Numbers 33:48 kjv
And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.
Numbers 33:48 nkjv
They departed from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.
Numbers 33:48 niv
They left the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.
Numbers 33:48 esv
And they set out from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho;
Numbers 33:48 nlt
They left the mountains east of the river and camped on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
Numbers 33 48 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 27:12 | "Go up into this Mount Abarim, and see the land..." | Moses sees Promised Land from Abarim |
| Deut 32:49 | "...Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, to Mount Nebo..." | Moses commanded to view Canaan before death |
| Deut 34:1-8 | "Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo..." | Moses dies in Moab after viewing the land |
| Josh 3:1 | "And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan..." | Israel's departure from plains of Moab for Jordan |
| Josh 4:19 | "And the people came up out of Jordan... in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho." | Entering Canaan; encampment near Jericho |
| Josh 5:10 | "And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho." | First Passover in Canaan, near Jericho |
| Deut 2:7 | "For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing." | God's faithfulness in providing during wilderness |
| Neh 9:21 | "Yea, forty years didst Thou sustain them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing..." | God's sustenance in the desert reaffirmed |
| Ps 107:7 | "And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation." | God's direct and purposeful guidance |
| Heb 3:7-19 | "Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness..." | Warning against wilderness unbelief and rebellion |
| Heb 4:1-11 | "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest..." | The promise of God's eternal rest |
| 1 Cor 10:1-11 | "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition..." | Lessons from Israel's wilderness experience |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God..." | God's divine purpose in life's journeys |
| Phil 3:20 | "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ..." | Heavenly citizenship and future inheritance |
| Eph 1:11-14 | "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him..." | Spiritual inheritance for believers in Christ |
| Col 1:12 | "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light..." | Partaking in the saints' inheritance |
| Heb 11:8-10 | "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place... went out... For he looked for a city which hath foundations..." | Abraham's faith in a promised heavenly city |
| Heb 11:30 | "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days." | The initial conquest of Jericho by faith |
| Rev 21:1-4 | "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away..." | The ultimate fulfillment of rest and inheritance |
| Matt 3:13-17 | "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him." | Jesus' baptism in the Jordan marks a new ministry phase |
| Acts 7:36 | "He brought them out, after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt..." | Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt |
| Isa 43:19 | "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." | God making a path in unexpected places |
| Judg 3:12 | "And the children of Israel did evil again... and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel..." | Moabites as a future challenge to Israel |
| Ruth 1:1-5 | "...Elimelech a man of Bethlehemjudah, went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons." | Migration to Moab highlighting historical connection |
Numbers 33 verses
Numbers 33 48 Meaning
Numbers 33:48 details the penultimate stage of Israel's journey, marking their final encampment in the plains of Moab. This verse signifies the conclusion of their forty-year wilderness wanderings and strategically positions them at the very threshold of the Promised Land, specifically across the Jordan River and immediately facing Jericho, the first major city they would conquer in Canaan. It represents the fulfillment of God's long-standing promise to bring His people to the land of inheritance.
Numbers 33 48 Context
Numbers chapter 33 serves as a historical itinerary, meticulously detailing all forty-two encampments of the Israelites from their departure from Egypt through the Red Sea crossing, various wilderness stations, until their final arrival in the plains of Moab. This precise record underscores the miraculous divine guidance and providence during their forty years of wandering, confirming the faithfulness of God's promise to bring them into the land. Verse 48 specifically marks the culmination of this wilderness journey and sets the immediate stage for the pivotal events of the book of Joshua: the crossing of the Jordan River and the commencement of the conquest of Canaan, starting with Jericho. Historically, the "plains of Moab" represents the territory east of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, from where the Israelites would finally enter the Promised Land. This location was also significant for Moses' farewell speeches (Deuteronomy), Balaam's prophecies against Israel, and Israel's sin with the Moabite women, preceding their entrance into Canaan.
Numbers 33 48 Word analysis
- "And they departed" (וַיִּסְעוּ - va-yis'u): This Hebrew verb signifies "pulling up stakes," "traveling," or "breaking camp." It is a foundational and frequently repeated verb throughout Numbers 33, underscoring the continuous, divinely orchestrated movement of the Israelites. This continuous departure emphasizes their pilgrimage nature and God's consistent guidance (Num 9:17-23), ensuring they were always on schedule toward their destination.
