Numbers 33: The stages of the journey from Egypt
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Moses writes down, at Yahweh's command, the places where Israel camped on the way from Rameses in Egypt to the plains of Moab by the Jordan. The list passes the sea, Sinai, Kadesh and Mount Hor, where Aaron dies at 123 years old. At the end Yahweh tells Moses that when Israel crosses the Jordan they are to drive out the people of the land, destroy their idols, and divide the land by lot.
Who is speaking?
Verses 1 to 49 are the narrator's list. God's own words are in 6 of the 56 verses: verses 51 to 56, where he tells Moses what to say to Israel about the land. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1These 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.
In plain English: These are the stages of the journey of the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt by their divisions (literally: their armies), led by Moses and Aaron.
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2Moses wrote the starting points of their journeys by the commandment of Yahweh. These are their journeys according to their starting points.
In plain English: At Yahweh's command, Moses wrote down the places they set out from, stage by stage. These are their stages, by the places they set out from.
The Hebrew word: "Journeys" is massa, which the dictionary gives as "a departure (from striking the tents), i.e. march".
Good to know: Every stage from to has the same shape: they set out from one place and camped at the next. Some of these places are named in Exodus and earlier in Numbers, and a number of them are named only in this chapter.
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3They 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,
In plain English: They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the day after the Passover the Israelites went out boldly (literally: with a high hand), in the sight of all the Egyptians,
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4while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom Yahweh had struck among them. Yahweh also executed judgments on their gods.
In plain English: while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom Yahweh had struck down among them. Yahweh had also carried out judgments on their gods.
Good to know: Yahweh said he would carry out judgments against all the gods of Egypt in , the night of the first Passover.
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5The children of Israel traveled from Rameses, and encamped in Succoth.
In plain English: The Israelites set out from Rameses and camped at Succoth.
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6They traveled from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness.
In plain English: They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.
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7They traveled from Etham, and turned back to Pihahiroth, which is before Baal Zephon, and they encamped before Migdol.
In plain English: They set out from Etham and turned back to Pihahiroth, which faces Baal Zephon, and they camped in front of Migdol.
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8They 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.
In plain English: They set out from in front of Hahiroth and crossed through the middle of the sea into the wilderness. They went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.
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9They traveled from Marah, and came to Elim. In Elim, there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there.
In plain English: 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.
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10They traveled from Elim, and encamped by the Red Sea.
In plain English: They set out from Elim and camped by the Red Sea (literally: the Sea of Reeds).
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11They traveled from the Red Sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.
In plain English: They set out from the Red Sea and camped in the wilderness of Sin.
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12They traveled from the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.
In plain English: They set out from the wilderness of Sin and camped at Dophkah.
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13They traveled from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.
In plain English: They set out from Dophkah and camped at Alush.
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14They traveled from Alush, and encamped in Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.
In plain English: They set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.
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15They traveled from Rephidim, and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai.
In plain English: They set out from Rephidim and camped in the wilderness of Sinai.
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16They traveled from the wilderness of Sinai, and encamped in Kibroth Hattaavah.
In plain English: They set out from the wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah.
Good to know: Kibroth Hattaavah is the place named in , "because there they buried the people who lusted".
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17They traveled from Kibroth Hattaavah, and encamped in Hazeroth.
In plain English: They set out from Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.
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18They traveled from Hazeroth, and encamped in Rithmah.
In plain English: They set out from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.
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19They traveled from Rithmah, and encamped in Rimmon Perez.
In plain English: They set out from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez.
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20They traveled from Rimmon Perez, and encamped in Libnah.
In plain English: They set out from Rimmon Perez and camped at Libnah.
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21They traveled from Libnah, and encamped in Rissah.
In plain English: They set out from Libnah and camped at Rissah.
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22They traveled from Rissah, and encamped in Kehelathah.
In plain English: They set out from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.
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23They traveled from Kehelathah, and encamped in Mount Shepher.
In plain English: They set out from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.
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24They traveled from Mount Shepher, and encamped in Haradah.
In plain English: They set out from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.
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25They traveled from Haradah, and encamped in Makheloth.
In plain English: They set out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth.
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26They traveled from Makheloth, and encamped in Tahath.
In plain English: They set out from Makheloth and camped at Tahath.
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27They traveled from Tahath, and encamped in Terah.
