from the plural of עִי and the plural of the active participle of עָבַר with the article interposed; ruins of the passers; Ije-ha-Abarim, a place near Palestine; Ije-abarim.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew place name **ʻÎyêy hâ-ʻĂbârîym**, represented by `{{H5863}}`, refers to **Ije-abarim**, which means **ruins of the passers**. It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible, identifying a specific location near Palestine where the Israelites camped.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H5863}}` is exclusively used to mark a stage in the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness. The accounts in Numbers describe how they departed from a place called Oboth and then **pitched** their camp at **Ije-abarim** [[Numbers 21:11]]. Both occurrences specify the location's proximity to Moab, describing it as being "in the border of Moab" [[Numbers 33:44]] and "in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrising" [[Numbers 21:11]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are key to understanding the context of Ije-abarim's role in the biblical story:
* `{{H5265}}` **nâçaʻ**: This verb, meaning **to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on a journey**, describes the action that brought the Israelites to `{{H5863}}`. The Israelites "journeyed" or "departed" to arrive at this location ([[Numbers 21:11]], [[Numbers 33:44]]).
* `{{H2583}}` **chânâh**: Defined as **to pitch a tent; gen. to encamp**, this word specifies the action taken at Ije-abarim. The Israelites did not just pass through but "pitched" their camp there [[Numbers 33:44]].
* `{{H4124}}` **Môwʼâb**: This is the name for **Moab**, the territory where Ije-abarim was located. Its presence highlights the geopolitical setting of the Israelites' journey [[Numbers 33:44]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H5863}}` is primarily geographical and historical, marking a key point in the Israelite narrative.
* **A Stop on the Exodus Journey:** Its appearances in Numbers serve as explicit markers of progress, documenting a specific encampment as the Israelites traveled from Egypt toward the land promised to them ([[Numbers 21:11]], [[Numbers 33:44]]).
* **A Border Location:** The site is consistently defined by its position on the "border of Moab" [[Numbers 33:44]]. This situates the Israelites' journey in a tangible landscape, on the edge of a known and significant foreign territory.
* **Descriptive Name:** The meaning of the name itself, **ruins of the passers**, suggests a place known to travelers, perhaps one characterized by ancient remains that served as a landmark for those journeying through the wilderness.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5863}}` is not merely a name on a map but a documented waypoint in the history of Israel's formation. Its meaning, **ruins of the passers**, and its recorded location on the **border of Moab** [[Numbers 33:44]] provide a vivid context for the Exodus narrative. The location is defined entirely by the actions associated with it—journeying to it (`{{H5265}}`) and encamping there (`{{H2583}}`)—solidifying its role as a specific, recorded step on the path of God's people.
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