Numbers 33

The Stages of Israel's Journey

¹These 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.

²Moses wrote the starting points of their journeys by the commandment of the LORD. These are their journeys according to their starting points.

³They 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,

⁴while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck among them. The LORD also executed judgments on their gods.

⁵The children of Israel traveled from Rameses, and encamped in Succoth.

⁶They traveled from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness.

⁷They traveled from Etham, and turned back to Pihahiroth, which is before Baal Zephon, and they encamped before Migdol.

⁸They traveled from before Hahiroth, and crossed through the middle of the sea into the wilderness. They went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and encamped in Marah.

⁹They traveled from Marah, and came to Elim. In Elim, there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there.

¹⁰They traveled from Elim, and encamped by the Red Sea.

¹¹They traveled from the Red Sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.

¹²They traveled from the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.

¹³They traveled from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.

¹⁴They traveled from Alush, and encamped in Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.

¹⁵They traveled from Rephidim, and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai.

¹⁶They traveled from the wilderness of Sinai, and encamped in Kibroth Hattaavah.

¹⁷They traveled from Kibroth Hattaavah, and encamped in Hazeroth.

¹⁸They traveled from Hazeroth, and encamped in Rithmah.

¹⁹They traveled from Rithmah, and encamped in Rimmon Perez.

²⁰They traveled from Rimmon Perez, and encamped in Libnah.

²¹They traveled from Libnah, and encamped in Rissah.

²²They traveled from Rissah, and encamped in Kehelathah.

²³They traveled from Kehelathah, and encamped in Mount Shepher.

²⁴They traveled from Mount Shepher, and encamped in Haradah.

²⁵They traveled from Haradah, and encamped in Makheloth.

²⁶They traveled from Makheloth, and encamped in Tahath.

²⁷They traveled from Tahath, and encamped in Terah.

²⁸They traveled from Terah, and encamped in Mithkah.

²⁹They traveled from Mithkah, and encamped in Hashmonah.

³⁰They traveled from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth.

³¹They traveled from Moseroth, and encamped in Bene Jaakan.

³²They traveled from Bene Jaakan, and encamped in Hor Haggidgad.

³³They traveled from Hor Haggidgad, and encamped in Jotbathah.

³⁴They traveled from Jotbathah, and encamped in Abronah.

³⁵They traveled from Abronah, and encamped in Ezion Geber.

³⁶They traveled from Ezion Geber, and encamped at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

³⁷They traveled from Kadesh, and encamped in Mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.

³⁸Aaron 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.

³⁹Aaron was one hundred twenty-three years old when he died in Mount Hor.

⁴⁰The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the South in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.

⁴¹They traveled from Mount Hor, and encamped in Zalmonah.

⁴²They traveled from Zalmonah, and encamped in Punon.

⁴³They traveled from Punon, and encamped in Oboth.

⁴⁴They traveled from Oboth, and encamped in Iye Abarim, in the border of Moab.

⁴⁵They traveled from Iyim, and encamped in Dibon Gad.

⁴⁶They traveled from Dibon Gad, and encamped in Almon Diblathaim.

⁴⁷They traveled from Almon Diblathaim, and encamped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.

⁴⁸They traveled from the mountains of Abarim, and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

⁴⁹They encamped by the Jordan, from Beth Jeshimoth even to Abel Shittim in the plains of Moab.

Instructions for Conquering Canaan

⁵⁰The LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,

⁵¹Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, “When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

⁵²then 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.

⁵³You shall take possession of the land, and dwell therein; for I have given the land to you to possess it.

⁵⁴You shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the larger groups you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give a smaller 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 like pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will harass you in the land in which you dwell.

⁵⁶It shall happen that as I thought to do to them, so I will do to you.”

Previous Numbers 32

Next Numbers 34

Numbers 33 provides a comprehensive itinerary of Israel's wilderness journey from Egypt to the plains of Moab, recording 42 stations where they camped during their 40-year sojourn. Moses compiled this detailed travel log by divine command, creating a memorial of God's faithful guidance through the wilderness. The chapter concludes with specific instructions for conquering Canaan, emphasizing the complete removal of idolatrous influences and warning of consequences for incomplete obedience.

Context

This chapter serves as a historical bridge between the wilderness wanderings and the conquest preparations, following the census and tribal arrangements of previous chapters while setting up the territorial boundaries described in chapter 34.

Key Themes

Outline

1-4
Introduction to the Journey Record Moses records Israel's departure from Egypt by divine command, beginning the day after Passover while Egyptians buried their firstborn.
5-15
From Egypt to Sinai The first stage of travel includes crossing the Red Sea and reaching Mount Sinai, with notable stops at Marah and Elim.
16-36
From Sinai Through the Wilderness Twenty-one camping sites are listed as Israel journeys through the wilderness after leaving Sinai.
37-49
Final Stages to the Plains of Moab The concluding wilderness travels bring Israel to the Jordan River opposite Jericho, including Aaron's death at Mount Hor.
50-56
Commands for Conquering Canaan God instructs Israel to completely drive out the Canaanites, destroy their idols, and divide the land by lot or face ongoing conflict.

The Stages of Israel's Journey

33:1–33:49

narrative narration contemplative

A detailed record of Israel's wilderness journey from Egypt, documenting all the stages of their travels as commanded by the Lord through Moses and Aaron.

person_contrast

Moses transforms from lawgiver to travel chronicler, meticulously recording 42 wilderness stations that reveal God's patient guidance rather than Israel's repeated disobedience.

Instructions for Conquering Canaan

33:50–33:56

law instruction warning

God instructs Moses to command Israel to completely drive out the Canaanites and destroy their idols when they enter the promised land, warning of consequences for disobedience.

person_contrast

Moses, typically associated with law-giving and obedience, here uniquely commands the complete destruction of Canaanite idols and sacred imagery, marking one of Scripture's most explicit anti-idolatry mandates.

Insight Character Study

Moses transforms from lawgiver to travel chronicler, meticulously recording 42 wilderness stations that reveal God's patient guidance rather than Israel's repeated disobedience.

Insight Character Study