and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah overlooks the wasteland. and from BamothThe word "Bamoth" refers to a location known as "high places." In the Hebrew context, "Bamoth" (בָּמוֹת) often signifies elevated areas used for worship, sometimes of pagan deities. In this passage, it marks a geographical transition for the Israelites. Theologically, it can symbolize moving from places of false worship to a journey towards the true God. Historically, these high places were significant in ancient Near Eastern cultures, often associated with altars and religious rites. to the valley
The term "valley" (עֵמֶק, 'emeq) in Hebrew often represents a place of fertility and life, contrasting with the surrounding wilderness. Valleys in biblical narratives can symbolize times of testing or transition. Here, it signifies a movement from the heights of Bamoth to a more grounded, fertile area, possibly indicating a shift from spiritual highs to the realities of life and faith. in the field of Moab
Moab was a region east of the Dead Sea, inhabited by the Moabites, descendants of Lot. The "field of Moab" (שְׂדֵה מוֹאָב, sedeh Mo'av) indicates a specific area within Moabite territory. Historically, Moab had a complex relationship with Israel, sometimes hostile, sometimes neutral. This phrase situates the Israelites within a land that is not their own, highlighting themes of pilgrimage and the tension between God's people and surrounding nations. to the top of Pisgah
Pisgah (פִּסְגָּה, Pisgah) is a mountain range or peak, often associated with Mount Nebo, from which Moses viewed the Promised Land. The "top of Pisgah" represents a vantage point, a place of revelation and vision. In a spiritual sense, it symbolizes moments when God grants His people a glimpse of His promises, even if they are not yet fully realized. It is a place of hope and anticipation. that overlooks the wasteland
The "wasteland" (יְשִׁימֹן, yeshimon) refers to a desolate, uninhabited area. This term can evoke the barrenness of life without God, or the trials and challenges faced by the Israelites in the wilderness. From Pisgah, the wasteland is visible, reminding the Israelites of their journey and the hardships they have endured. It serves as a backdrop to the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey, contrasting the desolation with the hope of future fulfillment. Persons / Places / Events 1. BamothA location mentioned in the journey of the Israelites. It is part of the route they took as they traveled through the wilderness. The name "Bamoth" means "high places," indicating elevated terrain. 2. Valley in MoabThis refers to a region in the land of Moab, east of the Jordan River. Moab was a nation descended from Lot, Abraham's nephew, and often had a contentious relationship with Israel. 3. PisgahA mountain or range of hills in Moab. Pisgah is significant as it is the place from which Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death. The name "Pisgah" can mean "summit" or "peak." 4. WastelandThis term refers to the desolate or barren areas that the Israelites encountered during their journey. It symbolizes the challenges and trials faced in the wilderness. 5. Israelites' JourneyThe broader context of this verse is the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land, a journey marked by both physical and spiritual challenges. Teaching Points God's Guidance in the WildernessJust as God guided the Israelites through the wilderness, He guides us through our life's journey. Trust in His direction, even when the path seems unclear. The Significance of High PlacesHigh places like Pisgah offer a perspective that is both physical and spiritual. Seek God's perspective in your life to see beyond immediate challenges. Overcoming DesolationThe wasteland represents times of desolation and trial. Remember that God is with you in these times, providing strength and hope. The Importance of Spiritual VisionMoses' view from Pisgah reminds us of the importance of spiritual vision. Ask God to open your eyes to His promises and purposes for your life. Journey with PurposeThe Israelites' journey was purposeful, leading to the Promised Land. Reflect on the purpose of your journey and align it with God's will. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the journey from Bamoth to Pisgah reflect the spiritual journey of a believer today? 2. In what ways can we seek God's guidance when we find ourselves in a "wasteland" season of life? 3. How can the concept of "high places" in our spiritual walk help us gain a better perspective on our circumstances? 4. What lessons can we learn from Moses' experience on Pisgah about seeing God's promises from afar? 5. How can we ensure that our life's journey is aligned with God's purpose, similar to the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 34This chapter describes Moses viewing the Promised Land from Mount Pisgah, connecting the geographical significance of Pisgah in Numbers 21:20 to Moses' final moments. Psalm 78This psalm recounts the history of Israel's journey through the wilderness, highlighting God's provision and the people's struggles, which provides a broader context for understanding the significance of their journey. Isaiah 40This passage speaks of preparing the way for the Lord in the wilderness, drawing a parallel to the Israelites' journey and the spiritual preparation required for entering God's promises. People Ammonites, Amon, Amorites, Arad, Canaanites, Chemosh, Israelites, Moses, Og, SihonPlaces Ar, Arad, Arnon, Bamoth, Bashan, Beer, Dedan, Dibon, Edom, Edrei, Egypt, Heshbon, Hormah, Iye-abarim, Jabbok River, Jahaz, Jazer, King's Highway, Mattanah, Medeba, Moab, Mount Hor, Nahaliel, Negeb, Nophah, Oboth, Pisgah, Red Sea, Suphah, Valley of Zered, WahebTopics Bamoth, Desert, Field, Fields, Front, Jeshimon, Looks, Lying, Moab, Open, Overlooks, Pisgah, Region, Surface, Towards, Valley, Waste, Wasteland, WildernessDictionary of Bible Themes Numbers 21:18 5459 prince
