Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 1

33:1-56 This review of the entire wilderness period contains the longest integrated list of place-names in the Old Testament, from Israel’s departure from Egypt (33:3; cp. Exod 12:37) until their arrival in the plains of Moab, opposite Jericho (Num 33:49; cp. 22:1). The forty-two way stations on this itinerary represent far more than a geographical journey; they recall Israel’s forty-year spiritual pilgrimage. In their travels between Rameses in Egypt (33:3) and AcaciaAbel-shittim on the plains of Moab (33:49), Israel finally became the people who could invade the land of Canaan and claim the promises God made to Abraham. • This itinerary does not provide enough data to plot an accurate, specific route. Most of the places cannot be identified with certainty; many of the sites appear nowhere else in the Hebrew Bible, and there are not enough clues to pinpoint their locations precisely. Furthermore, this list is partial or selective, omitting some of the place-names mentioned earlier in the journey.

33:1-2 The itinerary contains features that reflect detailed record keeping. This is the only place where Numbers says that Moses kept a record of Israel’s history (cp. Exod 24:4).

Verse 3

33:3 left defiantly: See Exod 14:8.

Verse 4

33:4 defeated the gods of Egypt: See Exod 6:6; 12:12. This historical review draws attention to those special events that forced Pharaoh to allow the Israelite exodus from Egypt.

Verse 5

33:5-15 For Israel’s wilderness itinerary between Rameses and the desert of Sinai, see Exod 13:17–19:1.

Verse 6

33:6 Etham: See Exod 13:20.

Verse 9

33:9 Elim remains impossible to identify with certainty, but it may have been the oasis (with springs and palm trees) at Wadi Gharandel.

Verse 14

33:14 The entry for Rephidim (see study note on 20:13) adds a reminder of Israel’s rebellion there (Exod 17:1-7).

Verse 15

33:15 Tradition associates the wilderness of Sinai with a mountainous region in the southern Sinai Peninsula near Jebel Musa (Arabic for “mountain of Moses”), though scholars have suggested other locations.

Verse 16

33:16-36 The journey between Sinai and Kadesh. Our ability to locate the named sites depends on the identification of Mount Sinai.

33:16-17 Kibroth-hattaavah . . . Hazeroth: See 11:34–12:16.

Verse 18

33:18-30 Most of the place-names in this section appear nowhere else in the Old Testament.

Verse 30

33:30-31 Moseroth was also called “Moserah” (Deut 10:6). This is where Aaron died and was buried (cp. Num 20:22-29; 33:37-39).

Verse 35

33:35 Ezion-geber (cp. Deut 2:8) was located near the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Verse 36

33:36 Israel was residing in Kadesh (13:26; 27:14; “Kadesh-barnea,” 32:8) when the spies reported on their trip through Canaan.

Verse 37

33:37-49 Israel traveled from Kadesh to the plains of Moab.

Verse 38

33:38-39 These details about Aaron’s death (cp. 20:22-29) and his age show that he was about three years older than Moses (cp. Deut 31:1-2; 34:7).

Verse 42

33:42-49 Good candidates for the locations of most of these sites are found east of the Jordan between the southern Arabah and the plains of Moab, opposite Jericho.

Verse 47

33:47 Almon-diblathaim is probably the same place as “Beth-diblathaim” (Jer 48:22), also mentioned in the famous Mesha Inscription (see study note on Num 21:26).

Verse 50

33:50-56 After the Israelites reached the plains of Moab opposite Jericho (22:1), they camped there for the rest of the period covered in Numbers (see 36:13) and Deuteronomy (Deut 34:8). While they were camped there, God gave Israel specific instructions for dealing with the population of Canaan. The Lord commanded his people to destroy the people groups that occupied Canaan and to obliterate all vestiges of their religious practices (cp. Exod 23:23-33; 34:11-17; Deut 7:1-6; 12:2-4; Josh 23:4-8). Moses’ commands included the destruction of their carved and molten images (cp. Lev 26:1) and the demolition of their pagan shrines (see Deut 12:2-3).

Verse 54

33:54 distribute the land . . . by sacred lot: See 26:53-56. Chapter 34 describes the boundaries of the land of Canaan, which they would soon conquer and divide.

Verse 55

33:55-56 Israel failed to carry out God’s instructions (33:51-53) and suffered the consequences predicted here (see Judg 1:1–2:5; 2:11–3:6). Israel’s enemies in the period of the judges were like splinters and thorns (Num 33:55), harassing them militarily and spiritually (cp. 2 Cor 12:7).