The Law · Chapter 33 of 36
Numbers 33
By God's command Moses records the whole itinerary of Israel from Egypt to the plains of Moab, naming each place they camped across forty years. The list marks the exodus from Rameses, the crossing of the sea, Sinai, and Aaron's death on Mount Hor. The LORD then commands Israel, once across Jordan, to drive out the inhabitants, destroy their idols, and divide the land by lot.
What happens in Numbers 33
Moses writes down the goings out of Israel according to their journeys, by the commandment of the LORD. The chapter is a travel record, tracing the nation from Rameses on the morrow after the Passover, out with a high hand, through the sea, into the wildernesses of Sin and Sinai, and station by station across the desert years. Along the way it notes Aaron's death on Mount Hor in the fortieth year at the age of a hundred and twenty three. The itinerary ends in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, where the story now stands.
There the LORD gives fresh command for the future: when they pass over Jordan they must dispossess the inhabitants, destroy their carved and molten images, and pull down their high places. The land is to be divided by lot according to families, larger tribes receiving more. A warning follows: any inhabitants left will become pricks in their eyes and thorns in their sides.
Numbers 33 in context
Written as Israel prepares to enter Canaan, this chapter looks back over the entire wilderness pilgrimage before looking forward to the land. The itinerary functions as a memorial, a deliberate record that God preserved and led his people through every stage.
Aaron's death and the naming of forty two encampments mark both loss and faithfulness across a generation that was passing away.
Main themes of Numbers 33
Numbers 33 (KJV)
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. 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. 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. 4For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments. 5And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth. 6And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness. 7And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pihahiroth, which is before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol. 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. 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. 10And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea. 11And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin. 12And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah. 13And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush. 14And they removed from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink. 15And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai. 16And they removed from the desert of Sinai, and pitched at Kibrothhattaavah. 17And they departed from Kibrothhattaavah, and encamped at Hazeroth. 18And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitched in Rithmah. 19And they departed from Rithmah, and pitched at Rimmonparez. 20And they departed from Rimmonparez, and pitched in Libnah. 21And they removed from Libnah, and pitched at Rissah. 22And they journeyed from Rissah, and pitched in Kehelathah. 23And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in mount Shapher. 24And they removed from mount Shapher, and encamped in Haradah. 25And they removed from Haradah, and pitched in Makheloth. 26And they removed from Makheloth, and encamped at Tahath. 27And they departed from Tahath, and pitched at Tarah. 28And they removed from Tarah, and pitched in Mithcah. 29And they went from Mithcah, and pitched in Hashmonah. 30And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth. 31And they departed from Moseroth, and pitched in Benejaakan. 32And they removed from Benejaakan, and encamped at Horhagidgad. 33And they went from Horhagidgad, and pitched in Jotbathah. 34And they removed from Jotbathah, and encamped at Ebronah. 35And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Eziongaber. 36And they removed from Eziongaber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh. 37And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom. 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. 39And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor. 40And king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel. 41And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah. 42And they departed from Zalmonah, and pitched in Punon. 43And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth. 44And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in Ijeabarim, in the border of Moab. 45And they departed from Iim, and pitched in Dibongad. 46And they removed from Dibongad, and encamped in Almondiblathaim. 47And they removed from Almondiblathaim, and pitched in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. 48And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. 49And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth even unto Abelshittim in the plains of Moab. 50And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 51Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan; 52Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places: 53And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it. 54And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man’s inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit. 55But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. 56Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.
Verses to carry from Numbers 33
“And 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.”Numbers 33:2
“And 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.”Numbers 33:38
“Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:”Numbers 33:52
Thematic connection
How Numbers 33 points to Jesus
This roll of encampments quietly declares that God leads and remembers his people through every stage of the road, even the dry and forgettable ones. The New Testament takes up the same journey and calls it a pattern: Israel's pilgrimage from bondage toward rest becomes the shape of the Christian life, and the rest it aimed at is finally found in Christ, a Sabbath rest that remains for the people of God.
The command to leave no idol standing meets its answer in him too, for he cleanses his people not by their strength but by his presence, casting out the rivals to God's love. Aaron the high priest dies on the mountain and cannot bring them home; Jesus, the priest who lives forever, leads his pilgrims all the way into the land no enemy can take.
Questions about Numbers 33
Why would God have Moses record a list of camping places?
Because remembering is an act of faith. The itinerary preserves proof that God led Israel through every stage, including the wilderness years that felt like wasted wandering. Nothing was random or forgotten. For a people about to enter the land, and for us, the record says that the whole journey, hard stretches included, was held in God's purpose and memory.
How does this chapter speak to the Christian life?
The New Testament reads Israel's journey as a pattern of pilgrimage toward rest, a rest Hebrews locates in Christ. We too are travelers moving station by station from bondage toward a promised home. The chapter encourages us that the barren camps are still on the map of God's leading, and the destination is sure because our High Priest brings us there.
Reflection
Trace the stages of your own journey, the wilderness camps as well as the green ones. This chapter says God remembers each place he led you. You are still traveling toward rest. Let the record of his past faithfulness steady you for the road ahead.
A prayer from Numbers 33
Read the whole Bible with the family
Open it in the app, study it live with someone, and let it lead you to Christ.
Open the BibleRead it togetherSee what God is doing