Numbers33

Numbers 33 meticulously records the forty-two encampments of the children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings, from their departure from Rameses in Egypt to their arrival in the plains of Moab. Moses wrote this detailed itinerary by the commandment of the LORD, noting significant locations and events like Aaron's death at Mount Hor. The chapter concludes with God's instructions to Moses regarding the impending conquest of Canaan, emphasizing the command to dispossess the inhabitants and destroy their idols, along with a warning against disobedience.

The Command to Record the Journeys

1
These are the journeys of the children of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.
2
Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD. These are their journeys according to their goings out. ​

From Egypt to Mount Sinai

3
They traveled from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the next day after the Passover, the children of Israel went out with a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians,
4
while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck among them. the LORD also executed judgments on their gods. ​
5
The children of Israel traveled from Rameses, and encamped in Succoth.
6
They traveled from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness.
7
They traveled from Etham, and turned back to Pihahiroth, which is before Baal Zephon: and they encamped before Migdol.
8
They traveled from before Hahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness. They went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and encamped in Marah. ​
9
They traveled from Marah, and came to Elim. In Elim, there were twelve springs of water, and seventy palm trees; and they encamped there. ​
10
They traveled from Elim, and encamped by the Sea of Suf.
11
They traveled from the Sea of Suf, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.
12
They traveled from the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.
13
They traveled from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.
14
They traveled from Alush, and encamped in Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.
15
They traveled from Rephidim, and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai. ​

The Thirty-Eight Years of Wandering

16
They traveled from the wilderness of Sinai, and encamped in Kibroth Hattaavah. ​
17
They traveled from Kibroth Hattaavah, and encamped in Hazeroth.
18
They traveled from Hazeroth, and encamped in Rithmah.
19
They traveled from Rithmah, and encamped in Rimmon Perez.
20
They traveled from Rimmon Perez, and encamped in Libnah.
21
They traveled from Libnah, and encamped in Rissah.
22
They traveled from Rissah, and encamped in Kehelathah.
23
They traveled from Kehelathah, and encamped in Mount Shepher.
24
They traveled from Mount Shepher, and encamped in Haradah.
25
They traveled from Haradah, and encamped in Makheloth.
26
They traveled from Makheloth, and encamped in Tahath.
27
They traveled from Tahath, and encamped in Terah.
28
They traveled from Terah, and encamped in Mithkah.
29
They traveled from Mithkah, and encamped in Hashmonah.
30
They traveled from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth.
31
They traveled from Moseroth, and encamped in Bene Jaakan.
32
They traveled from Bene Jaakan, and encamped in Hor Haggidgad.
33
They traveled from Hor Haggidgad, and encamped in Jotbathah.
34
They traveled from Jotbathah, and encamped in Abronah.
35
They traveled from Abronah, and encamped in Ezion Geber.
36
They traveled from Ezion Geber, and encamped at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. ​

The Death of Aaron at Mount Hor

37
They traveled from Kadesh, and encamped in Mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom. ​
38
Aaron the priest went up into Mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first day of the month. ​
39
Aaron was one hundred twenty-three years old when he died in Mount Hor.
40
The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the South in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel. ​

From Mount Hor to the Plains of Moab

41
They traveled from Mount Hor, and encamped in Zalmonah.
42
They traveled from Zalmonah, and encamped in Punon.
43
They traveled from Punon, and encamped in Oboth.
44
They traveled from Oboth, and encamped in Iye Abarim, in the border of Moab.
45
They traveled from Iyim, and encamped in Dibon Gad.
46
They traveled from Dibon Gad, and encamped in Almon Diblathaim.
47
They traveled from Almon Diblathaim, and encamped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.
48
They traveled from the mountains of Abarim, and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. ​
49
They encamped by the Jordan, from Beth Jeshimoth even to Abel Shittim in the plains of Moab. ​

Instructions for the Conquest of Canaan

50
The LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, ​
51
Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, “When you pass over 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 stone idols, destroy all their molten images, and demolish all their high places. ​
53
You shall take possession of the land, and dwell therein; for I have given the land to you to possess it.
54
You shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance. Wherever the lot falls to any man, that shall be his. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers. ​
55
“But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those you let remain of them will be as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they will harass you in the land in which you dwell. ​
56
It shall happen that as I thought to do to them, so will I do to you.” ​

Study Notes for Numbers 33

Verse 2

Moses recording this itinerary 'by the commandment of the LORD' emphasizes that this list is divinely authorized history, documenting God's faithfulness and guidance throughout the forty years of wandering.

Verse 4

The departure was swift because the Egyptians were preoccupied with burying their dead. The text emphasizes that the plagues were not only judgments upon the people but also judgments executed upon the gods of Egypt (Ex. 12:12).

Verse 8

This verse confirms the location of the miraculous sea crossing and the subsequent journey into the wilderness, where the people experienced both thirst and the provision of manna.

Verse 9

Elim provided a crucial place of rest and refreshment after the bitter waters of Marah. The numbers—twelve springs (for the tribes) and seventy palm trees (perhaps symbolizing the seventy elders or nations)—often carry symbolic weight of completeness and divine provision.

Verse 15

The arrival at the Wilderness of Sinai marks the end of the initial rapid transit and the beginning of the central covenant period, where the Law was given and the Tabernacle constructed (Ex. 19).

Verse 16

Kibrothhattaavah ('Graves of Craving') is where the people complained about the manna and demanded meat, resulting in a severe plague (Num. 11). This site marks the transition from Sinai instruction to the punitive wandering stage.

Verse 36

Kadesh (in the Wilderness of Zin) served as the primary base camp for the Israelites during the thirty-eight years of wandering, and it was the location of the critical failure of the spies (Num. 13).

Verse 37

Mount Hor is geographically significant, marking the northern border of Edom. This location is important as it prepares the Israelites for their final approach to Canaan, requiring them to bypass Edomite territory.

Verse 38

Aaron’s death is a major chronological marker, occurring in the fortieth year, symbolizing the near completion of the wilderness period and the passing of the old generation of leadership.

Verse 40

This parenthetical verse refers to an event recounted earlier in Numbers 21:1-3, where the Canaanite king of Arad attacked Israel. Its inclusion here demonstrates that the itinerary is sometimes interrupted by historical context.

Verse 48

The mountains of Abarim, before Nebo, provide a vantage point from which Moses would later view the Promised Land before his own death (Deut. 34:1).

Verse 49

This final campsite, Abelshittim, is the place where Israel would encounter the Moabites and Midianites, leading to the incident concerning Baal-Peor (Num. 25), marking the last major failure before the conquest.

Verse 50

The shift in focus marks the end of the journey narrative and the beginning of the final preparation for inheritance, emphasizing the terms upon which they will possess the land.

Verse 52

The command to destroy all idolatrous objects (pictures, molten images, high places) underscores the principle that Israel must maintain absolute spiritual separation from the corrupted practices of the Canaanites to remain holy.

Verse 54

Dividing the land 'by lot' ensures that the distribution is seen as determined by divine providence rather than human negotiation or political power, confirming God as the ultimate grantor of the inheritance.

Verse 55

This severe warning emphasizes the consequences of incomplete obedience. The remaining inhabitants will become sources of perpetual difficulty, acting as both spiritual temptations (thorns) and physical opposition (pricks in your eyes).

Verse 56

The ultimate consequence of failure to drive out the inhabitants is covenant judgment: God threatens to inflict upon Israel the same destruction He intended for the Canaanites, confirming the conditional nature of their residency in the land.

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