The Fallible · Synthetic · Study Bible

Numbers33:1–49

Forty-Two Journeys of the Israelites

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Numbers 33:1–49 — Forty-Two Journeys of the Israelites. Each verse below carries the full apparatus: the Berean Standard Bible, the vocalized original (tap any word), and a parsed breakdown of every term transcribed from the interlinear. Synthesized commentary, canonical threads, and the reading of Christ gather at the end, over the whole unit.

1“These are the journeys of the Israelites when they came out of t…”+

1These are the journeys of the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt by their divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

’êl·leh mas·‘ê ḇə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl ’ă·šer yā·ṣə·’ū mê·’e·reṣ miṣ·ra·yim lə·ṣiḇ·’ō·ṯām bə·yaḏ- mō·šeh wə·’a·hă·rōn

Literal — word-for-word from the original

These [are] the breakings-of-camp of-the-sons-of-Israel, who came-out from-the-land of-Egypt by-their-hosts, by-the-hand of-Moses and-Aaron.

Where the English smooths the original

  • מַסְעֵ֣י BSB "the journeys" smooths a sharper noun. mas·‘ê (maççaʻ, H4550) is built from nâçaʻ, "to pull up the tent-pins" — it names not the travelling but the striking of the camp, the act of breaking up and setting out. Keil renders it "marches," insisting "maççaʻ does not mean a station, but the breaking up of a camp." The whole chapter is thus titled by departure, not arrival.
  • לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם "by their divisions" renders lə·ṣiḇ·’ō·ṯām (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a word for a marshalled host / army. The older versions read "with their armies." Israel comes out of Egypt not as a fleeing rabble but as ordered military companies (cf. Exodus 12:51).
  • בְּיַד־ "under the leadership" flattens the idiom bə·yaḏ (yâd, H3027), literally "by the hand of Moses and Aaron." Keil glosses it "under the guidance," but the Hebrew keeps the concrete image of a directing hand — the same hand-language used of God's "high hand" two verses later.
Word by word12 · parsed+
אֵ֜לֶּה’êl·lehTheseH428
√ ʼêl-leh — these or thosePronouncommon plural
מַסְעֵ֣יmas·‘ê[are] the journeysH4550
√ maççaʻ — a departure (from striking the tents), iNounmasculine plural construct
מַסְעֵי (mas·‘ê, construct plural of maççaʻ, H4550) — a rare noun (only 11 verses in the canon) governing the entire chapter. The Pulpit Commentary notes the Septuagint rendered it σταθμοί, "stages" or "stations," but defends "journeys" because "it is the act of setting out and marching from such a place to such another which the word properly denotes."
בְנֵֽי־ḇə·nê-vvvH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לyiś·rā·’êlof the IsraelitesH3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
אֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerwhenH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
יָצְא֛וּyā·ṣə·’ūthey came outH3318
√ yâtsâʼ — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proximVerbQalPerfectthird person common plural
yā·ṣə·’ū (yâtsâʼ, H3318), "came out" — the verb of the Exodus itself; the itinerary is framed as one long going-out.
מֵאֶ֥רֶץmê·’e·reṣof the landH776
√ ʼerets — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)Preposition-mNounfeminine singular construct
מִצְרַ֖יִםmiṣ·ra·yimof EgyptH4714
√ Mitsrayim — Mitsrajim, iNounproperfeminine singular
לְצִבְאֹתָ֑םlə·ṣiḇ·’ō·ṯāmby their divisionsH6635
√ tsâbâʼ — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially regPreposition-lNouncommon plural constructthird person masculine plural
לְצִבְאֹתָם (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — "hosts." The same word stands behind the divine title "LORD of hosts"; here it marks Israel as an ordered army on the march.
בְּיַד־bə·yaḏ-under the leadershipH3027
√ yâd — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etcPreposition-bNounfeminine singular construct
בְּיַד (yâd, H3027) — "by the hand of." Mediated leadership: Moses and Aaron are the instruments, but the directing power is God's, as the chapter's repeated "at the LORD's command" will make explicit.
מֹשֶׁ֖הmō·šehof MosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
וְאַהֲרֹֽן׃wə·’a·hă·rōnand AaronH175
√ ʼAhărôwn — Aharon, the brother of MosesConjunctive wawNounpropermasculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
The list of the encampments is expressly said to have been written by Moses, and it served as a permanent memorial, on the one hand, of the sin and rebellion of the nation, and, on the other hand, of the faithfulness and long-suffering of God in leading and sustaining His people throughout their sojourn in the wilderness.
In their travels towards Canaan they were continually on the remove. Such is our state in this world; we have here no continuing city, and all our removes in this world are but from one part a desert to another. They were led to and fro, forward and backward, yet were all the while under the direction of the pillar of cloud and fire. God led them about, yet led them the right way.
The march of the people is not described by the stations, or places of encampment, but by the particular spots from which they set out. Hence the constant repetition of the word ויּסעוּ, "and they broke up."
Keil's grammatical point grounds the unit's title-word; quoted to anchor the literal.
under the hand of Moses and Aaron: who were sent to the king of Egypt to require their dismission, and who were the instruments under God of their deliverance, and were the leaders of them
2“At the LORD’s command, Moses recorded the stages of their journe…”+

2At the LORD’s command, Moses recorded the stages of their journey. These are the stages listed by their starting points:

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

‘al- Yah·weh pî mō·šeh ’eṯ- way·yiḵ·tōḇ mō·w·ṣā·’ê·hem lə·mas·‘ê·hem wə·’êl·leh mas·‘ê·hem lə·mō·w·ṣā·’ê·hem

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-he-wrote, Moses, their-goings-out according-to-their-breakings-of-camp by-the-mouth of-the-LORD; and-these [are] their-breakings-of-camp according-to-their-goings-out.

Where the English smooths the original

  • עַל־פִּ֣י BSB "At the LORD's command" renders ‘al-pî YHWH (peh, H6310), literally "at / upon the mouth of the LORD." The Hebrew idiom locates the command in God's spoken breath. The Pulpit Commentary notes the clause may qualify either the marches ("made under the orders of God himself") or the writing — "It is more natural to read it with the verb 'wrote.'"
  • וַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב "recorded" smooths way·yik·tōḇ (kâthab, H3789), "and he wrote / engraved." The same verb covers graving and inscribing; the list is a deliberately authored, permanent document, not a casual memorandum.
  • מוֹצָאֵיהֶ֛ם "the stages" obscures the precise word-pair. mō·w·ṣā·’ê·hem (môwtsâʼ, H4161) is "their goings-out / places of departure," set against maççaʻ ("breakings-of-camp"). Keil: the two clauses are "really equivalent" — the march is told by its departure-points, not its arrivals.
Word by word11 · parsed+
עַל־‘al-AtH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
יְהוָ֑הYah·wehthe LORD’sH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
עַל־פִּי יְהוָה (peh, H6310) — "by the mouth of the LORD." The decisive theological frame of the chapter: the itinerary is God-commanded, whether of the marches, the writing, or both.
פִּ֣יcommandH6310
√ peh — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech)Nounmasculine singular construct
מֹשֶׁ֜הmō·šehMosesH4872
√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
וַיִּכְתֹּ֨בway·yiḵ·tōḇrecordedH3789
√ kâthab — to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
וַיִּכְתֹּב (kâthab, H3789) — Mosaic authorship asserted in the text itself. The Pulpit Commentary observes that even "the most destructive critics" have accepted this verse as substantially true.
מוֹצָאֵיהֶ֛םmō·w·ṣā·’ê·hemthe stagesH4161
√ môwtsâʼ — a going forth, iNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine plural
מוֹצָאֵיהֶם (môwtsâʼ, H4161), "their goings-out" — paired chiastically with maççaʻ across the verse: goings-out / breakings-of-camp, then breakings-of-camp / goings-out.
לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖םlə·mas·‘ê·hemof their journeyH4550
√ maççaʻ — a departure (from striking the tents), iPreposition-lNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine plural
וְאֵ֥לֶּהwə·’êl·lehTheseH428
√ ʼêl-leh — these or thoseConjunctive wawPronouncommon plural
מַסְעֵיהֶ֖םmas·‘ê·hemare the stagesH4550
√ maççaʻ — a departure (from striking the tents), iNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine plural
לְמוֹצָאֵיהֶֽם׃lə·mō·w·ṣā·’ê·hemlisted by their starting pointsH4161
√ môwtsâʼ — a going forth, iPreposition-lNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine plural
The Voices✦ public domain+
we have a direct assertion that Moses wrote this list of marches himself by command of God, doubtless as a memorial not only of historical interest, but of deep religious significance, as showing how Israel had been led by him who is faithful and true faithful in keeping his promise, true in fulfilling his word for good or for evil.
Moses would have this done, partly to evince the truth of the history, partly to preserve the remembrance of God’s glorious and miraculous works both of judgment and mercy towards his people, and thereby to confirm their faith in their present difficult undertaking.
when the cloud abode on the tabernacle they rested, and had their stations, and continued as long as the cloud tarried on it, and when that was taken up, then they marched; and thus at the commandment of the Lord they rested, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed, see Numbers 9:17
It does not clearly appear whether these words should be understood of the record of the journeys of the Israelites as being made by Moses in obedience to a Divine command, or whether they should be understood of the journeys themselves as being taken in obedience to the Divine command.
Ellicott names the very ambiguity the Hebrew ‘al-pî leaves open.
3“On the fifteenth day of the first month, on the day after the Pa…”+

3On the fifteenth day of the first month, on the day after the Passover, the Israelites set out from Rameses. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians,

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

ba·ḥă·miš·šāh ‘ā·śār yō·wm la·ḥō·ḏeš hā·ri·šō·wn ba·ḥō·ḏeš hā·ri·šō·wn mim·mā·ḥo·raṯ hap·pe·saḥ way·yis·‘ū mê·ra‘·mə·sês ḇə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl yā·ṣə·’ū bə·yāḏ rā·māh lə·‘ê·nê kāl- miṣ·rā·yim

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Rameses in-the-month the-first, on-the-fifteenth day of-the-month the-first; on-the-morrow-of-the-Passover the-sons-of-Israel went-out with-a-hand raised-high, before-the-eyes of-all-the-Egyptians.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּיָ֣ד רָמָ֔ה BSB "defiantly" renders the famous idiom bə·yāḏ rā·māh (yâd H3027 + rûwm H7311), literally "with a high / raised hand." It is the gesture of bold, public triumph — Israel marches out openly, not as fugitives. Note that the same "hand" word governed v.1's "hand of Moses": now the raised hand is the people's confidence under that leadership.
  • מִֽמָּחֳרַ֣ת הַפֶּ֗סַח "the day after the Passover" renders mim·mā·ḥo·raṯ hap·pe·saḥ (mochŏrâth H4283 + peçach H6453). The dating is liturgical: departure is fixed not by a calendar abstraction but by its place in the festal week — the morning after the lamb was eaten and the destroyer passed over.
  • וַיִּסְע֤וּ "set out" is the chapter's signature verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp." This is the first of more than forty occurrences — the drum-beat that carries the whole itinerary forward.
Word by word19 · parsed+
בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֥הba·ḥă·miš·šāhOn the fifteenthH2568
√ châmêsh — fivePreposition-b, ArticleNumbermasculine singular
עָשָׂ֛ר‘ā·śār. . .H6240
√ ʻâsâr — ten (only in combination), iNumbermasculine singular
י֖וֹםyō·wmdayH3117
√ yôwm — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)Nounmasculine singular
לַחֹ֣דֶשׁla·ḥō·ḏešH2320
√ chôdesh — the new moonPreposition-l, ArticleNounmasculine singular
הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹןhā·ri·šō·wnof the firstH7223
√ riʼshôwn — first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)ArticleAdjectivemasculine singular
בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁba·ḥō·ḏešmonthH2320
√ chôdesh — the new moonPreposition-b, ArticleNounmasculine singular
הָרִאשׁ֑וֹןhā·ri·šō·wnonH7223
√ riʼshôwn — first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)ArticleAdjectivemasculine singular
מִֽמָּחֳרַ֣תmim·mā·ḥo·raṯthe day afterH4283
√ mochŏrâth — the morrow or (adverbially) tomorrowPreposition-mNounfeminine singular construct
הַפֶּ֗סַחhap·pe·saḥthe PassoverH6453
√ peçach — a pretermission, iArticleNounmasculine singular
וַיִּסְע֤וּway·yis·‘ū[the Israelites] set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ (nâçaʻ, H5265) — first sounding of the march-refrain. From here the verb recurs at nearly every station, binding forty-two encampments into one cadence.
מֵֽרַעְמְסֵס֙mê·ra‘·mə·sêsfrom RamesesH7486
√ Raʻmᵉçêç — Rameses or Raamses, a place in EgyptPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
מֵרַעְמְסֵס (Raʻmᵉçêç, H7486) — Rameses, the rendezvous-city, named in only 5 verses canon-wide. Gill: "where the children of Israel, a little before their departure, seem to have been gathered together in a body, in order to march out all together." This rare lexeme links the verse verbally to Exodus 12:37.
בְנֵֽי־ḇə·nê-[They]H1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙yiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
יָצְא֤וּyā·ṣə·’ūmarched outH3318
√ yâtsâʼ — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proximVerbQalPerfectthird person common plural
בְּיָ֣דbə·yāḏdefiantlyH3027
√ yâd — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etcPreposition-bNounfeminine singular
בְּיָד רָמָה (yâd H3027 + rûwm H7311) — "with a high hand." The classic phrase for open, triumphant defiance (cf. Exodus 14:8).
רָמָ֔הrā·māh. . .H7311
√ rûwm — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)VerbQalParticiplefeminine singular
לְעֵינֵ֖יlə·‘ê·nêin full viewH5869
√ ʻayin — an eye (literally or figuratively)Preposition-lNouncdc
כָּל־kāl-of allH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeNounmasculine singular construct
מִצְרָֽיִם׃miṣ·rā·yimthe EgyptiansH4713
√ Mitsrîy — a Mitsrite, or inhabitant of MitsrajimNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians; openly and publicly, with great courage and boldness, without any fear of their enemies; who seeing them march out, had no power to stop them, or to move their lips at them, nay, were willing to be rid of them
They departed from Rameses — Whither they repaired, by order of Moses, from all parts of the land.
The brief description here given of the departure from Egypt touches upon every material circumstance as related at large in Exodus 11:41. In the sight of all the Egyptians. The journey was begun by night ( Exodus 12:42 ), but was of course con-tinned on the following day.
the departure from Rameses, at which place the Israelites seem to have been gathered together previously to the exodus, is related as in Exodus 12:37 .
4“who were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck d…”+

4who were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them; for the LORD had executed judgment against their gods.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

ū·miṣ·ra·yim mə·qab·bə·rîm ’êṯ ’ă·šer kāl- bə·ḵō·wr Yah·weh hik·kāh bā·hem Yah·weh ‘ā·śāh šə·p̄ā·ṭîm ū·ḇê·lō·hê·hem

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-the-Egyptians [were] burying those-whom the-LORD had-struck among-them, every firstborn; and-against-their-gods the-LORD executed judgments.

Where the English smooths the original

  • מְקַבְּרִ֗ים BSB "who were burying" rightly catches a participle, mə·qab·bə·rîm (qâbar Piel, H6912) — durative, "were [in the act of] burying." The Pulpit Commentary stresses the tense: "were burying (Septuagint, ἔθαπτον) those whom the Lord had smitten" — Egypt is occupied with its dead while Israel walks free.
  • וּבֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם ... שְׁפָטִֽים "against their gods the LORD executed judgment" renders ’ĕlōhê·hem (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) + šə·p̄ā·ṭîm (shepheṭ, H8201). The plague is read as a verdict in a divine lawsuit: God passes judgments on the so-called gods. Geneva flags the ambiguity — "Either meaning their idols, or their men of authority."
  • הִכָּ֧ה "had struck down" is hik·kāh (nâkâh Hifil, H5221), the verb of the smiting-plagues throughout Exodus. The itinerary opens over fresh graves: the going-out is built on the night the firstborn fell.
Word by word13 · parsed+
וּמִצְרַ֣יִםū·miṣ·ra·yim[who]H4713
√ Mitsrîy — a Mitsrite, or inhabitant of MitsrajimConjunctive wawNounproperfeminine singular
מְקַבְּרִ֗יםmə·qab·bə·rîmwere buryingH6912
√ qâbar — to interVerbPielParticiplemasculine plural
מְקַבְּרִים (qâbar, H6912) — "burying." The participle paints Egypt mid-funeral; Gill notes this "contributed much to the more easy and safe deliverance of the children of Israel; for their hearts were heavy with sorrow, and their hands were full."
אֵת֩’êṯH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
אֲשֶׁ֨ר’ă·šerH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
כָּל־kāl-allH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholeNounmasculine singular construct
בְּכ֑וֹרbə·ḵō·wr[their] firstbornH1060
√ bᵉkôwr — firstbornNounmasculine singular
יְהוָ֛הYah·wehwhom the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
הִכָּ֧הhik·kāhhad struck downH5221
√ nâkâh — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)VerbHifilPerfectthird person masculine singular
בָּהֶ֖םbā·hemamong them
Prepositionthird person masculine plural
יְהוָ֖הYah·wehfor the LORDH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
עָשָׂ֥ה‘ā·śāhhad executedH6213
√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular
שְׁפָטִֽים׃šə·p̄ā·ṭîmjudgmentH8201
√ shepheṭ — a sentence, iNounmasculine plural
שְׁפָטִים (shepheṭ, H8201) — "judgments," the language of a passed sentence (cf. Exodus 12:12). The defeat of Egypt's gods is the first thing the itinerary remembers.
וּבֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔םū·ḇê·lō·hê·hemagainst their godsH430
√ ʼĕlôhîym — gods in the ordinary senseConjunctive waw, Preposition-bNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine plural
וּבֵאלֹהֵיהֶם (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — "and on their gods." The Pulpit Commentary: the false deities, "having no existence except in the imaginations of men, could only be affected within the sphere of those imaginations, i.e., by being made contemptible in the eyes of those who feared them."
The Voices✦ public domain+
The false deities of Egypt, having no existence except in the imaginations of men, could only be affected within the sphere of those imaginations, i.e. , by being made contemptible in the eyes of those who feared them.
upon their {b} gods also the LORD executed judgments. (b) Either meaning their idols, or their men of authority.
Their false gods, to wit, those beasts which the brutish Egyptians worshipped as gods, which were killed with the rest, for the first-born both of men and beasts were then killed
upon their gods also the Lord executed judgments; they were moved at the presence, and by the power of God, and fell and were dashed to pieces, as the idols of the same land were in later times, see Isaiah 19:1
5“The Israelites set out from Rameses and camped at Succoth.”+

5The Israelites set out from Rameses and camped at Succoth.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

ḇə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl way·yis·‘ū mê·ra‘·mə·sês way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·suk·kōṯ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Rameses, and-they-camped at-Succoth.

Where the English smooths the original

  • סֻּכֹּֽת "Succoth" (Çukkôwth, H5523, in only 16 verses) is left untranslated, but the name means "booths / shelters." JFB: "Succoth — that is, 'booths.'" The first stage out of Egypt is named for temporary dwellings — fitting for a people now permanently un-housed.
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word6 · parsed+
בְנֵֽי־ḇə·nê-The IsraelitesH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לyiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
וַיִּסְע֥וּway·yis·‘ūset outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
מֵרַעְמְסֵ֑סmê·ra‘·mə·sêsfrom RamesesH7486
√ Raʻmᵉçêç — Rameses or Raamses, a place in EgyptPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
סֻּכֹּת (Çukkôwth, H5523) — "booths," the rare place-name (16 vv) shared verbally with Exodus 13:20. Gill says the name came "because of the booths or tents the Israelites erected, pitched, and dwelt in, during their abode there."
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּסֻכֹּֽת׃bə·suk·kōṯat SuccothH5523
√ Çukkôwth — Succoth, the name of a place in Egypt and of three in PalestinePreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
pitched in Succoth—that is, "booths"—a place of no note except as a temporary halting place, at Birketel-Hadji, the Pilgrim's Pool [Calmet].
pitched in Succoth: where, as the same paraphrase says, they were covered with the clouds of glory, suggesting that to be the reason of its name; but that was rather because of the booths or tents the Israelites erected, pitched, and dwelt in, during their abode there
6“They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of th…”+

6They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mis·suk·kōṯ way·ya·ḥă·nū ḇə·’ê·ṯām ’ă·šer biq·ṣêh ham·miḏ·bār

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Succoth, and-they-camped at-Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בִּקְצֵ֥ה הַמִּדְבָּֽר "on the edge of the wilderness" renders bi·qṣêh ham·miḏ·bār (qâtseh + midbâr, H4057). Etham stands at the very lip of the desert — the threshold between settled land and the trackless waste into which Israel is about to be led. JFB: "Etham — edge, or border."
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word7 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִסֻּכֹּ֑תmis·suk·kōṯfrom SuccothH5523
√ Çukkôwth — Succoth, the name of a place in Egypt and of three in PalestinePreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַיַּחֲנ֣וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְאֵתָ֔םḇə·’ê·ṯāmat EthamH864
√ ʼÊthâm — Etham, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
אֲשֶׁ֖ר’ă·šerH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
בִּקְצֵ֥הbiq·ṣêhon the edgeH7097
√ qâtseh — an extremityPreposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — "wilderness," properly open pasture-land; the word for the whole arena of the forty years. Its first appearance here, at Etham, marks the boundary-crossing.
הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃ham·miḏ·bārof the wildernessH4057
√ midbâr — a pasture (iArticleNounmasculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
Etham—edge, or border of all that part of Arabia-Petræa which lay contiguous to Egypt and was known by the general name of Shur.
And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham,.... Which was eight miles from Succoth: which is in the edge of the wilderness
7“They set out from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, opposite…”+

7They set out from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon, and they camped near Migdol.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·’ê·ṯām way·yā·šāḇ ‘al- pî ha·ḥî·rōṯ ’ă·šer ‘al- pə·nê ba·‘al ṣə·p̄ō·wn way·ya·ḥă·nū lip̄·nê miḡ·dōl

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Etham and-turned-back upon Pi-hahiroth, which [is] before Baal-zephon; and-they-camped before Migdol.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיָּ֜שָׁב BSB "turned back" renders way·yā·šāḇ (shûwb, H7725), "and he/it returned." This is the only retrograde step in the early itinerary — Israel is divinely ordered to double back toward the sea (Exodus 14:2), apparently trapping themselves. The march is not a straight line; God's leading folds back on itself.
  • פִּי הַחִירֹ֔ת ... בַּ֖עַל צְפֹֽן "Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon" preserves two place-names that are themselves witnesses. Baʻal Tsᵉphôwn (H1189, in only 3 verses) is "Baal of the north," a Canaanite/Egyptian deity-site; Israel camps in the shadow of a pagan shrine on the eve of the sea-crossing. These rare names tie the verse verbally to Exodus 14:2, 9.
  • מִגְדֹּֽל "near Migdol" — Miḡ·dōl (H4024, in only 6 verses) means "tower / watch-post." The encampment is named for an Egyptian frontier-fortress; the trap looks complete, with the sea ahead and Egypt's towers behind.
Word by word14 · parsed+
וַיִּסְעוּ֙way·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵֽאֵתָ֔םmê·’ê·ṯāmfrom EthamH864
√ ʼÊthâm — Etham, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַיָּ֙שָׁב֙way·yā·šāḇand turned backH7725
√ shûwb — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
פִּי הַחִירֹת (Pîy ha-Chîyrôth, H6367, 4 vv) — Pi-hahiroth. Barnes notes the Hebrew sometimes drops the "Pi-": "the omitted 'pi' is only a common Egyptian prefix."
עַל־‘al-toH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
פִּ֣יvvvH6367
√ Pîy ha-Chîyrôth — Pi-ha-Chiroth, a place in Egypt
בַּעַל צְפֹן (Baʻal Tsᵉphôwn, H1189) and מִגְדֹּל (Migdôwl, H4024) — both rare (3 and 6 verses). The cluster of rare toponyms makes this verse a strong verbal link to the Exodus 14 sea-narrative.
הַחִירֹ֔תha·ḥî·rōṯPi-hahirothH6367
√ Pîy ha-Chîyrôth — Pi-ha-Chiroth, a place in EgyptNounproperfeminine singular
אֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative
עַל־‘al-oppositeH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
פְּנֵ֖יpə·nê. . .H6440
√ pânîym — the face (as the part that turns)Nouncommon plural construct
בַּ֣עַלba·‘alvvvH1189
√ Baʻal Tsᵉphôwn — Baal-Tsephon, a place in EqyptPreposition
צְפ֑וֹןṣə·p̄ō·wnBaal-zephonH1189
√ Baʻal Tsᵉphôwn — Baal-Tsephon, a place in EqyptNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand they campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
לִפְנֵ֥יlip̄·nênearH6440
√ pânîym — the face (as the part that turns)Preposition-lNouncommon plural construct
מִגְדֹּֽל׃miḡ·dōlMigdolH4024
√ Migdôwl — Migdol, a place in EgyptNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
This turning, Aben Ezra says, respects the cloud, or Israel; and indeed it may respect both, for, as the cloud turned, Israel turned, being directed by it; and this does not mean that they had been at Pihahiroth before, and now returned to it again; but that they by direction turned out of the straight way
And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto {c} Pihahiroth, which is before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol.
8“They set out from Pi-hahiroth and crossed through the sea, into …”+

8They set out from Pi-hahiroth and crossed through the sea, into the wilderness, and they journeyed three days into the Wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mip·pə·nê ha·ḥî·rōṯ way·ya·‘aḇ·rū ḇə·ṯō·wḵ- hay·yām ham·miḏ·bā·rāh šə·lō·šeṯ yā·mîm way·yê·lə·ḵū de·reḵ bə·miḏ·bar ’ê·ṯām way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·mā·rāh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-before Pi-hahiroth and-passed-through the-midst-of the-sea into-the-wilderness; and-they-went a-journey-of-three days in-the-wilderness-of-Etham, and-they-camped at-Marah.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיַּֽעַבְר֥וּ בְתוֹךְ־הַיָּ֖ם BSB "crossed through the sea" renders way·ya·‘aḇ·rū ḇə·ṯō·wḵ ham·yām (ʻâbar H5674 + tâvek H8432) — "and they passed through the very midst of the sea." The single greatest miracle of the Exodus is folded, here, into one verb of the itinerary: between two campsites lies the parted sea, recorded as soberly as any other stage.
  • שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ "three days" is šə·lō·šeṯ yā·mîm (shâlôwsh H7969). The three waterless days after the sea (Exodus 15:22) are the first testing of the redeemed people — deliverance is immediately followed by thirst.
  • בְּמָרָֽה "at Marah" — bə·mā·rāh (Mârâh, H4785) — the name means "bitter." Gill: "so called from the bitterness of the waters there." The first stop past the sea is a place of bitter water, where the redeemed first murmur.
Word by word15 · parsed+
וַיִּסְעוּ֙way·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
מִפְּנֵ֣יmip·pə·nêfromH6440
√ pânîym — the face (as the part that turns)Preposition-mNouncommon plural construct
הַֽחִירֹ֔תha·ḥî·rōṯPi-hahirothH6367
√ Pîy ha-Chîyrôth — Pi-ha-Chiroth, a place in EgyptArticleNounproperfeminine singular
וַיַּֽעַבְר֥וּway·ya·‘aḇ·rūand crossedH5674
√ ʻâbar — to cross overConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיַּעַבְרוּ (ʻâbar, H5674) — "they passed over / through." The Hebrew root behind "Hebrew" itself; here it names the passage through the sea. The Verifier links this verse structurally to Exodus 15:22 by the shared cluster nâçaʻ / midbâr / yâm / shâlôwsh.
בְתוֹךְ־ḇə·ṯō·wḵ-throughH8432
√ tâvek — a bisection, iPreposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
הַיָּ֖םhay·yāmthe seaH3220
√ yâm — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of waterArticleNounmasculine singular
הַמִּדְבָּ֑רָהham·miḏ·bā·rāhinto the wildernessH4057
√ midbâr — a pasture (iArticleNounmasculine singularthird person feminine singular
שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁתšə·lō·šeṯand they journeyed three daysH7969
√ shâlôwsh — threeNumbermasculine singular construct
יָמִים֙yā·mîm. . .H3117
√ yôwm — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)Nounmasculine plural
וַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּway·yê·lə·ḵū. . .H1980
√ hâlak — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
דֶּ֣רֶךְde·reḵ. . .H1870
√ derek — a road (as trodden)Nouncommon singular construct
בְּמִדְבַּ֣רbə·miḏ·barinto the WildernessH4057
√ midbâr — a pasture (iPreposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
אֵתָ֔ם’ê·ṯāmof EthamH864
√ ʼÊthâm — Etham, a place in the DesertNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּמָרָה — "camped at Marah" ("bitter"). The itinerary's bare prose presses the irony: from the song at the sea (Exodus 15) to bitter water within three days.
בְּמָרָֽה׃bə·mā·rāhat MarahH4785
√ Mârâh — Marah, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
and passed through the midst of the sea; from shore to shore, as on dry laud: into the wilderness: that part of it which lay on the other side, for still it was the wilderness of Etham they went into, as follows: and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah; so called from the bitterness of the waters there
Marah—thought to be Ain Howarah, both from its position and the time (three days) it would take them with their children and flocks to march from the water of Ayun Musa to that spot.
We do not, however, know what physical changes have taken place since that time, and it is quite possible that at Etham there may have been a ford, or some other easy means of communication, so that the strip of desert along the opposite shore came to be known as the wilderness of Etham.
9“They set out from Marah and came to Elim, where there were twelv…”+

