NUMBERS LESSON 41
We will begin this lesson in Numbers 33:1 "These [are] the
journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land
of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron."
This is a brief recap of their entire journey from Egypt to the
promised land under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
Numbers 33:2 "And Moses wrote their goings out according to their
journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these [are] their
journeys according to their goings out."
It appears, the LORD had instructed Moses to keep a record of
their journeys. This journey of Israel out of Egypt {world} to their
promised land is a type of the journey we Christians make in this life
to our promised land {heaven}. I truly hope that we are not as
difficult to get the world out of us, as the Israelites were to get
Egypt out of them. It is true, it was much easier to get them out of
Egypt, than it was to get Egypt out of them.
Numbers 33:3 "And they departed from Rameses in the first month,
on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the
passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the
sight of all the Egyptians."
Their first month was Abib, which is approximately our April.
They left on the fifteenth day of the month. Their day begins in the
evening. I believe they, actually, started at night. This journey
covers a period of forty years. The exact details have taken several
books to tell, but the synopsis takes only 49 verses here. Death
passed over the Hebrew's homes, who had the blood of the Lamb over
their doors the night before the journey was begun. This will be the
beginning of the passover celebration for the Jews.
Numbers 33:4 "For the Egyptians buried all [their] firstborn,
which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD
executed judgments."
It appears, that the Egyptians were burying their firstborn, when
Israel left Egypt. This gave them a headstart on their journey. The
ten plagues that came on Egypt defamed the false gods of Egypt.
Numbers 33:5 "And the children of Israel removed from Rameses,
and pitched in Succoth."
As we follow this journey, we will see the places mentioned as
where something important happened. "Succoth" means booths. Ramses was
in Goshen, where the Hebrews had dwelt. Succoth was their first place
to stop and rest.
Numbers 33:6 "And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in
Etham, which [is] in the edge of the wilderness."
Exodus 13:20 "And they took their journey from Succoth, and
encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness."
Numbers 33:7 "And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto
Pi-hahiroth, which [is] before Baal-zephon: and they pitched before
Migdol."
The Egyptians pursued them, and backed them up to the Red Sea,
here at Pi-hahiroth. Exodus 14:9 "But the Egyptians pursued after
them, all the horses [and] chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and
his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth,
before Baal-zephon." The great happening, here, is the parting of the
Red Sea, and the children of Israel crossing on dry land.
Numbers 33:8 "And they departed from before Pi-hahiroth, and
passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went
three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah."
The wilderness of Etham is called the wilderness of Shur in
Exodus 15:22 "So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went
out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the
wilderness, and found no water." Exodus 15:23 "And when they came to
Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they [were]
bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah."
Numbers 33:9 "And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim:
and in Elim [were] twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten
palm trees; and they pitched there."
Exodus 15:27 "And they came to Elim, where [were] twelve wells
of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there
by the waters."
Numbers 33:10 "And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the
Red sea."
This had been a terrible disappointment, because they were back
nearly to their starting point.
Numbers 33:11 "And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in
the wilderness of Sin."
The wilderness of Sin was the place, where they murmured against
God, and he sent the quails.
Numbers 33:12 "And they took their journey out of the wilderness
of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah."
All we know about Dophkah was it was the eighth station, and it
was located between Rephidim and the Red Sea.
Numbers 33:13 "And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in
Alush."
Alush was one of the places they camped, where there was no water.
Numbers 33:14 "And they removed from Alush, and encamped at
Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink."
This is the location, where the people chided with Moses, because
there was no water. Moses went to the LORD, and the LORD told him to
smite the Rock with his rod. He did, and water gushed forth. Exodus
17:6 "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb;
and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it,
that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders
of Israel."
Numbers 33:15 "And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in
the wilderness of Sinai."
Exodus 19:2 "For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come
[to] the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there
Israel camped before the mount." It was, here, at Mount Sinai that
Moses received the tables of the law.
Numbers 33:16 "And they removed from the desert of Sinai, and
pitched at Kibroth-hattaavah."
This was the burial place of the people who had lusted. Numbers
11:34 "And he called the name of that place Kibroth-hattaavah: because
there they buried the people that lusted."
Numbers 33:17 "And they departed from Kibroth-hattaavah, and
encamped at Hazeroth."
Numbers chapter 11 verse 35 has some information on this.
Numbers 33:18 "And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitched in
Rithmah."
Hazeroth is where Miriam and Aaron spoke out about the marriage
of Moses to an Ethiopian woman.
Numbers 33:19 "And they departed from Rithmah, and pitched at
Rimmon-parez."
This is one of the places the Israelites rested, after leaving
Kadesh, where they would not go into the promised land. This was
toward the beginning of their 37 years in the wilderness.
Numbers 33:20 "And they departed from Rimmon-parez, and pitched
in Libnah."
About the only thing we know about "Libnah", besides it being a
place where Israel stopped on their journey, is that it means
whiteness.
Numbers 33:21 "And they removed from Libnah, and pitched at
Rissah."
There is little known of this place, except the fact that the
cloud by day, and the fire by night guided them here. It was one of
their stops on this very long journey.
Numbers 33:22 "And they journeyed from Rissah, and pitched in
Kehelathah."
Nothing is known of this stop.
Numbers 33:23 "And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in
mount Shapher."
Again, there is nothing known for sure of this stop.
Numbers 33:24 "And they removed from mount Shapher, and encamped
in Haradah."
This, again, is not spoken of anywhere else.
Numbers 33:25 "And they removed from Haradah, and pitched in
Makheloth."
There is nothing more known of this place either. This reminds me
of our journey through life. There are a number of stops that are
nothing more than a place to rest, until the next great happening.
Numbers 33:26 "And they removed from Makheloth, and encamped at
Tahath."
"Tahath" means that which is beneath. Nothing more is known of
this place.
Numbers 33:27 "And they departed from Tahath, and pitched at
Tarah."
Nothing is known of this place.
Numbers 33:28 "And they removed from Tarah, and pitched in
Mithcah."
Mithcah means sweetness. Nothing else is known of this place,
except the Israelites camped here.
Numbers 33:29 "And they went from Mithcah, and pitched in
Hashmonah."
Hashmonah was near Mount Hor.
Numbers 33:30 "And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at
Moseroth."
Moserath is the plural form of Moserah. This is where they were
camped, when Aaron went to be with the Lord. Deuteronomy 10:6 "And the
children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of
Jaakan to Mosera: there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and
Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead."
Numbers 33:31 "And they departed from Moseroth, and pitched in
Bene-jaakan."
Bene-jaakan was where the wells of Jaakan and Aakan were located.
Numbers 33:32 "And they removed from Bene-jaakan, and encamped at
Hor-hagidgad."
The only thing known of this, is that it was one place they
stopped.
Numbers 33:33 "And they went from Hor-hagidgad, and pitched in
Jotbathah."
In Deuteronomy, Jotbathah is spoken of as land of rivers and
waters.
Numbers 33:34 "And they removed from Jotbathah, and encamped at
Ebronah."
The name indicates that Ebronah could have been a beach.
Numbers 33:35 "And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at
Ezion-gaber."
"Ezion-gaber" means the giant's backbone. This is a harbor. It
is, probably, the one used by Solomon for his ships.
Numbers 33:36 "And they removed from Ezion-gaber, and pitched in
the wilderness of Zin, which [is] Kadesh."
This is their second time to be here. Kadesh could really be
thought of as the entrance to their promised land. Kadesh was known
by other names, but was called Kadesh when the tabernacle was there.
The name "Kadesh" means fountain of judgement. Moses sent messengers
to Edom from Kadesh.
Numbers 33:37 "And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount
Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom."
Edom refused the children of Israel passage to the promised land.
Numbers 33:38 "And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the
commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after
the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the
first [day] of the fifth month."
This was the first day of Abib in the 40th year of their
journeys, when Aaron died on mount Hor. This is the only place that
tells when he died.
Numbers 33:39 "And Aaron [was] an hundred and twenty and three
years old when he died in mount Hor."
Aaron was older than Moses. He was 123 years old when he died.
Numbers 33:40 "And king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the
south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of
Israel."
There is very little known of this incident. Whether it
influenced their plans or not, I do not know.
Numbers 33:41 "And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in
Zalmonah." Numbers 33:42 "And they departed from Zalmonah, and pitched
in Punon."
One of these two places was, possibly, where the brazen serpent
was raised on the pole to cure the snake bites.
Numbers 33:43 "And they departed from Punon, and pitched in
Oboth."
Oboth is near Moab.
Numbers 33:44 "And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in Ije-
abarim, in the border of Moab."
Moab was founded by the son of Lot and his oldest daughter. The
Moabites were enemies of Israel.
Numbers 33:45 "And they departed from Iim, and pitched in Dibon-
gad."
There is nothing known of this place.
Numbers 33:46 "And they removed from Dibon-gad, and encamped in
Almon-diblathaim."
All that is known of this place, is that it is Moabitish.
Numbers 33:47 "And they removed from Almon-diblathaim, and
pitched in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo."
The mountains of Abarim, before Nebo is, also, known as mount
Pisgah. Nebo is the town in this mountain area.
Numbers 33:48 "And they departed from the mountains of Abarim,
and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho."
This is just before entering into the promised land. Jericho is
the city, where the walls fall down. This has brought the people from
Egypt to the very entrance of the promised land.
Numbers 33:49 "And they pitched by Jordan, from Beth-jesimoth
[even] unto Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab."
"Beth-jesimoth" means house of the wastes. "Abel-shittim" means
meadow of Acacias. It is, usually, called just Shittim.
Numbers 33:50 "And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of
Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho, saying," Numbers 33:51 "Speak unto the
children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan
into the land of Canaan;" Numbers 33:52 "Then ye shall drive out all
the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their
pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down
all their high places:"
This is instruction to destroy everything associated with false
gods and idol worship. The high places were where they had performed
their worship of false gods. The driving out of all of the inhabitants
leaves room for them to live, but they will have to flee to another
land.
Numbers 33:53 "And ye shall dispossess [the inhabitants of] the
land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it."
They are to run all of the inhabitants out, and take the land for
themselves. This is their land that God promised to Abraham back in
Genesis. This is the land promised to the twelve sons of Jacob, as
their inheritance.
Numbers 33:54 "And ye shall divide the land by lot for an
inheritance among your families: [and] to the more ye shall give the
more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance:
every man's [inheritance] shall be in the place where his lot falleth;
according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit."
Each family will get their own inheritance of land. The location
of the land will be decided by casting lots, so there will be no cry
of favoritism. The amount of land for each family will be determined
by the number of members in the family. Those who have many members
will get the most land.
Numbers 33:55 "But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of
the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which
ye let remain of them [shall be] pricks in your eyes, and thorns in
your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell."
If they do not totally run the inhabitants out, those that remain
will be a problem for them from then on.
Numbers 33:56 "Moreover it shall come to pass, [that] I shall do
unto you, as I thought to do unto them."
If they are disobedient to God, and do not run them off
completely, God will run the Israelites, themselves, off later.
Numbers 41 Questions
1. What is this lesson?
2. What is this journey to their promised land a type of?
3. It was much easier to get them out of Egypt, than to get
__________
out of them.
4. Where did they begin the journey from?
5. What day did they leave Egypt?
6. The journey covers a period of ______ years.
7. Why did death pass over the Hebrew homes?
8. Who lost their firstborn?
9. Ramses was in _________.
10. Quote Exodus chapter 14 verse 9.
11. The great happening, in verse 7, is what?
12. Where did they find 12 wells of water?
13. Where did they murmur against God, and He sent the quails?
14. What special thing happened at Rephidim?
15. Where did Moses receive the tables of the law?
16. Quote Numbers chapter 11 verse 34.
17. Where did Miriam and Aaron speak out about Moses' Ethiopian wife?
18. What does "Libnah" mean?
19. Where were they camped, when Aaron went to be with the LORD?
20. What could Kadesh be thought of as?
21. What does "Kadesh" mean?
22. _______ refused passage across their land to the promised land.
23. When did Aaron die?
24. How old was Aaron when he died?
25. The mountains of Abarim are known as Mount __________.
26. What is the name of the city, where the walls fall down?
27. "Beth-jesimoth" means what?
28. What were the Israelites to destroy upon entering Canaan?
29. What were they to do the inhabitants?
30. What would happen, if they did not obey God on this?
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