Numbers 33

This chapter provides a detailed record of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the plains of Moab. It lists each of the stopping points, emphasizing God's guidance throughout the journey. It also gives specific instructions for how the Israelites should deal with the Canaanites once they enter the Promised Land.

Numbers 33:1-3 (NKJV)
1 These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.
2 Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the Lord. And these are their journeys according to their starting points:
3 They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians.

Moses carefully recorded the stages of Israel's journey, obeying God’s command to do so. This record highlights God’s leadership throughout their wilderness experience. The journey began after the Passover, marking their liberation from Egyptian bondage. Their bold departure symbolizes not only physical freedom but spiritual deliverance, as they left in full view of the Egyptians, who had suffered under God’s judgment during the plagues.

Numbers 33:4-5 (NKJV)
4 For the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had killed among them. Also on their gods the Lord had executed judgments.
5 Then the children of Israel moved from Rameses and camped at Succoth.

As Israel left Egypt, the Egyptians were mourning the loss of their firstborn. This verse underscores the divine judgment that had devastated Egypt, including their gods, showing God’s supremacy. The Israelites’ first stop, Succoth, marked the beginning of a journey that would depend entirely on God’s provision and guidance, showing His care and covenant faithfulness.

Numbers 33:6-8 (NKJV)
6 They departed from Succoth and camped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness.
7 They moved from Etham and turned back to Pi Hahiroth, which is east of Baal Zephon; and they camped near Migdol.
8 They departed from before Pi Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, went three days' journey in the Wilderness of Etham, and camped at Marah.

This passage outlines the next stops on their journey, with a significant event occurring at Pi Hahiroth, where the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. Passing through the sea represented a miraculous deliverance by God. Afterward, they journeyed into the wilderness and arrived at Marah, where the water was bitter, symbolizing the early challenges in their journey of faith and dependence on God.

Numbers 33:9 (NKJV)
9 They moved from Marah and came to Elim. At Elim were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there.

At Elim, God provided a place of rest and refreshment, with abundant water and shade. The twelve springs and seventy palm trees may symbolize completeness and fullness, showing God’s care for His people even in the wilderness. This stop offered the Israelites a brief respite from the harsh desert environment and reminded them of God's provision.

Numbers 33:10-11 (NKJV)
10 They moved from Elim and camped by the Red Sea.
11 They moved from the Red Sea and camped in the Wilderness of Sin.

After leaving Elim, they traveled back to the shores of the Red Sea, perhaps as a reminder of God’s miraculous deliverance. Then, moving on to the Wilderness of Sin, they faced more hardships, where God would later provide manna to sustain them. This stage of the journey reflects both God’s continued guidance and the growing challenges of the desert environment.

Numbers 33:12-14 (NKJV)
12 They journeyed from the Wilderness of Sin and camped at Dophkah.
13 They departed from Dophkah and camped at Alush.
14 They moved from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.

Rephidim was a place of testing, as there was no water, leading the people to grumble against Moses. God provided water from the rock, showcasing His ability to provide in impossible situations. This stop emphasizes Israel’s struggle with trust and dependence on God, even as He continued to meet their needs in miraculous ways.

Numbers 33:15-17 (NKJV)
15 They departed from Rephidim and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai.
16 They moved from the Wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah.
17 They departed from Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.

The Wilderness of Sinai is where Israel received the law and instructions for building the tabernacle. This was a key spiritual moment in their journey, forming their identity as God’s covenant people. Kibroth Hattaavah, meaning "graves of craving," was where God judged those who complained about food, and Hazeroth saw further challenges to Moses' leadership. These locations reflect both spiritual highs and the consequences of disobedience.

Numbers 33:18-20 (NKJV)
18 They departed from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.
19 They departed from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez.
20 They departed from Rimmon Perez and camped at Libnah.

These stops marked the continuation of their wilderness wanderings, with Rithmah being in the desert of Paran, near where the spies were sent into Canaan. Each of these stops is part of the broader context of God leading them toward the Promised Land, even as their faith and patience were continually tested.

Numbers 33:21-23 (NKJV)
21 They moved from Libnah and camped at Rissah.
22 They journeyed from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.
23 They went from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.

The names of these locations mark stages in their journey through difficult terrain. Though not much is detailed about events at these stops, the repetition highlights the long and arduous journey the Israelites undertook, moving steadily under God's command. Each stop represents progress toward the ultimate goal of entering the Promised Land.

Numbers 33:24-29 (NKJV)
24 They moved from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.
25 They moved from Haradah and camped at Makheloth.
26 They moved from Makheloth and camped at Tahath.
27 They departed from Tahath and camped at Terah.
28 They moved from Terah and camped at Mithkah.
29 They went from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah.