9They set out from Marah and came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mim·mā·rāh way·yā·ḇō·’ū ’ê·li·māh ū·ḇə·’ê·lim šə·têm ‘eś·rêh ‘ê·nōṯ ma·yim wə·šiḇ·‘îm tə·mā·rîm way·ya·ḥă·nū- šām

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Marah and-came to-Elim; and-in-Elim [were] twelve springs-of water and-seventy palm-trees, and-they-camped there.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ BSB "came to" renders way·yā·ḇō·’ū (bôwʼ, H935) — the gentler verb of arrival, replacing the usual "camped" of the formula. After bitter Marah, the text lingers: they did not merely pitch, they came to a place of abundance.
  • שְׁתֵּ֥ים עֶשְׂרֵ֛ה עֵינֹ֥ת ... שִׁבְעִ֖ים תְּמָרִ֑ים "twelve springs and seventy palm trees" — the exact numbers 12 (tribes) and 70 (elders, the symbolic fullness of Israel; cf. the 70 souls of Jacob's house, the 70 elders) are preserved. The rare proper name Êylim (H362, 4 vv) plus the palm-count make this a verbal echo of Exodus 15:27. The numbers themselves invite the typological reading the older expositors gave them.
Word by word13 · parsed+
וַיִּסְעוּ֙way·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
מִמָּרָ֔הmim·mā·rāhfrom MarahH4785
√ Mârâh — Marah, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַיָּבֹ֖אוּway·yā·ḇō·’ūand cameH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
אֵילִ֑מָה’ê·li·māhto ElimH362
√ ʼÊylim — Elim, a place in the DesertNounproperfeminine singularthird person feminine singular
אֵילִם (ʼÊylim, H362) — Elim, in only 4 verses; with tâmâr ("palm") this is a strong verbal tie to Exodus 15:27. The oasis is the relief that immediately answers bitter Marah.
וּ֠בְאֵילִםū·ḇə·’ê·lim. . .H362
√ ʼÊylim — Elim, a place in the DesertConjunctive waw, Preposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
שְׁתֵּ֣יםšə·têmwhere there were twelveH8147
√ shᵉnayim — twoNumberfd
שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה ... שִׁבְעִים — twelve and seventy. The numbers carry covenantal weight (twelve tribes, seventy elders), which is why expositors from Jerome onward read Elim figurally.
עֶשְׂרֵ֞ה‘eś·rêh. . .H6240
√ ʻâsâr — ten (only in combination), iNumberfeminine singular construct
עֵינֹ֥ת‘ê·nōṯspringsH5869
√ ʻayin — an eye (literally or figuratively)Nouncommon plural construct
מַ֛יִםma·yim. . .H4325
√ mayim — waterNounmasculine plural
וְשִׁבְעִ֥יםwə·šiḇ·‘îmand seventyH7657
√ shibʻîym — seventyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural
תְּמָרִ֖יםtə·mā·rîmpalm treesH8558
√ tâmâr — a palm treeNounmasculine plural
וַיַּחֲנוּ־way·ya·ḥă·nū-and they campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
שָֽׁם׃šāmthereH8033
√ shâm — there (transferring to time) thenAdverb
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim,.... Which was eight miles from Marah: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and three score and ten palm trees, and they pitched there; being a convenient place of water for them,
Elim—supposed to be Wady Ghurundel (see on [100]Ex 15:27).
10“They set out from Elim and camped by the Red Sea.”+

10They set out from Elim and camped by the Red Sea.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·’ê·lim way·ya·ḥă·nū ‘al- sūp̄ yam-

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Elim, and-they-camped at-by the Red Sea.

Where the English smooths the original

  • עַל־יַם־סֽוּף "by the Red Sea" renders ‘al-yam-sûf (yâm H3220 + çûwph), literally "at the Sea of Reeds." This encampment is recorded only here, not in Exodus. Benson notes it was "not by that part of it where they had lately passed over, but more southerly" — a second, quieter meeting with the same sea that had drowned Pharaoh.
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word6 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵאֵילִ֑םmê·’ê·limfrom ElimH362
√ ʼÊylim — Elim, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
עַל־‘al-byH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
סֽוּף׃sūp̄the RedH5488
√ çûwph — a reed, especially the papyrusNounmasculine singular
יַם־yam-SeaH3220
√ yâm — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of waterNounmasculine singular construct
יַם־סוּף (yâm, H3220) — the "Sea of Reeds." An encampment here is among the stations the Exodus narrative passes over; the itinerary preserves what the story omits.
The Voices✦ public domain+
By the Red sea — Not by that part of it where they had lately passed over, but more southerly, toward the Arabian desert. This station is omitted in Exodus.
Encamped by the Red Sea. This encampment, like those at Dophkah and at Alush (verse 13), is not mentioned in the narrative of Exodus. The phraseology, however, used in Exodus 16:1 ; Exodus 17:1 leaves abundant room for intermediate halting-places
11“They set out from the Red Sea and camped in the Desert of Sin.”+

11They set out from the Red Sea and camped in the Desert of Sin.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū sūp̄ mî·yam- way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·miḏ·bar- sîn

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-the Red Sea, and-they-camped at-in the Wilderness of Sin.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּמִדְבַּר־סִֽין "in the Desert of Sin" — bə·miḏ·bar-sîn (midbâr H4057 + Çîyn). This is the wilderness where the manna first fell (Exodus 16). Benson: "The wilderness of Sin — Where the manna first began to fall." The bare campsite name hides the daily miracle of bread from heaven.
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word6 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
ס֑וּףsūp̄from the RedH5488
√ çûwph — a reed, especially the papyrusNounmasculine singular
מִיַּם־mî·yam-SeaH3220
√ yâm — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of waterPreposition-mNounmasculine singular construct
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּמִדְבַּר־bə·miḏ·bar-in the DesertH4057
√ midbâr — a pasture (iPreposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
סִֽין׃sînof SinH5512
√ Çîyn — Sin the name of an Egyptian town and (probably) desert adjoiningNounproperfeminine singular
מִדְבַּר־סִין (midbâr, H4057) — the Wilderness of Sin, scene of the manna (Exodus 16:1). The Verifier ties Numbers 33's dating-language to Exodus 16:1 through the shared month/number lexemes.
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin. Sixteen miles from the Red sea, where they were last; see Exodus 16:1 .
This plain, where they encamped, was the Desert of Sin (see on [101]Ex 16:1).
JFB's note on the approach culminates in the Desert of Sin reached at this station.
12“They set out from the Desert of Sin and camped at Dophkah.”+

12They set out from the Desert of Sin and camped at Dophkah.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mim·miḏ·bar- sîn way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·ḏā·p̄ə·qāh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-the Wilderness of Sin, and-they-camped at-Dophkah.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word5 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִמִּדְבַּר־mim·miḏ·bar-from the DesertH4057
√ midbâr — a pasture (iPreposition-mNounmasculine singular construct
סִ֑יןsînof SinH5512
√ Çîyn — Sin the name of an Egyptian town and (probably) desert adjoiningNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּדָפְקָה (Dophqâh) — Dophkah, a station recorded only here and absent from Exodus. JFB reckons Dophkah, Alush and Rephidim together "equivalent to four days' journey for such a host."
בְּדָפְקָֽה׃bə·ḏā·p̄ə·qāhat DophkahH1850
√ Dophqâh — Dophkah, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
Dophkah … Alush … Rephidim—These three stations, in the great valleys of El Sheikh and Feiran, would be equivalent to four days' journey for such a host.
Dophkah — Alush — Neither of these stations is mentioned in Exodus, nothing remarkable, it seems, having fallen out in those places. But several remarkable things happened in Rephidim, recorded Exodus 17.
13“They set out from Dophkah and camped at Alush.”+

13They set out from Dophkah and camped at Alush.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mid·dā·p̄ə·qāh way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·’ā·lūš

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Dophkah, and-they-camped at-Alush.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word4 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִדָּפְקָ֑הmid·dā·p̄ə·qāhfrom DophkahH1850
√ Dophqâh — Dophkah, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּאָלֽוּשׁ׃bə·’ā·lūšat AlushH442
√ ʼÂlûwsh — Alush, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
בְּאָלוּשׁ (ʼÂlûwsh) — Alush, again unique to this list. With Dophkah and the Red-Sea camp, it is one of the stations the Exodus narrative silently passes.
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush. The strong fort, as the Targum of Jonathan calls it; this was twelve miles from Dophkah
And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.
14“They set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was …”+

14They set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·’ā·lūš way·ya·ḥă·nū bir·p̄î·ḏim šām hā·yāh wə·lō- ma·yim lā·‘ām liš·tō·wṯ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Alush, and-they-camped at-Rephidim; and-there-was no water there for-the-people to-drink.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וְלֹא־הָ֨יָה שָׁ֥ם מַ֛יִם BSB "where there was no water" renders the flat clause wə·lō-hā·yāh šām ma·yim — "and there was no water there." This is the only station in the whole list given an editorial reason: Rephidim is remembered for its thirst and the rock that Moses struck (Exodus 17). The bare itinerary breaks its silence only at the place of testing.
  • לִשְׁתֹּ֥ת הָעָֽם "for the people to drink" — lištōṯ hā·‘ām (shâthâh + ʻam). Gill recalls the sequel: "a rock here was smitten by Moses at the command of God, and waters gushed out sufficient for them and their flocks." The lack becomes the occasion of the gift.
Word by word10 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵאָל֑וּשׁmê·’ā·lūšfrom AlushH442
√ ʼÂlûwsh — Alush, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙way·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בִּרְפִידִ֔םbir·p̄î·ḏimat RephidimH7508
√ Rᵉphîydîym — Rephidim, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
רְפִידִם (Rᵉphîydîym) — Rephidim, the place of the water from the rock and of the battle with Amalek (Exodus 17). The Verifier ties this stretch to Exodus 17:1 by the rare noun maççaʻ.
שָׁ֥םšāmwhereH8033
√ shâm — there (transferring to time) thenAdverb
הָ֨יָהhā·yāhthere wasH1961
√ hâyâh — to exist, iVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular
וְלֹא־wə·lō-noH3808
√ lôʼ — not (the simple or absConjunctive wawAdverbNegative particle
מַ֛יִםma·yimwaterH4325
√ mayim — waterNounmasculine plural
לָעָ֖םlā·‘āmfor the peopleH5971
√ ʻam — a people (as a congregated unit)Preposition-l, ArticleNounmasculine singular
לִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃liš·tō·wṯto drinkH8354
√ shâthâh — to imbibe (literally or figuratively)Preposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct
The Voices✦ public domain+
where was no water for the people to drink; and they murmured, and a rock here was smitten by Moses at the command of God, and waters gushed out sufficient for them and their flocks, Exodus 17:1 .
Rephidim (Ex 17:6) was in Horeb, the burnt region—a generic name for a hot, mountainous country.
15“They set out from Rephidim and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai…”+

15They set out from Rephidim and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·rə·p̄î·ḏim way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·miḏ·bar sî·nāy

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Rephidim, and-they-camped at-in the Wilderness of Sinai.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר סִינָֽי "in the Wilderness of Sinai" — bə·miḏ·bar sî·nāy (midbâr H4057 + Çîynay). The itinerary names, in one half-line, the mountain of the covenant. Everything that fills Exodus 19 through Numbers 10 — law, tabernacle, priesthood — happened at this single station, recorded here as a place merely arrived at and left.
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word5 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵרְפִידִ֑םmê·rə·p̄î·ḏimfrom RephidimH7508
√ Rᵉphîydîym — Rephidim, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּמִדְבַּ֥רbə·miḏ·barin the WildernessH4057
√ midbâr — a pasture (iPreposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
סִינָֽי׃sî·nāyof SinaiH5514
√ Çîynay — Sinai, mountain of ArabiaNounproperfeminine singular
מִדְבַּר סִינָי (midbâr, H4057) — the Wilderness of Sinai, the covenant-mountain. The Verifier links the encampment-language here to Exodus 19:2 by shared nâçaʻ / chânâh.
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai.
And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai.
16“They set out from the Wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-…”+

16They set out from the Wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mim·miḏ·bar sî·nāy way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·qiḇ·rōṯ hat·ta·’ă·wāh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-the Wilderness of Sinai, and-they-camped at-Kibroth-hattaavah.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּקִבְרֹ֖ת הַֽתַּאֲוָֽה "Kibroth-hattaavah" (left untranslated) means "the graves of craving / lust." Gill: "here the people lusted after flesh, and murmured... a pestilence came and destroyed many of them, and here they were buried, whence the place was so called." The first stop after Sinai is named for a burial-ground of appetite (Numbers 11).
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word6 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִמִּדְבַּ֣רmim·miḏ·barfrom the WildernessH4057
√ midbâr — a pasture (iPreposition-mNounmasculine singular construct
סִינָ֑יsî·nāyof SinaiH5514
√ Çîynay — Sinai, mountain of ArabiaNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
קִבְרֹת הַתַּאֲוָה — "graves of craving." Keil notes that this and Hazeroth "agree with those named in the historical account in Numbers 11:34 and Numbers 11:35," anchoring the post-Sinai stretch to the narrative.
בְּקִבְרֹ֥תbə·qiḇ·rōṯvvvH6914
√ Qibrôwth hat-Taʼă-vâh — Kibroth-hat-Taavh, a place in the DesertPreposition
הַֽתַּאֲוָֽה׃hat·ta·’ă·wāhat Kibroth-hattaavahH6914
√ Qibrôwth hat-Taʼă-vâh — Kibroth-hat-Taavh, a place in the DesertPrepositionNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
here the people lusted after flesh, and murmured, which, though given them, a pestilence came and destroyed many of them, and here they were buried, whence the place was so called, which signifies the "graves of lust", i.e. of those that lusted
Kibroth-Hattaavah ("the graves of lust," see on [103]Nu 11:34)—The route, on breaking up the encampment at Sinai, led down Wady Sheikh
17“They set out from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.”+

17They set out from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū miq·qiḇ·rōṯ hat·ta·’ă·wāh way·ya·ḥă·nū ba·ḥă·ṣê·rōṯ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Kibroth-hattaavah, and-they-camped at-Hazeroth.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word5 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִקִּבְרֹ֣תmiq·qiḇ·rōṯfromH6914
√ Qibrôwth hat-Taʼă-vâh — Kibroth-hat-Taavh, a place in the DesertPreposition
הַֽתַּאֲוָ֑הhat·ta·’ă·wāhKibroth-hattaavahH6914
√ Qibrôwth hat-Taʼă-vâh — Kibroth-hat-Taavh, a place in the DesertPrepositionNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בַּחֲצֵרֹת (Chătsêrôwth) — Hazeroth, "enclosures." JFB identifies it with Ain-Hadera. It is the place of Miriam and Aaron's sedition against Moses (Numbers 12), the last named station before the spies.
בַּחֲצֵרֹֽת׃ba·ḥă·ṣê·rōṯat HazerothH2698
√ Chătsêrôwth — Chatseroth, a place in PalestinePreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
then they encamped at Hazeroth ("unwalled villages"), supposed to be at Ain-Hadera (see on [104]Nu 11:35).
And they departed from Kibrothhattaavah, and encamped at Hazeroth.
18“They set out from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.”+

18They set out from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·ḥă·ṣê·rōṯ way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·riṯ·māh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Hazeroth, and-they-camped at-Rithmah.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּרִתְמָֽה "Rithmah" (Rithmâh) is from rethem, the broom-shrub (the "juniper" of older Bibles). Barnes: "The name of this station is derived from retem, the broom-plant... This must be the same encampment as that which is said in Numbers 13:26 to have been at Kadesh." If so, this single name hides the catastrophe of the spies — the turning-point of the whole forty years.
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word4 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵחֲצֵרֹ֑תmê·ḥă·ṣê·rōṯfrom HazerothH2698
√ Chătsêrôwth — Chatseroth, a place in PalestinePreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּרִתְמָֽה׃bə·riṯ·māhat RithmahH7575
√ Rithmâh — Rithmah, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
רִתְמָה (Rithmâh) — "place of broom." The expositors widely (Barnes, Benson, Poole, Keil, Pulpit) identify Rithmah with the first Kadesh, from which the spies were sent (Numbers 12:16; 13:26). The list names the place; the narrative supplies the sin.
The Voices✦ public domain+
Rithmah - The name of this station is derived from retem, the broom-plant, the "juniper" of the King James Version. This must be the same encampment as that which is said in Numbers 13:26 to have been at Kadesh.
They pitched in Rithmah — A place not mentioned in Exodus, but which appears, from Numbers 12:16 , to have been in the wilderness of Paran, not far from Kadesh-barnea.
Rithmah, therefore, may well have been the official name (so to speak) originally given to the encampment, but subsequently superseded by the more famous name of Kadesh; this would explain both its non-appearance in the narrative of Numbers, and its appearance in the Itinerary here.
19“They set out from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez.”+

19They set out from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·riṯ·māh way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·rim·mōn pā·reṣ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Rithmah, and-they-camped at-Rimmon-perez.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּרִמֹּ֥ן פָּֽרֶץ "Rimmon-perez" (untranslated) joins rimmôn ("pomegranate") to perets ("breach"). JFB connects it to "Rimmon—a city of Judah and Simeon (Jos 15:32)." From here begins the long list of stations the older commentators frankly admit cannot be located.
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word5 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵרִתְמָ֑הmê·riṯ·māhfrom RithmahH7575
√ Rithmâh — Rithmah, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּרִמֹּ֥ןbə·rim·mōnvvvH7428
√ Rimmôn Perets — Rimmon-Perets, a place in the DesertPreposition
רִמֹּן פָּרֶץ — Rimmon-perez, first of seventeen stations (vv.19-35) which Keil and others assign to the thirty-seven years of wandering. Keil bluntly notes: "Of all the seventeen places not a single one is known, or can be pointed out with certainty, except Eziongeber."
פָּֽרֶץ׃pā·reṣat Rimmon-perezH7428
√ Rimmôn Perets — Rimmon-Perets, a place in the DesertPrepositionNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
Rimmon-parez, or Rimmon—a city of Judah and Simeon (Jos 15:32); Libnah, so called from its white poplars (Jos 10:29), or, as some think, a white hill between Kadesh and Gaza
And they departed from Rithmah, and pitched at Rimmonparez.
20“They set out from Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah.”+

20They set out from Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·rim·mōn pā·reṣ way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·liḇ·nāh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Rimmon-perez, and-they-camped at-Libnah.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word5 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵרִמֹּ֣ןmê·rim·mōnfromH7428
√ Rimmôn Perets — Rimmon-Perets, a place in the DesertPreposition
פָּ֑רֶץpā·reṣRimmon-perezH7428
√ Rimmôn Perets — Rimmon-Perets, a place in the DesertPrepositionNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
לִבְנָֽה — Libnah, one of the unidentified wandering-stations of vv.19-35. Keil: not one of these "is known, or can be pointed out with certainty, except Eziongeber."
בְּלִבְנָֽה׃bə·liḇ·nāhat LibnahH3841
√ Libnâh — Libnah, a place in the Desert and one in PalestinePreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they departed from Rimmonparez, and pitched in Libnah.
Geneva preserves the bare itinerary clause for an otherwise unidentifiable station.
21“They set out from Libnah and camped at Rissah.”+

21They set out from Libnah and camped at Rissah.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mil·liḇ·nāh way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·ris·sāh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Libnah, and-they-camped at-Rissah.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word4 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִלִּבְנָ֑הmil·liḇ·nāhfrom LibnahH3841
√ Libnâh — Libnah, a place in the Desert and one in PalestinePreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּרִסָּֽה׃bə·ris·sāhat RissahH7446
√ Riççâh — Rissah, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
בְּרִסָּֽה — Rissah, one of the unidentified wandering-stations of vv.19-35. Keil: not one of these "is known, or can be pointed out with certainty, except Eziongeber."
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they removed from Libnah, and pitched at Rissah.
Geneva preserves the bare itinerary clause for an otherwise unidentifiable station.
22“They set out from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.”+

22They set out from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·ris·sāh way·ya·ḥă·nū biq·hê·lā·ṯāh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Rissah, and-they-camped at-Kehelathah.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word4 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵרִסָּ֑הmê·ris·sāhfrom RissahH7446
√ Riççâh — Rissah, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בִּקְהֵלָֽתָה׃biq·hê·lā·ṯāhat KehelathahH6954
√ Qᵉhêlâthâh — Kehelathah, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
בִּקְהֵלָֽתָה — Kehelathah, one of the unidentified wandering-stations of vv.19-35. Keil: not one of these "is known, or can be pointed out with certainty, except Eziongeber."
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they journeyed from Rissah, and pitched in Kehelathah.
Geneva preserves the bare itinerary clause for an otherwise unidentifiable station.
23“They set out from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.”+

23They set out from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū miq·qə·hê·lā·ṯāh way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·har- šā·p̄er

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Kehelathah, and-they-camped at-Mount Shepher.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word5 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִקְּהֵלָ֑תָהmiq·qə·hê·lā·ṯāhfrom KehelathahH6954
√ Qᵉhêlâthâh — Kehelathah, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּהַר־bə·har-at MountH2022
√ har — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)Preposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
בְּהַר־שָֽׁפֶר — Mount Shepher, one of the unidentified wandering-stations of vv.19-35. Keil: not one of these "is known, or can be pointed out with certainty, except Eziongeber."
שָֽׁפֶר׃šā·p̄erShepherH8234
√ Shepher — Shepher, a place in the DesertNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in mount Shapher.
Geneva preserves the bare itinerary clause for an otherwise unidentifiable station.
24“They set out from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.”+

24They set out from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·har- šā·p̄er way·ya·ḥă·nū ba·ḥă·rā·ḏāh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Mount Shepher, and-they-camped at-Haradah.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word5 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵֽהַר־mê·har-from MountH2022
√ har — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)Preposition-mNounmasculine singular construct
שָׁ֑פֶרšā·p̄erShepherH8234
√ Shepher — Shepher, a place in the DesertNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בַּחֲרָדָֽה — Haradah, one of the unidentified wandering-stations of vv.19-35. Keil: not one of these "is known, or can be pointed out with certainty, except Eziongeber."
בַּחֲרָדָֽה׃ba·ḥă·rā·ḏāhat HaradahH2732
√ Chărâdâh — Charadah, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they removed from mount Shapher, and encamped in Haradah.
Geneva preserves the bare itinerary clause for an otherwise unidentifiable station.
25“They set out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth.”+

25They set out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·ḥă·rā·ḏāh way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·maq·hê·lōṯ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Haradah, and-they-camped at-Makheloth.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word4 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵחֲרָדָ֑הmê·ḥă·rā·ḏāhfrom HaradahH2732
√ Chărâdâh — Charadah, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּמַקְהֵלֹֽת׃bə·maq·hê·lōṯat MakhelothH4722
√ Maqhêlôth — Makheloth, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
בְּמַקְהֵלֹֽת — Makheloth, one of the unidentified wandering-stations of vv.19-35. Keil: not one of these "is known, or can be pointed out with certainty, except Eziongeber."
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they removed from Haradah, and pitched in Makheloth.
Geneva preserves the bare itinerary clause for an otherwise unidentifiable station.
26“They set out from Makheloth and camped at Tahath.”+

26They set out from Makheloth and camped at Tahath.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mim·maq·hê·lōṯ way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·ṯā·ḥaṯ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Makheloth, and-they-camped at-Tahath.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word4 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִמַּקְהֵלֹ֑תmim·maq·hê·lōṯfrom MakhelothH4722
√ Maqhêlôth — Makheloth, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּתָֽחַת׃bə·ṯā·ḥaṯat TahathH8480
√ Tachath — Tachath, the name of a place in the Desert, also of three IsraelitesPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
בְּתָֽחַת — Tahath, one of the unidentified wandering-stations of vv.19-35. Keil: not one of these "is known, or can be pointed out with certainty, except Eziongeber."
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they removed from Makheloth, and encamped at Tahath.
Geneva preserves the bare itinerary clause for an otherwise unidentifiable station.
27“They set out from Tahath and camped at Terah.”+

27They set out from Tahath and camped at Terah.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mit·tā·ḥaṯ way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·ṯā·raḥ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Tahath, and-they-camped at-Terah.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word4 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִתָּ֑חַתmit·tā·ḥaṯfrom TahathH8480
√ Tachath — Tachath, the name of a place in the Desert, also of three IsraelitesPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּתָֽרַח׃bə·ṯā·raḥat TerahH8646
√ Terach — Terach, the father of AbrahamPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
בְּתָֽרַח — Terah, one of the unidentified wandering-stations of vv.19-35. Keil: not one of these "is known, or can be pointed out with certainty, except Eziongeber."
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they departed from Tahath, and pitched at Tarah.
Geneva preserves the bare itinerary clause for an otherwise unidentifiable station.
28“They set out from Terah and camped at Mithkah.”+

28They set out from Terah and camped at Mithkah.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mit·tā·raḥ way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·miṯ·qāh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Terah, and-they-camped at-Mithkah.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word4 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִתָּ֑רַחmit·tā·raḥfrom TerahH8646
√ Terach — Terach, the father of AbrahamPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּמִתְקָֽה׃bə·miṯ·qāhat MithkahH4989
√ Mithqâh — Mithkah, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
בְּמִתְקָֽה — Mithkah, one of the unidentified wandering-stations of vv.19-35. Keil: not one of these "is known, or can be pointed out with certainty, except Eziongeber."
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they removed from Tarah, and pitched in Mithcah.
Geneva preserves the bare itinerary clause for an otherwise unidentifiable station.
29“They set out from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah.”+

29They set out from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mim·miṯ·qāh way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·ḥaš·mō·nāh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Mithkah, and-they-camped at-Hashmonah.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word4 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִמִּתְקָ֑הmim·miṯ·qāhfrom MithkahH4989
√ Mithqâh — Mithkah, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּחַשְׁמֹנָֽה׃bə·ḥaš·mō·nāhat HashmonahH2832
√ Chashmônâh — Chasmonah, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
בְּחַשְׁמֹנָֽה — Hashmonah, one of the unidentified wandering-stations of vv.19-35. Keil: not one of these "is known, or can be pointed out with certainty, except Eziongeber."
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they went from Mithcah, and pitched in Hashmonah.
Geneva preserves the bare itinerary clause for an otherwise unidentifiable station.
30“They set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.”+

30They set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·ḥaš·mō·nāh way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·mō·sê·rō·wṯ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Hashmonah, and-they-camped at-Moseroth.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּמֹסֵרֹֽת "Moseroth" (Môçêrôwth, plural of Môçêrâh) means "bonds / chastisements." Keil identifies it as adjacent to Mount Hor and notes the famous tension with Deuteronomy 10:6, which places Aaron's death here at "Mosera" — a discrepancy the apparatus must weigh.
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word4 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵֽחַשְׁמֹנָ֑הmê·ḥaš·mō·nāhfrom HashmonahH2832
√ Chashmônâh — Chasmonah, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּמֹסֵרֽוֹת׃bə·mō·sê·rō·wṯat MoserothH4149
√ Môwçêrâh — Moserah or Moseroth, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
מֹסֵרֹת (Môçêrôwth) — Moseroth/Mosera. Deuteronomy 10:6 names Mosera as the place of Aaron's death and burial, where this list and Numbers 20/33:38 name Mount Hor. JFB: "Moseroth, adjacent to mount Hor, in Wady Mousa."
The Voices✦ public domain+
Moseroth, adjacent to mount Hor, in Wady Mousa.
And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth.
31“They set out from Moseroth and camped at Bene-jaakan.”+

31They set out from Moseroth and camped at Bene-jaakan.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mim·mō·sê·rō·wṯ way·ya·ḥă·nū biḇ·nê ya·‘ă·qān

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Moseroth, and-they-camped at-Bene-jaakan.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בִּבְנֵ֥י יַעֲקָֽן "Bene-jaakan" means "the sons of Jaakan" — an abbreviation, Keil argues, of "Beeroth-bene-Jaakan, wells of the children of Jaakan." In Deuteronomy 10:6 the order of Moseroth and Bene-jaakan is reversed, the crux of the two-itinerary problem.
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word5 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִמֹּסֵר֑וֹתmim·mō·sê·rō·wṯfrom MoserothH4149
√ Môwçêrâh — Moserah or Moseroth, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בִּבְנֵ֥יbiḇ·nêvvvH1142
√ Bᵉnêy Yaʻăqân — Bene-Jaakan, a place in the DesertPreposition
בְּנֵי יַעֲקָן — Bene-jaakan, "wells of the sons of Jaakan" (cf. the Horite Jaakan, Genesis 36:27). The reversed sequence here vs. Deuteronomy 10:6 is the apparatus's chief honesty-problem in this unit.
יַעֲקָֽן׃ya·‘ă·qānat Bene-jaakanH1142
√ Bᵉnêy Yaʻăqân — Bene-Jaakan, a place in the DesertPrepositionNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they departed from Moseroth, and pitched in Benejaakan.
32“They set out from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad.”+

32They set out from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mib·bə·nê ya·‘ă·qān way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·ḥōr hag·giḏ·gāḏ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Bene-jaakan, and-they-camped at-Hor-haggidgad.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word6 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִבְּנֵ֣יmib·bə·nêfromH1142
√ Bᵉnêy Yaʻăqân — Bene-Jaakan, a place in the DesertPreposition
יַעֲקָ֑ןya·‘ă·qānBene-jaakanH1142
√ Bᵉnêy Yaʻăqân — Bene-Jaakan, a place in the DesertPrepositionNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
חֹר הַגִּדְגָּד — Hor-haggidgad, "the cave of Gidgad"; the "Gudgodah" of Deuteronomy 10:7. Keil: "Gudgodah is only a slightly altered and abbreviated form of Hor-hagidgad."
בְּחֹ֥רbə·ḥōrvvvH2735
√ Chôr hag-Gidgâd — Chor-hag-Gidgad, a place in the DesertPreposition
הַגִּדְגָּֽד׃hag·giḏ·gāḏat Hor-haggidgadH2735
√ Chôr hag-Gidgâd — Chor-hag-Gidgad, a place in the DesertPrepositionNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they removed from Benejaakan, and encamped at Horhagidgad. In the Targum Jonathan called Gudgod, as it is Gudgodah in Deuteronomy 10:7
And they removed from Benejaakan, and encamped at Horhagidgad.
33“They set out from Hor-haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.”+

33They set out from Hor-haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·ḥōr hag·giḏ·gāḏ way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·yā·ṭə·ḇā·ṯāh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Hor-haggidgad, and-they-camped at-Jotbathah.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word5 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵחֹ֣רmê·ḥōrfromH2735
√ Chôr hag-Gidgâd — Chor-hag-Gidgad, a place in the DesertPreposition
הַגִּדְגָּ֑דhag·giḏ·gāḏHor-haggidgadH2735
√ Chôr hag-Gidgâd — Chor-hag-Gidgad, a place in the DesertPrepositionNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
יָטְבָתָה (Yoṭbâthâh) — Jotbathah, called in Deuteronomy 10:7 "a land of water-brooks." A green oasis in the arid Arabah.
בְּיָטְבָֽתָה׃bə·yā·ṭə·ḇā·ṯāhat JotbathahH3193
√ Yoṭbâthâh — Jotbathah, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they went from Horhagidgad, and pitched in Jotbathah.
34“They set out from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.”+

34They set out from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mî·yā·ṭə·ḇā·ṯāh way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·‘aḇ·rō·nāh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Jotbathah, and-they-camped at-Abronah.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word4 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִיָּטְבָ֑תָהmî·yā·ṭə·ḇā·ṯāhfrom JotbathahH3193
√ Yoṭbâthâh — Jotbathah, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּעַבְרֹנָֽה׃bə·‘aḇ·rō·nāhat AbronahH5684
√ ʻEbrônâh — Ebronah, place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
עַבְרֹנָה (ʻAḇrônâh) — Abronah, a station on the approach to Ezion-geber on the gulf; unattested elsewhere.
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they removed from Jotbathah, and encamped at Ebronah.
35“They set out from Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber.”+

35They set out from Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·‘aḇ·rō·nāh way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·‘eṣ·yō·wn gā·ḇer

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Abronah, and-they-camped at-Ezion-geber.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּעֶצְיֹ֥ן גָּֽבֶר "Ezion-geber" — Barnes glosses the name "Giant's backbone." This is the one identifiable station in the whole obscure stretch: the seaport at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba where Solomon would later build his navy (1 Kings 9:26). Keil calls its identification beyond doubt.
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word5 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵֽעַבְרֹנָ֑הmê·‘aḇ·rō·nāhfrom AbronahH5684
√ ʻEbrônâh — Ebronah, place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּעֶצְי֥וֹןbə·‘eṣ·yō·wnvvvH6100
√ ʻEtsyôwn Geber — Etsjon-Geber, a place on the Red SeaPreposition
עֶצְיֹן גָּבֶר — Ezion-geber, the gulf-head port (1 Kings 9:26; 22:49). The southernmost point of the wandering and the one fixed coordinate in vv.19-35.
גָּֽבֶר׃gā·ḇerat Ezion-geberH6100
√ ʻEtsyôwn Geber — Etsjon-Geber, a place on the Red SeaPrepositionNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
Ezion-gaber - "Giant's backbone." The Wady Ghadhyan, a valley running eastward into the Arabah some miles north of the present head of the Elanitic gulf.
And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Eziongaber.
36“They set out from Ezion-geber and camped at Kadesh in the Wilder…”+

36They set out from Ezion-geber and camped at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·‘eṣ·yō·wn gā·ḇer way·ya·ḥă·nū hî qā·ḏêš ḇə·miḏ·bar- ṣin

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Ezion-geber, and-they-camped in-the-wilderness-of Zin — that [is] Kadesh.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • בְמִדְבַּר־צִ֖ן הִ֥וא קָדֵֽשׁ "at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin" renders the apposition bə·miḏ·bar-ṣin hî qā·ḏêš — "in the wilderness of Zin; that is Kadesh." Keil notes this clause "agrees almost word for word with Numbers 20:1," marking the second arrival at Kadesh — the end of the thirty-eight years, where Miriam dies and Moses strikes the rock.
  • הִ֥וא קָדֵֽשׁ The identifying gloss "that is Kadesh" (hî Qâḏêš) is the editorial hinge of the chapter. No intermediate stations are listed between Ezion-geber and Kadesh; the silence, Keil argues, signals that "the time of penal wandering came to an end" and the congregation re-gathered to begin the final march.
Word by word8 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵעֶצְי֣וֹןmê·‘eṣ·yō·wnfromH6100
√ ʻEtsyôwn Geber — Etsjon-Geber, a place on the Red SeaPreposition
גָּ֑בֶרgā·ḇerEzion-geberH6100
√ ʻEtsyôwn Geber — Etsjon-Geber, a place on the Red SeaPrepositionNounproperfeminine singular
וַיַּחֲנ֥וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
הִ֥ואH1931
√ hûwʼ — he (she or it)Pronounthird person feminine singular
קָדֵֽשׁ׃qā·ḏêšat KadeshH6946
√ Qâdêsh — Kadesh, a place in the DesertNounproperfeminine singular
מִדְבַּר־צִן ... קָדֵשׁ — the Wilderness of Zin, identified as Kadesh. The Pulpit Commentary: "it is absolutely necessary... to assume that there were two encampments at Kadesh, separated by an interval of more than thirty-eight years." Rithmah (v.18) was the first; this is the second.
בְמִדְבַּר־ḇə·miḏ·bar-in the WildernessH4057
√ midbâr — a pasture (iPreposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
צִ֖ןṣinof ZinH6790
√ Tsin — Tsin, a part of the DesertNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
"And they removed from Eziongeber, and encamped in the desert of Zin, that is Kadesh:" the return to Kadesh towards the end of the thirty-ninth year is referred to here.
The wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh. See on chapter Numbers 20:1.
And they removed from Eziongaber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.
37“They set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the outskir…”+

37They set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the outskirts of the land of Edom.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū miq·qā·ḏêš way·ya·ḥă·nū hā·hār bə·hōr biq·ṣêh ’e·reṣ ’ĕ·ḏō·wm

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Kadesh, and-they-camped at-Mount Hor, on the outskirts of the land of Edom.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּהֹ֣ר הָהָ֑ר "at Mount Hor" — bə·hōr hā·hār, literally "at Hor the mountain." The mountain on the edge of Edom where Aaron will die (v.38). JFB places it "on the outskirts of the land of Edom," the frontier the unredeemed generation may not cross directly.
  • בִּקְצֵ֖ה אֶ֥רֶץ אֱדֽוֹם "on the outskirts of the land of Edom" — bi·qṣêh ’e·reṣ ’ĕḏōwm (qâtseh + ʼErets ʼEdôm). The same "edge" word that put Etham (v.6) at the lip of the wilderness now puts Mount Hor at the lip of Edom; the journey is bracketed by thresholds.
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word8 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִקָּדֵ֑שׁmiq·qā·ḏêšfrom KadeshH6946
√ Qâdêsh — Kadesh, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙way·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
הָהָ֔רhā·hārat MountH2022
√ har — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)ArticleNounmasculine singular
הֹר הָהָר — Mount Hor (Hôr, H2023, in only 12 verses). The site of Aaron's death; verbally tied to Numbers 20:22 by the rare name Hôr.
בְּהֹ֣רbə·hōrHorH2023
√ Hôr — Hor, the name of a peak in Idumaea and of one in SyriaPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
בִּקְצֵ֖הbiq·ṣêhon the outskirtsH7097
√ qâtseh — an extremityPreposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
אֶ֥רֶץ’e·reṣof the landH776
√ ʼerets — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)Nounfeminine singular construct
אֱדֽוֹם׃’ĕ·ḏō·wmof EdomH123
√ ʼĔdôm — Edom, the elder twin-brother of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
The places of encampment on the journey of the fortieth year from Kadesh to Mount Hor, and round Edom and Moab into the steppes of Moab, have been discussed at Numbers 20 and 21. On Mount Hor, and Aaron's death there, see at Numbers 20:22 .
And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.
38“At the LORD’s command, Aaron the priest climbed Mount Hor and di…”+

38At the LORD’s command, Aaron the priest climbed Mount Hor and died there on the first day of the fifth month, in the fortieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

‘al- Yah·weh pî ’a·hă·rōn hak·kō·hên ’el- way·ya·‘al hā·hār hōr way·yā·māṯ šām bə·’e·ḥāḏ la·ḥō·ḏeš ha·ḥă·mî·šî ba·ḥō·ḏeš hā·’ar·bā·‘îm biš·naṯ bə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl lə·ṣêṯ mê·’e·reṣ miṣ·ra·yim

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-he-went-up, Aaron the-priest, to Mount Hor by-the-mouth of-the-LORD, and-he-died there, in-the-fortieth year of-the-going-out of-the-sons-of-Israel from-the-land of-Egypt, in-the-fifth month, on-the-first of-the-month.

Where the English smooths the original

  • עַל־פִּ֣י יְהוָה֩ BSB "At the LORD's command" renders ‘al-pî YHWH (peh, H6310), "by the mouth of the LORD" — the very phrase that opened the whole record in v.2. The itinerary that began "by the mouth of the LORD" now reaches its great death "by the mouth of the LORD": Aaron's ascent to die is as commanded as the marches themselves.
  • וַיַּ֤עַל ... וַיָּ֣מָת "climbed... and died" couples way·ya·‘al (ʻâlâh, H5927, "went up / ascended") with way·yā·māṯ (mûwth, H4191, "died"). The high priest ascends a mountain in obedience and does not come down. Benson: "Good men's goings are ordered of the Lord, and a peculiar providence... appoints the time and place of their death."
  • בִּשְׁנַ֣ת הָֽאַרְבָּעִ֗ים "in the fortieth year" — biš·naṯ hā·’ar·bā·‘îm (shâneh + ʼarbâʻîm, H705). The Pulpit Commentary notes this is the only place Aaron's death is precisely dated; it falls "in strict accordance with the Divine intimation that Israel was to wander forty years" (Numbers 14:33-34). The clock of judgment runs out exactly here.
Word by word22 · parsed+
עַל־‘al-AtH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
עַל־פִּי יְהוָה (peh, H6310) — "by the mouth of the LORD," the inclusio with v.2. The record opened and now turns on the divine word.
יְהוָ֖הYah·wehthe LORD’sH3068
√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular
פִּ֥יcommandH6310
√ peh — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech)Nounmasculine singular construct
אַהֲרֹ֨ן’a·hă·rōnAaronH175
√ ʼAhărôwn — Aharon, the brother of MosesNounpropermasculine singular
הַכֹּהֵ֜ןhak·kō·hênthe priestH3548
√ kôhên — literally one officiating, a priestArticleNounmasculine singular
אֶל־’el-. . .H413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
וַיַּעַל֩way·ya·‘alclimbedH5927
√ ʻâlâh — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
וַיַּעַל (ʻâlâh, H5927) — "went up." Aaron's last act is an ascent in obedience; the priest who could not enter Canaan is taken up the mountain to die.
הָהָ֛רhā·hārMountH2022
√ har — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)ArticleNounmasculine singular
הֹ֥רhōrHorH2023
√ Hôr — Hor, the name of a peak in Idumaea and of one in SyriaNounproperfeminine singular
הֹר (Hôr, H2023, 12 vv) — Mount Hor, the rare name binding this verse verbally to Numbers 20:22, where the death is narrated at length.
וַיָּ֣מָתway·yā·māṯand diedH4191
√ mûwth — to die (literally or figuratively)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
שָׁ֑םšāmthereH8033
√ shâm — there (transferring to time) thenAdverb
בְּאֶחָ֥דbə·’e·ḥāḏon the firstH259
√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iPreposition-bNumbermasculine singular
לַחֹֽדֶשׁ׃la·ḥō·ḏeš. . .H2320
√ chôdesh — the new moonPreposition-l, ArticleNounmasculine singular
הַחֲמִישִׁ֖יha·ḥă·mî·šî[day] of the fifthH2549
√ chămîyshîy — fifthArticleNumberordinal masculine singular
בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁba·ḥō·ḏešmonthH2320
√ chôdesh — the new moonPreposition-b, ArticleNounmasculine singular
הָֽאַרְבָּעִ֗יםhā·’ar·bā·‘îmin the fortiethH705
√ ʼarbâʻîym — fortyArticleNumbercommon plural
הָאַרְבָּעִים (ʼarbâʻîm, H705) — "the fortieth [year]." The dated fulfilment of the forty-year sentence; Cambridge and Pulpit both reckon it by adding forty to Aaron's age at the Exodus.
בִּשְׁנַ֣תbiš·naṯyearH8141
√ shâneh — a year (as a revolution of time)Preposition-bNounfeminine singular construct
בְּנֵֽי־bə·nê-after the IsraelitesH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙yiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
לְצֵ֤אתlə·ṣêṯhad come outH3318
√ yâtsâʼ — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proximPreposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct
מֵאֶ֣רֶץmê·’e·reṣof the landH776
√ ʼerets — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)Preposition-mNounfeminine singular construct
מִצְרַ֔יִםmiṣ·ra·yimof EgyptH4714
√ Mitsrayim — Mitsrajim, iNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
Aaron went up at the commandment of the Lord, and died — Good men’s goings are ordered of the Lord, and a peculiar providence, watching over all their concerns, appoints the time and place of their death. Let us go on in the way of duty, and leave it to him to call us hence, when, and where, and how he pleases.
This is the only place where the date of Aaron's death is given. It is in strict accordance with the Divine intimation that Israel was to wander forty years in the wilderness ( Numbers 14:33, 34 )
and died there in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of Egypt; not being suffered to go with them into the land of Canaan, because of his sin of unbelief at Kadesh, the last place from whence they came
in the first day of the {d} fifth month. (d) Which the Hebrews call Ab, and contains part of July and part of August.
39“Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.”+

39Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·’a·hă·rōn šā·lōš wə·‘eś·rîm ū·mə·’aṯ ben- šā·nāh bə·mō·ṯōw hā·hār bə·hōr

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-Aaron [was] a-son-of a-hundred and-twenty and-three years at-his-dying on Mount Hor.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בֶּן־שָׁלֹ֧שׁ וְעֶשְׂרִ֛ים וּמְאַ֖ת שָׁנָ֑ה BSB "was 123 years old" renders the idiom ben ... šānāh — literally "a son of a hundred and twenty-three years." Hebrew reckons age as sonship-to-years. Gill does the arithmetic: "He was eighty three when he stood before Pharaoh... and forty years he had been with Israel since, which make this number; he was three years older than Moses."
  • בְּמֹתֹ֖ו "when he died" — bə·mō·ṯōw (mûwth, H4191), "in his dying." The verse exists only to fix the figure; the itinerary pauses, uniquely, to record a man's exact lifespan — the only death-age given for any of the wilderness generation in this chapter.
Word by word9 · parsed+
וְאַהֲרֹ֔ןwə·’a·hă·rōnAaronH175
√ ʼAhărôwn — Aharon, the brother of MosesConjunctive wawNounpropermasculine singular
בֶּן ... שָׁנָה — "son of [so many] years," the Hebrew age-idiom. The precise total (123) lets the chronology of Exodus 7:7 be checked against the fortieth year of v.38.
שָׁלֹ֧שׁšā·lōšwas 123H7969
√ shâlôwsh — threeNumberfeminine singular
וְעֶשְׂרִ֛יםwə·‘eś·rîm. . .H6242
√ ʻesrîym — twentyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural
וּמְאַ֖תū·mə·’aṯ. . .H3967
√ mêʼâh — a hundredConjunctive wawNumberfeminine singular construct
בֶּן־ben-years oldH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine singular construct
שָׁנָ֑הšā·nāh. . .H8141
√ shâneh — a year (as a revolution of time)Nounfeminine singular
בְּמֹת֖וֹbə·mō·ṯōwwhen he diedH4191
√ mûwth — to die (literally or figuratively)Preposition-bVerbQalInfinitive constructthird person masculine singular
הָהָֽר׃סhā·hāron MountH2022
√ har — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)ArticleNounmasculine singular
בְּמֹתֹו (mûwth, H4191) — "in his dying," echoing v.38. Gill notes Aaron "lived but four months after his sister Miriam" (Numbers 20:1).
בְּהֹ֥רbə·hōrHorH2023
√ Hôr — Hor, the name of a peak in Idumaea and of one in SyriaPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
He was eighty three when he stood before Pharaoh, Exodus 7:7 , and forty years he had been with Israel since, which make this number; he was three years older than Moses.
Aaron’s age is calculated by adding forty years to his age at the Exodus ( Exodus 7:7 ).
An hundred and twenty and three years old. He had been eighty-three years old when he first stood before Pharaoh, forty years before ( Exodus 7:7 ).
40“Now the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev in the la…”+

40Now the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev in the land of Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

hak·kə·na·‘ă·nî me·leḵ ‘ă·rāḏ wə·hū- yō·šêḇ ban·ne·ḡeḇ bə·’e·reṣ kə·nā·‘an way·yiš·ma‘ bə·nê yiś·rā·’êl bə·ḇō

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-heard the-Canaanite, king-of-Arad — and-he [was] dwelling in-the-Negeb in-the-land of-Canaan — of-the-coming of-the-sons-of-Israel.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע BSB "heard that the Israelites were coming" renders way·yiš·ma‘ (shâmaʻ, H8085), "and he heard." The verse is a single, dangling notice — the only enemy-action recorded in the chapter. The Pulpit Commentary finds it "extremely perplexing": "there seems no motive, and... no assignable connection with the context."
  • בַּנֶּ֖גֶב "in the Negev" — ban·ne·ḡeḇ (negeb, H5045), the "South" / the dry country. Older versions read "in the south." King Arad watches from the parched southland as Israel, now turning to skirt Edom, draws near Canaan from below (cf. Numbers 21:1).
Word by word12 · parsed+
הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙hak·kə·na·‘ă·nîNow the CanaaniteH3669
√ Kᵉnaʻanîy — a Kenaanite or inhabitant of KenaanArticleNounpropermasculine singular
וַיִּשְׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — "and he heard." Cambridge judges the verse "A fragmentary statement strangely inserted, perhaps originally as a marginal note by a scribe." An honest crux the apparatus must flag, not paper over.
מֶ֣לֶךְme·leḵkingH4428
√ melek — a kingNounmasculine singular construct
עֲרָ֔ד‘ă·rāḏof AradH6166
√ ʻĂrâd — Arad, the name of a place near Palestine, also of a Canaanite and an IsraeliteNounproperfeminine singular
וְהֽוּא־wə·hū-. . .H1931
√ hûwʼ — he (she or it)Conjunctive wawPronounthird person masculine singular
יֹשֵׁ֥בyō·šêḇwho livedH3427
√ yâshab — properly, to sit down (specifically as judgeVerbQalParticiplemasculine singular
בַּנֶּ֖גֶבban·ne·ḡeḇin the NegevH5045
√ negeb — the south (from its drought)Preposition-b, ArticleNounproperfeminine singular
הַנֶּגֶב (negeb, H5045) — the Negev / South. Arad's location anchors the link to Numbers 21:1, where the same king attacks and is defeated.
בְּאֶ֣רֶץbə·’e·reṣin the landH776
√ ʼerets — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)Preposition-bNounfeminine singular construct
כְּנָ֑עַןkə·nā·‘anof CanaanH3667
√ Kᵉnaʻan — Kenaan, a son a HamNounpropermasculine singular
וַיִּשְׁמַ֗עway·yiš·ma‘heardH8085
√ shâmaʻ — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etcConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
בְּנֵ֥יbə·nêthat the IsraelitesH1121
√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃yiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478
√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular
בְּבֹ֖אbə·ḇōwere comingH935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)Preposition-bVerbQalInfinitive construct
The Voices✦ public domain+
The introduction of this notice, for which there seems no motive, and which has no assignable connection with the context, is extremely perplexing. It is not simply a fragment which has slipped in by what we call accident
A fragmentary statement strangely inserted, perhaps originally as a marginal note by a scribe. See on Numbers 21:1-3 .
he heard of the coming of the children of Israel; towards the land of Canaan, in order to possess it, and he came out and fought with them, and was vanquished; see Numbers 21:1
And King Arad . . . — See Numbers 21:1 , and Note.
41“And the Israelites set out from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah…”+

41And the Israelites set out from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū hā·hār mê·hōr way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·ṣal·mō·nāh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Mount Hor, and-they-camped at-Zalmonah.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּצַלְמֹנָֽה "Zalmonah" (Tsalmônâh) may derive from tselem, "image," and is otherwise unmentioned. The Pulpit Commentary observes: "Either this or Punon may be the encampment where the brazen serpent was set up" (Numbers 21:9) — the place where the lifted bronze image healed the snake-bitten.
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word5 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūAnd [the Israelites] set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
הָהָ֑רhā·hārfrom MountH2022
√ har — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)ArticleNounmasculine singular
מֵהֹ֣רmê·hōrHorH2023
√ Hôr — Hor, the name of a peak in Idumaea and of one in SyriaPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
צַלְמֹנָה (Tsalmônâh) — Zalmonah, a fortieth-year station. Candidate site of the bronze serpent episode (Numbers 21:4-9), which the chapter, characteristically, does not narrate.
בְּצַלְמֹנָֽה׃bə·ṣal·mō·nāhat ZalmonahH6758
√ Tsalmônâh — Tsalmonah, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
Zalmonah. This place is not elsewhere mentioned, and cannot be identified. Either this or Punon may be the encampment where the brazen serpent was set up; according to the Targum of Palestine it was the latter.
And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah.
42“They set out from Zalmonah and camped at Punon.”+

42They set out from Zalmonah and camped at Punon.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū miṣ·ṣal·mō·nāh way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·p̄ū·nōn

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Zalmonah, and-they-camped at-Punon.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּפוּנֹֽן "Punon" (Pûwnôn) — JFB: "Punon, in the rocky ravines of mount Hor and famous for the mines and quarries in its vicinity... now Tafyle, on the border of Edom." By tradition the second candidate for the site of the lifted serpent.
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word4 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִצַּלְמֹנָ֑הmiṣ·ṣal·mō·nāhfrom ZalmonahH6758
√ Tsalmônâh — Tsalmonah, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּפוּנֹֽן׃bə·p̄ū·nōnat PunonH6325
√ Pûwnôn — Punon, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
פוּנֹן (Pûwnôn) — Punon, an Edomite copper-mining district; per the Targum of Palestine, the place of the bronze serpent.
The Voices✦ public domain+
Punon, in the rocky ravines of mount Hor and famous for the mines and quarries in its vicinity as well as for its fruit trees, now Tafyle, on the border of Edom
And they departed from Zalmonah, and pitched in Punon.
43“They set out from Punon and camped at Oboth.”+

43They set out from Punon and camped at Oboth.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mip·pū·nōn way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·’ō·ḇōṯ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Punon, and-they-camped at-Oboth.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word4 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִפּוּנֹ֑ןmip·pū·nōnfrom PunonH6325
√ Pûwnôn — Punon, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּאֹבֹֽת׃bə·’ō·ḇōṯat ObothH88
√ ʼôbôth — Oboth, a place in the DesertPreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
אֹבֹת (ʼÔbôth) — Oboth, a station of the fortieth-year march around Edom (cf. Numbers 21:10-11), which the Verifier links here through shared nâçaʻ / chânâh.
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth.
44“They set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim on the border o…”+

44They set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim on the border of Moab.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·’ō·ḇōṯ way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·‘î·yê hā·‘ă·ḇā·rîm biḡ·ḇūl mō·w·’āḇ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Oboth, and-they-camped at-Iye-abarim, on the border of Moab.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּעִיֵּ֥י הָעֲבָרִ֖ים "Iye-abarim" means "ruins / heaps of the Abarim" (the "region beyond"). With "on the border of Moab" (bi·ḡḇûl mô·ʼāḇ) the itinerary signals that Israel has at last reached the marches of the Promised Land's eastern approach (cf. Numbers 21:11).
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word7 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵאֹבֹ֑תmê·’ō·ḇōṯfrom ObothH88
√ ʼôbôth — Oboth, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֛וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּעִיֵּ֥יbə·‘î·yêvvvH5863
√ ʻÎyêy hâ-ʻĂbârîym — Ije-ha-Abarim, a place near PalestinePreposition
עִיֵּי הָעֲבָרִים — Iye-abarim, on the Moabite border. The same station as Numbers 21:11, to which the Verifier links this stretch by the rare itinerary-verb.
הָעֲבָרִ֖יםhā·‘ă·ḇā·rîmat Iye-abarimH5863
√ ʻÎyêy hâ-ʻĂbârîym — Ije-ha-Abarim, a place near PalestinePrepositionNounproperfeminine singular
בִּגְב֥וּלbiḡ·ḇūlon the borderH1366
√ gᵉbûwl — properly, a cord (as twisted), iPreposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
מוֹאָֽב׃mō·w·’āḇof MoabH4124
√ Môwʼâb — Moab, an incestuous son of LotNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
Oboth... Ije-abarim. See on Numbers 21:11.
And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in Ijeabarim, in the border of Moab.
45“They set out from Iyim and camped at Dibon-gad.”+

45They set out from Iyim and camped at Dibon-gad.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·‘î·yîm way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·ḏî·ḇōn gāḏ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Iyim, and-they-camped at-Dibon-gad.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word5 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵעִיִּ֑יםmê·‘î·yîmfrom IyimH5864
√ ʻÎyîym — Ijim, a place in the DesertPreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּדִיבֹ֥ןbə·ḏî·ḇōnat Dibon-gadH1769
√ Dîybôwn — Dibon, the name of three places in PalestinePreposition-bNounproperfeminine singular
דִּיבֹן גָּד — Dibon-gad, later a Gadite town in the conquered Transjordan (Numbers 32:34). "Iyim" is the shortened form of Iye-abarim (v.44).
גָּֽד׃gāḏ. . .H1410
√ Gâd — Gad, a son of Jacob, including his tribe and its territoryNounpropermasculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they departed from Iim, and pitched in Dibongad.
46“They set out from Dibon-gad and camped at Almon-diblathaim.”+

46They set out from Dibon-gad and camped at Almon-diblathaim.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mid·dî·ḇōn gāḏ way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·‘al·mōn diḇ·lā·ṯā·yə·māh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Dibon-gad, and-they-camped at-Almon-diblathaim.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word6 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מִדִּיבֹ֣ןmid·dî·ḇōnfrom Dibon-gadH1769
√ Dîybôwn — Dibon, the name of three places in PalestinePreposition-mNounproperfeminine singular
גָּ֑דgāḏ. . .H1410
√ Gâd — Gad, a son of Jacob, including his tribe and its territoryNounpropermasculine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
עַלְמֹן דִּבְלָתָיְמָה — Almon-diblathaim, "hiding-place of the two fig-cakes," a Moabite-plateau station near Nebo.
בְּעַלְמֹ֥ןbə·‘al·mōnvvvH5963
√ ʻAlmôn Diblâthâyᵉmâh — Almon-Diblathajemah, a place in MoabPreposition
דִּבְלָתָֽיְמָה׃diḇ·lā·ṯā·yə·māhat Almon-diblathaimH5963
√ ʻAlmôn Diblâthâyᵉmâh — Almon-Diblathajemah, a place in MoabPrepositionNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
And they removed from Dibongad, and encamped in Almondiblathaim.
47“They set out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains o…”+

47They set out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim facing Nebo.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·‘al·mōn diḇ·lā·ṯā·yə·māh way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·hā·rê hā·‘ă·ḇā·rîm lip̄·nê nə·ḇōw

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-Almon-diblathaim, and-they-camped at-in the mountains of Abarim, facing Nebo.

