Moab’s terror reflects the overwhelming impact of the Israelites’ imminent arrival.
When Scripture describes that, “Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel” (v.3), it highlights the profound alarm that gripped the Moabites as a vast host of Israelites approached their borders. The region of Moab lay east of the Dead Sea, in what is now the southwestern part of modern-day Jordan. This verse takes place toward the end of Israel’s forty-year sojourn in the wilderness (commonly dated between 1446-1406 BC), a period in which the Israelites, descendants of Jacob (also known as Israel), moved through the wilderness toward the Promised Land. The Moabites, whose nation originated from Moab (the son of Abraham’s nephew Lot, dating to around the mid-second millennium BC), found themselves trembling in the face of Israel’s God-directed journey.
These words, “Moab was in great fear because of the people” (v.3), show the contrast between the plans of human rulers and the sovereign plan of the Lord. The Moabites had undoubtedly heard of earlier victories God had granted to His people (as recorded in preceding chapters of Numbers), prompting an even deeper apprehension. This fear was not merely due to the Israelites’ numbers but also rooted in the knowledge that God’s favor rested upon them. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, similar accounts describe neighboring nations trembling upon hearing of Israelites’ approach, testifying that God’s hand was powerfully guiding and protecting His people (see Joshua 2:9-11).
We read that Moab “was in dread of the sons of Israel” (v.3), a phrase that underscores the anxiety caused by the tangible influence of God’s chosen people. This verse demonstrates that even those outside of Israel could sense the divine hand orchestrating events for His people’s deliverance. The Moabites' reaction foreshadows the way many other nations throughout history have responded with fear or awe when witnessing God’s work among His people—a theme that carries into the New Testament, where the presence and message of Jesus at times caused astonishment and fear among those who heard Him (e.g., Mark 5:15).
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Numbers 22:3 meaning
When Scripture describes that, “Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel” (v.3), it highlights the profound alarm that gripped the Moabites as a vast host of Israelites approached their borders. The region of Moab lay east of the Dead Sea, in what is now the southwestern part of modern-day Jordan. This verse takes place toward the end of Israel’s forty-year sojourn in the wilderness (commonly dated between 1446-1406 BC), a period in which the Israelites, descendants of Jacob (also known as Israel), moved through the wilderness toward the Promised Land. The Moabites, whose nation originated from Moab (the son of Abraham’s nephew Lot, dating to around the mid-second millennium BC), found themselves trembling in the face of Israel’s God-directed journey.
These words, “Moab was in great fear because of the people” (v.3), show the contrast between the plans of human rulers and the sovereign plan of the Lord. The Moabites had undoubtedly heard of earlier victories God had granted to His people (as recorded in preceding chapters of Numbers), prompting an even deeper apprehension. This fear was not merely due to the Israelites’ numbers but also rooted in the knowledge that God’s favor rested upon them. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, similar accounts describe neighboring nations trembling upon hearing of Israelites’ approach, testifying that God’s hand was powerfully guiding and protecting His people (see Joshua 2:9-11).
We read that Moab “was in dread of the sons of Israel” (v.3), a phrase that underscores the anxiety caused by the tangible influence of God’s chosen people. This verse demonstrates that even those outside of Israel could sense the divine hand orchestrating events for His people’s deliverance. The Moabites' reaction foreshadows the way many other nations throughout history have responded with fear or awe when witnessing God’s work among His people—a theme that carries into the New Testament, where the presence and message of Jesus at times caused astonishment and fear among those who heard Him (e.g., Mark 5:15).