xlit ʻĂbârîm corrected to ʻĂbârîym; plural of עֵבֶר; regions beyond; Abarim, a place in Palestine; Abarim, passages.
Transliteration:ʻĂbârîym
Pronunciation:ab-aw-reem'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma עֲבָרִים (ʻĂbârîym), Strong's `{{H5682}}`, is the plural form of עֵבֶר (ʻēḇer), Strong's `{{H5676}}`. The root עֵבֶר fundamentally conveys the idea of "across," "beyond," or "the other side." Therefore, עֲבָרִים literally denotes "regions beyond," "passages," or "those on the other side." In its biblical usage, it primarily functions as a proper noun, referring to a specific mountain range. The semantic range points to a geographical location that serves as a boundary or a point of transition, emphasizing the concept of being on the far side of a significant demarcation.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ʻĂbârîym appears exclusively in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy, consistently referring to the "Abarim mountains" (הָרֵי הָעֲבָרִים). This mountain range is situated east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, within the territory of Moab. Its significance in the biblical narrative is deeply tied to the final stages of the Israelites' wilderness wanderings and the climactic events surrounding Moses' life and death.
* In [[Numbers 27:12]], the Lord commands Moses to "Go up into this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel." This marks the Abarim range as a pivotal vantage point for viewing the Promised Land, a land Moses would not enter.
* [[Numbers 33:47]] and [[Numbers 33:48]] list "Iye-abarim" (עִיֵי הָעֲבָרִים), meaning "ruins of Abarim," as one of the encampment sites for the Israelites, indicating their physical passage through or near this region. This highlights the Abarim as part of the geographical route of the Exodus generation.
* The most significant occurrence is in [[Deuteronomy 32:49]], where God again instructs Moses: "Go up to this mountain of Abarim, to Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel for a possession." This verse explicitly identifies Mount Nebo as a specific peak within the larger Abarim range and confirms it as the place of Moses' death.
Throughout these contexts, the Abarim mountains serve as a geographical threshold, a boundary that the Israelites were about to cross to enter their inheritance, and a place of finality for Moses' earthly ministry.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **עֵבֶר (ʻēḇer) `{{H5676}}`**: As the singular root, ʻēḇer frequently appears in geographical phrases like "beyond the Jordan" (עֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן), reinforcing the concept of "the other side" or "across." This etymological connection underscores ʻĂbârîym as a place of crossing or a boundary.
* **נְבוֹ (Nebo) `{{H5015}}`**: Mount Nebo is the most famous peak within the Abarim mountain range. It is intrinsically linked to ʻĂbârîym as the specific summit from which Moses beheld the Promised Land and subsequently died. The relationship is one of a prominent part within a larger whole.
* **מוֹאָב (Moab) `{{H4124}}`**: The Abarim mountains are situated in the land of Moab. This geographical context places ʻĂbârîym within the Transjordanian region, which served as a staging ground for Israel's entry into Canaan.
* **Crossing/Transition**: The core semantic idea of ʻĂbârîym resonates with the broader biblical theme of transition. The Israelites' journey from Egypt to Canaan is a grand narrative of crossing — from slavery to freedom, from wilderness to land, and from one generation of leadership to the next. The Abarim mountains embody this theme as the final physical boundary before the ultimate crossing into the Promised Land.
### Theological Significance
The Abarim mountains hold profound theological significance, primarily as the symbolic boundary between the wilderness and the Promised Land. For the generation of the Exodus, particularly Moses, it represents a threshold that could be approached but not fully crossed into the land of promise.
* **Divine Justice and Consequences**: The Abarim mountains, specifically Mount Nebo, are where Moses is permitted to see the Promised Land but forbidden to enter due to his disobedience at Meribah ([[Numbers 20:1-13]]). This powerfully illustrates the consequences of sin, even for a leader as great as Moses, and underscores God's unwavering justice.
* **Faithfulness of God's Promise**: Despite Moses' exclusion, the presence of the Abarim mountains as a vantage point from which to see Canaan reaffirms God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. He brings His people, and their leader, to the very edge of the inheritance, demonstrating that His word will ultimately be fulfilled.
* **Transition of Leadership**: The Abarim mountains serve as the stage for the transition from Moses' leadership to Joshua's. Moses' death there, by divine decree, makes way for the new leader who will guide Israel into the land. This highlights God's sovereign plan for leadership and the continuation of His redemptive work through different instruments.
* **A Place of Culmination**: For Moses, the Abarim mountains represent the culmination of his life's work and prophetic ministry. It is the place of his final vision, his farewell, and his departure, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new phase in Israel's history.
### Summary
The Hebrew word עֲבָרִים (ʻĂbârîym), Strong's `{{H5682}}`, derived from עֵבֶר (`{{H5676}}`), signifies "regions beyond" or "passages." In the biblical narrative, it consistently refers to the Abarim mountain range, located east of the Jordan River in Moab. Its most prominent association is with Moses' final ascent to Mount Nebo, within this range, to view the Promised Land before his death, as detailed in [[Numbers 27:12]] and [[Deuteronomy 32:49]]. The Abarim mountains thus stand as a potent symbol of the boundary between the wilderness and the promised inheritance, embodying profound theological themes of divine justice, the unwavering faithfulness of God's promises, and the divinely ordained transition of leadership, marking a pivotal moment in the history of God's people.
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