SEV Biblia, Chapter 22:1
¶ Y se movieron los hijos de Israel, y asentaron campamento en los campos de Moab, a este lado del Jordán frente a Jericó.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:1
Verse 1. And pitched in the plains of Moab] They had taken no part of the country that at present appertained to the Moabites; they had taken only that part which had formerly belonged to this people, but had been taken from them by Sihon, king of the Amorites. On this side Jordan] On the east side. By Jericho, that is, over against it.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. And the children of Israel set forward , etc.] From the country of Bashan, where we read of them last, after they had conquered Og the king of it, and also Sihon king of the Amorites, and settled some of their tribes in both kingdoms; the particular place from whence they came hither, according to the account of their journeys, were the mountains of Abarim, ( Numbers 33:48): and pitched in the plains of Moab the part of them they encamped in reached from Bethjesimoth to Abelshittim, ( Numbers 33:49), on this side Jordan by Jericho ; or Jordan of Jericho, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; a river that flowed near to Jericho, running between the plains of Moab and the plains of Jericho; according to Josephus it was sixty furlongs, or seven miles and a half from Jericho; but, according to Jerome f330 , it was but five miles: or rather, as some versions render it, “over against Jericho” f331 ; for Jericho was on the other side of the river Jordan, and the plains of Moab, or that part of them where Israel now pitched, were right against that city; and so Josephus says f332 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-14 - The king of Moab formed a plan to get the people of Israel cursed; tha is, to set God against them, who had hitherto fought for them. He had false notion, that if he could get some prophet to pray for evil upo them, and to pronounce a blessing upon himself and his forces, tha then he should be able to deal with them. None had so great reputation as Balaam; and Balak will employ him, though he send a grea way for him. It is not known whether the Lord had ever spoken to Balaam, or by him, before this; though it is probable he had, and it is certain he did afterwards. Yet we have abundant proof that he lived an died a wicked man, an enemy to God and his people. And the curse shal not come upon us if there is not a cause, even though men utter it. To prevail with Balaam, they took the wages of unrighteousness, but God laid restraint upon Balaam, forbidding him to curse Israel. Balaam wa no stranger to Israel's cause; so that he ought to have answered the messengers at once, that he would never curse a people whom God ha blessed; but he takes a night's time to consider what he should do When we parley with temptations, we are in great danger of being overcome. Balaam was not faithful in returning God's answer to the messengers. Those are a fair mark for Satan's temptation, who lesse Divine restraints; as if to go against God's law were only to go without his leave. The messengers also are not faithful in returnin Balaam's answer to Balak. Thus many are abused by the flatteries of those about them, and are prevented from seeing their own faults an follies.
Original Hebrew
ויסעו 5265 בני 1121 ישׂראל 3478 ויחנו 2583 בערבות 6160 מואב 4124 מעבר 5676 לירדן 3383 ירחו׃ 3405
