And they set out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse marks Israel's final encampment before entering the Promised Land, specifically at the "mountains of Abarim, before Nebo." This location is significant because it's the very place where Moses would later ascend to view the land before his death, highlighting the culmination of their long journey and the approaching handover of leadership.
And they set out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After wandering for decades and conquering the Amorite kings east of the Jordan, the Israelites are now poised on the edge of the Promised Land. This final encampment, in the mountains before Mount Nebo, is the very place from which Moses will get his prophetic glimpse of the land he will not enter.
This final campsite is incredibly significant, not just as a location, but as a marker of profound biblical history. What does it mean to camp 'before Nebo'?
The Israelites finally arrive at the 'mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.' This location is deeply tied to the end of Moses' life and leadership. In Deuteronomy, Nebo is the mountain from which Moses got his final view of the Promised Land before he died (Deuteronomy 34:1). It's a place that symbolizes transition, closure, and the fulfillment of a long-awaited promise, even for the leader who wouldn't enter it himself.
Camping here, 'before Nebo,' means they are at the very doorstep of the land, a place charged with the memory of Moses' profound experience and his departure. It’s a moment to reflect on the journey that brought them this far and the leadership that guided them.
The 'mountains of Abarim' aren't just a random mountain range. Their name carries a meaning that speaks volumes about the Israelites' journey.
The name 'Abarim' itself is related to the Hebrew word for 'passages' or 'strips.' These mountains served as a geographical threshold, a place from which the Israelites could 'pass over' into the land of Canaan.
This final campsite in the Abarim mountains is the last stop before the Jordan River, the final barrier to the Promised Land. It’s a place of transition, a gateway. After 40 years of wandering, they are literally at the edge of their inheritance. The journey has been long and arduous, marked by rebellion and divine discipline, but God’s faithfulness has brought them to this critical juncture.
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This verse marks the very end of the Israelites' 40-year wilderness journey, placing them on the doorstep of the Promised Land, in the territory where Moses himself died just before they were to enter.
c. 1400 BC
Israel's Exodus from Egypt
The foundational event where the Israelites left Egypt, marking the beginning of their 40-year wilderness journey. This sets the stage for all subsequent journeys and encampments.
c. 1360 BC
Conquest of Sihon and Og
Following their journey north along the east of the Jordan, the Israelites defeated the Amorite kings Sihon and Og. This victory opened the path into the land of Moab.
c. 1360 BC
Journey through Moab
After the victories over Sihon and Og, the Israelites camped in the plains of Moab, the last major encampment before crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land.
c. 1360 BC— this verse
Moses' Final Commands and Death
From the plains of Moab, Moses delivered his final speeches and blessings to the people. He then ascended Mount Nebo, on the Abarim range, and died there, viewing the Promised Land.
This passage describes God telling Moses to go to Mount Abarim to see the Promised Land before he dies, directly linking the location to a pivotal moment for Moses and the Israelites' journey.
Deuteronomy 34:1This verse states that Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which looks across the whole land, aligning with the geographical context of Israel nearing their destination.
Joshua 13:20This verse mentions that the cities of the plain and all the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, were given to the descendants of Reuben, indicating the significance of this region as Israel finally entered the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 3:27This verse recalls Moses seeing the Promised Land from the top of Pisgah, echoing the narrative of his final view of the land from a vantage point near where Israel was camping.
clarkeNumbers 33:47: "And they removed from Almondiblathaim, and pitched in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo."
Mountains of Abarim, before Nebo - The mountain on which Moses died. They came to this place after the overthrow of the Amorites. See Numbers 21 . Stat. 41.
pulpitNumbers 33:47: "And they removed from Almondiblathaim, and pitched in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo."
Verse 47. - The mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. The same locality is called "the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward the waste," in Numbers 21:20 (see note there, and at Numbers 27:12). Nebo is the name of a town here, as in Numbers 32:3, 38, and in the later books; in Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 32:49; Deuteronomy 34:1) it is the name of the mountain, here included in the general designa…
The verse marks Israel's final encampment before entering the Promised Land, specifically at the "mountains of Abarim, before Nebo." This location is significant because it's the very place where Moses would later ascend to view the land before his death, highlighting the culmination of their long journey and the approaching handover of leadership.
After wandering for decades and conquering the Amorite kings east of the Jordan, the Israelites are now poised on the edge of the Promised Land. This final encampment, in the mountains before Mount Nebo, is the very place from which Moses will get his prophetic glimpse of the land he will not enter.
After wandering for decades and conquering the Amorite kings east of the Jordan, the Israelites are now poised on the edge of the Promised Land. This final encampment, in the mountains before Mount Nebo, is the very place from which Moses will get his prophetic glimpse of the land he will not enter.
"And they set out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo." — The verse marks Israel's final encampment before entering the Promised Land, specifically at the "mountains of Abarim, before Nebo." This location is significant because it's the very place where M…
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Last reviewed October 2026