Numbers 33
OGCNumbers 33:1-15
**V. REVIEW OF THE ROUTE FROM EGYPT TO CANAAN (Numbers 33:1-49)
A. EGYPT TO SINAI (Numbers 33:1-15)
TEXT**
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. 2. And Moses wrote their going 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 Rameses in the first month; on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children went out with a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptains. 4. For the Egyptians buried all their first born, which the Lord had smitten among them: upon their gods also the Lord executed judgments. 5. And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, 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 Pi-hahiroth, which is before Baal-zephon: and they pitched before Migdol. 8. And they departed from before Pi-Hahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and sent 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 threescore 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 Alush. 14. And they removed from Alush, 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.
PARAPHRASE
Numbers 33:1. These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt, with their armies, under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 2. And Moses wrote their starting places according to their journeys by the command of the Lord, and these are their journeys according to their starting places. 3. And they left Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the next day after the passover the children of Israel started out boldly in the sight of all the Egyptians, 4. while the Egyptians were burying all their first-born whom the Lord had struck down among them; and God executed judgment upon their gods as well. 5. And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses, and camped in Succoth. 6. And they journeyed from Succoth, and camped in Etham, which is at the edge of the wilderness. 7. And they journeyed from Etham, and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, which faces Baal-zephon and they camped before Migdol. 8. And they journeyed from before Pi-hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness; and they went three days-’ journey into the wilderness of Etham, and camped at Marah. 9. And they journeyed from Marah and came to Elim; and in Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; and they camped there. 10. And they journeyed from Elim and camped by the Sea of Reeds. 11. And they journeyed from the Sea of Reeds and camped in the wilderness of Sin. 12. And they journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, and camped at Dophkah. 13. And they journeyed from Dophkah and camped at Alush. 14. And they journeyed from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. 15. And they journeyed from Rephidim and camped in the wilderness of Sinai.
COMMENTARY
At the word of the Lord, Moses set down the progressive list of journeys, actually, stations, at which the Israelites encamped from the time of leaving Egypt until they reached Canaan. Forty-one names appear in the list, if we include the final mention of Moab. Eleven names appear en route to Sinai, twenty-one on the way to Kadesh, and the final eight on the way to Moab. Many of the places are, understandably, unidentifiable. There can be no way of placing them, since they were never permanent settlements. Many familiar names appear on the list, such as Succoth, the wilderness of Sin and of Sinai, Ezion-geber, Kadesh, Mt. Hor, and the locations in Moab. Many others are totally strange, making it impossible to trace the journey with more than spotty accuracy.
Two dates are mentioned in the process of this listing: Israel left Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month, the death of Aaron is noted on the first day, fifth month, in the fortieth year after the exodus. To what purpose is this detailing? The primary lesson gained certainly is in the demonstration of the leading hand of God in the entire period. Most of the details used to embellish the listed stations are to be found in the introductory portion, i. e., Numbers 33:3-8. As was so often done by the Old Testament chroniclers and prophets, the people are reminded of the significance of their history, especially the devastating death of the Egyptian first-born. Of special interest is the fact that the account calls our attention to the burial of the Egyptian dead. Funerary rites were especially important in Egypt, and the concentration of these people upon the rites afforded Israel an excellent period during which to move away on their journey. We are also reminded that the mighty works of the Lord were performed as judgment upon the gods of Egypt. The contrasting picture is obvious: the gods of Egypt had been directly assaulted in the plagues, and their powers to protect the people were bluntly refuted when the firstborn were slain, Israel would point to this fact repeatedly in the future.
QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS
Why is it impossible to identify many of the journeys listed in this chapter?
What does the term mean here?
How does this section demonstrate the continuing leading hand of God?
How did the Egyptian custom of taking care to bury their dead work in favor of the Israelites?
Consult a good Bible encyclopedia, and learn how the plagues God sent upon Egypt were direct blows against that nation’s gods.
What conclusions would we have expected the Egyptians to reach concerning their gods at the death of their firstborn?
Numbers 33:16-37
B. SINAI TO MT. HOR vv. 16-37 TEXT
Numbers 33:16. And they removed from the desert of Sinai, and pitched at Kebroth-hattaavah; 17. And they departed from Kibroth-hattaavah, and encamped at Hazeroth. 18. And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitched in Rithmah. 19. And they departed from Rithmah, and pitched at Rimmon-parez. 20. And they departed from Rimmon-parez, and pitched in Libnah. 21. And they removed from Libnah, and pitched at Rissah. 22. And they journeyed from Rissah, 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 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 Hashmonah. 30. And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth. 31. And they departed from Moseroth and pitched in Bene-jaakan. 32. And they removed from Bene-jaakan, and encamped at Hor-hagidgad. 33. And they went from Hor-hagidgad, and pitched in Jotbathah. 34. And they removed from Jotbathah, and encamped at Ebronah. 35. And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Ezion-gaber. 36. And they removed from Ezion-gaber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh. 37. And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.
