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Numbers 22:1
And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordanby Jericho.

Numbers 26:63
Theseare they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordannear Jericho.

Numbers 33:49,50
And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimotheven unto Abelshittim in the plains of Moab…

to the

Numbers 23:14
And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram onevery altar.

Deuteronomy 3:27
Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and beholdit with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

Deuteronomy 4:49
And all the plain on this side Jordan eastward, even unto the sea of the plain, under the springs of Pisgah.

pisgah, or the hill.

Numbers 23:28
And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.

to the valley in Moab
Moab was a region east of the Dead Sea, inhabited by the Moabites, descendants of Lot. The valley in Moab indicates a geographical descent from the high places, symbolizing a movement towards a new phase in Israel's journey. Moab's history with Israel is complex, involving both conflict and kinship, as seen in the story of Ruth, a Moabite who becomes an ancestor of David and Jesus.

where the top of Pisgah
Pisgah is a mountain range in Moab, with its peak often associated with Mount Nebo. It is significant as the place where Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death (Deuteronomy 34:1). This location symbolizes both the fulfillment of God's promise and the limitation of Moses' journey, serving as a poignant reminder of obedience and faith.

overlooks the wasteland
The wasteland, or desert, represents the harsh conditions of the wilderness where Israel wandered for 40 years. It serves as a backdrop to God's provision and guidance despite Israel's rebellion. The imagery of overlooking the wasteland from Pisgah suggests a vantage point of reflection on past trials and anticipation of future fulfillment in the Promised Land. This perspective can be seen as a type of Christ, who leads believers from the wilderness of sin into the promise of eternal life.

Numbers 21:19 records that Israel “went on from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth.” Bamoth (“high places”) was a real location east of the Jordan, situated in the Trans-Jordanian plateau. The text simply continues the literal travel log of God’s people. By naming Bamoth, Moses underlines how precisely God guided each stage of the journey—just as He had done since the Red Sea (Exodus 13:21-22).Deuteronomy 2:7 affirms, “The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands… these forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing”. Every campsite, including Bamoth, testifies to that shepherding care.

Leaving the elevation of Bamoth, the nation descended “to the valley in Moab.” This valley lies north of the Dead Sea and east of the Jordan River. It would become Israel’s final staging ground before entering Canaan (Numbers 22:1; 26:3;Joshua 1:2). The setting is significant:

• Moab was a land of mixture—related to Israel through Lot (Genesis 19:37) yet spiritually opposed to YHWH (Numbers 25:1-3).

• God placed His people in that valley to prove their obedience amid potential compromise, anticipating later commands such as2 Corinthians 6:17, “Come out from among them and be separate”.

• The valley also symbolized transition. Just asPsalm 23:4 speaks of walking “through the valley” under God’s shepherding, Israel was about to leave wilderness wandering behind and step into promise.

The verse continues, “where the top of Pisgah overlooks the wasteland.” Pisgah is a ridge of Mount Nebo, rising about 2,600 feet above the Jordan Plain. From that summit Moses would later view the entire Promised Land before his death (Deuteronomy 3:27; 34:1-4). Three truths emerge:

• Perspective: From Pisgah God let His servants see farther than their feet had yet tread, reinforcingHebrews 11:13’s picture of pilgrims who “saw [the promises] from a distance”.

• Contrast: The ridge “overlooks the wasteland,” a stark view back over the harsh desert Israel had crossed. It was a visual reminder of deliverance, echoingDeuteronomy 8:15, “He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness”.

• Promise kept: Standing on Pisgah declared that God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:7) was on the verge of literal fulfillment. From peril to promise, the panorama confirmedJoshua 21:45, “Not one of the good promises the LORD had made… failed”.

Numbers 21:20 is more than a line on an itinerary. Moving “from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah overlooks the wasteland,” Israel experienced:

• God’s precise guidance at Bamoth.

• God’s testing and transition in the Moabite valley.

• God’s panoramic assurance from Pisgah’s height.

Taken together, the verse celebrates the Lord’s unfailing leadership, His call to holiness amid surrounding cultures, and His faithfulness to bring His people right to the edge of promised inheritance—just as He still does for all who follow Him today.

Toward Jeshimon.--Or,across the waste(or,desert).