Lives of Scripture

A high summit in Moab overlooking the wasteland, the Jordan Valley, and the Dead Sea, on Israel's route toward Canaan (Numbers 21:20; Deuteronomy 3:17). King Balak of Moab brought the prophet Balaam to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah and built seven altars there, hoping Balaam would curse Israel from a new vantage point; instead God put a message in Balaam's mouth, and he blessed Israel a second time, declaring that God does not lie or go back on His word (Numbers 23:13-24). When Moses pleaded to cross the Jordan, God told him to go up to the top of Pisgah and look at the land with his own eyes, because he would not cross over (Deuteronomy 3:23-27). At the end of his life Moses climbed Mount Nebo to the top of Pisgah, and there the LORD showed him the whole promised land before he died (Deuteronomy 34:1-5).