Numbers 22:1

Balak Summons Balaam

1 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.

Numbers 22:1 in Other Translations

KJV
1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
ESV
1 Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
NLT
1 Then the people of Israel traveled to the plains of Moab and camped east of the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
MSG
1 The People of Israel marched on and camped on the Plains of Moab at Jordan-Jericho.
CSB
1 The Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan across from Jericho.

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 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.
2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
4 The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said: “A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.

Cross References 3

  • 1. S Numbers 21:11
  • 2. S Numbers 13:29; S Joshua 2:7
  • 3. Numbers 31:12; Numbers 33:48; Deuteronomy 32:49; Joshua 2:1
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