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּהָרֵ֥י הָעֲבָרִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י נְבֽוֹ "in the mountains of Abarim facing Nebo" — the ridge from whose peak (Pisgah/Nebo) Moses will view the land and die (Numbers 27:12; Deuteronomy 34:1). Gill: "Nebo; one of those mountains, whither Moses went up and died." The itinerary brings Israel to the very mountain of its lawgiver's grave.
  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ "camped" is way·ya·ḥă·nū (chânâh, H2583), "and they pitched / inclined down." Each itinerary verse is a single Hebrew couplet — break-up (nâçaʻ) then pitch-down (chânâh) — and it is these two alternating verbs that carry the entire forty-two-stage list.
Word by word8 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵעַלְמֹ֣ןmê·‘al·mōnfromH5963
√ ʻAlmôn Diblâthâyᵉmâh — Almon-Diblathajemah, a place in MoabPreposition
דִּבְלָתָ֑יְמָהdiḇ·lā·ṯā·yə·māhAlmon-diblathaimH5963
√ ʻAlmôn Diblâthâyᵉmâh — Almon-Diblathajemah, a place in MoabPrepositionNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנ֛וּway·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
הָרֵי הָעֲבָרִים ... נְבוֹ — the heights of Abarim before Nebo. The Pulpit Commentary: "The same locality is called 'the top of Pisgah'... in Numbers 21:20." The penultimate station, in sight of the goal Moses may not enter.
בְּהָרֵ֥יbə·hā·rêin the mountainsH2022
√ har — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)Preposition-bNounmasculine plural construct
הָעֲבָרִ֖יםhā·‘ă·ḇā·rîmof AbarimH5682
√ ʻĂbârîym — Abarim, a place in PalestineArticleNounproperfeminine singular
לִפְנֵ֥יlip̄·nêfacingH6440
√ pânîym — the face (as the part that turns)Preposition-lNouncommon plural construct
נְבֽוֹ׃nə·ḇōwNeboH5015
√ Nᵉbôw — Nebo, the name of a Babylonian deity, also of a mountain in Moab, and of a place in PalestineNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
and this station was pitched before Nebo; one of those mountains, whither Moses went up and died.
The mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. The same locality is called "the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward the waste," in Numbers 21:20
48“They set out from the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plai…”+

48They set out from the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yis·‘ū mê·hā·rê hā·‘ă·ḇā·rîm way·ya·ḥă·nū bə·‘ar·ḇōṯ mō·w·’āḇ ‘al yar·dên yə·rê·ḥōw

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-broke-camp from-the-mountains-of Abarim, and-they-camped in-the-plains-of Moab by the-Jordan [of] Jericho.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וַיִּסְעוּ֙ BSB "They set out" renders the refrain-verb way·yis·‘ū (nâçaʻ, H5265), "and they pulled up [the tent-pins] / broke camp" — the very word that titles the whole chapter (maççaʻ, v.1). The smooth English "set out" loses the picture of striking the tents and lifting the stakes.
  • בְּעַֽרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֑ב "on the plains of Moab" — bə·‘ar·ḇōṯ mô·’āḇ (ʻărâbâh + Môʼâb). The forty-two-stage march ends not in Canaan but at its threshold: the broad steppe-plains east of the Jordan, opposite Jericho. Gill: "where the Israelites now were by Jordan near Jericho; not on that side Jordan where Jericho stood, but on the other."
  • עַ֖ל יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֽוֹ "by the Jordan across from Jericho" — ‘al yardên yərêḥōw, literally "upon the Jordan of Jericho." The river is named for the city it fronts; the people stand at the water that bars the land, the next crossing reserved for Joshua, not Moses.
Word by word9 · parsed+
וַיִּסְע֖וּway·yis·‘ūThey set outH5265
√ nâçaʻ — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
וַיִּסְעוּ … וַיַּחֲנוּ (nâçaʻ H5265 / chânâh H2583) — the recurring couplet "they broke camp … and pitched." The repetition is the literary engine of the chapter, not a defect of style.
מֵהָרֵ֣יmê·hā·rêfrom the mountainsH2022
√ har — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)Preposition-mNounmasculine plural construct
הָעֲבָרִ֑יםhā·‘ă·ḇā·rîmof AbarimH5682
√ ʻĂbârîym — Abarim, a place in PalestineArticleNounproperfeminine singular
וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙way·ya·ḥă·nūand campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
בְּעַֽרְבֹ֣תbə·‘ar·ḇōṯon the plainsH6160
√ ʻărâbâh — a desertPreposition-bNounfeminine plural construct
מוֹאָ֔בmō·w·’āḇof MoabH4124
√ Môwʼâb — Moab, an incestuous son of LotNounproperfeminine singular
עַרְבֹת מוֹאָב (ʻărâbâh) — the plains of Moab, the staging-ground for everything that follows (the second census, the conquest commands of 33:50ff, Deuteronomy). The journey of departures ends at a place of waiting.
עַ֖ל‘albyH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
יַרְדֵּ֥ןyar·dênthe JordanH3383
√ Yardên — Jarden, the principal river of PalestineNounproperfeminine singular
יְרֵחֽוֹ׃yə·rê·ḥōwacross from JerichoH3405
√ Yᵉrîychôw — Jericho or Jerecho, a place in PalestineNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
and pitched in the plains of Moab,.... Sixteen miles from Abarim, where all those things were transacted, which make the history of Balak and Balaam, Numbers 22:1 and where the Israelites now were by Jordan near Jericho
In the plains of Moab. See on Numbers 22:1.
49“And there on the plains of Moab they camped by the Jordan, from …”+

49And there on the plains of Moab they camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

bə·‘ar·ḇōṯ mō·w·’āḇ way·ya·ḥă·nū ‘al- hay·yar·dên mib·bêṯ hay·ši·mōṯ ‘aḏ ’ā·ḇêl haš·šiṭ·ṭîm

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-camped by the-Jordan from-Beth-jeshimoth as-far-as Abel-shittim, in-the-plains-of Moab.

Where the English smooths the original

  • מִבֵּ֣ית הַיְשִׁמֹ֔ת עַ֖ד אָבֵ֣ל הַשִּׁטִּ֑ים "from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim" measures the camp's extent. The Pulpit Commentary glosses the names: Beth-jeshimoth, "house of the wastes"; Abel-shittim, "meadow of acacias." Gill notes the Jewish tradition that the camp "reached twelve miles" between them — the whole nation spread along the river.
  • אָבֵ֣ל הַשִּׁטִּ֑ים "Abel-shittim" — Benson hears a sober pun: the place is "called simply Shittim, Numbers 25:1; but here Abel-shittim, for the grievous mourning (Abel signifying mourning) which was there." The final campsite is shadowed by the coming sin of Peor and the plague that killed twenty-four thousand — the journey ends within sight of one more rebellion.
Word by word10 · parsed+
בְּעַֽרְבֹ֖תbə·‘ar·ḇōṯAnd there on the plainsH6160
√ ʻărâbâh — a desertPreposition-bNounfeminine plural construct
וַיַּחֲנוּ (chânâh, H2583) — the chapter's last "and they camped." The verb of pitching has the final word: forty-two breakings-up resolve into one long encampment by the river.
מוֹאָֽב׃סmō·w·’āḇof MoabH4124
√ Môwʼâb — Moab, an incestuous son of LotNounproperfeminine singular
אָבֵל הַשִּׁטִּים — Abel-shittim. Benson and Gill both read Abel ("mourning") into the name, recalling the plague of Numbers 25. The itinerary closes on a name that remembers both acacias and grief.
וַיַּחֲנ֤וּway·ya·ḥă·nūthey campedH2583
√ chânâh — properly, to inclineConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine plural
עַל־‘al-byH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
הַיַּרְדֵּן֙hay·yar·dênthe JordanH3383
√ Yardên — Jarden, the principal river of PalestineArticleNounproperfeminine singular
מִבֵּ֣יתmib·bêṯvvvH1020
√ Bêyth ha-Yshîy-môwth — Beth-ha-Jeshimoth, a town East of the JordanPreposition
הַיְשִׁמֹ֔תhay·ši·mōṯfrom Beth-jeshimothH1020
√ Bêyth ha-Yshîy-môwth — Beth-ha-Jeshimoth, a town East of the JordanPrepositionNounproperfeminine singular
עַ֖ד‘aḏtoH5704
√ ʻad — as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)Preposition
אָבֵ֣ל’ā·ḇêlvvvH63
√ ʼÂbêl hash-Shiṭṭîym — Abel hash-Shittim, a place in Palestine
הַשִּׁטִּ֑יםhaš·šiṭ·ṭîmAbel-shittimH63
√ ʼÂbêl hash-Shiṭṭîym — Abel hash-Shittim, a place in PalestineNounproperfeminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
Abel-shittim — The place where the people sinned in the matter of Peor, called simply Shittim, Numbers 25:1 ; but here Abel-shittim, for the grievous mourning ( Abel signifying mourning) which was there, both for the heinous crimes committed, and the severe judgments inflicted. This was their forty-second and last station, before their entrance into Canaan
Beth-jesimoth, "house of the wastes," must have been very near the point where Jordan empties itself into the Dead Sea, on the verge of the salt desert which bounds that sea on the east. It formed the boundary of Sihon's kingdom at the south-west corner. Abel-shittim, "meadow of acacias," is better known by the abbreviated name "Shittim"
Their camp reached twelve miles, as the Jews commonly say, which we may suppose was the distance of these two places, which were both in the plains of Moab
Abel-shittim; called Shittim , Numbers 25:1 , and here Abel-shittim , for the grievous mourning which there was both for the heinous crimes committed, and horrible judgments there inflicted.

The verse-by-verse work is done. What follows gathers the whole unit. All three layers below are machine-generated (⚙). Weigh them; they have no authority.

Grand Commentary — the unit, read wholesynthesis · verify+

AI synthesis — woven from the public-domain voices above and the original text; generated and fallible.

i. A book of departures — the title-word and the commanded record — 33:1-2

The chapter names itself by a rare noun. Keil & Delitzsch insist that maççaʻ (H4550, the word behind "journeys," in only 11 verses of the canon) "does not mean a station, but the breaking up of a camp"; hence, they say, "the constant repetition of the word ויּסעוּ, 'and they broke up.'" The list is told not by where Israel arrived but by where it tore up its tent-pins and left. And the whole record stands ‘al-pî YHWH, "by the mouth of the LORD" (v.2). The Pulpit Commentary reads this as "a direct assertion that Moses wrote this list of marches himself by command of God, doubtless as a memorial... of deep religious significance, as showing how Israel had been led by him who is faithful and true." Matthew Poole agrees the intent was "partly to evince the truth of the history, partly to preserve the remembrance of God's glorious and miraculous works both of judgment and mercy." The genre is memorial, and the author is named in the text.

ii. Out of Egypt with a high hand — over the graves of the gods — 33:3-4

Israel marches out bə·yāḏ rā·māh, "with a high hand" (v.3) — openly, triumphantly. John Gill: "openly and publicly, with great courage and boldness, without any fear of their enemies; who seeing them march out, had no power to stop them." Beneath that bold exit lies a scene of burial. The Egyptians "were burying" (a durative participle, The Pulpit Commentary notes the Septuagint's ἔθαπτον) their firstborn, occupied with their dead while Israel walks free. And "upon their gods... the LORD executed judgments" (shepheṭ, H8201) — the language of a verdict in a lawsuit. The Pulpit Commentary reasons that the false gods, "having no existence except in the imaginations of men, could only be affected... by being made contemptible in the eyes of those who feared them." The itinerary opens over a defeated pantheon and fresh graves.

iii. The cadence of the wilderness — break camp, pitch, repeat — 33:5-37, 41-47

For most of the chapter the prose narrows to a couplet: nâçaʻ ("they broke camp," H5265) and chânâh ("they pitched," H2583), station after station. The bareness is the point. Behind "Succoth" (booths), "Marah" (bitter water, where they first murmured), "Rephidim" (no water — the only station given a reason, v.14), "the wilderness of Sinai" (the whole covenant in one half-line, v.15), and "Kibroth-hattaavah" ("the graves of lust," v.16, where, says Gill, "the people lusted after flesh, and murmured... and here they were buried") lie the great events that Exodus and the rest of Numbers narrate at length. Matthew Henry draws the devotional sense: "In their travels towards Canaan they were continually on the remove. Such is our state in this world; we have here no continuing city, and all our removes in this world are but from one part a desert to another... yet were all the while under the direction of the pillar of cloud and fire. God led them about, yet led them the right way." Of the seventeen unnamed-by-history stations in vv.19-35 Keil admits plainly: "not a single one is known, or can be pointed out with certainty, except Eziongeber."

iv. The death of the high priest — and the clock that ran out — 33:38-40

The cadence breaks for a death. Aaron "went up... by the mouth of the LORD" (v.38) — the same phrase that opened the record (v.2) now frames its great loss. Joseph Benson: "Good men's goings are ordered of the Lord, and a peculiar providence... appoints the time and place of their death." Gill notes the reason he died outside Canaan: "not being suffered to go with them into the land of Canaan, because of his sin of unbelief at Kadesh." And the date is exact — the fortieth year, fifth month, first day — which The Pulpit Commentary calls "in strict accordance with the Divine intimation that Israel was to wander forty years." Then comes the chapter's strangest line: King Arad "heard" (v.40). Cambridge judges it "A fragmentary statement strangely inserted, perhaps originally as a marginal note by a scribe"; The Pulpit Commentary finds "no motive, and... no assignable connection with the context." The synthesis lets the crux stand: an itinerary honest enough to carry an unexplained fragment.

v. The plains of Moab — the march ends at the threshold — 33:48-49

The forty-two departures resolve into one long encampment "in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho" — and there the chapter's last verb is chânâh, "they camped." The people who never had a continuing city stop at last, but at the threshold, not in the land. The camp stretches "from Beth-jeshimoth... to Abel-shittim" — "twelve miles," says Gill, citing Jewish tradition. Joseph Benson hears the final name as a warning: it is "called simply Shittim... but here Abel-shittim, for the grievous mourning (Abel signifying mourning) which was there" — the Peor apostasy and its plague of twenty-four thousand (Numbers 25). "This was their forty-second and last station, before their entrance into Canaan." The book of departures ends in sight of both the Promised Land and one more grave.

Read under Sola Scriptura — this tool’s own fallible reading (⚙)

Read whole, Numbers 33 is a sober, God-commanded ledger of a redeemed people who were always leaving. The verb that drives it is not "arrived" but nâçaʻ — "they pulled up the tent-pins." Forty-two times the camp is struck; forty-two times it is pitched again; and the only events the bare list pauses to name are a thirst (Rephidim), a craving turned to graves (Kibroth-hattaavah), the death of the high priest who could not enter, and a final encampment named for mourning. Yet the same hand that wrote it (v.2) had led every step "by the mouth of the LORD," and the chapter's framing voices — Henry, Benson, the Pulpit Commentary — all hear in it not a record of failure but of faithfulness: God led them about, yet led them the right way. The honest reading holds both. This is a wilderness, not a paradise; the dominant note is exile and removal, with grace running underneath as the cloud that never left. The believer's own life, Henry says, is read here: "we have here no continuing city." The synthesis claims no more than the text gives — a people on the move toward a rest they have not yet entered, kept by a God who writes down every place they leave. This paragraph is the tool's own fallible reading, offered to be tested against the Word, not above it.

Forty-two times they struck the tents; the only verb that never failed was the LORD's leading. (a reader's line, not Scripture)

Canonical Threads — out to the whole of Scripturecross-refs · verify+

AI-generated connections. Each carries a verification badge with a recorded basis; contested links are flagged.

The departure from Rameses — verbal anchor to the Exodus account verbal / quotation — confirmed

Numbers 33:3 records the going-out "from Rameses" in the same terms as Exodus 12:37, the primary narrative of the departure. Charles Ellicott notes the parallel directly: the departure "is related as in Exodus 12:37." The Verifier confirms a genuinely verbal link: the place-name Raʻmᵉçêç (H7486) occurs in only 5 verses of the entire canon, and it is shared by both passages, together with the march-verb nâçaʻ (H5265). A rare proper name shared between two accounts of the same event is exactly the kind of low-frequency lexeme that warrants the strongest tier.

Numbers 33:3 · Exodus 12:37

basis: shared lexeme(s): H7486 Raʻmᵉçêç (in 5 vv, rare) + H5265 nâçaʻ (in 140 vv) — Verifier-computed; the rarity of Raʻmᵉçêç grounds the verbal tier

Pi-hahiroth, Migdol, Baal-zephon — the sea-crossing toponyms verbal / quotation — confirmed

Numbers 33:7 names the cluster of places that frame the Red Sea crossing in Exodus 14:2, 9: Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon, near Migdol. These are not common nouns but tightly localized names. The Verifier finds three rare lexemes shared with Exodus 14:2 — Baʻal Tsᵉphôwn (H1189, in only 3 verses), Pîy ha-Chîyrôth (H6367, 4 verses), and Migdôwl (H4024, 6 verses) — plus the camp-verb chânâh (H2583). When a verse re-uses three different rare toponyms from a single source passage, the verbal dependence is beyond reasonable doubt.

Numbers 33:7 · Exodus 14:2 · Exodus 14:9

basis: shared lexeme(s): H1189 Baʻal Tsᵉphôwn (3 vv), H6367 Pîy ha-Chîyrôth (4 vv), H4024 Migdôwl (6 vv) — three rare toponyms, Verifier-computed

Elim — twelve springs and seventy palms, echoed verbatim verbal / quotation — confirmed

Numbers 33:9 reports Elim with its "twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees," the identical detail of Exodus 15:27. The Verifier records the shared rare name ʼÊylim (H362, in only 4 verses) together with tâmâr ("palm," H8558, 12 verses), shibʻîym ("seventy," H7657), and chânâh (H2583). The reproduction of both the place-name and its exact numerical description marks a verbal quotation of the Exodus source. The numbers (twelve, seventy) are also the seedbed of the figural readings the older expositors gave to Elim.

Numbers 33:9 · Exodus 15:27

basis: shared lexeme(s): H362 ʼÊylim (4 vv, rare) + H8558 tâmâr (12 vv) + H7657 shibʻîym — Verifier-computed; place-name and its numbers reproduced

Mount Hor and the fortieth-year march — the formula and the rare-name bond to Numbers 20-21 structural / thematic — confirmed

The stations of the fortieth year (Mount Hor, Zalmonah, Punon, Oboth, Iye-abarim) re-use the wording of Numbers 21:10-11, where the same march around Edom is narrated. The Verifier confirms a structural link by the itinerary-couplet nâçaʻ (H5265) + chânâh (H2583), the recurring pattern-pair of the whole chapter; and Mount Hor itself (v.37-38) shares the rare name Hôr (H2023, in only 12 verses) with the death-account of Numbers 20:22. Keil & Delitzsch tie the whole stretch to "Numbers 20 and 21." Because the shared lexemes here are the common pattern-words (not a quotation claim), this is tiered structural rather than verbal — except the Hôr link to 20:22, which is genuinely rare.

Numbers 33:41 · Numbers 21:10 · Numbers 21:11 · Numbers 20:22

basis: shared pattern-pair H5265 nâçaʻ + H2583 chânâh (Verifier-computed); plus rare H2023 Hôr (12 vv) binds 33:37-38 to Numbers 20:22

Mosera vs. Mount Hor — Aaron's burial-place, and the two-itinerary discrepancy flagged — verify source

Deuteronomy 10:6-7 names "Mosera" as the place where "Aaron died... and was buried," and lists Bene-jaakan, Moseroth, Gudgodah and Jotbathah in an order that partly reverses Numbers 33:30-33 — where the same four names appear (Moseroth, Bene-jaakan, Hor-haggidgad, Jotbathah) and where Aaron instead dies at Mount Hor (v.38). The verbal contact is real and even rare: the Verifier finds the toponyms Môwçêrâh (H4149, in only 3 verses) shared between Numbers 33:30 and Deuteronomy 10:6, and both Môwçêrâh (H4149, 3 vv) and Bᵉnêy Yaʻăqân (H1142, 3 vv) shared between 33:31 and 10:6. What is contested is not the lexical link but the harmonization: the order of the stations is reversed and the place of Aaron's death differs. The Pulpit Commentary states flatly that the Deuteronomy passage "is a fragment which has come into its present position... by some accident of transcription," while granting "there is an appearance of error either in the fragment or in the Itinerary." Because the provenance and reconciliation of the two lists are genuinely disputed by the sources themselves, this link is flagged rather than asserted as a settled parallel.

Numbers 33:30 · Numbers 33:31 · Deuteronomy 10:6 · Deuteronomy 10:7

basis: Verifier-computed: rare toponyms H4149 Môwçêrâh (3 vv) shared 33:30↔Deut 10:6, and H4149 Môwçêrâh + H1142 Bᵉnêy Yaʻăqân (both 3 vv) shared 33:31↔Deut 10:6 — so the verbal contact is genuine; flagged because the station-order is reversed and Aaron's death-place differs (Mosera vs. Mount Hor), a harmonization the Pulpit Commentary itself calls a misplaced fragment

From Egypt to Sinai — the early stations track Exodus stage by stage structural / thematic — confirmed

Numbers 33:5-15 reproduces, in order, the camp-sequence of the Exodus narrative: Succoth (Exodus 13:20), Etham (13:20), the wilderness and Marah (15:22-23), Elim (15:27), the wilderness of Sin (16:1), Rephidim (17:1), the wilderness of Sinai (19:2). Charles Ellicott catalogues the parallels exactly, noting that the stations "agree with those which are recorded in Exodus 13:20 (Succoth and Etham), 14:2 (Pi-hahiroth and Migdol), 15:22 (the wilderness, i.e., of Shur), 15:23-27 (Marah and Elim), 16:1 (wilderness of Sin), 17:1 (Rephidim)." The Verifier confirms the structural agreement (e.g. 33:5↔Exodus 13:20 on the rare name Çukkôwth, H5523, 16 vv, plus nâçaʻ/chânâh). The chapter is, in this stretch, a deliberate recapitulation of the Exodus itinerary.

Numbers 33:5 · Exodus 13:20 · Numbers 33:11 · Exodus 16:1 · Numbers 33:15 · Exodus 19:2

basis: shared lexeme(s): H5523 Çukkôwth (16 vv) + pattern-pair H5265 nâçaʻ / H2583 chânâh; ordered station-sequence matches Exodus 13-19 (Verifier-computed)

Christ in the Unittypology · verify+

AI-generated reading; weigh it against the text.

A people who had here no continuing city — the pilgrim type ancient/widely-held

The relentless nâçaʻ of Numbers 33 — break camp, pitch, break camp — is read by the New Testament as a figure of the faith-pilgrimage. Matthew Henry, on this very chapter, draws the line: "Such is our state in this world; we have here no continuing city," echoing Hebrews 13:14 ("For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come") and Hebrews 11:13-16, where the patriarchs "admitted that they were strangers and exiles on the earth." Hebrews makes the wilderness generation the explicit warning-type for the church (Hebrews 3:7-4:11), and Henry applies the itinerary directly: "Happy are those whom the Lord now guides with his counsel, and will at length receive to his glory. To this happiness the gospel calls us." The forty-two departures become the shape of the Christian's life between redemption and rest. This typological reading is ancient and widely held.

Numbers 33:1 · Numbers 33:48 · Hebrews 13:14 · Hebrews 3:7-4:11

The high priest who could not bring them in — Aaron and the better priesthood ancient/widely-held

Aaron ascends Mount Hor "by the mouth of the LORD" and dies there, outside the land (v.38); Gill notes he was "not being suffered to go with them into the land of Canaan, because of his sin of unbelief." The book of Hebrews builds its argument on precisely this limitation: the Aaronic priests "were prevented by death from continuing in office" (Hebrews 7:23), and the law's priesthood could not bring the people to perfection or into the true rest (Hebrews 7:11; 4:8 — "For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day"). The high priest who dies on the mountain at the border points beyond himself to the one "who, because He lives forever, has a permanent priesthood" (Hebrews 7:24) and who alone leads His people into the rest that Joshua's generation only approached. The figure of the mortal high priest stopped at the frontier is drawn out in Hebrews and is widely held in the tradition.

Numbers 33:38 · Numbers 33:39 · Hebrews 7:23-25 · Hebrews 4:8

Marah's bitter water and Elim's springs — the road of testing and provision ancient/widely-held

Within three days of the sea, the redeemed reach Marah's bitter water (v.8), then Elim's twelve springs and seventy palms (v.9). The early church read Israel's wilderness provision Christologically — Paul says "they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4), and frames the whole wilderness sequence as written "as examples... for our instruction" (1 Corinthians 10:11). The pattern of bitterness sweetened and thirst answered, stage by stage, was taken by Jerome and others as a figure of the soul's progress; Gill reports that "some of the ancients, as Jerom" had "allegorized these journeys of the children of Israel," while frankly cautioning that "the particulars will never hold good of individual saints." The reading that the wilderness road of testing-and-provision prefigures Christ's sustaining of His people is apostolic in root, though the verse-by-verse allegory of the station-names is a novel and contested extension that the synthesis does not endorse.

Numbers 33:8 · Numbers 33:9 · 1 Corinthians 10:4 · 1 Corinthians 10:11

Apparatus & Provenance

The biblical text is the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain (CC0). Hebrew/Greek text, transliteration, morphology and Strong’s are transcribed from the Berean interlinear (CC0) + Strong’s lexicons (PD); the literal renderings, divergence notes, word notes and all synthesis are this tool’s own work (⚙) — fallible; verify them.

Named voices, quoted verbatim from public-domain works:

This is a Hebrew-only unit, the longest itinerary in the Torah (forty-two stations across forty years). Every thread basis rests on shared Strong's lexemes computed by the Verifier; the frequencies cited as grounds for the "verbal" tier — Raʻmᵉçêç (5 vv), Baʻal Tsᵉphôwn (3 vv), Pîy ha-Chîyrôth (4 vv), Migdôwl (6 vv), ʼÊylim (4 vv), maççaʻ (11 vv), Hôr (12 vv) — are the recorded ground for those claims, not impressions.

Three honesty-points specific to this chapter. (1) The two-itinerary problem. The list of stations here only partially agrees with the narrative of Exodus and Numbers, and four names in vv.30-33 reappear in Deuteronomy 10:6-7 in a partly reversed order, with Aaron's death assigned to "Mosera" rather than "Mount Hor." The synthesis does not harmonize these by force; The Pulpit Commentary's extended note (attached to v.49 in the sources) lays out the difficulty candidly and concludes that the Deuteronomy passage is "a fragment which has come into its present position... by some accident of transcription," while admitting "there is an appearance of error either in the fragment or in the Itinerary." That link is therefore tiered flagged — verify source. (2) The seventeen unknown stations of vv.19-35: Keil & Delitzsch state that "not a single one is known, or can be pointed out with certainty, except Eziongeber." Our notes for those verses claim no geography the sources do not. (3) The Arad fragment (v.40): Cambridge and The Pulpit Commentary both regard it as an inexplicable, possibly displaced insertion; the synthesis flags rather than smooths it.

The repetitive nâçaʻ … chânâh couplet is treated as deliberate literary structure, not filler: the same two divergence-notes recur across the formulaic verses because the Hebrew itself recurs, and pointing that out is more honest than manufacturing false variety. Christ-section links are typological/figural and lean on explicit New Testament uses of the wilderness (Hebrews 3-4, 7; 1 Corinthians 10); the verse-by-verse allegory of the station-names (Jerome) is named but explicitly not endorsed, following Gill's own caution.

= human, public-domain source, quoted and named. = machine synthesis, to be verified. Flagged cross-references are left visible on purpose — the verifier working in the open. “Search the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)