Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Numbers 33
Numbers 33:2Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the Lord, and these are their stages according to their starting places.
This verse establishes that the long list of places is a divinely commanded act of remembrance, written by Moses to preserve the story of God's guidance. It is not merely a historical record.Numbers 33:38And Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor at the command of the Lord and died there, in the fortieth year after the people of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.
The death of Aaron, the high priest, marks a major turning point. It signifies the passing of the old generation and the transition of leadership as Israel prepares to finally enter the land.Numbers 33:55But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell.
This is a stark and crucial warning that sets the stage for the book of Joshua. God makes it clear that partial obedience is not an option and that compromising with sin will only lead to future pain.
Historical & Cultural Context
On the Brink of the Promised Land
The scene is set on the Plains of Moab, right across the Jordan River from Jericho. The generation that rebelled against God at Kadesh has passed away, and a new generation of Israelites now stands on the brink of inheriting the promise made to their ancestors. After forty years of wandering, they are finally at the doorstep of their new home. This chapter serves as a crucial history lesson before they take that final step.
Looking Back to Move Forward
This chapter functions as both a rearview mirror and a windshield. Moses, at God's command, recounts every single campsite of their journey, reminding the people of God's constant presence through deliverance, rebellion, and discipline. This detailed look back is not for nostalgia's sake. It is meant to ground them in the reality of God's faithfulness as they prepare to face the challenges of conquering and settling the land of Canaan.
A Journey Remembered, A Future Commanded
As the nation of Israel camps by the Jordan River, Moses is instructed by God to create a permanent record of their travels. This chapter unfolds as a detailed itinerary, a memorial of God's faithfulness from their triumphant departure from Egypt to their current position. This historical account is designed to remind them of God's power and presence, preparing them for the crucial instructions that follow.
The Path of Liberation (Numbers 33:1-15)
1 These are the stages of the people of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their companies under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
2 Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the Lord, and these are their stages according to their starting places.
3 They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the day after the Passover, the people of Israel went out triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians,
4 while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had struck down among them. On their gods also the Lord executed judgments.
5 And the people of Israel set out from Rameses and camped at Succoth.
6 And they set out from Succoth and camped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness.
7 And they set out from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, which is east of Baal-zephon, and they camped before Migdol.
8 And they set out from before Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and they went a three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.
9 And they set out from Marah and came to Elim; at Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.
10 And they set out from Elim and camped by the Red Sea.
11 And they set out from the Red Sea and camped in the wilderness of Sin.
12 And they moved from the wilderness of Sin and encamped at Dophkah.
13 And they set out from Dophkah and encamped at Alush.
14 And they set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.
15 They set out from Rephidim and camped in the wilderness of Sinai.
Commentary:
God powerfully delivers Israel from Egypt and provides for them on the way to Mount Sinai.
The Long Detour of Wandering (Numbers 33:16-37)
16 And they set out from the wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah.
17 They set out from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.
18 And they set out from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.
19 And they set out from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez.
20 And they set out from Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah.
21 And they set out from Libnah and camped at Rissah.
22 They moved from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.
23 They set out from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.
24 And they set out from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.
25 And they set out from Haradah and pitched their tents at Makheloth.
26 And they set out from Makheloth and camped at Tahath.
27 And they set out from Tahath and camped at Terah.
28 And they set out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth.
29 And they set out from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah.
30 And they set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.
31 And they set out from Moseroth and camped at Bene-jaakan.
32 And they set out from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad.
33 And they set out from Hor-haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.
34 And they set out from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.
35 They set out from Ebronah and camped at Ezion-geber.
36 And they set out from Ezion-geber and camped in the wilderness of Zin (that is, Kadesh).
37 They set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the edge of the land of Edom.
Commentary:
A long list of campsites represents the 38 years of wandering as a consequence of Israel's rebellion.
Related Verse Analysis
The Final Approach (Numbers 33:38-49)
38 And Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor at the command of the Lord and died there, in the fortieth year after the people of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.
39 And Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.
40 And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the people of Israel.
41 And they set out from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.
42 And they set out from Libnah and camped at Rissah.
43 and they set out from Punon and camped at Oboth.
44 And they set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the territory of Moab.
45 And they set out from Iim and camped at Dibon-gad.
46 They set out from Dibon-gad and camped at Almon-diblathaim.
47 They set out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.
48 And they set out from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
49 they camped by the Jordan from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.
