Numbers 22 · Verse 1

Numbers 22:1

And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
Numbers 22:1, King James Version

Numbers 22:1 in other translations

BSBThen the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.
WEBThe children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
ASVAnd the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
YLTAnd the sons of Israel journey and encamp in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan, by Jericho.
DARBYAnd the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan from Jericho.
BBEThen the children of Israel, journeying on, put up their tents in the lowlands of Moab, on the other side of Jordan at Jericho.
WebsterAnd the children of Israel moved forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side of Jordan by Jericho.

What does Numbers 22:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Nu 22:1-20. Balak's First Message for Balaam Refused.

1. Israel ... pitched in the plains of Moab--so called from having formerly belonged to that people, though wrested from them by Sihon. It was a dry, sunken, desert region on the east of the Jordan valley, opposite Jericho.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The Israelites pitch in the plains of Moab, Num 22:1. Balak, king of Moab, is greatly terrified, Num 22:2-4; and sends to Balaam, a diviner, to come and curse them, Num 22:5, Num 22:6. The elders of Moab take a reward and carry it to Balaam, Num 22:7. He inquires of the Lord, and is positively ordered not to go with them, Num 22:8-12. He communicates this to the elders of Moab, Num 22:13. They return to Balak with this information, Num 22:14. He sends some of his princes to Balaam with promises of great honor, Num 22:15-17. He consults God, and is permitted! to go, on certain conditions, Num 22:18-20. Balaam sets off, is opposed by an angel of the Lord, and the Lord miraculously opens the mouth of his ass to reprove him, Num 22:21-30. Balaam sees the angel, and is reproved by him, Num 22:31-33. He humbles himself, and offers to go back, Num 22:34; but is ordered to proceed, on the same conditions as before, Num 22:35. The king of Moab goes out to meet him, Num 22:36. His address to him, Num 22:37. Balaam's firm answer, Num 22:38. Balak sacrifices, and takes Balaam to the high places of Baal, that he may see the whole of the Israelitish camp, Num 22:39-41. Verse 1 And pitched in the plains of Moab - They had taken no part of the country that at present appertained to the Moabites; they had taken only that part which had formerly belonged to this people, but had been taken from them by Sihon, king of the Amorites. On this side Jordan - On the east side. By Jericho, that is, over against it.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 22:1-14
The king of Moab formed a plan to get the people of Israel cursed; that is, to set God against them, who had hitherto fought for them. He had a false notion, that if he could get some prophet to pray for evil upon them, and to pronounce a blessing upon himself and his forces, that then he should be able to deal with them. None had so great a reputation as Balaam; and Balak will employ him, though he send a great way for him. It is not known whether the Lord had ever spoken to Balaam, or by him, before this; though it is probable he had, and it is certain he did afterwards. Yet we have abundant proof that he lived and died a wicked man, an enemy to God and his people. And the curse shall not come upon us if there is not a cause, even though men utter it. To prevail with Balaam, they took the wages of unrighteousness, but God laid restraint upon Balaam, forbidding him to curse Israel. Balaam was no stranger to Israel's cause; so that he ought to have answered the messengers at once, that he would never curse a people whom God had blessed; but he takes a night's time to consider what he should do. When we parley with temptations, we are in great danger of being overcome. Balaam was not faithful in returning God's answer to the messengers. Those are a fair mark for Satan's temptation, who lessen Divine restraints; as if to go against God's law were only to go without his leave. The messengers also are not faithful in returning Balaam's answer to Balak. Thus many are abused by the flatteries of those about them, and are prevented from seeing their own faults and follies.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Numbers 22:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּסְע֖וּvai.yis.'Uand they set outH5265
בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] people ofH1121
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙vai.ya.cha.Nuand they encampedH2583
בְּעַֽרְב֣וֹתbe.'ar.Votin [the] plains ofH6160
מוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvMoabH4124
מֵעֵ֖בֶרme.'E.verfrom [the] other sideH5676
לְיַרְדֵּ֥ןle.yar.Denof [the] JordanH3383
יְרֵחֽוֹ\׃\ \סye.re.Choof JerichoH3405

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Numbers 22:1

  • Numbers 33:48-50

    And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. And they pitched by Jordan, from Beth–jesimoth even unto Abel–shittim in the plains of Moab. And the Lord spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,

  • Numbers 32:19

    For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.

  • Joshua 3:16

    That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

  • Numbers 21:20

    And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon.

  • Deuteronomy 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. And the Lord shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,

  • Deuteronomy 34:8

    And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

  • Deuteronomy 1:5

    On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,

  • Deuteronomy 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 of Arnon unto mount Hermon;

  • Numbers 36:13

    These are the commandments and the judgments, which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.

  • Numbers 34:15

    The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 Balak's first message for Balaam is refused.
15 His second message obtains him.
22 An angel would have slain him, if he had not been saved by his ass.
36 Balak entertains him.

the children.
21:20; 33:48-50; 36:13; De 34:1,8
on this side.
32:19; 34:15; De 1:5; 3:8; Jos 3:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Numbers 22:1

    And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.

  • Numbers 22:2

    And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

Read all of Numbers 22

Numbers 22:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y MOVIERON los hijos de Israel, y asentaron en los campos de Moab, de esta parte del Jordán de Jericó.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et les fils d’Israël partirent, et campèrent dans les plaines de Moab, de l’autre côté du Jourdain de Jéricho.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Kinder Israel brachen auf und lagerten sich in den Ebenen Moabs, jenseit des Jordan von Jericho.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Profectique castrametati sunt in campestribus Moab, ubi trans Jordanem Jericho sita est.