PARAPHRASE
Numbers 33:16. And they journeyed from the wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah. 17. And they journeyed from Kibroth-hattaavah, and camped at Hazeroth. 18. And they journeyed from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah. 19. And they journeyed from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez. 19. And they journeyed from Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah. 21. And they journeyed from Libnah and camped at Rissah. 22. And they journeyed from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah. 23. And they journeyed from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher. 24. And they journeyed from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah. 25. And they journeyed from Haradah and camped at Makheloth. 26. And they journeyed from Makheloth and camped at Tahath. 27. And they journeyed from Tahath and camped at Terah. 28. And they journeyed from Terah and camped at Mithkah. 29. And they journeyed from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah. 30. And they journeyed from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth. 31. And they journeyed from Moseroth and camped at Bene-jaakan. 32. And they journeyed from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad. 33. And they journeyed from Hor-haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah. 34. And they journeyed from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah. 35. And they journeyed from Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber. 36. And they journeyed from Ezion-geber and camped in the wilderness of Zin, that is, Kadesh. 37. And they journeyed from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom.
COMMENTARY
Of all the place-names in this section, thirteen are not given anywhere else in the Old Testament. It is impossible to say whether or not Gray is correct in assigning these places to the total area wandering, as well as that between Sinai and Kadesh (see p. 296, IB). In this event, there would have been no attempt to mention the places chronologically, but simply as a composite list from the final two portions of the total journey from Egypt to Canaan. The list is, indeed, longer than necessary for the brief trip from Sinai to Kadesh; and the list covering the final 38½ years if proportionately much too small. Either Moses has listed every point at which the people encamped during the second leg, but has scantily summarized the third; or the stops in the one period were very brief, while in the other they were prolonged.
QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS
Why are so many of the places mentioned here not to be found anywhere else in the Old Testament?
What alternative is there to accepting Moses-’ arrangement of the place names in chronological order? What evidences would seem to indicate this arrangement by geography rather than chronology?
Numbers 33:38-49
C. MT. HOR TO THE JORDAN vv. 38-49 TEXT
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 first day of the fifth month. 39. And Aaron was a hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor. 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. 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 Iim, 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-jesimoth even unto Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.
PARAPHRASE
Numbers 33:38. Then Aaron the priest went up to Mount Hor upon the command of the Lord, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month. 39. Now Aaron was one hundred twenty-three years of age when he died on Mount Hor. 40. And the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev in the land of Canaan, learned of the coming of the children of Israel. 41. Then they journeyed from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah. 42. And they journeyed from Zalmonah and camped at Punon. 43. And they journeyed from Punon and camped at Oboth. 44. And they journeyed from Oboth and camped at Iyeabarim, near the border of Moab. 45. And they journeyed from Iyim and camped at Dibon-gad. 46. And they journeyed from Dibon-gad and camped at Almon-diblathaim. 47. And they journeyed from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. 48. And they journeyed from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, opposite Jericho. 49. And they camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.
COMMENTARY
The death of Aaron was a notable event in the history of Israel. Although he had not always been just what God wanted him to be, as when he participated in the affair of the golden calf (Exodus 32) and joined Miriam in seditious talk against Moses, we should see the man in his proper perspective, not remembering these incidents only, but knowing him as the spokesman for Moses before Pharaoh; as the conscientious high priest who faithfully performed his duties before a murmuring, complaining people; as the brother and intimate companion of Moses who must often have served as counselor, confidante and commiserator with the great man of God in whose shadow Aaron was required to live.
Since Aaron’s death occurred in the fortieth year, it is clear that God intended for the entire time taken up by the travels, from Egypt to Canaan, to be included in the forty years specified as punishment for the rebellion at Kadesh. In actual time, one and one-half years had been taken in the period from the exodus to Kadesh, and additional time was required to march around Edom, through Moab into the Abarim, and to overcome the eastern tribes of Gilead. Three years older than Moses, he had been 83 years of age when he stood before Pharaoh (Exodus 7:7).
Arad the Canaanite is mentioned here because he had previously opposed Israel, at their coming to the southern edge of Canaan (Numbers 21:1-3), imposing a defeat upon them and taking a number of captives. He made no move against Israel in this situation, however. The people left the area soon, and all conflict was avoided.
From the scene of Aaron’s death, the Israelites began their march around Edom, since the latter people had refused passage through their land (Numbers 20:14-21), coming to Zalmonah at the southeastern extremity of Edom. They then worked their way in a generally northward direction to the eastern side of Moab, removing later to the area of the Abarim and the northern plains of Moab at Abel-shittim. From this point they took their time to cross the Jordan. There can be no doubt that the Israelites made camp at many unnamed locationscamping perhaps for a few days or for extended periods of time. To reconstruct their travels completely and accurately, even if all the unnamed stations were also supplied, would be impossible. We have quite enough information, however, to show us that God’s words to the people were accurately fulfilled.
QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS
Evaluate the life of Aaron as a man, as a spokesman for Moses, as a priest, and as a leader of the people, showing his strengths and weaknesses.
Cite a half-dozen instances in which Aaron had stood firm for the cause and the word of the Lord.
Why does the Bible tell us of the wrongdoings of Aaron?
What do we conclude from the fact that Aaron died in the fortieth year? Reconstruct a chronology of the period from Egypt to Abel-shittim, showing how the forty years are accounted for in the divisions of the trip.
