And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
The children of Israel set forward. The starting-point was Ije-Abarim 21:10; 33:48), on the Moabitish frontier. The Israelites had formed a regular encampment there, completed by the erection of the tabernacle; and from that place, as their headquarters, detachments (Numbers 32:39-42; Deuteronomy 3:14-15) were sent out, by which the kingdoms of Sihon and Og were successively vanquished, the various stations mentioned (Numbers 21:18-20) being military posts within the Amorite territory. On the return of these victorious parties to the main body the camp was removed from Abarim.
Pitched in the plains of Moab, х bª`arbowt (H6160) Mow'aab (H4124); Septuagint, epi dusmoon Mooab (on the western parts of Moab); Vulgate, campestria Moab]. "The plains of Moab" were so called from having formerly belonged to that people; and though wrested from them by Sihon (Numbers 21:26-30), his usurpation was of too recent a date to allow the ancient name of the place to fall into desuetude (cf. Joshua 13:32). "The plains of Moab," on the east of the Jordan valley, distinguished from that portion of it which lies on the west, called "the plains of Jericho" (Joshua 4:13), begin at the northern extremity of the Dead Sea, reach northward to the Jabbok, and extend in breadth from the Jordan to the hills of Moab-a space of four miles; and it is observable that this tract-very different from "the field of Moab" (see the note at Numbers 21:20) - was for the most part a dry, sunken, desert region. But there are exceptional parts. Between the Jordan and the mountains of Moab and Ammon, nearly opposite Jericho, there lies a spacious plain, of a triangular shape, forming by its carpet of verdure and its extensive groves an oasis in that barren region; and as there is no place, either on the north or south, along, the base of the mountains where a mighty multitude could have pitched their tents, while it was admirably adapted for that purpose, travelers have, with one consent, fixed upon that spot as most probably the scene of Israel's last encampment in their wanderings ('Tent and Khan,' p. 369: cf. Numbers 33:49; Deuteronomy 1:1).
Being on the immediate confines of the promised land, which they had shown so impatient a desire to reach, they might have been expected to press forward without the delay of a day's halt. But they were induced to encamp there for a considerable period, in order to secure the possession of the valuable country east of the Jordan, which had fallen so unexpectedly and easily into their hands. It was during their encampment on "the plains of Moab" that all the transactions occurred which are related in the remainder of this book and the whole of Deuteronomy.