The Meaning of Numbers 22:1 Explained

Numbers 22:1

KJV: And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.

YLT: And the sons of Israel journey and encamp in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan, by Jericho.

Darby: And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan from Jericho.

ASV: And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the children  of Israel  set forward,  and pitched  in the plains  of Moab  on this side  Jordan  [by] Jericho. 

What does Numbers 22:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 22:1-20 - Balaam Sent For, To Curse Israel
These chapters present a surprising contrast between the covetous prophet and his sublime prophecies. It is clearly possible to be the mouthpiece of truth and yet have neither part nor lot in it.
Balak, as had been predicted, was sore afraid. Compare Numbers 22:3 with Exodus 15:15. The elders of Midian were his friends and allies. It was very important for them to stand together. The journey across the desert to Mesopotamia, where Balaam lived, was long and tedious, but he was a famous magician, who could marshal unseen forces into the battle by his incantations. He knew the only true God, but loved the wages of unrighteousness and erred for reward. See 2 Peter 2:14-16; Judges 1:11.
He made up his mind to win Balak's promised gifts, and sought to persuade God to become his accomplice, first, by letting him go, and, secondly, by letting him say what Balak wished said. But God demands our loyalty and unison with Him, and will not swerve from the path of truth and righteousness by a hair's-breadth to help our desires and ambitions. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 22

1  Balak's first message for Balaam is refused
15  His second message obtains him
22  An angel would have slain him, if he had not been saved by his donkey
36  Balak entertains him

What do the individual words in Numbers 22:1 mean?

And moved the sons of Israel and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan [across from] Jericho -
וַיִּסְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙ בְּעַֽרְב֣וֹת מוֹאָ֔ב מֵעֵ֖בֶר לְיַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֽוֹ ס

וַיִּסְע֖וּ  And  moved 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָסַע  
Sense: to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart.
בְּנֵ֣י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙  and  camped 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָנָה  
Sense: to decline, incline, encamp, bend down, lay siege against.
בְּעַֽרְב֣וֹת  in  the  plains 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: עֲרָבָה  
Sense: desert plain, steppe, desert, wilderness.
מוֹאָ֔ב  of  Moab 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
מֵעֵ֖בֶר  on  the  side 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵבֶר  
Sense: region beyond or across, side.
לְיַרְדֵּ֥ן  of  the  Jordan 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יַרְדֵּן  
Sense: the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km).
יְרֵחֽוֹ  [across  from]  Jericho 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרִחֹו 
Sense: a city 5 miles (8 km) west of the Jordan and 7 miles (.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation