Lexical Summary eshed: Slope, outpouring, foundation Original Word: אֶשֶׁד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance stream From an unused root meaning to pour; an outpouring -- stream. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a foundation, bottom, lower part NASB Translation slope (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶ֫שֶׁד noun [masculine] foundation, bottom, lower part (slope) (Assyrian išdu compare LotzTP 186; > others from אֲשַׁד,  pour, Sabean אסד = (משׁקה) מסקי DHMZMG 1883, 8, whence fall, slope; compare Di Numbers 21:15) הַנְּחָלִים ׳א the bottom of the ravines Numbers 21:15. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery Eshed evokes the steep sides of a seasonal watercourse that channels flood-waters downward from a high plateau. Such ravines can appear barren for most of the year, yet in the rainy season they thunder with life-giving streams, cutting deep into limestone and leaving fertile pockets along their base. The term therefore carries the blended imagery of barrenness and sudden abundance, peril and provision. Geographical Setting: The Slopes of the Arnon The single biblical reference points to the dramatic canyon of the Arnon River (modern Wadi Mujib) that divides the land of Moab. Plunging more than a thousand feet from the Trans-Jordanian plateau to the Dead Sea, its sheer walls created a natural frontier. Archaeological surveys confirm Iron-Age fortifications on the surrounding heights, underscoring its military and commercial importance on the King’s Highway that Israel used in its wilderness trek. Narrative Context in Numbers 21:15 During the final year of Israel’s forty-year journey, the nation skirted the territory of Moab. A fragment of an ancient “Book of the Wars of the LORD” is quoted: “‘Waheb in Suphah and the ravines of the Arnon, and the slopes of the wadis that extend to the site of Ar and lie along the border of Moab.’” (Numbers 21:14-15) The eshed marks the point where those ravines “extend” or “incline” toward Moab’s chief city, Ar. The citation celebrates the LORD’s past victories and, by naming this rugged landmark, reminds the hearer that divine help has already carried Israel through intimidating terrain. Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Strategic boundary: Control of the Arnon gorge shifted among Moabites, Amorites, and Israelites (Judges 11:13, 26). The eshed signified the edge of Moab’s heartland and therefore of potential hostility or hospitality. Theological Themes • Divine sovereignty over natural barriers: What seems an uncrossable drop becomes a corridor of providence. Foreshadowing and Christological Perspective The dry ravine that roars to life after the rains anticipates the greater outpouring promised in salvation history. Jesus stands in Jerusalem and cries, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). As the eshed gathers and channels the waters, so Christ gathers every promise and channels grace to the believer. The steep descent into the Arnon valley pictures His incarnation and sacrificial descent, followed by the ascension that lifts His people to higher ground. Practical and Ministry Applications • Encouragement in transitional seasons: Congregations moving from wilderness to promise can revisit Numbers 21:15 to underline God’s presence at every boundary. Key Takeaways Eshed, though appearing only once, anchors a rich panorama: a formidable canyon, a memorial of victory, a metaphor of unexpected provision, and a pointer to the ultimate Deliverer who guides His people through every ravine—geographical, historical, or spiritual—until they arrive in the land of promise. Forms and Transliterations וְאֶ֙שֶׁד֙ ואשד veEshed wə’ešeḏ wə·’e·šeḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 21:15 HEB: וְאֶ֙שֶׁד֙ הַנְּחָלִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר NAS: And the slope of the wadis KJV: And at the stream of the brooks INT: and the slope of the wadis that 1 Occurrence |
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