Numbers 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.
Numbers 33:2 And 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.
This chapter is basically a record that charts the various campsites of Israel during their wilderness journeys after leaving Egypt. Point is made that the people journeyed as the LORD led.
Numbers 33:3 And 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.
Numbers 33:4 For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.
It is noted that the people of Israel left Rameses (probably another name for Goshen) on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They didn’t slink out of the land; they left boldly and defiantly with heads held high. As Israel left, the Egyptians were burying their firstborn, a final testimony to the power of the LORD over their false gods.
Numbers 33:5 And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth.
Numbers 33:6 And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness.
Numbers 33:7 And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pihahiroth, which is before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol.
Numbers 33:8 And 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.
They journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, then to Etham, which was on the border of the desert. They left Etham and headed to Pihahiroth and then camped before Migdol. It was from here that they escaped the Egyptian army through the parted waters of the Red Sea and journeyed for three days in the wilderness of Etham before camping at Marah.
Numbers 33:9 And 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.
Numbers 33:10 And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea.
Numbers 33:11 And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.
From Marah they journeyed to Elim, a place noted for twelve fountains of water and 70 palm trees, where they made camp. They continued from Elim to eventually make camp by the Red Sea. They continued from there to make camp in the wilderness of Sin (Sinai).
Numbers 33:12 And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.
Numbers 33:13 And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.
Numbers 33:14 And they removed from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink.
Numbers 33:15 And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai.
Numbers 33:16 And they removed from the desert of Sinai, and pitched at Kibrothhattaavah.
Numbers 33:17 And they departed from Kibrothhattaavah, and encamped at Hazeroth.
Numbers 33:18 And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitched in Rithmah.
Numbers 33:19 And they departed from Rithmah, and pitched at Rimmonparez.
Numbers 33:20 And they departed from Rimmonparez, and pitched in Libnah.
Numbers 33:21 And they removed from Libnah, and pitched at Rissah.
Numbers 33:22 And they journeyed from Rissah, and pitched in Kehelathah.
Numbers 33:23 And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in mount Shapher.
Numbers 33:24 And they removed from mount Shapher, and encamped in Haradah.
Numbers 33:25 And they removed from Haradah, and pitched in Makheloth.
Numbers 33:26 And they removed from Makheloth, and encamped at Tahath.
Numbers 33:27 And they departed from Tahath, and pitched at Tarah.
Numbers 33:28 And they removed from Tarah, and pitched in Mithcah.
Numbers 33:29 And they went from Mithcah, and pitched in Hashmonah.
Numbers 33:30 And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth.
Numbers 33:31 And they departed from Moseroth, and pitched in Benejaakan.
Numbers 33:32 And they removed from Benejaakan, and encamped at Horhagidgad.
Numbers 33:33 And they went from Horhagidgad, and pitched in Jotbathah.
Numbers 33:34 And they removed from Jotbathah, and encamped at Ebronah.
Numbers 33:35 And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Eziongaber.
Numbers 33:36 And they removed from Eziongaber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.
Numbers 33:37 And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.
This section continues mapping the journey of Israel until they came to mount Hor on the edge of Edom where Aaron would die.
Numbers 33:38 And 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 firstday of the fifth month.
Numbers 33:39 And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor.
At the LORD’s command, Aaron was taken up mount Hor where he died in the 40th year after the people had left Egypt. Aaron was 123 years old when he died.
Numbers 33:40 And king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.
Numbers 33:41 And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah.
Numbers 33:42 And they departed from Zalmonah, and pitched in Punon.
Numbers 33:43 And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth.
Numbers 33:44 And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in Ijeabarim, in the border of Moab.
Numbers 33:45 And they departed from Iim, and pitched in Dibongad.
Numbers 33:46 And they removed from Dibongad, and encamped in Almondiblathaim.
Numbers 33:47 And they removed from Almondiblathaim, and pitched in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.
Numbers 33:48 And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.
Numbers 33:49 And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth even unto Abelshittim in the plains of Moab.
It is noted that the people of Israel were getting the attention of the Canaanite kings—specifically king Arad in the south of Canaan.
Once again, the rest of this section is a map of their continued journey until reaching the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.
The NIV Commentary notes that the Israelite camp stretched for a distance of five miles.
Wiersbe: “This chapter is more than a list of places; it’s a testimony to the sovereignty of God in dealing with His people. As has often been said, ‘History is His story.’ God doesn’t just write history; He plans history and sees that His plan is executed.”
Courson: “Our Father remembers where we’ve been. Every stop along the way, every place we’ve pitched our tent, every time we’ve pulled up stakes to move on, He remembers….Our Father forgets about our sin….the Father records exactingly and carefully every single spot where they pitched their tents in obedience to His leading. But when they were in sin, there’s no mention, no record, no memory as far as He is concerned….Our Father will take us in….Where? To the Promised Land of the Spirit-filled life. But it doesn’t stop there. He not only will see us through this life, but He’s preparing a place for us in heaven, our ultimate destiny.”
John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
Numbers 33:50 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
Numbers 33:51 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;
Numbers 33:52 Then 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:
Numbers 33:53 And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.
It is recorded here that the LORD told Moses to instruct the people regarding the time when they crossed Jordan into Canaan. They were to drive out all of the inhabitants of the land and destroy all their pictures (drawings and paintings), idols and the high places where they worshipped their false gods. We know from the record of Deuteronomy that “drive out” is a reference to destruction.
