2 And Moses H4872 wrote H3789 their goings out H4161 according to their journeys H4550 by the commandment H6310 of the LORD: H3068 and these are their journeys H4550 according to their goings out. H4161
3 And they departed H5265 from Rameses H7486 in the first H7223 month, H2320 on the fifteenth H6240 H2568 day H3117 of the first H7223 month; H2320 on the morrow H4283 after the passover H6453 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went out H3318 with an high H7311 hand H3027 in the sight H5869 of all the Egyptians. H4714
4 For the Egyptians H4714 buried H6912 all their firstborn, H1060 which the LORD H3068 had smitten H5221 among them: upon their gods H430 also the LORD H3068 executed H6213 judgments. H8201
5 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 removed H5265 from Rameses, H7486 and pitched H2583 in Succoth. H5523
6 And they departed H5265 from Succoth, H5523 and pitched H2583 in Etham, H864 which is in the edge H7097 of the wilderness. H4057
7 And they removed H5265 from Etham, H864 and turned again H7725 unto Pihahiroth, H6367 which is before Baalzephon: H1189 and they pitched H2583 before H6440 Migdol. H4024
8 And they departed H5265 from before H6440 Pihahiroth, H6367 and passed through H5674 the midst H8432 of the sea H3220 into the wilderness, H4057 and went H3212 three H7969 days' H3117 journey H1870 in the wilderness H4057 of Etham, H864 and pitched H2583 in Marah. H4785
9 And they removed H5265 from Marah, H4785 and came H935 unto Elim: H362 and in Elim H362 were twelve H8147 H6240 fountains H5869 of water, H4325 and threescore and ten H7657 palm trees; H8558 and they pitched H2583 there.
10 And they removed H5265 from Elim, H362 and encamped H2583 by the Red H5488 sea. H3220
11 And they removed H5265 from the Red H5488 sea, H3220 and encamped H2583 in the wilderness H4057 of Sin. H5512
12 And they took their journey H5265 out of the wilderness H4057 of Sin, H5512 and encamped H2583 in Dophkah. H1850
13 And they departed H5265 from Dophkah, H1850 and encamped H2583 in Alush. H442
14 And they removed H5265 from Alush, H442 and encamped H2583 at Rephidim, H7508 where was no water H4325 for the people H5971 to drink. H8354
15 And they departed H5265 from Rephidim, H7508 and pitched H2583 in the wilderness H4057 of Sinai. H5514
16 And they removed H5265 from the desert H4057 of Sinai, H5514 and pitched H2583 at Kibrothhattaavah. H6914
17 And they departed H5265 from Kibrothhattaavah, H6914 and encamped H2583 at Hazeroth. H2698
18 And they departed H5265 from Hazeroth, H2698 and pitched H2583 in Rithmah. H7575
19 And they departed H5265 from Rithmah, H7575 and pitched H2583 at Rimmonparez. H7428
20 And they departed H5265 from Rimmonparez, H7428 and pitched H2583 in Libnah. H3841
21 And they removed H5265 from Libnah, H3841 and pitched H2583 at Rissah. H7446
22 And they journeyed H5265 from Rissah, H7446 and pitched H2583 in Kehelathah. H6954
23 And they went H5265 from Kehelathah, H6954 and pitched H2583 in mount H2022 Shapher. H8234
24 And they removed H5265 from mount H2022 Shapher, H8234 and encamped H2583 in Haradah. H2732
25 And they removed H5265 from Haradah, H2732 and pitched H2583 in Makheloth. H4722
26 And they removed H5265 from Makheloth, H4722 and encamped H2583 at Tahath. H8480
27 And they departed H5265 from Tahath, H8480 and pitched H2583 at Tarah. H8646
28 And they removed H5265 from Tarah, H8646 and pitched H2583 in Mithcah. H4989
29 And they went H5265 from Mithcah, H4989 and pitched H2583 in Hashmonah. H2832
30 And they departed H5265 from Hashmonah, H2832 and encamped H2583 at Moseroth. H4149
31 And they departed H5265 from Moseroth, H4149 and pitched H2583 in Benejaakan. H1142
32 And they removed H5265 from Benejaakan, H1142 and encamped H2583 at Horhagidgad. H2735
33 And they went H5265 from Horhagidgad, H2735 and pitched H2583 in Jotbathah. H3193
34 And they removed H5265 from Jotbathah, H3193 and encamped H2583 at Ebronah. H5684
35 And they departed H5265 from Ebronah, H5684 and encamped H2583 at Eziongaber. H6100
36 And they removed H5265 from Eziongaber, H6100 and pitched H2583 in the wilderness H4057 of Zin, H6790 which is Kadesh. H6946
37 And they removed H5265 from Kadesh, H6946 and pitched H2583 in mount H2022 Hor, H2023 in the edge H7097 of the land H776 of Edom. H123
38 And Aaron H175 the priest H3548 went up H5927 into mount H2022 Hor H2023 at the commandment H6310 of the LORD, H3068 and died H4191 there, in the fortieth H705 year H8141 after the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were come out H3318 of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 in the first H259 day of the fifth H2549 month. H2320
39 And Aaron H175 was an hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 and three H7969 years H8141 old H1121 when he died H4194 in mount H2022 Hor. H2023
40 And king H4428 Arad H6166 the Canaanite, H3669 which dwelt H3427 in the south H5045 in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 heard H8085 of the coming H935 of the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
