Keraia
Numbers 33

Numbers 33:3

Forty-Two Journeys of the Israelites · Numbers 33:1–49
Read Numbers 33

Translations

Modern
On 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,
Traditional
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.
Literal
And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the day after the Passover the sons of Israel went out with hand held high before the eyes of all the Egyptians.
Latin
Profecti igitur de Ramesse mense primo, quintadecima die mensis primi, altera die Phase, filii Israël in manu excelsa, videntibus cunctis Ægyptiis,

Original

Hebrew
English
On 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,

Notes

Numbers 33:3

marched out defiantly: See Exodus 14:8.

Numbers 33:1–56

  • This review of the entire wilderness period includes the longest connected list of place names in the Old Testament. It begins with Israel’s departure from Egypt (33:3; compare Exodus 12:37). It ends with their arrival in the plains of Moab, across from Jericho (Numbers 33:49; compare 22:1).

    The list names 42 stopping places along the way. These places represent more than a physical journey from one land to another. They also remind readers of Israel’s forty years of spiritual growth and testing.

    Israel traveled from Rameses in Egypt (33:3) to Abel-shittim on the plains of Moab (33:49). During these years, the people became ready to enter the land of Canaan and receive the promises God had made to Abraham.

  • This list does not give enough information to trace an exact route on a map. Many of the places cannot be identified with certainty. Some of these names do not appear anywhere else in the Hebrew Bible.

    In addition, there are not enough details to locate these places precisely. The list is also selective. It does not include every place that earlier parts of the journey mention.

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Passover: An annual Jewish feast commemorating the Exodus

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus Rameses: Egyptian city where Israelites lived before the Exodus

Glossary

Arabah Deuteronomy, Book of Numbers, Book of Rameses (Place)

Topics

Rameses: The District in Egypt Which Was Inhabited by the Israelites