Keraia
Deuteronomy 3

Deuteronomy 3:17

Land Division East of the Jordan · Deuteronomy 3:12–22
Read Deuteronomy 3

Translations

Modern
The Jordan River in the Arabah bordered it from Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) with the slopes of Pisgah to the east.
Traditional
The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast thereof, from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, under Ashdoth–pisgah eastward.
Literal
…and the plain, and the Jordan, and the border from Chinnereth, and as far as the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, below the slopes of Pisgah to the east.
Latin
…et planitiem solitudinis, atque Jordanem, et terminos Cenereth usque ad mare deserti, quod est salsissimum, ad radices montis Phasga contra orientem.

Original

Hebrew
English
The Jordan River in the Arabah bordered it from Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) with the slopes of Pisgah to the east.

Notes

Deuteronomy 3:17

  • from Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea): The Hebrew name for the beautiful Sea of Galilee is Chinnereth. This name might come from the word chinnor ("harp"), because the lake is shaped somewhat like a harp.

  • the Sea of the Arabah (Hebrew Yam Hammelakh, meaning "Salt Sea"): It is also called the Dead Sea (see study note on 1:1). The water has a very high mineral content, about 30 percent, which makes it difficult for most life to survive.

  • Pisgah is a section of the Abarim mountain range. Its most prominent peak is Mount Nebo. Moses viewed the promised land from there, and he died there (see 34:1).

Deuteronomy 1:6–4:40

Secular treaties (formal agreements between nations) often included a section about the past relationship between the two partners. This section reviewed what had happened before the agreement.

In this case, the purpose was to review Israel’s successes and failures since the exodus from Egypt. It reminded the people that God had kept his word, even when they did not obey him.

To prepare the Israelites for life in Canaan, Moses reminded them about life in Egypt, their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and their past mistakes. He warned them to obey God's covenant. He assured them that God's grace would follow them as they learned to trust and obey the Lord.

Parallels

Numbers 32:1–42 Joshua 13:8–14

Places

Arabah: A desert region in the Jordan Valley and southward Chinnereth: Freshwater lake in northern Israel; location of Jesus' ministry Jordan: A river and region, significant in Israel's history Pisgah: A mountain range in Moab, east of the Jordan Salt Sea: Another name for the Dead Sea

Glossary

Arabah Archaeology and the Bible Ashdoth-Pisgah Brook of the Arabah Chinnereth, Chinneroth Dead Sea Deuteronomy, Book of Joshua, Book of Mount Pisgah Sea of the Arabah Sea of the Arabah Tribe of Dan

Topics

Ashdoth-Pisgah: The Water Courses Flowing from Mount Pisgah Dead Sea: Sea of the Plain Desert, Journey of Israel Through The: Reubenites Obtained the Land Taken from the Amorites Gad: A Tribe of Israel: Petition for Their Portion of Land East of the Jordan River Galilee: Sea (Lake) of Galilee: Called Sea of Chinnereth Israel: Defeat the King of Baasha Og: Land of, Given to the Tribes of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh Pisgah: A Boundary of the Country Assigned to the Reubenites and Gadites Reubenites: Have Their Inheritance East of the Jordan River Salt: Often Found: Near the Dead Sea Salt: Salt Sea The Sea: Lakes often Called the Tribe of Reuben: Bounds of Their Inheritance The Tribes of Israel: Reuben, Gad and Half Manasseh: Settled on East Side of Jordan