And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.
Read it in contextForty-Two Journeys of the Israelites
Start reading at Numbers 33:1 (Numbers 33:1 to Numbers 33:49).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Military action, settlement requests, the travel record, and land provisions complete the preparation for entry into Canaan.
33:1These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.
33:2And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out.
33:3And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians.
33:4For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.
33:5And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth.
33:6And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness.
33:7And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pihahiroth, which is before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol.
33:8And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.
33:9And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there.
33:10And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea.
33:11And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.
33:12And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.
33:13And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.
33:14And they removed from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink.
33:15And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai.
33:16And they removed from the desert of Sinai, and pitched at Kibrothhattaavah.
33:17And they departed from Kibrothhattaavah, and encamped at Hazeroth.
33:18And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitched in Rithmah.
33:19And they departed from Rithmah, and pitched at Rimmonparez.
33:20And they departed from Rimmonparez, and pitched in Libnah.
33:21And they removed from Libnah, and pitched at Rissah.
33:22And they journeyed from Rissah, and pitched in Kehelathah.
33:23And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in mount Shapher.
33:24And they removed from mount Shapher, and encamped in Haradah.
33:25And they removed from Haradah, and pitched in Makheloth.
33:26And they removed from Makheloth, and encamped at Tahath.
33:27And they departed from Tahath, and pitched at Tarah.
33:28And they removed from Tarah, and pitched in Mithcah.
33:29And they went from Mithcah, and pitched in Hashmonah.
33:30And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth.
33:31And they departed from Moseroth, and pitched in Benejaakan.
33:32And they removed from Benejaakan, and encamped at Horhagidgad.
33:33And they went from Horhagidgad, and pitched in Jotbathah.
33:34And they removed from Jotbathah, and encamped at Ebronah.
33:35And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Eziongaber.
33:36And they removed from Eziongaber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.
33:37And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.
33:38And Aaron 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 were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.
33:39And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor.
33:40And king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.
33:41And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah.
33:42And they departed from Zalmonah, and pitched in Punon.
33:43And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth.
33:44And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in Ijeabarim, in the border of Moab.
33:45And they departed from Iim, and pitched in Dibongad.
33:46And they removed from Dibongad, and encamped in Almondiblathaim.
33:47And they removed from Almondiblathaim, and pitched in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.
33:48And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.
33:49And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth even unto Abelshittim in the plains of Moab.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Moses is the traditional author. He is explicitly credited with writing Israel's journeys at the LORD's command. Biblical references: Numbers 33:2. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Numbers 33:1–34:29): Moses records Israel's journeys and conveys instructions about the land's boundaries and allotment to the tribes. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel during the wilderness journey, including the generation preparing to enter Canaan, with the record preserved for later Israel. Biblical references: Numbers 1:1; Numbers 26:63; Numbers 36:13. stated in the text
What
What is the topic of this reading unit? Forty-Two Journeys of the Israelites. Read Numbers 33:1 through Numbers 33:49 as a connected unit. interpretation
How does it contribute to the book? This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Military action, settlement requests, the travel record, and land provisions complete the preparation for entry into Canaan. interpretation
When
When are the events or message set? The book moves from the second year after departure from Egypt toward the fortieth year, through the deaths of the wilderness generation and preparation of its successors. book background
Where
What is the book’s geographic setting? The setting moves from Sinai through wilderness stations to the plains of Moab east of Jordan. Individual journeys and encounters name more precise locations. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Forty-Two Journeys of the Israelites (Numbers 33:1 to Numbers 33:49).
Start reading at Numbers 33:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Jesus explicitly refers to Moses lifting up the serpent when speaking about the Son of man. Paul also uses wilderness events as warnings for the church; these connections preserve both God's provision and human responsibility. See John 3:14, John 3:15, 1 Corinthians 10:6, 1 Corinthians 10:12. interpretation
How should this book guide our response? Receive warnings about complaint, unbelief, and rebellion without presuming that participation in a community removes personal responsibility. Read each event with its stated circumstances. interpretation
Cited: Numbers 33:1, Numbers 33:49, John 3:14, John 3:15, 1 Corinthians 10:6, 1 Corinthians 10:12
Who wrote it, and how we know
Moses (traditional)Named in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe book states that Moses wrote the record of the journeys at the LORD's command. Numbers 33:2
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition names Moses.
What is debatedSource-critical theories propose later editing.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Time covered by Numbers
About 38 years
Second year after the exodusBeginning · Numbers 1:1
Israel is counted at Sinai
The opening census is dated to the first day of the second month in the second year after leaving Egypt.
Fortieth year after the exodusClosing wilderness period
Israel prepares to enter the land
Aaron’s death is dated to the fortieth year. The closing instructions are given on the plains of Moab before Israel crosses the Jordan.
The dated narrative moves from the second year toward the end of the fortieth year, an interval of roughly 38 years.
View historical notes and sources
This is an approximate span of the narrative, not an exact count of days and not the date when the book was written. Numbers 33:38 dates Aaron’s death; Numbers 36:13 identifies the closing setting. Deuteronomy 1:3 places Moses’ subsequent address in the fortieth year.
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Numbers 33
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Numbers follows Israel in the wilderness and toward the plains of Moab. The narrative moves from one numbered generation to another, combining events with commands for Israel. Distinguish the date of a narrated event from a proposed date of composition. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Military action, settlement requests, the travel record, and land provisions complete the preparation for entry into Canaan.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Military action, settlement requests, the travel record, and land provisions complete the preparation for entry into Canaan.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Numbers
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Numbers follows Israel in the wilderness and toward the plains of Moab. The narrative moves from one numbered generation to another, combining events with commands for Israel. Distinguish the date of a narrated event from a proposed date of composition.
Connection to the wholeDeaths and conflicts accompany the approach to Moab. Balaam's oracles are followed by Israel's sin at Peor, keeping blessing and responsibility together.