331 These are the journeys of the children of Israel, when they went forth out of the land of Egypt by their hosts under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 2 And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of Jehovah: and these are their journeys according to their goings out. 3 And they journeyed 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 a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians, 4 while the Egyptians were burying all their first-born, whom Jehovah had smitten among them: upon their gods also Jehovah executed judgments. 5 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses, and encamped in Succoth. 6 And they journeyed from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness. 7 And they journeyed from Etham, and turned back unto Pihahiroth, which is before Baal-zephon: and they encamped before Migdol. 8 And they journeyed from before Hahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness: and they went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and encamped in Marah. 9 And they journeyed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve springs of water, and threescore and ten palm-trees; and they encamped there. 10 And they journeyed from Elim, and encamped by the Red Sea. 11 And they journeyed from the Red Sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin. 12 And they journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah. 13 And they journeyed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush. 14 And they journeyed from Alush, and encamped in Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink. 15 And they journeyed from Rephidim, and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai. 16 And they journeyed from the wilderness of Sinai, and encamped in Kibroth-hattaavah. 17 And they journeyed from Kibroth-hattaavah, and encamped in Hazeroth. 18 And they journeyed from Hazeroth, and encamped in Rithmah. 19 And they journeyed from Rithmah, and encamped in Rimmon-perez. 20 And they journeyed from Rimmon-perez, and encamped in Libnah. 21 And they journeyed from Libnah, and encamped in Rissah. 22 And they journeyed from Rissah, and encamped in Kehelathah. 23 And they journeyed from Kehelathah, and encamped in mount Shepher. 24 And they journeyed from mount Shepher, and encamped in Haradah. 25 And they journeyed from Haradah, and encamped in Makheloth. 26 And they journeyed from Makheloth, and encamped in Tahath. 27 And they journeyed from Tahath, and encamped in Terah. 28 And they journeyed from Terah, and encamped in Mithkah. 29 And they journeyed from Mithkah, and encamped in Hashmonah. 30 And they journeyed from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth. 31 And they journeyed from Moseroth, and encamped in Bene-jaakan. 32 And they journeyed from Bene-jaakan, and encamped in Hor-haggidgad. 33 And they journeyed from Hor-haggidgad, and encamped in Jotbathah. 34 And they journeyed from Jotbathah, and encamped in Abronah. 35 And they journeyed from Abronah, and encamped in Ezion-geber. 36 And they journeyed from Ezion-geber, and encamped in the wilderness of Zin (the same is Kadesh). 37 And they journeyed from Kadesh, and encamped in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom. 38 And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of Jehovah, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first day of the month. 39 And Aaron was a hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor. 40 And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the South in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel. 41 And they journeyed from mount Hor, and encamped in Zalmonah. 42 And they journeyed from Zalmonah, and encamped in Punon. 43 And they journeyed from Punon, and encamped in Oboth. 44 And they journeyed from Oboth, and encamped in Iye-abarim, in the border of Moab. 45 And they journeyed from Iyim, and encamped in Dibon-gad. 46 And they journeyed from Dibon-gad, and encamped in Almon-diblathaim. 47 And they journeyed from Almon-diblathaim, and encamped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. 48 And they journeyed from the mountains of Abarim, and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. 49 And they encamped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth even unto Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.
50 And Jehovah spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 33:1-50
Commentary on Numbers 33:1-49
(Read Numbers 33:1-49)
This is a brief review of the travels of the children of Israel through the wilderness. It is a memorable history. In their travels towards Canaan they were continually on the remove. Such is our state in this world; we have here no continuing city, and all our removes in this world are but from one part a desert to another. They were led to and fro, forward and backward, yet were all the while under the direction of the pillar of cloud and fire. God led them about, yet led them the right way. The way God takes in bringing his people to himself is always the best way, though it does not always seem to us the nearest way. Former events are mentioned. Thus we ought to keep in mind the providences of God concerning us and families, us and our land, and the many instances of that Divine care which has led us, and fed us, and kept us all our days hitherto. Few periods of our lives can be thought upon, without reminding us of the Lord's goodness, and our own ingratitude and disobedience: his kindness leaves us without excuse for our sins. We could not wish to travel over again the stages we have passed, unless we could hope, by the grace of God, to shun the sins we then committed, and to embrace such opportunities of doing good as we have let slip. Soon will our wanderings end, and our eternal state be fixed beyond recall; how important then is the present moment! Happy are those whom the Lord now guides with his counsel, and will at length receive to his glory. To this happiness the gospel calls us. Behold now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Let sinners seize the opportunity, and flee for refuge to the hope set before them. Let us redeem our time, to glorify God and serve our generation; and he will carry us safely through all, to his eternal kingdom.
Commentary on Numbers 33:50-56
(Read Numbers 33:50-56)
Now that they were to pass over Jordan, they were entering again into temptation to follow idols; and they are threatened that, if they spared either the idols or the idolaters, their sin would certainly be their punishment. They would foster vipers in their own bosoms. The remnant of the Canaanites, if they made any peace with them, though but for a time, would be pricks in their eyes, and thorns in their sides. We must expect trouble and affliction from whatever sin we indulge; that which we are willing should tempt us, will vex us. It was intended that the Canaanites should be put out of the land; but if the Israelites learned their wicked ways, they also would be put out. Let us hear this and fear. If we do not drive out sin, sin will drive us out. If we are not the death of our lusts, our lusts will be the death of our souls.