Consult a reliable map of the area of the wandering, and trace the travels of Israel in regard to the known places where they encamped.
Is it possible that we are not given the names of every location where the Israelites stopped during their journeys?
If there are omissions in this list, how much would we be helped if the list were complete?
Numbers 33:50-56
**VI. FINAL INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE SETTLEMENT OF CANAAN (Numbers 33:50-56; Numbers 34; Numbers 35; Numbers 36)
A. ON CLEARING THE LAND (Numbers 33:50-56)
TEXT**
Numbers 33:50. And the Lord spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 51. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan; 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: 53. And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess 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 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. 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 be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. 56. Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.
PARAPHRASE
Numbers 33:50. Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab near the Jordan opposite Jericho, saying, 51. Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their carved stones, and destroy all their molten images, and devastate all their high places. 53. You shall take possession of the land and live in it, for I have given the land unto you to possess it. 54. And you shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the larger you shall give the greater inheritance; and to the smaller you shall give the smaller inheritance. Wherever the lot falls to anyone, it shall be his. You shall inherit according to the families of your fathers. 55. But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom you allow to remain will become as thorns in your eyes and as pins in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land in which you live. 56. And it shall happen that as I plan to do to them, I shall do to you.
COMMENTARY
Here quite briefly, but in details which are certainly adequate, the children of Israel are told precisely what to do when they enter into the land of Canaan: first, they are to drive out all the inhabitants; second, every evidence of their pagan worship, idols, symbols, stones, and sites of desecration, are to be totally destroyed; third, they are to possess and settle in the entire land outlined unto them; and, finally, they are to determine by lot the area to which each tribe is to be assigned, with the division generally awarding larger territories to larger tribes, and smaller territories to smaller tribes. As a corollary, God informs His people of the dire consequences of anything less than total obedience: any of the residents who are left in the land will become a source of irritation and spiritual disruption; and, the Lord will bring upon Israel the same fate as should have come upon the Canaanites.
Two matters are established in God’s proclamation that the people of Canaan are to be driven from the land in order that Israel might occupy it. God is at the same time pronouncing judgment upon a polytheistic, decadent and immoral people; and, He is making provision to establish a nation whose laws and conduct He may approve. All of this is an essential link in the chain of promise-fulfillment made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and his words to Moses are tantamount to saying, This is your land, just as I have promised. It shall be the land of your people as long as they are worthy of it. But should they become like the other nations, in idolatry and in conduct, they shall forfeit any claims whatsoever, and shall suffer the same end as those who held it before their coming. Itemized as those factors which are especially offensive to the Lord are the pictures, or, more accurately, their carved stone images; the molten images, or images which have been cast or engraved of metal; and the high places or sites upon which idolatrous rites occurred, often in elevated areas. They were all to be totally demolished. No vestige of these offensive elements were to be left, lest they pollute the thoughts and corrupt the practices of Israel. It would be impossible to misunderstand the meaning of these instructions. They would either be fully carried out, or the very pledge of long standing with the patriarchs was no longer valid. Holding the land was directly associated with religious puritya factor which should never be forgotten. Failure to apprehend this principle will result in a failure to understand the dozens of associated prophecies which God would later speak through His appointed messengers. It is unfortunate that many otherwise devout and learned students of the Word of God have not given this premise to all their exegesis of the prophetic treatment of Israel, both past, present and future. Only the unbeliever or the self-appointed expert can question the right of the Creator to declare a portion of His creation for the use of those whom He has chosen. Israel will become stewards of Canaan simply because the previous occupants were poor landlords, worshiping the created rather than the Creator. While Israel retains a faithful stewardship, the land will belong to successive generations.
As in Numbers 26:53-56, division of the land by lot is commanded now, along with the provision that the sizes of the tribes are to be factors in allocation of the portions. We may well remember that the size of the allotment alone in some instances is an indecisive factor. Although the territory given Simeon was great, much of it was wasteland (the Negev area); and although the portion awarded Dan by lot was relatively small, it was a most productive and desirable location for shepherding or agriculture. It is not possible, however, to establish a rigid formula relating these factors unexceptionally to the division of the land.
During his final address to the nation, Joshua alluded to the curse God promised upon Israel if she were disobedient to his laws and plans (Joshua 23:13), and the figure is implicit in Judges 2:3, although it is not completely expressed. Little imagination is required to feel the impact of the thought, since anyone who has had sharp grit in an eye, or a thorn in his flesh can appreciate its meaning; and the experiences are virtually universal. Just so, God’s blessings become curses to an ungrateful and disobedient people regardless of time or place.
QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS
Outline the commandments and conditions laid out by the Lord to Israel regarding their duties in occupying the land of Canaan.
How can we justify God’s command to exterminate or drive out the people who were already living in the land?
What specific items were to be demolished, and why?
By what basic principle would their happiness or punishment in the land be determined?
Show how God was honoring His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at this time.
Can we reconcile the two instructions about dividing the land by lot and awarding the larger portions to the larger tribes?
What other considerations come to mind when we attempt this reconciliation?
Under what later circumstances were the figures of punishment against Israel used?