331 These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went forth out of the land of Egypt according to their armies 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 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 And the Egyptians buried those whom Jehovah had smitten among them, all the firstborn; and upon their gods Jehovah executed judgments. 5 And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and encamped in Succoth. 6 And they removed from Succoth and encamped in Etham, which is at the end of the wilderness. 7 And they removed from Etham, and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, which is opposite Baal-Zephon, and encamped before Migdol. 8 And they removed from before Hahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and encamped in Marah. 9 And they removed from Marah, and came to Elim; and in Elim were twelve springs of water, and seventy palm-trees, and they encamped 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 removed from the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah. 13 And they removed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush. 14 And they removed from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. 15 And they removed from Rephidim, and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai. 16 And they removed from the wilderness of Sinai, and encamped at Kibroth-hattaavah. 17 And they removed from Kibroth-hattaavah, and encamped at Hazeroth. 18 And they removed from Hazeroth, and encamped in Rithmah. 19 And they removed from Rithmah, and encamped at Rimmon-perez. 20 And they removed from Rimmon-perez, and encamped in Libnah. 21 And they removed from Libnah, and encamped at Rissah. 22 And they removed from Rissah, and encamped in Kehelathah. 23 And they removed from Kehelathah, and encamped in mount Shapher. 24 And they removed from mount Shapher, and encamped in Haradah. 25 And they removed from Haradah, and encamped in Makheloth. 26 And they removed from Makheloth, and encamped at Tahath. 27 And they removed from Tahath, and encamped at Terah. 28 And they removed from Terah, and encamped in Mithcah. 29 And they removed from Mithcah, and encamped in Hashmonah. 30 And they removed from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth. 31 And they removed from Moseroth, and encamped in Bene-Jaakan. 32 And they removed from Bene-Jaakan, and encamped at Hor-hagidgad. 33 And they removed from Hor-hagidgad, and encamped in Jotbathah. 34 And they removed from Jotbathah, and encamped at Abronah. 35 And they removed from Abronah, and encamped at Ezion-geber. 36 And they removed from Ezion-geber, and encamped in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh. 37 And they removed from Kadesh, and encamped in mount Hor, in the border of the land of Edom. 38 And Aaron the priest went up mount Hor by the commandment of Jehovah, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first of the month. 39 And Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on 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 removed from mount Hor, and encamped in Zalmonah. 42 And they removed from Zalmonah, and encamped in Punon. 43 And they removed from Punon, and encamped in Oboth. 44 And they removed from Oboth, and encamped in Ijim-Abarim, in the border of Moab. 45 And they removed from Ijim, and encamped in Dibon-Gad. 46 And they removed from Dibon-Gad, and encamped in Almon-Diblathaim. 47 And they removed from Almon-Diblathaim, and encamped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. 48 And they removed from the mountains of Abarim, and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan of Jericho. 49 And they encamped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth unto Abel-Shittim, in the plains of Moab.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 33:1-49
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.