Lexical Summary Abel Hashshittim: Abel of the Acacias Original Word: אָבֵל הַשִּׁטִּים Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Abel-shittim From 'abel and the plural of shittah, with the article inserted; meadow of the acacias; Abel hash- Shittim, a place in Palestine -- Abel-shittim. see HEBREW 'abel see HEBREW shittah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom abel and the pl. of shittah Definition a place in the lowlands of Moab NASB Translation Abel-shittim (1). Topical Lexicon Name and Location Abel-ha-Shittim, literally “Meadow of the Acacias,” lay on the eastern side of the Jordan River in the plains of Moab, directly opposite Jericho. It formed the northern limit of Israel’s last encampment before the nation crossed the Jordan into Canaan. Biblical Occurrence Numbers 33:49 locates the site: “They camped by the Jordan from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.” Though the exact phrase appears only here, the surrounding district—commonly called Shittim—figures prominently in several key events (Numbers 25; Joshua 2–3). Historical Setting 1. Final Station of the Exodus. After forty years of wilderness wandering, Abel-ha-Shittim was the last place Israel pitched its tents. From here the people could see the Promised Land across the river, marking the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:7). Prophetic Echoes Joel 3:18 foresees a future day when “a spring will flow from the house of the LORD and water the Valley of Acacias.” The reference to acacias evokes the same region, hinting at coming restoration that reverses earlier judgment. Theological Themes • Covenant Faithfulness. Abel-ha-Shittim showcases the reliability of God’s promise: Israel reaches the border exactly as foretold (Exodus 3:8). Ministry Significance 1. Preparation for New Seasons. Like Israel pausing at Abel-ha-Shittim, churches and believers benefit from deliberate seasons of consecration before major undertakings. Summary Abel-ha-Shittim is more than a geographical footnote; it is the threshold where promise, peril, and preparation converge. Its solitary mention in Numbers 33 amplifies a cluster of surrounding narratives that exhort God’s people to covenant faithfulness, spiritual readiness, and unwavering hope as they stand on the brink of promised fulfillment. Forms and Transliterations הַשִּׁטִּ֑ים השטים haš·šiṭ·ṭîm hashshitTim haššiṭṭîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 33:49 HEB: עַ֖ד אָבֵ֣ל הַשִּׁטִּ֑ים בְּעַֽרְבֹ֖ת מוֹאָֽב׃ NAS: as far as Abel-shittim in the plains KJV: from Bethjesimoth [even] unto Abelshittim in the plains INT: Beth-jeshimoth far Abel-shittim the plains of Moab 1 Occurrence |