Pisgah
Pisgah is a mountain mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Transjordan in modern-day Israel. Known today as Rujm Siyaghah. It appears across 8 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Pisgah is a prominent mountain or ridge in the Abarim range east of the Jordan River, most famously associated with Moses' viewing of the Promised Land. Its first biblical mention comes in Numbers 21:20, situating it in the field of Moab overlooking the wasteland. Balak took the prophet Balaam to the top of Pisgah to curse Israel, but God turned the curse into blessing (Numbers 23:14). Moses was later commanded by God to ascend to the top of Pisgah and look in every direction, for he would not cross the Jordan into the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 3:27). In the closing chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses climbed from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah opposite Jericho, where the Lord showed him the entire land, from Gilead to Dan, Naphtali, Ephraim, Manasseh, Judah to the Western Sea, the Negev, and the plain of Jericho (Deuteronomy 34:1-4). Moses died there and was buried by God in a valley in the land of Moab, with his grave remaining unknown.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Pisgah is generally identified with the ridge or peak near Ras es-Siyagha (Rujm Siyaghah), adjacent to Mount Nebo in modern Jordan, overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. The site offers a panoramic view westward toward Jericho and the Judean hills, precisely matching the biblical description of what Moses saw. On the nearby summit of Mount Nebo, a Byzantine church and monastery were built to commemorate Moses, and excavations by the Franciscan Archaeological Institute have uncovered remarkable mosaic floors from the 4th through 6th centuries. A modern memorial church now stands on the site, and the viewpoint is a popular pilgrimage destination. On clear days, the view extends to Jerusalem, confirming the biblical account.
Verse Appearances (8)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →