Deuteronomy 3 29

Deuteronomy 3:29 kjv

So we abode in the valley over against Bethpeor.

Deuteronomy 3:29 nkjv

"So we stayed in the valley opposite Beth Peor.

Deuteronomy 3:29 niv

So we stayed in the valley near Beth Peor.

Deuteronomy 3:29 esv

So we remained in the valley opposite Beth-peor.

Deuteronomy 3:29 nlt

So we stayed in the valley near Beth-peor.

Deuteronomy 3 verses

Deuteronomy 3 29 Meaning

Deuteronomy 3:29 states, "So we stayed in the valley opposite Beth-peor." This verse marks a significant geographical location and a period of encampment for the Israelites. It signifies the final stop of their forty-year wilderness journey under Moses' leadership, situated directly facing Beth-peor, an area historically significant for their past idolatry and rebellion. It represents a liminal space—a place of waiting, preparation, and profound transition immediately before they crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, now under the new leadership of Joshua. The verse implicitly highlights the end of an era and the impending fulfillment of God's covenant promises, against the backdrop of past disobedience.

Deuteronomy 3 29 Context

Deuteronomy 3:29 serves as the concluding statement of Moses' first extended address to the new generation of Israelites. Preceding this verse, Moses has meticulously recounted God's victories over King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan (Deut 3:1-11). He also described the distribution of their conquered lands to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh (Deut 3:12-20), and commissioned Joshua for the upcoming invasion of Canaan (Deut 3:21-22). Most significantly, verses 23-28 narrate Moses' fervent plea to God to enter the Promised Land, only to be unequivocally denied due to his previous disobedience at Meribah. God commanded him to ascend Mount Pisgah instead to view the land and confirmed Joshua as his successor. Therefore, their encampment "in the valley opposite Beth-peor" marks the absolute final stop for this generation on the east side of the Jordan before their crossing, without Moses.

Historically and culturally, the location Beth-peor is profoundly significant. It was here, at Peor (also known as Baal-peor), that the Israelites, after listening to Balaam’s counsel, indulged in sexual immorality and idolatry by worshiping Baal with the Moabite and Midianite women (Num 25:1-9). This egregious act resulted in a plague that killed 24,000 Israelites. By noting their encampment "opposite Beth-peor," Moses implicitly reminds the new generation of their fathers' grave sin and the severe consequences of disobedience and idolatry. This context serves as a potent warning against future transgressions as they prepare to enter a land filled with similar pagan practices, making it a powerful polemic against any temptation towards Canaanite cults.

Deuteronomy 3 29 Word analysis

• So we stayed (וַנֵּשֶׁב - va-ne-shev):

  • Original meaning: From the root yashab (יָשַׁב), meaning "to sit," "to dwell," "to inhabit," or "to remain."
  • Significance: This is more than a casual halt; it denotes an intentional and extended encampment or dwelling. It highlights a period of settled rest and readiness. In the immediate context, this "staying" implies a time of instruction, consolidation, and mental preparation before the decisive action of crossing the Jordan. It's a pause dictated by divine timing, serving as the final point before the climactic entry. It can be seen as God keeping them "on pause" to ensure final preparations, especially after the difficult truths Moses just shared about his own exclusion.

• in the valley (בַּגַּ֖יְא - ba-gai):

  • Original meaning: Gai (גַּיְא) refers to a "valley," a "ravine," or a "gorge," typically low-lying ground often traversed by a stream.
  • Significance: A valley, in contrast to a mountaintop, can signify a place of humility, vulnerability, or even confinement. While likely a simple geographical descriptor here, the contrast to Mount Pisgah (Deut 3:27), where Moses would ascend, is noteworthy. It marks their humble position, physically below the peak where God's ultimate decision about Moses was revealed. It is also a natural gathering place, facilitating the final mass mobilization for the crossing.

• opposite (מוּל - mul):

  • Original meaning: Means "opposite," "before," "in front of," or "facing."
  • Significance: This preposition specifies direct alignment and proximity. Beth-peor was directly in their line of sight, meaning the infamous site of past sin was literally "before their eyes." This visual connection reinforces the solemn warning about the consequences of idolatry and highlights God's strategic placement for remembrance and instruction.

• Beth-peor (בֵּית פְּעוֹר - Beit P'or):

  • Original meaning: "House of Peor." "Peor" refers to the specific mountain where Baal was worshiped and where the notorious incident of Israelite idolatry and immorality occurred with the Moabites and Midianites.
  • Significance: This geographical reference is steeped in a dark theological history for Israel. It’s not merely a place; it's a marker of profound spiritual failure (Num 25). Placing their final encampment opposite this specific location serves as a stark, ever-present reminder to the new generation of the consequences of covenant disloyalty and syncretism. It warns them against falling into similar traps in Canaan and implicitly underlines God’s abhorrence of idolatry, serving as a didactic polemic against the very type of pagan worship they would encounter across the Jordan.

Deuteronomy 3 29 Bonus section

• The juxtaposition of their final peaceful "staying" with the chaotic, destructive "stay" (the plague) at the very same site years prior is a profound biblical irony. It speaks to God's mercy in giving a new generation a fresh start in the very place where their ancestors spectacularly failed, but with a vivid, solemn warning physically present.
• This location marks the threshold: the edge of the wilderness and the precipice of the promised land. It is the end of Moses' physical leadership and the beginning of Joshua's, the culmination of one phase of the Exodus narrative and the inauguration of another, covenant-fulfilling one.
• The emphasis on specific geographical locations throughout Deuteronomy roots the narrative in historical reality and serves as tangible points of memory and instruction for the future generations of Israelites, much like monuments or memorial stones.
• The mention of "valley" here could also symbolize the 'low point' before an ascent. While Moses himself would ascend Mount Nebo/Pisgah, the people themselves, having reached their final point in a 'valley,' are ready for the 'ascension' into their inheritance.

Deuteronomy 3 29 Commentary

Deuteronomy 3:29 concisely delivers powerful symbolic and practical meaning. The act of "staying" signifies a divinely orchestrated pause, a period of vital preparation and final instruction before the imminent entry into Canaan. This transitional phase underscores God's faithfulness in bringing His people to the cusp of His promises, even after forty years of wandering. The choice of location, "opposite Beth-peor," is highly intentional. It is a grim echo of their profound historical failure at the same site, where the preceding generation succumbed to idolatry and immorality. By having them directly confront this infamous place, the text delivers a strong, unspoken warning: the consequences of disobedience and the insidious pull of pagan practices must not be forgotten, especially as they prepare to inherit a land saturated with such influences. It's a reminder of what God requires: absolute loyalty and adherence to His covenant. This verse closes Moses' reflective account of their journey, setting the stage for the definitive call to obedience and the final handover of leadership to Joshua, who will guide the purified generation across the Jordan.