41 And they departed H5265 from mount H2022 Hor, H2023 and pitched H2583 in Zalmonah. H6758
42 And they departed H5265 from Zalmonah, H6758 and pitched H2583 in Punon. H6325
43 And they departed H5265 from Punon, H6325 and pitched H2583 in Oboth. H88
44 And they departed H5265 from Oboth, H88 and pitched H2583 in Ijeabarim, H5863 in the border H1366 of Moab. H4124
45 And they departed H5265 from Iim, H5864 and pitched H2583 in Dibongad. H1769
46 And they removed H5265 from Dibongad, H1769 and encamped H2583 in Almondiblathaim. H5963
47 And they removed H5265 from Almondiblathaim, H5963 and pitched H2583 in the mountains H2022 of Abarim, H5682 before H6440 Nebo. H5015
48 And they departed H5265 from the mountains H2022 of Abarim, H5682 and pitched H2583 in the plains H6160 of Moab H4124 by Jordan H3383 near Jericho. H3405
49 And they pitched H2583 by Jordan, H3383 from Bethjesimoth H1020 even unto Abelshittim H63 in the plains H6160 of Moab. H4124
50 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses H4872 in the plains H6160 of Moab H4124 by Jordan H3383 near Jericho, H3405 saying, H559
51 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto them, When ye are passed over H5674 Jordan H3383 into the land H776 of Canaan; H3667
52 Then ye shall drive out H3423 all the inhabitants H3427 of the land H776 from before H6440 you, and destroy H6 all their pictures, H4906 and destroy H6 all their molten H4541 images, H6754 and quite pluck down H8045 all their high places: H1116
53 And ye shall dispossess H3423 the inhabitants of the land, H776 and dwell H3427 therein: for I have given H5414 you the land H776 to possess H3423 it.
54 And ye shall divide H5157 the land H776 by lot H1486 for an inheritance H5157 among your families: H4940 and to the more H7227 ye shall give the more H7235 inheritance, H5159 and to the fewer H4592 ye shall give the less H4591 inheritance: H5159 every man's inheritance shall be in the place where his lot H1486 falleth; H3318 according to the tribes H4294 of your fathers H1 ye shall inherit. H5157
55 But if ye will not drive out H3423 the inhabitants H3427 of the land H776 from before H6440 you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain H3498 of them shall be pricks H7899 in your eyes, H5869 and thorns H6796 in your sides, H6654 and shall vex H6887 you in the land H776 wherein ye dwell. H3427
56 Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do H6213 unto you, as I thought H1819 to do H6213 unto them.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Numbers 33
Commentary on Numbers 33 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 33
Nu 33:1-15. Two and Forty Journeys of the Israelites—from Egypt to Sinai.
1. These are the journeys of the children of Israel—This chapter may be said to form the winding up of the history of the travels of the Israelites through the wilderness; for the three following chapters relate to matters connected with the occupation and division of the promised land. As several apparent discrepancies will be discovered on comparing the records here given of the journeyings from Sinai with the detailed accounts of the events narrated in the Book of Exodus and the occasional notices of places that are found in that of Deuteronomy, it is probable that this itinerary comprises a list of only the most important stations in their journeys—those where they formed prolonged encampments, and whence they dispersed their flocks and herds to pasture on the adjacent plains till the surrounding herbage was exhausted. The catalogue extends from their departure out of Egypt to their arrival on the plains of Moab.
went forth … with their armies—that is, a vast multitude marshalled in separate companies, but regular order.
2. Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the Lord—The wisdom of this divine order is seen in the importance of the end to which it was subservient—namely, partly to establish the truth of the history, partly to preserve a memorial of God's marvellous interpositions on behalf of Israel, and partly to confirm their faith in the prospect of the difficult enterprise on which they were entering, the invasion of Canaan.
3. Rameses—generally identified with Heroopoils, now the modern Abu-Keisheid (see on Ex 12:37), which was probably the capital of Goshen, and, by direction of Moses, the place of general rendezvous previous to their departure.
4. upon their gods—used either according to Scripture phraseology to denote their rulers (the first-born of the king and his princes) or the idolatrous objects of Egyptian worship.
5. pitched in Succoth—that is, "booths"—a place of no note except as a temporary halting place, at Birketel-Hadji, the Pilgrim's Pool [Calmet].
6. Etham—edge, or border of all that part of Arabia-Petræa which lay contiguous to Egypt and was known by the general name of Shur.
7. Pi-hahiroth, Baal-zephon … Migdol—(See on Ex 14:2).
8. Marah—thought to be Ain Howarah, both from its position and the time (three days) it would take them with their children and flocks to march from the water of Ayun Musa to that spot.