Commentary:
The new generation, after Aaron's death, purposefully moves to the edge of the Promised Land.
The Mandate for the Land (Numbers 33:50-56)
50 And the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,
51 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
52 then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places.
53 And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.
54 You shall inherit the land by lot according to your clans. To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance. Wherever the lot falls for anyone, that shall be his. According to the tribes of your fathers you shall inherit.
55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell.
56 And it shall be that as I thought to do to them, so I will do to you."
Commentary:
God commands Israel to completely drive out the Canaanites and their idols, warning of severe consequences for disobedience.
God's Faithfulness on the Winding Road
God's Unfailing Guidance
The detailed list of forty-two campsites shows that God never lost track of His people. Even during the long years of punishment, He was present, guiding their every move. This reminds us that God is with us in every season, whether we are progressing, wandering, or waiting.
The Importance of Remembrance
Moses was commanded to write this history down so future generations would not forget what God had done. Remembering God's past faithfulness is essential for building the trust and courage needed to face future challenges and obey His commands. It is not merely about nostalgia.
The Danger of Compromise
The chapter ends with a powerful warning about incomplete obedience. God's gift of the land came with the non-negotiable condition of removing all pagan influences. This teaches that compromising with sin or worldly values will inevitably lead to trouble, pain, and spiritual decay.
Applying the Lessons of the Journey
This list is a picture of your own spiritual journey. Just as God guided Israel through places of provision like Elim (v. 9) and places of testing like Marah (v. 8), He guides you through every high and low. It reminds you that no stage of your life is forgotten or meaningless to God. He is present and working in all of it.
While we are not called to a physical conquest, we are called to a spiritual one. The command in verses 52-53 is a powerful picture of the need to remove sinful influences and idols from our hearts. It means we cannot make peace with habits or attitudes that draw us away from God. We must be intentional about dedicating our lives completely to Him.
Remembering God's past faithfulness, as Israel was commanded to do, builds a strong foundation of trust for the future. When you face uncertainty, recalling specific times God has provided for you, guided you, or rescued you gives you the confidence to believe He will do it again. Your personal history with God is a powerful testimony that fuels your faith for the road ahead.
Every Step Recorded, Every Promise Sure
Numbers 33 serves as God's divine scrapbook, proving that no part of His people's journey is forgotten or insignificant. From the triumph of the Exodus to the tragedy of the wilderness wandering, He was present, leading, and faithful. The message is that God's steadfast love is the constant thread through every season of life, and remembering His past guidance is the very foundation for trusting His future commands.
What This Means for Us Today
The journey recorded in Numbers 33 is a testimony of a faithful God leading a flawed people toward a promised future, rather than merely an ancient map. It invites us to look back on our own lives, recognize God's hand in every stage, and move forward with the courage to obey Him completely.
- What past event in your life can you look back on to remind you of God's faithfulness today?
- Are there any 'inhabitants' - sinful habits, idols, or compromises - that God is asking you to drive out of your life?
- How does knowing God has a promised future for you change how you face your current challenges?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter describes the request of two and a half tribes to settle east of the Jordan, setting the stage for the division of the land.
Following the travel log, this chapter outlines the specific geographical boundaries of the Promised Land Israel is about to inherit.
Connections Across Scripture
Moses retells the story of the wilderness journey in a series of sermons, adding narrative detail and personal reflection to the itinerary of Numbers 33.
These chapters describe the fulfillment of what Numbers 33 anticipates: the actual crossing of the Jordan and the establishment of a stone memorial to remember God's work.
The New Testament reflects on Israel's failure to enter God's rest due to unbelief, using it as a powerful lesson for Christians to persevere in faith.
Discussion Questions
- If you were to write down the 'stages' of your own spiritual journey, what key places or moments of God's faithfulness would be on your list?
- The Israelites were warned that leftover influences would become 'barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides' (v. 55). What are some modern-day 'thorns' that can trouble us if we don't fully commit our lives to God?
- How can we balance remembering God's past faithfulness with looking forward to the future He has for us, without getting stuck in either the past or in anxiety about the future?
Glossary
places
Rameses
The starting point of the Exodus, a city in Egypt where the Israelites had been forced to work as slaves.
Mount Sinai
The mountain in the wilderness where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and established His covenant with Israel.
Kadesh
A key oasis in the wilderness where Israel rebelled against God, leading to their forty years of wandering.
Plains of Moab
The final camping site of the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land.