In plain English: They set out from Tahath and camped at Terah.
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28They traveled from Terah, and encamped in Mithkah.
In plain English: They set out from Terah and camped at Mithkah.
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29They traveled from Mithkah, and encamped in Hashmonah.
In plain English: They set out from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah.
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30They traveled from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth.
In plain English: They set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.
Good to know: and name some of the same places (Beeroth Bene Jaakan, Moserah, Gudgodah, Jotbathah) in a different order, and say that Aaron died at Moserah. This chapter, like , says he died on Mount Hor (). The text does not explain the difference, and readers explain it in different ways.
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31They traveled from Moseroth, and encamped in Bene Jaakan.
In plain English: They set out from Moseroth and camped at Bene Jaakan.
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32They traveled from Bene Jaakan, and encamped in Hor Haggidgad.
In plain English: They set out from Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Haggidgad.
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33They traveled from Hor Haggidgad, and encamped in Jotbathah.
In plain English: They set out from Hor Haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.
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34They traveled from Jotbathah, and encamped in Abronah.
In plain English: They set out from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.
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35They traveled from Abronah, and encamped in Ezion Geber.
In plain English: They set out from Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber.
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36They traveled from Ezion Geber, and encamped at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.
In plain English: They set out from Ezion Geber and camped at Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin.
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37They traveled from Kadesh, and encamped in Mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.
In plain English: They set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the edge of the land of Edom.
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38Aaron the priest went up into Mount Hor at the commandment of Yahweh 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.
In plain English: Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor at Yahweh's command and died there, in the fortieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.
Good to know: to tells of Aaron's death on Mount Hor but does not give the date. This verse gives the year, the month and the day.
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39Aaron was one hundred twenty-three years old when he died in Mount Hor.
In plain English: Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.
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40The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the South in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.
In plain English: The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the South (the Negev) in the land of Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming.
Good to know: The king of Arad is the one who fought Israel and took some of them captive in .
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41They traveled from Mount Hor, and encamped in Zalmonah.
In plain English: They set out from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.
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42They traveled from Zalmonah, and encamped in Punon.
In plain English: They set out from Zalmonah and camped at Punon.
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43They traveled from Punon, and encamped in Oboth.
In plain English: They set out from Punon and camped at Oboth.
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44They traveled from Oboth, and encamped in Iye Abarim, in the border of Moab.
In plain English: They set out from Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim, on the border of Moab.
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45They traveled from Iyim, and encamped in Dibon Gad.
In plain English: They set out from Iyim and camped at Dibon Gad.
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46They traveled from Dibon Gad, and encamped in Almon Diblathaim.
In plain English: They set out from Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim.
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47They traveled from Almon Diblathaim, and encamped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.
In plain English: They set out from Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, in front of Nebo.
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48They traveled from the mountains of Abarim, and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
In plain English: They set out from the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.
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49They encamped by the Jordan, from Beth Jeshimoth even to Abel Shittim in the plains of Moab.
In plain English: They camped by the Jordan, from Beth Jeshimoth as far as Abel Shittim, on the plains of Moab.
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50Yahweh spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho, saying,
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51Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, “When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,God speaks
In plain English: "Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
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52then 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.God speaks
In plain English: you are to drive out all the people who live in the land ahead of you. Destroy all their carved stones (this Bible: stone idols), destroy all their idols of cast metal, and tear down all their high places.
The Hebrew words: "Stone idols" is maskit, which the dictionary gives as "a figure (carved on stone, the wall, or any object)". "High places" is bamah, which the dictionary gives as "an elevation".
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53You shall take possession of the land, and dwell therein; for I have given the land to you to possess it.God speaks
In plain English: Take the land and live in it, because I have given you the land to own.
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54You 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.God speaks
In plain English: You are to inherit the land by lot, by your clans. To a larger clan give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller one give a smaller inheritance. Wherever the lot falls for anyone, that will be his. You are to inherit by the tribes of your fathers.
Good to know: Yahweh gave the same rule, a larger share for a larger tribe and the land divided by lot, in and .
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55“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.God speaks
In plain English: "'But if you do not drive out the people who live in the land ahead of you, then those of them you let stay will be like pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will trouble you in the land where you live.
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56It shall happen that as I thought to do to them, so I will do to you.”God speaks
In plain English: And then, what I meant to do to them, I will do to you.'"
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