Numbers 33:50

ยถ And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho, saying,

And the LORD {H3068} spake {H1696} unto Moses {H4872} in the plains {H6160} of Moab {H4124} by Jordan {H3383} near Jericho {H3405}, saying {H559},

ADONAI spoke to Moshe in the plains of Mo'av by the Yarden, across from Yericho. He said

On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, the LORD said to Moses,

And Jehovah spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,

Commentary

Numbers 33:50 serves as a crucial geographical and theological marker, setting the stage for significant divine instructions. It precisely locates the Israelites' final encampment before their historic entry into the Promised Land.

Context

This verse places the Israelites in the plains of Moab, a territory east of the Jordan River and directly opposite the city of Jericho. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, this is their final staging ground. Moses, at the very end of his life and leadership, is about to deliver God's final commands concerning the conquest and settlement of Canaan. The book of Numbers is drawing to a close, transitioning into the detailed instructions found in Deuteronomy, which also largely takes place in this region (Deuteronomy 1:5).

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority and Revelation: The phrase "And the LORD spake unto Moses" underscores God's direct and authoritative communication with His chosen leader. This highlights the divine origin of the laws and instructions that follow.
  • Transition and Preparation: The specific location signifies a critical turning point. The wilderness journey is complete, and the nation is poised to enter the land God promised to their forefathers. This verse emphasizes the divine guidance needed for such a monumental transition.
  • Fulfillment of Promise: God is bringing His people to the very threshold of the land of promise, demonstrating His faithfulness to the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Linguistic Insight

The Hebrew phrase for "spake unto" (ื•ึทื™ึฐื“ึทื‘ึผึตืจ ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื” ืึถืœึพืžึนืฉืึถื”, vaydabber YHWH el-Mosheh) consistently denotes a direct and intentional communication from God. It emphasizes that the forthcoming instructions are not Moses' ideas but originate from the sovereign Lord Himself, carrying divine weight and authority.

Practical Application

Numbers 33:50 reminds us of several enduring truths:

  • God's Faithfulness: Just as God faithfully led Israel to the edge of the Promised Land, He remains faithful to His promises in our lives. We can trust Him to guide us through our own periods of transition and toward the fulfillment of His purposes.
  • Importance of Divine Instruction: Before embarking on new phases or challenges, seeking and obeying God's direct word is crucial. His commands are for our good and necessary for successful navigation of life's journey.
  • Preparation for New Beginnings: This verse underscores the importance of divine preparation and clear directives before entering new territories or significant life changes. God equips us with His wisdom and guidance for what lies ahead.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 33:48

    And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho.

  • Numbers 33:49

    And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth [even] unto Abelshittim in the plains of Moab.
โ† Back