Numbers Chapter 33 — The Journey from Egypt to Moab
Numbers 33 provides a chronological list of the locations where the Israelites camped during their journey from Egypt to the plains of Moab. It also includes instructions for the upcoming conquest of Canaan.
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.
50The LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Numbers 33:2
“Moses wrote the starting points of their journeys by the commandment of the LORD.”
It establishes the divine authority and intentionality behind recording Israel's history.
Numbers 33:38
“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.”
This verse marks the conclusion of the ministry of the first High Priest of Israel.
Numbers 33:53
“You shall take possession of the land, and dwell therein; for I have given the land to you to possess it.”
This summarizes the ultimate goal of the journey and the promise made to the Israelites.
Chapter Summary
Numbers 33 serves as a historical record of Israel's journey from their departure at Rameses in Egypt to their final camp in the plains of Moab by the Jordan. At God's command, Moses documented each stage of the forty-year trek, highlighting milestones such as the crossing of the Red Sea, the encampment at Sinai, and the death of Aaron the priest at Mount Hor at the age of 123. The chapter concludes with specific instructions from God regarding the conquest of Canaan. The Israelites are commanded to drive out all current inhabitants, destroy all idols and high places, and divide the land by lot according to their tribes. God warns that failing to remove the inhabitants will result in those people becoming a source of constant trouble and harassment for the nation in their new home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moses recorded the journey by the commandment of the Lord to serve as a historical record of Israel's travels. It tracks their progress from the Exodus out of Egypt to the threshold of the Promised Land.
According to the text, Aaron the priest went up to Mount Hor at God's command and died there at 123 years old. This occurred in the fortieth year after the Exodus, on the first day of the fifth month.
God commanded the Israelites to destroy all stone idols, molten images, and high places of worship belonging to the inhabitants of the land. This was part of the instruction to fully take possession of the territory God had given them.
God warned that any remaining inhabitants would become like 'pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides.' He stated that these people would harass the Israelites and that He would eventually do to Israel what He had intended to do to the inhabitants.
Study Note
Numbers 33 is unique as one of the few sections of the Pentateuch explicitly stated to have been written down by Moses at God's direct command.
Related Chapters
Exodus 12
This chapter describes the original departure from Egypt mentioned at the start of the itinerary.
Joshua 1
Joshua leads the people across the Jordan, fulfilling the instructions given in Numbers 33.
Deuteronomy 1
Deuteronomy also reviews the history of Israel's journey and their preparation to enter the land.
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