9. Elim—supposed to be Wady Ghurundel (see on Ex 15:27).
10. encamped by the Red Sea—The road from Wady Ghurundel leads into the interior, in consequence of a high continuous ridge which excludes all view of the sea. At the mouth of Wady-et-Tayibeh, after about three days' march, it opens again on a plain along the margin of the Red Sea. The minute accuracy of the Scripture narrative, in corresponding so exactly with the geographical features of this region, is remarkably shown in describing the Israelites as proceeding by the only practicable route that could be taken. This plain, where they encamped, was the Desert of Sin (see on Ex 16:1).
12-14. Dophkah … Alush … Rephidim—These three stations, in the great valleys of El Sheikh and Feiran, would be equivalent to four days' journey for such a host. Rephidim (Ex 17:6) was in Horeb, the burnt region—a generic name for a hot, mountainous country. [See on Ex 17:1.]
15. wilderness of Sinai—the Wady Er-Raheh.
Nu 33:16-56. From Sinai to Kadesh and Plains of Moab.
16-37. Kibroth-Hattaavah ("the graves of lust," see on Nu 11:34)—The route, on breaking up the encampment at Sinai, led down Wady Sheikh; then crossing Jebel-et-Tih, which intersected the peninsula, they descended into Wady Zalaka, pitching successively at two brief, though memorable, stations (De 9:22); then they encamped at Hazeroth ("unwalled villages"), supposed to be at Ain-Hadera (see on Nu 11:35). Kadesh, or Kadesh-barnea, is supposed to be the great valley of the Ghor, and the city Kadesh to have been situated on the border of this valley [Burckhardt; Robinson]. But as there are no less than eighteen stations inserted between Hazeroth and Kadesh, and only eleven days were spent in performing that journey (De 1:2), it is evident that the intermediate stations here recorded belong to another and totally different visit to Kadesh. The first was when they left Sinai in the second month (Nu 1:11; 13:20), and were in Kadesh in August (De 1:45), and "abode many days" in it. Then, murmuring at the report of the spies, they were commanded to return into the desert "by the way of the Red Sea." The arrival at Kadesh, mentioned in this catalogue, corresponds to the second sojourn at that place, being the first month, or April (Nu 20:1). Between the two visits there intervened a period of thirty-eight years, during which they wandered hither and thither through all the region of El-Tih ("wanderings"), often returning to the same spots as the pastoral necessities of their flocks required; and there is the strongest reason for believing that the stations named between Hazeroth (Nu 33:8) and Kadesh (Nu 33:36) belong to the long interval of wandering. No certainty has yet been attained in ascertaining the locale of many of these stations. There must have been more than are recorded; for it is probable that those only are noted where they remained some time, where the tabernacle was pitched, and where Moses and the elders encamped, the people being scattered for pasture in various directions. From Ezion-geber, for instance, which stood at the head of the gulf of Akaba, to Kadesh, could not be much less than the whole length of the great valley of the Ghor, a distance of not less than a hundred miles, whatever might be the exact situation of Kadesh; and, of course, there must have been several intervening stations, though none are mentioned. The incidents and stages of the rest of the journey to the plains of Moab are sufficiently explicit from the preceding chapters.
18. Rithmah ("the place of the broom")—a station possibly in some wady extending westward of the Ghor.
19. Rimmon-parez, or Rimmon—a city of Judah and Simeon (Jos 15:32); Libnah, so called from its white poplars (Jos 10:29), or, as some think, a white hill between Kadesh and Gaza (Jos 10:29); Rissah (El-arish); mount Shapher (Cassius); Moseroth, adjacent to mount Hor, in Wady Mousa. Ezion-geber, near Akaba, a seaport on the western shore of the Elanitic gulf; Wilderness of Zin, on the east side of the peninsula of Sinai; Punon, in the rocky ravines of mount Hor and famous for the mines and quarries in its vicinity as well as for its fruit trees, now Tafyle, on the border of Edom; Abarim, a ridge of rugged hills northwest of the Arnon—the part called Nebo was one of its highest peaks—opposite Jericho. (See on De 10:6).
50-53. ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you—not, however, by expulsion, but extermination (De 7:1).
and destroy all their pictures—obelisks for idolatrous worship (see on Le 26:1).
and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places—by metonymy for all their groves and altars, and materials of worship on the tops of hills.
54. ye shall divide the land by lot—The particular locality of each tribe was to be determined in this manner while a line was to be used in measuring the proportion (Jos 18:10; Ps 16:5, 6).
55. But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you—No associations were to be formed with the inhabitants; otherwise, "if ye let remain, they will be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides"—that is, they would prove troublesome and dangerous neighbors, enticing to idolatry, and consequently depriving you of the divine favor and blessing. The neglect of the counsel against union with the idolatrous inhabitants became fatal to them. This earnest admonition given to the Israelites in their peculiar circumstances conveys a salutary lesson to us to allow no lurking habits of sin to remain in us. That spiritual enemy must be eradicated from our nature; otherwise it will be ruinous to our present peace and future salvation.