331 These are the journeys of the sons of Israel , by which they came out from the land of Egypt by their armies , under the leadership of Moses and Aaron . 2 Moses recorded their starting places according to their journeys by the command of the Lord , and these are their journeys according to their starting places . 3 They journeyed from Rameses in the first month , on the fifteenth e day of the first month ; on the next day after the Passover the sons of Israel started out boldly e in the sight of all the Egyptians , 4 while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn whom the Lord had struck down among them. The Lord had also executed judgments on their gods . 5 Then the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses and camped in Succoth . 6 They journeyed from Succoth and camped in Etham , which is on the edge of the wilderness . 7 They journeyed from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth , which faces e Baal-zephon , and they camped before Migdol . 8 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 camped at Marah . 9 They journeyed from Marah and came to Elim ; and in Elim there were twelve e springs of water and seventy palm trees , and they camped there . 10 They journeyed from Elim and camped by the Red e Sea . 11 They journeyed from the Red e Sea and camped in the wilderness of Sin . 12 They journeyed from the wilderness of Sin and camped at Dophkah . 13 They journeyed from Dophkah and camped at Alush . 14 They journeyed from Alush and camped at Rephidim ; now it was there that the people had no water to drink . 15 They journeyed from Rephidim and camped in the wilderness of Sinai . 16 They journeyed from the wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah . 17 They journeyed from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth . 18 They journeyed from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah . 19 They journeyed from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez . 20 They journeyed from Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah . 21 They journeyed from Libnah and camped at Rissah . 22 They journeyed from Rissah and camped in Kehelathah . 23 They journeyed from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher . 24 They journeyed from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah . 25 They journeyed from Haradah and camped at Makheloth . 26 They journeyed from Makheloth and camped at Tahath . 27 They journeyed from Tahath and camped at Terah . 28 They journeyed from Terah and camped at Mithkah . 29 They journeyed from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah . 30 They journeyed from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth . 31 They journeyed from Moseroth and camped at Bene-jaakan . 32 They journeyed from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad . 33 They journeyed from Hor-haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah . 34 They journeyed from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah . 35 They journeyed from Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber . 36 They journeyed from Ezion-geber and camped in the wilderness of Zin , that is, Kadesh . 37 They journeyed from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor , at the edge of the land of Edom . 38 Then Aaron the priest went up to Mount Hor at the command of the Lord , and died there in the fortieth year after the sons of Israel had come from the land of Egypt , on the first day in the fifth month . 39 Aaron was one hundred twenty-three e years old when he died on Mount Hor . 40 Now the Canaanite , the king of Arad who lived in the Negev in the land of Canaan , heard of the coming of the sons of Israel . 41 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah . 42 They journeyed from Zalmonah and camped at Punon . 43 They journeyed from Punon and camped at Oboth . 44 They journeyed from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim , at the border of Moab . 45 They journeyed from Iyim and camped at Dibon-gad e . 46 They journeyed from Dibon-gad e and camped at Almon-diblathaim . 47 They journeyed from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim , before Nebo . 48 They journeyed from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho . 49 They camped by the Jordan , from Beth-jeshimoth as far as 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.