Numbers 33

Numbers 33:1-49

In this chapter we have, 1. A particular account of all the resources and encampments of the children of Israel, vol. 1-49. 2. A first command given them to drive out all the inhabitants of the land of Caiman, vol. 50-55.

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 Mofes and Aaron. 2. And Mofes wrote their goings out, according to their journeys, by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out. 3. And they departed from Ramefes, in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the parlour of the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the light of all the Egyptians. 4. (For the Egyptians buried all their fathborn, which the LORD had finiten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.) 5. And the children of Israel removed from Ramefes, and pitched in Succoth. 6. And they departed from ’ Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness. 7. And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pihahiroth, which is before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol. 8. And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and ’ paffed through the midst of the sea, into the wilderness, and went three days journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah. 9. And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim; and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threefores and ten palm-trees, and they pitched there. 10. And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red Sea. 11. And they removed from the Red Sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin. 12. And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah. 13. And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in Aluth. 14. And they removed from Aluth, and encamped at ’ Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink. 15. And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai. 16. And they removed from the defart of Sinai, and pitched at ’ Kibroth-Hattaavah. 17. And they departed from Kibroth-Hattaavah, and encamped at ’ Ha-Vol. I.

seventh. 18. And they departed from Hazeroh, and pitched in ’ Rishmah. 19. And they departed from Rithmah, and pitched at Rimmon-Paree. 20. And they departed from Rimmon-Paree, and pitched in Libnah. 21. And they removed from Libnah, and pitched at Rifah. 22. And they journeyed from Rifah, and pitched in Kehelathah. 23. And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in mount Shapher. 24. And they removed from mount Shapher, and encamped in Haradah. 25. And they removed from Haradah, and pitched in Makheloth. 26. And they removed from Makheloth, and encamped at Tahath. 27. And they departed from Tahath, and pitched at Tarah. 28. And they removed from Tarah, and pitched in Mithcah. 29. And they went from Mithcah, and pitched in Haffimohah. 30. And they departed from Haffimohah, and encamped at ’ Moferoh. 31. And they departed from Moferoh, and pitched in Bene-jaakan. 32. And they removed from ’ Bene-jaakan, and encamped at ’ Hur-hagidgad. 33. And they went from Hur-hagidgad, and pitched in Jorba-thah. 34. And they removed from Jorba-thah, and encamped at Fhronah. 35. And they departed from Fhronah, and ’ encamped at Fhron-gaber. 36. And they removed from Fhron-gaber, and ’ pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadefh. 37. And they removed from ’ Kadefh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Fdom. 38. And ’ Aaron the priest went up unto mount Hor, at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fourteenth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month. 39. And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old, when he died in mount Hor. 40. And king Arad the Canaanite (which dwelt in the fourth, in the land of Canaan) heard of the coming of the children of Israel. 41. And they departed from mount ’ Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah. 42. And they departed from Zalmonah, and pitched in Punon. 43. And they departed from Punon, and ’ pitched in Oboth. 44. And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in ’ Ije-abarim, in the border of Moab. 45. And they departed from Ibir, and pitched in ’ Dibon-Gad. 46. And they removed from Dibon-Gad, and encamped in ’ Almon-diblathaim. 47. And they removed from Almon-diblathaim, and ’ pitched in the mountains of Abarim before Nebo. 48. And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and ’ pitched in the plains of Moab, by Jordan near Jericho. 49. And they pitched by Jordan from Beth-jelimoth, even unto ’ Abel-Bistim, in the plains of Moab.

At God’s command, Mofes is ordered to keep a journal of their marches, which is here published, that they might remember and advise the good hand of the Lord upon them in this dangerous road. Particular notice is taken of their departure from Egypt: They came out with a high hand, under the conduct of their divinely-appointed leaders, which the Egyptians were digging the graves of their children, and lamenting the delinquents of their idols. Amidst all the dangers of the war, and the greater dangers of their sins, God safely conducted them through the darcy wilderness, and, after forty years of wandering, had brought them safe to the borders of the promised land; thence to look back on the places of their manifold provocations with Bump, and forward to the land of promise with ensliven hope. Now, (1.) It is useful to keep a diary of God’s mercies and providence, that they may be remembered for our own and others comfort or direction. (2.) This world is the Christian’s wilderness; many a long year he is called to wander to and fro in it; but being under divine guidance, amidst all his winding fleets, he is led by the right way, and sure to arrive safe at last at the land of glory.

50. ¶ And the LORD spoke unto Mofes, in the plains of Moab, by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 51. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, ’ When ye are paffed over Jordan into the land of Caiman; 52. ’ Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and defray all their pictures, and defray all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places. 53. And ye shall difpofelfs the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to poffefe it. 54. ’ And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families, and to the more ye shall give the more inheri-

tance, and to the fewer ye shall I 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. 5c. But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pails, that those which ye let remain of them, shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your fades, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. 56. Moreover, it shall come to pails, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.

9. 56-56. Strict injunctions are given for the entire destruction of every monument of idolatry, and the utter extirpation of the people. It would be highly dangerous to maintain any friendship with them, or preserve the least reticits of their idols, left they should be enheard thereby. We are peculiarly to guard against our befitting sin, and stop up every avenue of our heart, at which it might enter. If they were obedient, then their inheritance was secure; if disobedient, they should suffer that expulsion themselves, which they should have inflicted on the inhabitants. Note, (1.) We can be only fate by renouncing all peace with our sins. (2.) If we destroy not them, they will destroy us body and soul in hell.