Numbers 33
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Moses delivers a prophetical blessing to the children of Israel, Deu 33:1. The introduction, Deu 33:2-5. Prophetic declarations concerning Reuben, Deu 33:6; concerning Judah, Deu 33:7; concerning Levi, Deu 33:8-11; concerning Benjamin, Deu 33:12; concerning Joseph, Deu 33:13-17; concerning Zebulun, Deu 33:18, Deu 33:19; concerning Gad, Deu 33:20, Deu 33:21; concerning Dan, Deu 33:22; concerning Naphtali, Deu 33:23; concerning Asher, Deu 33:24, Deu 33:25. The glory of the God of Jeshurun, and the glorious privileges of his true followers, Deu 33:26-29.
Open source ↗TWO AND FORTY JOURNEYS OF THE ISRAELITES--FROM EGYPT TO SINAI. (Num 33:1-15) These are the journeys of the children of Israel--This chapter may be said to form the winding up of the history of the travels of the Israelites through the wilderness; for the three following chapters relate to matters connected with the occupation and division of the promised land. As several apparent discrepancies will be discovered on comparing the records here given of the journeyings from Sinai with the detailed accounts of the events narrated in the Book of Exodus and the occasional notices of places that are found in that of Deuteronomy, it is probable that this itinerary comprises a list of only the most important stations in their journeys--those where they formed prolonged encampments, and whence they dispersed their flocks and herds to pasture on the adjacent plains till the surrounding herbage was exhausted. The catalogue extends from their departure out of Egypt to their arrival on the plains of Moab. went forth . . . with their armies--that is, a vast multitude marshalled in separate companies, but regular order.
Open source ↗These are the journeys of the children of Israel,.... Which are related in this chapter following: which went forth out of the land of Egypt: whither their fathers went and stayed, and were kept in hard bondage, but in due time were delivered from it, and came out from thence: with their armies; in great numbers, and in an orderly manner, in rank and file, and like so many squadrons, see Exo 7:4, under the hand of Moses and Aaron: who were sent to the king of Egypt to require their dismission, and who were the instruments under God of their deliverance, and were the leaders of them; as of them out of Egypt, so through the wilderness, in their, several journeys here recorded.
Open source ↗As the Israelites had ended their wanderings through the desert, when they arrived in the steppes of Moab by the Jordan opposite to Jericho (Num 22:1), and as they began to take possession when the conquered land beyond Jordan was portioned out (ch. 32), the history of the desert wandering closes with a list of the stations which they had left behind them. This list was written out by Moses "at the command of Jehovah" (Num 33:2), as a permanent memorial for after ages, as every station which Israel left behind on the journey from Egypt to Canaan "through the great and terrible desert," was a memorial of the grace and faithfulness with which the Lord led His people safely "in the desert land and in the waste howling wilderness, and kept him as the apple of His eye, as an eagle fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings" (Exo 19:4; Deu 32:10.). Num 33:1-15 The first and second verses form the heading: "These are the marches of the children of Israel, which they marched out," i.e., the marches which they made from one place to another, on going out of Egypt. מסּע does not mean a station, but the breaking up of a camp, and then a train, or march (see at Exo 12:37, and Gen 13:3). לצבאתם (see Exo 7:4). בּיד, under the guidance, as in Num 4:28, and Exo 38:21. למסעיהם מוצאיהם, "their goings out (properly, their places of departure) according to their marches," is really equivalent to the clause which follows: "their marches according to their places of departure." The march of the people is not described by the stations, or places of encampment, but by the particular spots from which they set out. Hence the constant repetition of the word ויּסעוּ, "and they broke up." In Num 33:3-5, the departure is described according to Exo 1…
Open source ↗In this chapter God directs Moses, and he is to direct Israel, I. Concerning the bounds and borders of the land of Canaan (Num 34:1-15). II. Concerning the division and distribution of it to the tribes of Israel (Num 34:16, etc.).
