Numbers 33

King James Version

Full text for Numbers Chapter 33

1¶ These [are] the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.

2And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these [are] their journeys according to their goings out.

3And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians.

4For the Egyptians buried all [their] firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.

5And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth.

6And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which [is] in the edge of the wilderness.

7And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pihahiroth, which [is] before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol.

8And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.

9And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim [were] twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there.

10And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea.

11And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.

12And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.

13And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.

14And they removed from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink.

15And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai.

16And they removed from the desert of Sinai, and pitched at Kibrothhattaavah.

17And they departed from Kibrothhattaavah, and encamped at Hazeroth.

18And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitched in Rithmah.

19And they departed from Rithmah, and pitched at Rimmonparez.

20And they departed from Rimmonparez, and pitched in Libnah.

21And they removed from Libnah, and pitched at Rissah.

22And they journeyed from Rissah, and pitched in Kehelathah.

23And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in mount Shapher.

24And they removed from mount Shapher, and encamped in Haradah.

25And they removed from Haradah, and pitched in Makheloth.

26And they removed from Makheloth, and encamped at Tahath.

27And they departed from Tahath, and pitched at Tarah.

28And they removed from Tarah, and pitched in Mithcah.

29And they went from Mithcah, and pitched in Hashmonah.

30And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth.

31And they departed from Moseroth, and pitched in Benejaakan.

32And they removed from Benejaakan, and encamped at Horhagidgad.

33And they went from Horhagidgad, and pitched in Jotbathah.

34And they removed from Jotbathah, and encamped at Ebronah.

35And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Eziongaber.

36And they removed from Eziongaber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which [is] Kadesh.

37And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.

38And 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 were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first [day] of the fifth month.

39And Aaron [was] an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor.

40And king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.

41And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah.

42And they departed from Zalmonah, and pitched in Punon.

43And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth.

44And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in Ijeabarim, in the border of Moab.

45And they departed from Iim, and pitched in Dibongad.

46And they removed from Dibongad, and encamped in Almondiblathaim.

47And they removed from Almondiblathaim, and pitched in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.

48And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho.

49And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth [even] unto Abelshittim in the plains of Moab.

50¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho, saying,

51Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;

52Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:

53And ye shall dispossess [the inhabitants] of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.

54And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: [and] to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man's [inheritance] shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit.

55But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them [shall be] pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.

56Moreover it shall come to pass, [that] I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

Numbers 33 provides a comprehensive chronological list of the forty-two stations where the children of Israel encamped during their wilderness wanderings, beginning with their departure from Rameses on the morrow after the Passover. Moses recorded these journeys by the commandment of the LORD, detailing their path through pivotal locations such as the Red Sea, the wilderness of Sin, and the wilderness of Sinai. The itinerary also notes significant events like the death of Aaron on Mount Hor in the fortieth year of their exodus. Upon reaching the plains of Moab by Jordan, the LORD delivered specific commands to Moses for the impending conquest of Canaan. These instructions included the imperative to utterly drive out the land's inhabitants, demolish their idolatrous images, and divide the land by lot among their families. A stern warning was issued: failure to dispossess the Canaanites would result in those remaining becoming a source of trouble for Israel, and God would inflict upon Israel the very judgments intended for the Canaanites.

Long Summary

Numbers 33 commences by declaring its purpose: to enumerate the complete itinerary of the children of Israel's journeys from Egypt, led by Moses and Aaron, as recorded by Moses at the LORD's command. The chapter meticulously lists forty-two distinct encampments, beginning with their departure from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover, following the LORD's judgment upon Egypt's firstborn and their gods. The narrative traces their path through significant geographical points, including Succoth, Etham, and their miraculous passage through the midst of the Red Sea. Subsequent stations like Marah, Elim (noted for its twelve fountains and seventy palm trees), the wilderness of Sin, and Rephidim are detailed, leading to their encampment in the wilderness of Sinai, where they remained for a significant period. The journey continues through numerous lesser-known sites such as Kibrothhattaavah, Hazeroth, and Rithmah, illustrating the extensive nature of their forty-year sojourn. A notable event recorded is the death of Aaron the priest on Mount Hor, in the fortieth year of the exodus, at the age of one hundred and twenty-three. The itinerary concludes with their arrival in the plains of Moab by Jordan, near Jericho, after passing through places like Kadesh, Zalmonah, and Oboth. The latter part of the chapter shifts from historical record to divine command. The LORD instructs Moses to convey to the Israelites their responsibilities upon entering the land of Canaan. They are commanded to utterly drive out all the inhabitants, destroy all their idolatrous "pictures" and "molten images," and dismantle their "high places." The land is given to them to possess and divide by lot among their families, with inheritance proportional to family size. Crucially, the LORD issues a severe warning: if they fail to dispossess the native inhabitants, those remaining will become "pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides," vexing them in the land. Furthermore, God declares that He will then do to Israel what He had intended to do to the Canaanites, underscoring the gravity of their obedience.

Core Concepts

  • Divine ItineraryThe chapter presents a comprehensive, divinely commanded record of the Israelites' forty-two encampments during their exodus, emphasizing God's direct guidance over their journey.
  • Exodus JourneyThis concept highlights the physical progression of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage to the border of the Promised Land, detailing the specific locations and the duration of their wilderness wanderings.
  • Aaron's DeathThe death of Aaron the priest on Mount Hor is specifically noted, marking a significant transition point in the leadership and the journey, occurring in the fortieth year of the exodus.
  • Conquest MandateGod issues explicit instructions for the Israelites to completely dispossess the inhabitants of Canaan, destroy their idols, and dismantle their places of worship upon entering the land.
  • Land InheritanceThe chapter outlines the divine command for the Israelites to divide the land of Canaan by lot among their tribes and families, establishing their inheritance in the Promised Land.
  • Consequences of DisobedienceA severe warning is given that failure to fully drive out the Canaanites will result in those remaining becoming a source of trouble for Israel, and God will inflict upon Israel the very judgments intended for the Canaanites.
  • Moses' RecordThe text explicitly states that Moses wrote down the entire itinerary of their journeys by the commandment of the LORD, underscoring the divine authority and historical accuracy of the record.