5513 sceptre Numbers 21:17-18 4512 staff Library The Poison and the Antidote
'And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to compare the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7. Therefore …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureMan's Ruin and God's Remedy
Man has very many wants, and he should be grateful whenever the least of them is supplied. But he has one want which overtops every other: it is the want of bread. Give him raiment, house him well, decorate and adorn him, yet if you give him not bread, his body faints, he dies of hunger. Hence it is that while the earth when it is tilled is made to bring forth many things that minister unto the comfort and luxury of men, yet man is wise enough to understand that since bread is his chief want, he …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859 The Disciple, -- Master, in These Days Some Learned Men and their Followers Regard Thy...
The Disciple,--Master, in these days some learned men and their followers regard Thy atonement and the redemption by blood as meaningless and futile, and say that Christ was only a great teacher and example for our spiritual life, and that salvation and eternal happiness depend on our own efforts and good deeds. The Master,--1. Never forget that spiritual and religious ideas are connected less with the head than with the heart, which is the temple of God, and when the heart is filled with the presence …
Sadhu Sundar Singh—At The Master's Feet Messiah Suffering and Wounded for Us
Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: ..... He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. W hen our Lord was transfigured, Moses and Elijah appeared in glory and conversed with Him. Had we been informed of the interview only, we should probably have desired to know the subject of their conversation, as we might reasonably suppose it turned upon very interesting and important …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 The Nations of the South-East
Israel was cut in two by the Jordan. The districts east of the Jordan were those that had first been conquered; it was from thence that the followers of Joshua had gone forth to possess themselves of Canaan. But this division of the territory was a source of weakness. The interests of the tribes on the two sides of the river were never quite the same; at times indeed they were violently antagonistic. When the disruption of the monarchy came after the death of Solomon, Judah was the stronger for the …
Archibald Sayce—Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations The Lamb of God, the Great Atonement
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! G reat and marvellous are the works of the LORD God almighty! We live in the midst of them, and the little impression they make upon us, sufficiently proves our depravity. He is great in the very smallest; and there is not a plant, flower, or insect, but bears the signature of infinite wisdom and power. How sensibly then should we be affected by the consideration of the Whole , if sin had not blinded our understandings, and hardened …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
Text: 1 Corinthians 10, 6-13. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III Covenanting Performed in Former Ages with Approbation from Above.
That the Lord gave special token of his approbation of the exercise of Covenanting, it belongs to this place to show. His approval of the duty was seen when he unfolded the promises of the Everlasting Covenant to his people, while they endeavoured to perform it; and his approval thereof is continually seen in his fulfilment to them of these promises. The special manifestations of his regard, made to them while attending to the service before him, belonged to one or other, or both, of those exhibitions …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Nature of Covenanting.
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation, …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.' Exod 20: 4-6. I. Thou shalt not …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6 The Two Classes.
"Two men went up into the temple to pray."--Luke xvii. 10. I now want to speak of two classes: First, those who do not feel their need of a Saviour who have not been convinced of sin by the Spirit; and Second, those who are convinced of sin and cry, "What must I do to be saved?" All inquirers can be ranged under two heads: they have either the spirit of the Pharisee, or the spirit of the publican. If a man having the spirit of the Pharisee comes into an after-meeting, I know of no better portion …
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Numbers 21:20 NIVNumbers 21:20 NLTNumbers 21:20 ESVNumbers 21:20 NASBNumbers 21:20 KJV
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