Numbers 22:1 kjv
And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
Numbers 22:1 nkjv
Then the children of Israel moved, and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho.
Numbers 22:1 niv
Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.
Numbers 22:1 esv
Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
Numbers 22:1 nlt
Then the people of Israel traveled to the plains of Moab and camped east of the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
Numbers 22 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:7 | Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring...this land." | God's initial promise of land to Abraham. |
| Exod 3:8 | So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land... | God's intention to bring Israel into Canaan. |
| Deut 1:5 | On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying, | Location for Moses' Deuteronomic speeches. |
| Deut 3:8 | And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon; | Refers to previous conquests east of Jordan. |
| Deut 4:46 | On this side Jordan, in the valley over against Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel smote, after they were come forth out of Egypt: | East Jordan land already conquered. |
| Deut 34:1 | And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. | Moses views Canaan from near this location. |
| Num 21:21-35 | Israel defeats Sihon and Og, taking their land. | Immediate preceding context of conquest, arriving here. |
| Num 25:1 | And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. | The sin of Baal-peor occurred in this same region. |
| Num 26:3 | And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho... | The second census takes place at this location. |
| Num 31:12 | And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which is by Jordan near Jericho. | Spoils from Midianite war brought to this camp. |
| Num 33:48 | And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. | Last major encampment before Jordan crossing. |
| Num 33:50 | And the Lord spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, | God gives commands from this specific location. |
| Num 35:1 | And the Lord spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, | Instructions for cities of refuge given here. |
| Josh 1:2 | Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. | God commands entry from across the Jordan. |
| Josh 3:1 | And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. | Joshua moves camp from the plains towards Jordan. |
| Josh 4:19 | And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho. | Entry into Canaan via Jericho area. |
| Josh 5:10 | And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. | Celebration of Passover in plains near Jericho after crossing. |
| Neh 9:22 | Moreover Thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan. | Remembers the acquisition of trans-Jordan land. |
| Ps 78:55 | He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. | God bringing Israel into their inherited land. |
| Acts 7:45 | Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; | Stephen's sermon mentions bringing into possession (Joshua). |
| Heb 4:8-9 | For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. | Spiritual rest in God as parallel to Promised Land entry. |
Numbers 22 verses
Numbers 22 1 Meaning
Numbers 22:1 marks a crucial geographical and transitional point in the journey of the Israelites. Having completed their military victories over Sihon and Og, they now encamp on the plains of Moab, specifically east of the Jordan River and across from the city of Jericho. This precise location signifies their immediate proximity to the Promised Land, serving as the staging ground for the final events of the wilderness wandering before they cross into Canaan.
Numbers 22 1 Context
Numbers chapter 22 verse 1 initiates a new phase in the Israelite narrative, setting the stage for one of the most significant episodes: the encounters between Balak, King of Moab, and the prophet Balaam. Geographically, it directly follows the victorious battles against Sihon, King of the Amorites, and Og, King of Bashan, as described in Numbers 21. These victories granted Israel control over the land east of the Jordan River. Historically and culturally, this marks the end of Israel's arduous 40-year wilderness wandering and places them at the doorstep of Canaan. The plains of Moab were a strategic region, bordering Edom to the south, the Amorites (whom Israel had just defeated) to the north, and across the Jordan from the powerful cities of Canaan, including Jericho. This encampment represents both the culmination of their desert journey and the immediate prelude to the conquest of the Promised Land, foreshadowing the challenges and pivotal events that will unfold in chapters 22-36. The precise geographical details emphasize the literal fulfillment of God's promises and provide a tangible setting for the divine intervention that will be revealed.
Numbers 22 1 Word analysis
- And: Hebrew "וַיִּסְעוּ" (vayyis‘ū), starting with a waw consecutive. This particle connects the action seamlessly with previous events, indicating continuity in God's guiding of Israel's journey. It implies an orderly, directed movement as part of the unfolding divine plan.
- the people of Israel: Hebrew "בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" (benē yiśrā’ēl), literally "sons of Israel." This phrase consistently refers to the entire Israelite community or nation, not merely a segment. It underscores their collective identity as God's chosen people, moving as one body under His command.
