Abarim
Ab'arim (Heb. Abarim', עֲב2ַָ2רַים, regions beyond, i.e. east of the Jordan; Sept. 'Αβαρίμ, but τὸ πέραν in Nu 27:12, Vulg. Abarim; in Jer 22:20, Sept. τὸ πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης, Vulg. transeuntes, Auth. Vers. "passages"), a mountain (הִד הָעֵבָרַים, Nu 27:12; De 32:49), or rather chain of hills (הָעֲבָרַים הָדֵי, Nu 33:47-48), which form or belong to the mountainous district east of the Dead Sea and the lower Jordan, being situated in the land of Moab (Nu 21:11), on the route to Palestine (Nu 27:12). It was the last station but one of the Hebrews on their way from Egypt to Canaan (Nu 33:47-48). SEE IJE-ABARIM. The range presents many distinct masses and elevations, commanding extensive views of the country west of the river (Irby and Mangles, p. 459). From one of the highest of these, called Mount Nebo, Moses surveyed the Promised Land before he died (De 32:49). From the manner in which the names Abarim, Nebo, and Pisgah are connected (De 32:49; De 34:1), it would seem that they were different names of the same general mountain chain. SEE NEBO. According to Josephus, who styles it Abaris ('Αβαρ]ς, Ant. 4:8, 48), it was "a very high mountain, situated opposite Jericho," and Eusebius (Onomast. Ναβαà) locates it six miles west of Heshbon. The name Abarim has been tortured by some disciples of the Faber and Bryant school of etymologists into a connection with the name of a district of Egypt called Abaris or Avaris (Josephus, Apn, 1:14), and so with the system of Egyptian idolatry, from the deity of the same name. Affinities between the names of two of the peaks of this range, Nebo and Peor, have also been traced with those of other Egyptian deities, Anubis and Horis. There is no good foundation for such speculations.
