Deuteronomy 3:17
The plaine also, and Iordan, and the coast thereof, from Chinnereth, euen vnto the sea of the plaine, euen the salt sea, vnder Ashdoth Pisgah Eastward. Deuteronomy 3:17 (KJV)
This verse is part of a passage in Deuteronomy in which Moses describes the land east of the Jordan River that was allotted to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. To understand its significance, it helps to recall the broader context: Moses is addressing the Israelites just before they are about to enter the Promised Land. He reviews their history, reminds them of God’s commandments, and emphasizes the importance of obedience to God’s laws.
In Deuteronomy 3:17 Moses is delineating the boundaries of the inheritance for those three tribal groups. He mentions several geographical markers:
“The plain” refers to the Jordan plain, the flat region along the eastern side of the Jordan River, often identified with the Arabah. “Jordan” is the river itself, a central feature in the Israelites’ journey, famously crossed under Joshua’s leadership. “Chinnereth” denotes the Sea of Galilee, also called Lake Tiberias, a freshwater lake in northern Israel named after the nearby town. “The sea of the plain, even the salt sea” designates the Dead Sea, a large salt‑water lake that lies in the Jordan Rift Valley and is therefore called the sea of the plain. Finally, “Ashdoth‑pisgah” (or Ashdothpisgah) is a place or series of hills east of the Jordan that served as a prominent landmark.
The primary purpose of the verse is to provide a clear geographical description of the land assigned to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, establishing the Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, and the area around Ashdoth‑pisgah as the limits of their portion. While the verse does not contain explicit theological teaching, it contributes to the overall narrative of Israel’s journey and the division of the Promised Land among the tribes. It reminds believers of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling the promises made to the ancestors, leading His people to the land He had pledged to them.
