Location
Overview
The plains of Moab were the broad lowlands of the Jordan Valley east of the river, "on this side Jordan by Jericho." Here Israel made its last encampment before entering the Promised Land, and here the book of Numbers and the life of Moses draw to their close.
The last encampment
"The children of Israel... pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho" (Numbers 22:1). From this base came the Balaam episode and the seduction at Baal-peor.
Census, law, and inheritance
In the plains of Moab the second census was taken (Numbers 26:3), the daughters of Zelophehad won their inheritance, and the LORD gave further commandments — "These are the commandments... which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab" (Numbers 36:13).
Moses' farewell
It was here Moses delivered the addresses of Deuteronomy and then climbed Mount Nebo to view the land before he died; here too Israel mourned him thirty days (Deuteronomy 34:8).
Events Here
Israel camps in the plains of Moab opposite Jericho
The commandments given in the plains of Moab
Scripture References
12 versesNumbers9 verses
Numbers 22:1
And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
Numbers 26:3
And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
Numbers 26:63
These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.
Numbers 31:12
And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho.
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. Abelshittim: or, the plains of Shittim
Numbers 33:50
And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
Numbers 35:1
And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
Numbers 36:13
These are the commandments and the judgments, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.
Deuteronomy2 verses
Deuteronomy 34:1
And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, Pisgah: or, the hill
Deuteronomy 34:8
And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
Joshua1 verse
Joshua 13:32
These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.
Archaeology & History
The plains of Moab (Hebrew Arboth Moab) are the well-watered lowlands of the Jordan Valley north-east of the Dead Sea, directly across the river from Jericho. Their fertility and water made them a natural staging ground for the host of Israel before the conquest.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Plains of Moab
Where is Plains of Moab today?
Today, Plains of Moab corresponds to Jordan Valley opposite Jericho, Jordan.
What happened at Plains of Moab in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Plains of Moab include israel camps in the plains of moab opposite jericho; the commandments given in the plains of moab.
Where is Plains of Moab first mentioned in the Bible?
Plains of Moab is first mentioned in Numbers 22:1.
How often is Plains of Moab mentioned in the Bible?
Plains of Moab is mentioned in 12 verses across 3 books: Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua.
What happened in the plains of Moab?
Israel made its final camp there opposite Jericho — the setting for Balaam’s oracles, the sin of Baal-peor, the second census, the addresses of Deuteronomy, and the death of Moses on nearby Mount Nebo.
Where were the plains of Moab?
In the Jordan Valley east of the river, just across from Jericho, north-east of the Dead Sea.