Numbers 33
Numbers 33 records Israel’s journey from Egypt to the plains of Moab, listing the places where the people set out and camped. Moses records these stages by the LORD’s command. The chapter then turns to instructions for entering Canaan and removing the land’s idolatrous practices.
1verseThese are the journeys of the children of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.
2verseMoses wrote the starting points of their journeys by the commandment of the LORD. These are their journeys according to their starting points.
3verseThey traveled from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the next day after the Passover, the children of Israel went out with a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians,
4versewhile the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck among them. The LORD also executed judgments on their gods.
5verseThe children of Israel traveled from Rameses, and encamped in Succoth.
6verseThey traveled from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness.
7verseThey traveled from Etham, and turned back to Pihahiroth, which is before Baal Zephon, and they encamped before Migdol.
8verseThey traveled from before Hahiroth, and crossed through the middle of the sea into the wilderness. They went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and encamped in Marah.
9verseThey traveled from Marah, and came to Elim. In Elim, there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there.
10verseThey traveled from Elim, and encamped by the Red Sea.
11verseThey traveled from the Red Sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.
12verseThey traveled from the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.
13verseThey traveled from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.
14verseThey traveled from Alush, and encamped in Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.
15verseThey traveled from Rephidim, and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai.
16verseThey traveled from the wilderness of Sinai, and encamped in Kibroth Hattaavah.
17verseThey traveled from Kibroth Hattaavah, and encamped in Hazeroth.
18verseThey traveled from Hazeroth, and encamped in Rithmah.
19verseThey traveled from Rithmah, and encamped in Rimmon Perez.
20verseThey traveled from Rimmon Perez, and encamped in Libnah.
21verseThey traveled from Libnah, and encamped in Rissah.
22verseThey traveled from Rissah, and encamped in Kehelathah.
23verseThey traveled from Kehelathah, and encamped in Mount Shepher.
24verseThey traveled from Mount Shepher, and encamped in Haradah.
25verseThey traveled from Haradah, and encamped in Makheloth.
26verseThey traveled from Makheloth, and encamped in Tahath.
27verseThey traveled from Tahath, and encamped in Terah.
28verseThey traveled from Terah, and encamped in Mithkah.
29verseThey traveled from Mithkah, and encamped in Hashmonah.
30verseThey traveled from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth.
31verseThey traveled from Moseroth, and encamped in Bene Jaakan.
32verseThey traveled from Bene Jaakan, and encamped in Hor Haggidgad.
33verseThey traveled from Hor Haggidgad, and encamped in Jotbathah.
34verseThey traveled from Jotbathah, and encamped in Abronah.
35verseThey traveled from Abronah, and encamped in Ezion Geber.
36verseThey traveled from Ezion Geber, and encamped at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.
37verseThey traveled from Kadesh, and encamped in Mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.
38verseAaron the priest went up into Mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first day of the month.
39verseAaron was one hundred twenty-three years old when he died in Mount Hor.
40verseThe Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the South in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.
41verseThey traveled from Mount Hor, and encamped in Zalmonah.
42verseThey traveled from Zalmonah, and encamped in Punon.
43verseThey traveled from Punon, and encamped in Oboth.
44verseThey traveled from Oboth, and encamped in Iye Abarim, in the border of Moab.
45verseThey traveled from Iyim, and encamped in Dibon Gad.
46verseThey traveled from Dibon Gad, and encamped in Almon Diblathaim.
47verseThey traveled from Almon Diblathaim, and encamped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.
48verseThey traveled from the mountains of Abarim, and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
49verseThey encamped by the Jordan, from Beth Jeshimoth even to Abel Shittim in the plains of Moab.
50verseThe LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,
51verseSpeak to the children of Israel, and tell them, “When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
52versethen you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their stone idols, destroy all their molten images, and demolish all their high places.
53verseYou shall take possession of the land, and dwell therein; for I have given the land to you to possess it.
54verseYou shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the larger groups you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give a smaller inheritance. Wherever the lot falls to any man, that shall be his. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers.
55verse“But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those you let remain of them will be like pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will harass you in the land in which you dwell.
56verseIt shall happen that as I thought to do to them, so I will do to you.”
The Meaning of the Journey Through the Wilderness
The long list of stages shows that the wilderness years were not merely random wandering. They are remembered as a journey under God’s leading, marked by departure, camping, movement, failure, provision, and preservation. Recording the journey helps the community remember its history and interpret its future in light of God’s guidance.
Exhortation Before Entering Canaan
In verses 50-56, God commands Israel to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan and destroy their carved images, cast idols, and high places. The warning says that if Israel does not do this, the remaining inhabitants will become like barbs in their eyes and thorns in their sides. The text connects the new beginning in the land with undivided loyalty to God.
Meditation Points
- What parts of your journey need to be remembered rather than forgotten?
- How can looking back help a person recognize guidance, provision, and warning?
- What practices or attachments might need to be set aside before a new beginning?
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Review your own past stages and consider where you can see preservation, learning, or correction.
- Before entering a new season, examine what patterns or loyalties may need to change.