These verses list the ongoing movements of the Israelites through various wilderness locations. Though no specific events are mentioned, the detailed record of their journey emphasizes God’s guidance through each place, reinforcing His covenant faithfulness in leading them step by step toward their destination.

Numbers 33:30-33 (NKJV)
30 They departed from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.
31 They departed from Moseroth and camped at Bene Jaakan.
32 They moved from Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Hagidgad.
33 They went from Hor Hagidgad and camped at Jotbathah.

As the Israelites moved from one stop to another, their journey continued to be a test of endurance and trust in God's provision. These verses reflect the importance of each step in the journey, as they continued toward the fulfillment of God's promises, each location marking progress in their trek through the wilderness.

Numbers 33:34-37 (NKJV)
34 They moved from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.
35 They departed from Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber.
36 They moved from Ezion Geber and camped in the Wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.
37 They moved from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the boundary of the land of Edom.

Ezion Geber was a significant port city, likely a place of trade and rest, situated near the Red Sea. After departing from there, the Israelites arrived at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin, a place where they experienced pivotal moments, including Miriam’s death and Moses’ disobedience when he struck the rock. From Kadesh, they journeyed to Mount Hor, where Aaron would die, marking another transition in their leadership.

Numbers 33:38-39 (NKJV)
38 Then Aaron the priest went up to Mount Hor at the command of the Lord and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.
39 Aaron was one hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.

These verses record Aaron’s death as a significant event in the fortieth year of their journey. Aaron’s passing marked the end of his leadership as high priest and the completion of a long life of service. His death at Mount Hor signified both an emotional loss for the people and a reminder of God’s judgment on those who disobeyed Him, as Aaron would not enter the Promised Land.

Numbers 33:40 (NKJV)
40 Now the king of Arad, the Canaanite, who dwelt in the South in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.

This verse introduces a new challenge for the Israelites. The Canaanites, particularly the king of Arad, became aware of Israel’s approach to the Promised Land. This set the stage for future battles as Israel would soon have to face opposition in their attempt to take possession of the land God had promised them.

Numbers 33:41-44 (NKJV)
41 So they departed from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.
42 They departed from Zalmonah and camped at Punon.
43 They departed from Punon and camped at Oboth.
44 They departed from Oboth and camped at Ije Abarim, at the border of Moab.

These verses detail the Israelites’ continued journey through the wilderness, moving closer to the borders of Moab. Each step brought them nearer to the land God had promised, and the camps they established reflect the long, ongoing process of preparation for entering Canaan. These locations, mostly in the wilderness, highlight the endurance required by the people as they followed God’s lead.

Numbers 33:45-47 (NKJV)
45 They departed from Ijim and camped at Dibon Gad.
46 They moved from Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim.
47 They moved from Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.

The Israelites were nearing the Promised Land, with Dibon Gad and the mountains of Abarim situated in the Moabite territory. The mention of Nebo foreshadows Moses’ final days, as Mount Nebo is where he would later view the Promised Land before his death. These places represent the anticipation and nearness of their long-awaited inheritance.

Numbers 33:48-49 (NKJV)
48 They departed from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.
49 They camped by the Jordan, from Beth Jesimoth as far as the Abel Acacia Grove in the plains of Moab.

Finally, the Israelites reached the plains of Moab, across from Jericho. This location marked the threshold of the Promised Land. The crossing of the Jordan would soon follow, but here they prepared to enter the land. The long journey was nearing completion, and this camp was one of the last stops before their transition from the wilderness to the land of Canaan.

Numbers 33:50-53 (NKJV)
50 Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, saying,
51 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
52 then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places;
53 you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess.'"

God gave Moses explicit instructions for when they would enter the Promised Land. Israel was to remove all traces of Canaanite idolatry by destroying their idols, stones, and high places. This command emphasized God’s holiness and the need for His people to maintain purity by not allowing the corrupt practices of the Canaanites to remain. The land was a gift from God, but it required faithfulness to His commands to possess and dwell in it.

Numbers 33:54 (NKJV)
54 And you shall divide the land by lot as an inheritance among your families; to the larger you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give a smaller inheritance; there everyone’s inheritance shall be whatever falls to him by lot. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers.

God instructed that the land be divided by lot among the tribes, ensuring fairness in the distribution. The larger tribes would receive larger portions, and smaller tribes would receive smaller ones. This method of division emphasized God’s sovereignty in assigning each tribe their inheritance, and the inheritance was to be passed down through each family’s lineage as a permanent possession.

Numbers 33:55-56 (NKJV)
55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell.
56 Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.

God warned the Israelites of the consequences of disobedience. If they failed to drive out the inhabitants, those remaining would become a constant source of trouble and temptation. This warning underscores the importance of following God's command to avoid the influence of pagan practices. God’s judgment was impartial; if Israel allowed these influences to remain, they would face the same fate as the Canaanites, emphasizing the seriousness of their covenant relationship with Him.