331 These 'are' journeys of the sons of Israel who have come out of the land of Egypt, by their hosts, by the hand of Moses and Aaron; 2 and Moses writeth their outgoings, by their journeys, by the command of Jehovah; and these 'are' their journeys, by their outgoings: 3 And they journey from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month, on the morrow of the passover have the sons of Israel gone out with a high hand, before the eyes of all the Egyptians— 4 and the Egyptians are burying those whom Jehovah hath smitten among them, every first-born, and on their gods hath Jehovah done judgments— 5 and the sons of Israel journey from Rameses, and encamp in Succoth. 6 And they journey from Succoth, and encamp in Etham, which 'is' in the extremity of the wilderness; 7 and they journey from Etham, and turn back on Pi-Hahiroth, which 'is' on the front of Baal-Zephon, and they encamp before Migdol. 8 And they journey from Pi-Hahiroth, and pass over through the midst of the sea, into the wilderness, and go a journey of three days in the wilderness of Etham, and encamp in Marah. 9 And they journey from Marah, and come in to Elim, and in Elim 'are' twelve fountains of waters, and seventy palm trees, and they encamp there; 10 and they journey from Elim, and encamp by the Red Sea. 11 And they journey from the Red Sea, and encamp in the wilderness of Sin; 12 and they journey from the wilderness of Sin, and encamp in Dophkah. 13 And they journey from Dophkah, and encamp in Alush; 14 and they journey from Alush, and encamp in Rephidim; and there was there no water for the people to drink. 15 And they journey from Rephidim, and encamp in the wilderness of Sinai; 16 and they journey from the wilderness of Sinai, and encamp in Kibroth-Hattaavah. 17 And they journey from Kibroth-Hattaavah, and encamp in Hazeroth; 18 and they journey from Hazeroth, and encamp in Rithmah. 19 And they journey from Rithmah, and encamp in Rimmon-Parez; 20 and they journey from Rimmon-Parez, and encamp in Libnah. 21 And they journey from Libnah, and encamp in Rissah; 22 and they journey from Rissah, and encamp in Kehelathah. 23 And they journey from Kehelathah, and encamp in mount Shapher; 24 and they journey from mount Shapher, and encamp in Haradah. 25 And they journey from Haradah, and encamp in Makheloth; 26 and they journey from Makheloth, and encamp in Tahath. 27 And they journey from Tahath, and encamp in Tarah; 28 and they journey from Tarah, and encamp in Mithcah. 29 And they journey from Mithcah, and encamp in Hashmonah; 30 and they journey from Hashmonah, and encamp in Moseroth. 31 And they journey from Moseroth, and encamp in Bene-Jaakan; 32 and they journey from Bene-Jaakan, and encamp at Hor-Hagidgad. 33 And they journey from Hor-Hagidgad, and encamp in Jotbathah; 34 and they journey from Jotbathah, and encamp in Ebronah. 35 And they journey from Ebronah, and encamp in Ezion-Gaber; 36 and they journey from Ezion-Gaber, and encamp in the wilderness of Zin, which 'is' Kadesh. 37 And they journey from Kadesh, and encamp in mount Hor, in the extremity of the land of Edom. 38 And Aaron the priest goeth up unto mount Hor, by the command of Jehovah, and dieth there, in the fortieth year of the going out of the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first of the month; 39 and Aaron 'is' a son of a hundred and twenty and three years in his dying in mount Hor. 40 And the Canaanite—king Arad—who is dwelling in the south, in the land of Canaan, heareth of the coming of the sons of Israel. 41 And they journey from mount Hor, and encamp in Zalmonah; 42 and they journey from Zalmonah, and encamp in Punon. 43 And they journey from Punon, and encamp in Oboth; 44 and they journey from Oboth, and encamp in Ije-Abarim, in the border of Moab. 45 And they journey from Iim, and encamp in Dibon-Gad; 46 and they journey from Dibon-Gad, and encamp in Almon-Diblathaim. 47 And they journey from Almon-Diblathaim, and encamp in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo; 48 and they journey from the mountains of Abarim, and encamp in the plains of Moab, by Jordan, 'near' Jericho. 49 And they encamp 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.