Pisgah
“Section; peak; cleft”
Summary
Pisgah was a mountain in Moab, the summit from which Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death, and where Balaam offered sacrifices and prophesied concerning Israel.
☩Location
Pisgah was part of the Abarim mountain range in Moab, east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. The name means 'section' or 'peak,' referring to an isolated summit. It is closely associated with Mount Nebo, with some scholars identifying Pisgah as a ridge of which Nebo formed the highest point. The 'slopes of Pisgah' (Ashdoth-pisgah) formed part of the boundary for the territories assigned to Reuben and Gad (Deuteronomy 3:17; 4:49; Joshua 12:3; 13:20).
☩Moses' Final View
From the top of Pisgah, Moses took his dying survey of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 3:27; 34:1). God commanded Moses to ascend this mountain and view all the land that Israel would possess—though Moses himself could not enter it because of his transgression at Meribah. From this vantage point, Moses could see Gilead, Dan, Naphtali, Ephraim, Manasseh, Judah as far as the Mediterranean, the Negev, and the Jordan valley from Jericho to Zoar (Deuteronomy 34:1-4).
☩Balaam's Prophecies
Balak, king of Moab, brought Balaam to the top of Pisgah to curse Israel (Numbers 23:14). From this elevated vantage, Balaam could see the Israelite camp spread across the plains below. Despite Balak's intentions, God turned Balaam's intended curses into blessings, and from Pisgah Balaam prophesied Israel's future greatness (Numbers 23:14-24).
Related Verses8 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Pisgah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Pisgah," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).