Deuteronomy 20:16–18 “But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee: That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.”
The LORD declares that it is His land to give, and He has chosen to give it to the people of Israel.
As THE Creator, everything in creation is under the authority of the LORD. Though Satan has been allowed his time of limited dominion due to man’s rebellion against God’s authority, it will not continue indefinitely. That time will come to an end, and Satan will be cast into the fires of hell. Almighty God maintains His authority, and the creation is His to do with as He wills. Those today who still refuse to recognize that authority will one day face that very truth to their own destruction.
Numbers 33:54 And 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.
Once again it is recorded that the land is to be divided by lot to determine the inheritance among families. We learned previously that the lot was under God’s control. Those who had a greater number of people would be given more land, and those with less given less. Inheritances would be allocated in the land allotted to their tribe.
Numbers 33:55 But 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.
Numbers 33:56 Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.
The LORD warned that if they did not completely drive out the inhabitants of the land, they would pose continual problems to the people. Not only that, they would suffer the consequences of disobeying the LORD.
“as I thought to do unto them” = He would drive them out of the land as well.
Numbers 34:1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 34:2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:)
Numbers 34:3 Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:
Numbers 34:4 And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon:
Numbers 34:5 And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.
This chapter opens with the LORD telling Moses to instruct the people of Israel regarding the borders of the land that He was giving them. It was basically the territory identified as the land of Canaan.
The general borders as first revealed to Abraham appear to be a bit different.
Genesis 15:18–21 “In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
I have always considered “the river of Egypt” to be a reference to the Nile. So, in my mind there is a huge difference in the borders being defined in this chapter than those of a land stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates Rivers.
I could never do justice to this description, so I will quote from JFB for a description of this border.
“According to the best biblical geographers, the leading points here defined are as follows: The southwest angle of the southern boundary should be where the wilderness of Zin touches the border of Edom, so that the southern boundary should extend eastward from the extremity of the Dead Sea, wind around the precipitous ridge of Akrabbim (“scorpions”), thought to be the high and difficult Pass of Safeh, which crosses the stream that flows from the south into the Jordan — that is, the great valley of the Arabah, reaching from the Dead to the Red Sea.”
Numbers 34:6 And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.
The western border was easily identified as the Mediterranean Sea.
Coffman had an interesting note about this border: “Strangely enough, the children of Israel were never able to possess that seacoast. Not even in the glorious reigns of David and Solomon did the land of the Philistine belong to Israel.”
Numbers 34:7 And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:
Numbers 34:8 From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:
Numbers 34:9 And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazarenan: this shall be your north border.
I have no clue as to the geographical names mentioned in these verses. After looking at several commentaries, none of which seem certain of their conclusions, it seems to be a reference to a mountainous area possibly similar to Israel’s current border with Lebanon. Hor is possibly a reference to Mount Hermon.
The Jewish Study Bible defines this border as follows: “The northernmost border, at Hazar–enan, is tentatively identified with the oasis of Qayatein 70 miles northeast of Damascus.”
Numbers 34:10 And ye shall point out your east border from Hazarenan to Shepham:
Numbers 34:11 And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward:
Numbers 34:12 And the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about.
The NIV Commentary offers the following explanation of the eastern border: “The line from the northernmost point that traverses to the south finally to join the southern tip of the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee is the most precarious to attempt to draw. Perhaps a grand curve is intended that includes the sweep of much of southeastern Syria (Aram). The sites Shepham and Riblah are unknown today. The Sea of Kinnereth (another name for the Sea of Galilee) and the Jordan form the traditional eastern border for the southern part of the line.”
Numbers 34:13 And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe:
Numbers 34:14 For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance:
Numbers 34:15 The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.
This section is basically stating that the borders defined in the preceding verses comprised the land that would be determined by lot as each tribe’s inheritance.
The inheritance of the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh were outside these borders. JFB notes that this included the area between the Arnon River and Mount Hermon—Reuben in the south, Gad to their north and the half tribe of Manasseh in the area furthest north.
Numbers 34:16 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 34:17 These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.
Numbers 34:18 And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.
Numbers 34:19 And the names of the men are these: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
Numbers 34:20 And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.
Numbers 34:21 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.
Numbers 34:22 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli.
Numbers 34:23 The prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod.
Numbers 34:24 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.
Numbers 34:25 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.
Numbers 34:26 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.
Numbers 34:27 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.
Numbers 34:28 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.
Numbers 34:29 These are they whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.
This section of verses basically identifies the men from each tribe that would be involved in dividing the land. Eleazar and Joshua would oversee the division of the land. The names are listed in the order in which the land inheritance would be identified.
Coffman provided an interesting list of the names and meanings of each of the chosen leaders of the tribes:
ELEAZAR ... God is helper.
JOSHUA ... Jehovah is salvation.
CALEB ... Bold (also "dog" as applied to animals).
SHEMUEL ... Heard of God.
ELIDAD ... God has loved.
BUKKI ... Mouth of Jehovah.
HANNIEL ... Grace of God.
KEMUEL ... Congregation of God.
ELIZAPHAN ... God is protector.
PALTIEL ... Deliverer of the Lord.
AHIHUD ... Brother of honor.
PEDAHEL ... God has saved.