- set forward: Hebrew "וַיִּסְעוּ" (vayyis‘ū), from the verb נָסַע (nasa‘). Means "to pull up stakes," "to journey," or "to depart." It denotes an organized and intentional movement, characteristic of Israel's journey in the wilderness, often following the guidance of the pillar of cloud/fire (Num 10:11-12). It implies preparation and a purposeful next stage of the journey.
- and pitched: Hebrew "וַיַּחֲנוּ" (vayyaḥănū), from the verb חָנָה (ḥānâ). Means "to encamp," "to settle down," or "to lay siege." Here, it signifies the act of establishing a temporary dwelling, pitching tents for an extended stay. This was not a quick stop but a sustained encampment. It has military connotations, suggesting a vast, organized army resting before action.
- in the plains of Moab: Hebrew "בְּעַרְבֹות מֹואָב" (bə‘arvōṯ mô’āḇ). "Plains" (ʿarāḇôṯ) refers to the dry, open, often treeless steppes or arid regions. This specific geographic descriptor is used frequently in Numbers and Deuteronomy to denote the area east of the Jordan River where Israel was located prior to entering Canaan. Its significance lies in being the final long-term encampment before the crossing and the site of many important events, including Moses' last speeches, the second census, and the sin of Baal-peor. It's a key transition zone.
- on this side Jordan: Hebrew "מֵעֵבֶר לַיַּרְדֵּן" (mē‘ēḇer layyardēn). This phrase denotes the eastern side of the Jordan River, looking towards the western bank where Canaan lies. It clarifies Israel's position as being directly opposite the Promised Land but not yet within it. It sets up the impending crossing into Canaan as the next major event.
- by Jericho: Hebrew "יְרֵחֹו" (yərēḥōw). Jericho was a prominent and strategically vital city in Canaan, renowned for its formidable walls and its status as the first target of the conquest. Its mention here anchors Israel's final camp to a specific, identifiable landmark in the Promised Land. This directly foreshadows the future entry and conquest detailed in the book of Joshua, connecting the end of the wilderness journey with the beginning of the conquest narrative.
Numbers 22 1 Bonus section
- The phrase "plains of Moab" (Hebrew: arbot Moab) serves as a theological-geographical marker throughout the end of Numbers and Deuteronomy, emphasizing that this specific area was the 'launchpad' for the conquest and the place of Israel's re-covenanting before entering the land. Many significant divine commands regarding land inheritance, tribal boundaries, and sanctuary cities were issued from this very location.
- The repeated phrase "on this side Jordan" is a distinct perspective, emphasizing the writer's vantage point either from Canaan or implicitly guiding the reader to view Israel from the vantage point of the Promised Land, underscoring their "outside looking in" status at this crucial juncture.
- The explicit mention of "Jericho" immediately draws a strong narrative line forward to the book of Joshua, preparing the reader for the conquest accounts. It transforms a geographical description into a prophetic hint, linking the present encampment directly to the future divinely ordained conquest of the land.
- This verse indirectly sets up a theological tension between God's clear purpose for Israel (entering the land) and the surrounding nations' fear and opposition (leading to Balak's actions), highlighting God's faithfulness even in the face of human hostility.
Numbers 22 1 Commentary
Numbers 22:1, though seemingly a mere geographical marker, carries profound theological weight. It signifies the Israelites' successful, divinely guided journey to the very brink of the Promised Land, marking the near fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Their arrival in the "plains of Moab, on this side Jordan by Jericho," emphasizes both the imminence of their entry into Canaan and their temporary position outside it. This encampment is more than just a stopping point; it becomes the vital stage for several defining moments in Israel's history: the climactic narrative of Balaam, where God demonstrates His sovereignty over pagan prophets and protects Israel from curse; the tragic sin of Baal-peor, a spiritual crisis illustrating the persistent dangers of idolatry and immorality even at the threshold of blessing; the final census preparing the new generation for inheritance; and Moses' culminating teachings and preparations before his death. The precision of the geographical description reinforces the literal reality of God's faithfulness and Israel's unfolding history, demonstrating how divine purpose is interwoven with physical space and historical progression. It is a testament to God bringing His people precisely where He intended them to be, preparing them for the ultimate inheritance.