Numbers 22:1

Balak and Balaam

1 The {Israelites} set out, and they encamped on the desert-plateau of Moab, across from Jericho beyond [the] Jordan.

Numbers 22:1 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 22:1

And the children of Israel set forward
From the country of Bashan, where we read of them last, after they had conquered Og the king of it, and also Sihon king of the Amorites, and settled some of their tribes in both kingdoms; the particular place from whence they came hither, according to the account of their journeys, were the mountains of Abarim, ( Numbers 33:48 ) :

and pitched in the plains of Moab
the part of them they encamped in reached from Bethjesimoth to Abelshittim, ( Numbers 33:49 ) ,

on this side Jordan by Jericho;
or Jordan of Jericho, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; a river that flowed near to Jericho, running between the plains of Moab and the plains of Jericho; according to Josephus F21 it was sixty furlongs, or seven miles and a half from Jericho; but, according to Jerome F23, it was but five miles: or rather, as some versions render it, "over against Jericho" F24; for Jericho was on the other side of the river Jordan, and the plains of Moab, or that part of them where Israel now pitched, were right against that city; and so Josephus says F25.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 4.
F23 De locis Heb. fol. 87. G.
F24 (kata iericw) Sept. "ex opposito Heiricho", Tigurine version.
F25 Antiqu. l. 4. c. 6. sect. 1.

Numbers 22:1 In-Context

1 The {Israelites} set out, and they encamped on the desert-plateau of Moab, across from Jericho beyond [the] Jordan.
2 Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel did to the Amorites,
3 and Moab was very terrified in the presence of the people because {they} [were] numerous; and Moab dreaded the presence of the {Israelites}.
4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now the crowd will lick up all around us, like a bull devours the grass of the field." And Balak son of Zippor [was] king of Moab at that time.
5 He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor [at] Pethor, which [is] by the river, in the land of the children of his people, to summon him, saying, "Look! A people went out from Egypt. Look! They cover {the surface of the land}; they [are about] to dwell opposite me.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
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