Lexical Summary Nachaliel: "Valley of God" or "Inheritance of God" Original Word: נַחֲלִיאֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nahaliel From nachal and 'el; valley of God; Nachaliel, a place in the Desert -- Nahaliel. see HEBREW nachal see HEBREW 'el NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nachal and el Definition "valley of God," a place E. of the Dead Sea NASB Translation Nahaliel (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs נַחֲלִיאֵל proper name, of a location (= valley — or plam — of El); — station of Israel east of Dead Sea Numbers 21:19 (twice in verse) (JE), possibly (if = valley) one of main tributaries of Arnon, e.g. W. Wâle (see BlissPEF 1895, 204, 215). Topical Lexicon Location and Setting Nahaliel lay east of the Jordan River, in the Transjordan plateau between the Arnon Gorge and the hill country of Pisgah. The itinerary in Numbers 21 situates it between Mattanah (“Gift”) and Bamoth (“High Places”), placing Nahaliel in a fertile wadi that rises toward the highlands of Moab. The surrounding region was claimed by Sihon king of the Amorites until Israel, journeying toward Canaan, defeated him (Numbers 21:24). The brook-lined valley, fed by seasonal rains, afforded much-needed water and pastureland for Israel’s flocks during their march through an otherwise arid landscape. Biblical Narrative Numbers 21:19 records Israel’s movement: “from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth”. The verse is part of a travel song celebrating Yahweh’s provision (Numbers 21:17-18). Coming immediately after the miraculous emergence of water from the well dug at Beer (Numbers 21:16-18) and before the ascent to Bamoth and the heights of Pisgah (Numbers 21:20), Nahaliel marks a transition from divine provision in the valley to the vantage point from which Israel would soon behold the Promised Land. The double mention in the same verse underscores its place as both destination and point of departure—an overnight encampment where Israel paused to refresh and reorganize. Historical Significance 1. Military staging ground: The route through Nahaliel lay within former Amorite territory recently conquered by Israel. Establishing an encampment there secured the new frontier and testified to Yahweh’s promise to dispossess hostile nations (Deuteronomy 2:31-33). Theological Themes • Provision in the valley: The well at Beer precedes Nahaliel, and the fertile wadi itself continues the motif of sustenance in desert sojourns. The name’s association with God underscores that valleys may be just as God-filled as mountaintops (Psalm 23:4). Lessons for Ministry and Discipleship 1. Celebrate small stages: Like Israel’s song over each encampment (Numbers 21:17-20), congregations today are wise to mark incremental victories and provisions, fostering gratitude. New Testament Echoes Though Nahaliel itself is not cited in the New Testament, its themes surface: Related Old Testament Passages Numbers 21:17-20 – the song of the well and the march through Nahaliel Deuteronomy 2:24-37 – the defeat of Sihon, making Nahaliel accessible Joshua 13:15-20 – tribal allotments east of Jordan, including sites near Nahaliel Psalm 136:16 – praise for God who “led His people through the wilderness” Conclusion Nahaliel stands as a brief but meaningful waypoint in Israel’s wilderness narrative, weaving together themes of provision, inheritance, and forward movement. For believers, it invites confidence that the God who waters valleys also lifts His people to places of praise and promise. Forms and Transliterations וּמִנַּחֲלִיאֵ֖ל ומנחליאל נַחֲלִיאֵ֑ל נחליאל na·ḥă·lî·’êl nachaliEl naḥălî’êl ū·min·na·ḥă·lî·’êl uminnachaliEl ūminnaḥălî’êlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 21:19 HEB: וּמִמַּתָּנָ֖ה נַחֲלִיאֵ֑ל וּמִנַּחֲלִיאֵ֖ל בָּמֽוֹת׃ NAS: and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel KJV: And from Mattanah to Nahaliel: and from Nahaliel INT: Mattanah to Nahaliel Nahaliel to Bamoth Numbers 21:19 2 Occurrences |
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