, 1), on the same spot as the later town of Abila, in a locality rich in date-palms, sixty stadia from the Jordan, probably by the Wady Eshtah to the north of the Wady Hesban; even if Knobel's supposition that the name is connected with אשׁטה = שׁטּה with א prost. should not be a tenable one. From Shittim or Sittim the Israelites advanced, under Joshua, to the Jordan, to effect the conquest of Canaan (Jos 3:1).

In the steppes of Moab the Israelites encamped upon the border of the promised land, from which they were only separated by the Jordan. But before this boundary line could be passed, there were many preparations that had to be made. In the first place, the whole congregation was to pass through a trial of great importance to all future generations, as bearing upon the relation in which it stood to the heathen world; and in the second place, it was here that Moses, who was not to enter Canaan because of his sin at the water of strife, was to bring the work of legislation to a close before his death, and not only to issue the requisite instructions concerning the conquest of the promised inheritance, and the division of it among the tribes of Israel, but to impress once more upon the hearts of the whole congregation the essential contents of the whole law, with all that the Lord had done for Israel, that they might be confirmed in their fidelity to the Lord, and preserved from the danger of apostasy. This last work of the faithful servant of God, with which he brought his mediatorial work to a close, is described in the book of Deuteronomy; whilst the laws relating to the conquest and partition of Canaan, with the experience of Israel in the steppes of Moab, fill up the latter portion of the present book.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
The plains of Moab - Which still retained their ancient title, though they had been taken away from the Moabites by Sihon, and from him by the Israelites. By Jericho - That is, over against Jericho.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
And pitched in the plains of Moab - They had taken no part of the country that at present appertained to the Moabites; they had taken only that part which had formerly belonged to this people, but had been taken from them by Sihon, king of the Amorites. On this side Jordan - On the east side. By Jericho, that is, over against it.

Top

¹ These be the words [01697] which Moses [04872] spake [01696] unto all Israel [03478] on this side [05676] Jordan [03383] in the wilderness [04057], in the plain [06160] over against [04136] the Red [05489] sea, between Paran [06290], and Tophel [08603], and Laban [03837], and Hazeroth [02698], and Dizahab [01774].

⁴ And they journeyed [05265] from mount [02022] Hor [02023] by the way [01870] of the Red [05488] sea [03220], to compass [05437] the land [0776] of Edom [0123]: and the soul [05315] of the people [05971] was much discouraged [07114] because of the way [01870].

¹ And Joshua [03091] rose early [07925] in the morning [01242]; and they removed [05265] from Shittim [07851], and came [0935] to Jordan [03383], he and all the children [01121] of Israel [03478], and lodged [03885] there before they passed over [05674].

¹ And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872] in the plains [06160] of Moab [04124] by Jordan [03383] near Jericho [03405], saying [0559],

³⁶ And Bethnimrah [01039], and Bethharan [01028], fenced [04013] cities [05892]: and folds [01448] for sheep [06629].

²⁰ And Bethpeor [01047], and Ashdothpisgah [0798] [0794], and Bethjeshimoth [01020],

³ And from the plain [06160] to the sea [03220] of Chinneroth [03672] on the east [04217], and unto the sea [03220] of the plain [06160], even the salt [04417] sea [03220] on the east [04217], the way [01870] to Bethjeshimoth [01020]; and from the south [08486], under Ashdothpisgah [0798] [0794]:

²⁰ And from Bamoth [01120] in the valley [01516], that is in the country [07704] of Moab [04124], to the top [07218] of Pisgah [06449], which looketh [08259] toward [06440] Jeshimon [03452].

⁴⁹ And they pitched [02583] by Jordan [03383], from Bethjesimoth [01020] even unto Abelshittim [063] in the plains [06160] of Moab [04124].

³² These are the countries which Moses [04872] did distribute for inheritance [05157] in the plains [06160] of Moab [04124], on the other side [05676] Jordan [03383], by Jericho [03405], eastward [04217].

¹³ These are the commandments [04687] and the judgments [04941], which the LORD [03068] commanded [06680] by the hand [03027] of Moses [04872] unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478] in the plains [06160] of Moab [04124] by Jordan [03383] near Jericho [03405].

¹ And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872] in the plains [06160] of Moab [04124] by Jordan [03383] near Jericho [03405], saying [0559],

⁵⁰ And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872] in the plains [06160] of Moab [04124] by Jordan [03383] near Jericho [03405], saying [0559],

⁴⁸ And they departed [05265] from the mountains [02022] of Abarim [05682], and pitched [02583] in the plains [06160] of Moab [04124] by Jordan [03383] near Jericho [03405].

¹² And they brought [0935] the captives [07628], and the prey [04455], and the spoil [07998], unto Moses [04872], and Eleazar [0499] the priest [03548], and unto the congregation [05712] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478], unto the camp [04264] at the plains [06160] of Moab [04124], which are by Jordan [03383] near Jericho [03405].

⁶³ These are they that were numbered [06485] by Moses [04872] and Eleazar [0499] the priest [03548], who numbered [06485] the children [01121] of Israel [03478] in the plains [06160] of Moab [04124] by Jordan [03383] near Jericho [03405].

³ And Moses [04872] and Eleazar [0499] the priest [03548] spake [01696] with them in the plains [06160] of Moab [04124] by Jordan [03383] near Jericho [03405], saying [0559],

²⁰ And from Bamoth [01120] in the valley [01516], that is in the country [07704] of Moab [04124], to the top [07218] of Pisgah [06449], which looketh [08259] toward [06440] Jeshimon [03452].