And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel.
Parallel translations
- WEB Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
- KJV And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
- BSB and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
- NASB So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel.
- NLT And when the people of Moab saw how many Israelites there were, they were terrified.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Moab is gripped with dread and distress at the sheer number of the Israelites. Fear, not faith, governs Moab's reaction to God's people.
Overview
Moab's terror echoes the dread that fell on the nations as Israel approached (Exodus 15:15-16). Though Israel had been commanded not to harass Moab (Deuteronomy 2:9), Moab assumes the worst. The chapter contrasts the nations' fearful scheming with God's settled purpose to bless and protect His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Exod 15:15Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed. Trembling takes hold of the mighty men of Moab. All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.
- Isa 23:5When the report comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish at the report of Tyre.
- Josh 9:24They answered Joshua, and said, “Because your servants were certainly told how Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. Therefore we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
- Josh 2:10–11For we have heard how Yahweh dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and to Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
- Deut 2:25Today I will begin to put the dread of you and the fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole sky, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of you.”
- Ps 53:5There they were in great fear, where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you. You have put them to shame, because God has rejected them.
- Josh 2:24They said to Joshua, “Truly Yahweh has delivered all the land into our hands. Moreover, all the inhabitants of the land melt away before us.”
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 22:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.