
Map of ancient Israel
Boundary of Promised Land
Map Plains of Moab
Israel east of the Jordan River
Map Promised Land of Canaan
Map View from Mount Nebo

Map View from Mount Nebo
View from Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo has the highest summit on the plateau, at 2,300 feet elevation, or 710 meters. That’s an especially good vantage point to view what is now Israel and Palestinian territories since the Dead Sea is about 1,400 feet below sea level, or 430 meters. That’s more than a kilometer above the Jordan River Valley, about three-fourths of a mile.Why God didn't let Moses into Promised Land
Scholars debate why God reacted wouldn't let Moses into the Promised Land of Canaan. Two popular guesses:- God told Moses to merely speak to the rock, but Moses angrily hit it with a stick—twice. Also, Moses seemed to take some credit for the miracle when he said “Do we have to bring water from this rock” (Numbers 20:9). As in God and Moses, the tag team? Some scholars say God’s complaint about Moses and Aaron in Numbers 20: 12 and 24 seem like an overreaction to what the men did.
- So, another guess is that the writer didn’t want to report what really happened. Instead, he wanted to protect the reputation of the men.
Notes
- Mountains east of the Jordan River. It includes Mount Nebo and extends south.
- Across the Jordan River from Jericho.
- It’s unclear where Mount Hor was. There’s a long tradition that connects it to Jebel Nabi Harun (Mountain of Prophet Aaron), roughly a day’s walk south of Edom’s capital city of Petra. Some scholars say that mountain was well inside the country of Edom, which is where the Israelites were forbidden to go. Another contender is Jebel Madurah. It was about a two-day walk northwest of Petra. The mountain is southwest of the Dead Sea, along what would have been the border of the Promised Land and Edom.
- Literally “the waters of Meribah-kadesh.” Meribah means to fight, argue, complain, rebel. Kadesh is a location. Scholars most often identify Kadesh, also called Kadesh Barnea, as the spring-fed oasis at Tel el-Qudeirat, on Egypt’s side of the border with Israel. Another contender is Ain Qadeis, also on Egypt’s side of the border. Bible writers put the location in different deserts: Zin Desert (Numbers 20:1) and Paran Desert (Numbers 13:26). Some theorize there were two Kadesh oases. West Kadesh and East Kadesh. Not many scholars seem to buy into that. The story of Moses disobeying God, as reported in Exodus, says Moses named the site “Pushy Complainers,” or literally in the Hebrew name, “Massah Meribah.” Massah means to test or to get pushy.
Acacia Grove camp
Map Plains of Moab, staging ground for invasion of Canaan
Crossing the Jordan River into Canaan

Crossing the Jordan River into Canaan
Crossing the Jordan River into Canaan
Jordan River
The Jordan River and the river valley are important locations in both the Old and New Testaments. It's especially important to the Jewish and Christian people.Geography of the River
The river is a river in the Middle East that starts north, in the mountains of Lebanon. It flows into the Dead Sea. Bible writers talk about it many times. They report it in the story of Joshua, who led the Israelites across the Jordan into Canaan. John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan. The Jordan River valley is a lush green area that is surrounded by desert. It's famous for its fertile land and beautiful scenery. Bible writers called it the land of milk and honey. This is because God told Moses that he would lead the Israelites to a land "where milk and honey flow like rivers" (Exodus 3:8, Casual English Bible).Jordan River scenes in the Bible
The Jordan River valley is home to other important biblical sites, including Jericho. That's the city famous for its walls that came tumbling down in Joshua's time. The northern river valley is also home to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. And in that same valley, on the Sea of Galilee, is where the Bible writers report that Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm. The Casual English Bible describes the river as "the most famous river in the Bible." It says that when Joshua led the Israelites across the river and into the Promised Land "walking in the water of the Jordan River symbolized the people stepping out in faith and trusting God to keep his promise." The Bible says God stopped the Jordan River during flood sea, which allowed the Israelites to cross. Israelites are the ancient ancestors of today's Jewish people.For more about the River, consider these bestselling Bible-background books: Complete Guide to the Bible, Who's Who & Where's Where in the Bible.
Scouting Canaan
Map of Canaan, Promised Land

Map of Canaan, Promised Land
Map of Canaan, Promised Land
Hill people
Powerful Philistine enemy
Israel's many enemies
Map Jerusalem: Israel’s worship site
Road to Jerusalem map
Balaam hired to jinx Israel
Bible map Streams in the desert

Bible map Streams in the desert
Judean hills
David’s Jerusalem
Lay of the land

Lay of the land
Map of Canaan, Promised Land
Hill people
Powerful Philistine enemy
Israel's many enemies in Canaan
For more Bible background, consider the bestselling Complete Guide to the Bible, by Stephen M. Miller.
Judean hills
Map of Babylonians conquering Judah