- "from the mountains of Abarim" (מֵהָרֵי הָעֲבָרִים - me-hare ha-'Avarim): "Abarim" (meaning "regions beyond" or "crossing points") is a mountain range east of the Jordan. Its significance lies in being the vantage point from which Moses was allowed to view the Promised Land before his death (Num 27:12; Deut 32:49). Their departure from here signifies leaving the final major natural landmark on the eastern side, placing them at the doorstep of the plains of Moab, indicating absolute proximity to Canaan.
- "and pitched" (וַיַּחֲנוּ - va-yaḥanu): To "pitch a tent," "encamp," or "rest." This term provides a crucial counterpoint to "departed," denoting a purposeful, if temporary, halt. This signifies the completion of a specific stage of their journey and a time of preparation, anticipation, or immediate action. This was their final major resting point before the final crossing.
- "in the plains of Moab" (בְּעַרְבֹת מוֹאָב - b'arbot Mo'av): "Arbot" refers to "arid plains," "desert steppes," or "the Arabah," a flat, semi-desert valley. "Moab" (from the land east of the Dead Sea) indicates the territory of the descendants of Moab, Lot's son. These plains, though often dry, were broad enough to accommodate the vast Israelite encampment. The location is laden with historical context; it was where Moses delivered his farewell sermons (Deut 1:5), where Balaam cursed (and later blessed) Israel (Num 22-24), and tragically, where Israel sinned severely with Moabite women and idolatry (Num 25), leading to a plague. This specific mention here, however, emphasizes their position at the immediate frontier of Canaan, marking the literal boundary they stood upon.
- "by Jordan" (עַל יַרְדֵּן - al-Yarden): "Al" can mean "by," "beside," "on," or "upon." The Jordan River (יַרְדֵּן - Yarden, meaning "the descender," referring to its rapid descent from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea) was the significant natural eastern border of the land of Canaan. Its explicit mention highlights the minimal remaining physical barrier to entry. This river holds symbolic significance in later biblical narratives, particularly with Joshua's crossing and John the Baptist's ministry.
- "near Jericho" (יְרִיחוֹ - yerecho): Literally, "at Jericho." Jericho (יְרִיחוֹ - Yeriho, meaning "fragrant place" or possibly "moon city") was the first Canaanite city designated for conquest by the Israelites. Its strategic mention highlights God's preordained plan for their entry into Canaan – the conquest would begin with this key city. The name itself signifies the proximity of their destiny and the impending commencement of warfare for the land's possession. This signals the transition from pilgrimage to divine military campaign.
Numbers 33 48 Bonus section
The meticulous recording of Israel's 42 encampments in Numbers 33, culminating in verse 48, serves as a theological statement about divine supervision. It's not just a travel log, but proof of God's exact and faithful leading, demonstrating that their entire journey, even the "wandering," was orchestrated. This precise detail also acts as a divine validation of the Exodus narrative's historicity, contrasting with any mythical accounts of a nation's origin by demonstrating God's tangible presence and covenant-keeping power throughout verifiable geography. The strategic location "near Jericho" further reveals God's battle plan, implying that the same God who led them through the wilderness to the border would now empower them to fight and conquer the land.
Numbers 33 48 Commentary
Numbers 33:48 acts as a climactic geographical and historical marker in the epic journey of the Israelites. After forty years of divinely guided wandering and numerous encampments meticulously documented in this chapter, this verse firmly plants the Israelites at the immediate entrance to their long-promised inheritance. Their arrival in the "plains of Moab, by Jordan near Jericho," signifies the complete faithfulness of God in bringing them to the threshold of Canaan despite their generational failures. It concludes one major phase—the wilderness journey marked by God's provision and patience—and heralds the dawn of the next: the conquest and settlement of the land under Joshua. This precise location underlines the theological truth that God finishes what He starts, providing hope and a foundation for the battles and blessings that lay immediately ahead in Joshua. It serves as a potent reminder of divine providence, patience, and punctual fulfillment of prophecy.