Open source ↗33:1-56 This review of the entire wilderness period contains the longest integrated list of place-names in the Old Testament, from Israel’s departure from Egypt (33:3; cp. Exod 12:37) until their arrival in the plains of Moab, opposite Jericho (Num 33:49; cp. 22:1). The forty-two way stations on this itinerary represent far more than a geographical journey; they recall Israel’s forty-year spiritual pilgrimage. In their travels between Rameses in Egypt (33:3) and AcaciaAbel-shittim on the plains of Moab (33:49), Israel finally became the people who could invade the land of Canaan and claim the promises God made to Abraham. • This itinerary does not provide enough data to plot an accurate, specific route. Most of the places cannot be identified with certainty; many of the sites appear nowhere else in the Hebrew Bible, and there are not enough clues to pinpoint their locations precisely. Furthermore, this list is partial or selective, omitting some of the place-names mentioned earlier in the journey. 33:1-2 The itinerary contains features that reflect detailed record keeping. This is the only place where Numbers says that Moses kept a record of Israel’s history (cp. Exod 24:4).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
מַסַּע (maççaʻ, H4550) — a departure (from striking the tents), i.e. march (not necessarily a single day's… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver כָּתַב (kâthab, H3789) — to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe) מוֹצָא (môwtsâʼ, H4161) — a going forth, i.e. (the act) an egress, or (the place) an exit; hence, a source or… מַסַּע (maççaʻ, H4550) — a departure (from striking the tents), i.e. march (not necessarily a single day's… פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney רַעְמְסֵס (Raʻmᵉçêç, H7486) — Rameses or Raamses, a place in Egypt רִאשׁוֹן (riʼshôwn, H7223) — first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun) חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month עָשָׂר (ʻâsâr, H6240) — ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth חָמֵשׁ (châmêsh, H2568) — five יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… מׇחֳרָת (mochŏrâth, H4283) — the morrow or (adverbially) tomorrow פֶּסַח (peçach, H6453) — a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only techically of the Jewish Passover (the… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… רוּם (rûwm, H7311) — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
Open source ↗מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt קָבַר (qâbar, H6912) — to inter בְּכוֹר (bᵉkôwr, H1060) — firstborn; hence, chief יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application שֶׁפֶט (shepheṭ, H8201) — a sentence, i.e. infliction
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney רַעְמְסֵס (Raʻmᵉçêç, H7486) — Rameses or Raamses, a place in Egypt חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… סֻכּוֹת (Çukkôwth, H5523) — Succoth, the name of a place in Egypt and of three in Palestine
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney סֻכּוֹת (Çukkôwth, H5523) — Succoth, the name of a place in Egypt and of three in Palestine חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… אֵתָם (ʼÊthâm, H864) — Etham, a place in the Desert קָצֶה (qâtseh, H7097) — an extremity מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also…
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney אֵתָם (ʼÊthâm, H864) — Etham, a place in the Desert שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… פִּי הַחִירֹת (Pîy ha-Chîyrôth, H6367) — Pi-ha-Chiroth, a place in Egypt בַּעַל צְפוֹן (Baʻal Tsᵉphôwn, H1189) — Baal-Tsephon, a place in Eqypt חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… מִגְדּוֹל (Migdôwl, H4024) — Migdol, a place in Egypt
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… פִּי הַחִירֹת (Pîy ha-Chîyrôth, H6367) — Pi-ha-Chiroth, a place in Egypt עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… תָּוֶךְ (tâvek, H8432) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb אֵתָם (ʼÊthâm, H864) — Etham, a place in the Desert חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… מָרָה (Mârâh, H4785) — Marah, a place in the Desert
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney מָרָה (Mârâh, H4785) — Marah, a place in the Desert בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אֵילִם (ʼÊylim, H362) — Elim, a place in the Desert שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold עָשָׂר (ʻâsâr, H6240) — ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen שִׁבְעִים (shibʻîym, H7657) — seventy תָּמָר (tâmâr, H8558) — a palm tree חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);…
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney אֵילִם (ʼÊylim, H362) — Elim, a place in the Desert חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… סוּף (çûwph, H5488) — a reed, especially the papyrus יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the…
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney סוּף (çûwph, H5488) — a reed, especially the papyrus יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… סִין (Çîyn, H5512) — Sin the name of an Egyptian town and (probably) desert adjoining
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… סִין (Çîyn, H5512) — Sin the name of an Egyptian town and (probably) desert adjoining חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… דׇּפְקָה (Dophqâh, H1850) — Dophkah, a place in the Desert
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney דׇּפְקָה (Dophqâh, H1850) — Dophkah, a place in the Desert חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… אָלוּשׁ (ʼÂlûwsh, H442) — Alush, a place in the Desert
Open source ↗נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney אָלוּשׁ (ʼÂlûwsh, H442) — Alush, a place in the Desert חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… רְפִידִים (Rᵉphîydîym, H7508) — Rephidim, a place in the Desert מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… שָׁתָה (shâthâh, H8354) — to imbibe (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗Cross-references
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You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery. I sent Moses before you, as well as Aaron and Miriam.
When Jacob went to Egypt, your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He sent them Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.
So God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt arrayed for battle.
And on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their divisions.
The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth with about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children.
Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and afterward I brought you out.