16 They journeyed from the wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah . 17 They journeyed from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth . 18 They journeyed from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah . 19 They journeyed from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez . 20 They journeyed from Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah . 21 They journeyed from Libnah and camped at Rissah . 22 They journeyed from Rissah and camped in Kehelathah . 23 They journeyed from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher . 24 They journeyed from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah . 25 They journeyed from Haradah and camped at Makheloth . 26 They journeyed from Makheloth and camped at Tahath . 27 They journeyed from Tahath and camped at Terah . 28 They journeyed from Terah and camped at Mithkah . 29 They journeyed from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah . 30 They journeyed from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth . 31 They journeyed from Moseroth and camped at Bene-jaakan . 32 They journeyed from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad . 33 They journeyed from Hor-haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah . 34 They journeyed from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah . 35 They journeyed from Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber . 36 They journeyed from Ezion-geber and camped in the wilderness of Zin , that is, Kadesh . 37 They journeyed from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor , at the edge of the land of Edom . 38 Then Aaron the priest went up to Mount Hor at the command of the Lord , and died there in the fortieth year after the sons of Israel had come from the land of Egypt , on the first day in the fifth month . 39 Aaron was one hundred twenty-three e years old when he died on Mount Hor . 40 Now the Canaanite , the king of Arad who lived in the Negev in the land of Canaan , heard of the coming of the sons of Israel . 41 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah . 42 They journeyed from Zalmonah and camped at Punon . 43 They journeyed from Punon and camped at Oboth . 44 They journeyed from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim , at the border of Moab . 45 They journeyed from Iyim and camped at Dibon-gad e . 46 They journeyed from Dibon-gad e and camped at Almon-diblathaim . 47 They journeyed from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim , before Nebo . 48 They journeyed from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho . 49 They camped by the Jordan , from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab .
50 Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho , saying , 51 "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ' When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan , 52 then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones , and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places ; 53 and you shall take possession of the land and live in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it. 54 ' You shall inherit the land by lot according to your families ; to the larger you shall give more inheritance , and to the smaller you shall give less inheritance . Wherever e e the lot falls to anyone, that shall be his. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers . 55 'But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides , and they will trouble you in the land in which you live . 56 'And as I plan to do to them, so I will do to you.' "
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 33:16-56
Commentary on Numbers 33:1-49
(Read Numbers 33:1-49)
This is a brief review of the travels of the children of Israel through the wilderness. It is a memorable history. 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 way God takes in bringing his people to himself is always the best way, though it does not always seem to us the nearest way. Former events are mentioned. Thus we ought to keep in mind the providences of God concerning us and families, us and our land, and the many instances of that Divine care which has led us, and fed us, and kept us all our days hitherto. Few periods of our lives can be thought upon, without reminding us of the Lord's goodness, and our own ingratitude and disobedience: his kindness leaves us without excuse for our sins. We could not wish to travel over again the stages we have passed, unless we could hope, by the grace of God, to shun the sins we then committed, and to embrace such opportunities of doing good as we have let slip. Soon will our wanderings end, and our eternal state be fixed beyond recall; how important then is the present moment! 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. Behold now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Let sinners seize the opportunity, and flee for refuge to the hope set before them. Let us redeem our time, to glorify God and serve our generation; and he will carry us safely through all, to his eternal kingdom.
Commentary on Numbers 33:50-56
(Read Numbers 33:50-56)
Now that they were to pass over Jordan, they were entering again into temptation to follow idols; and they are threatened that, if they spared either the idols or the idolaters, their sin would certainly be their punishment. They would foster vipers in their own bosoms. The remnant of the Canaanites, if they made any peace with them, though but for a time, would be pricks in their eyes, and thorns in their sides. We must expect trouble and affliction from whatever sin we indulge; that which we are willing should tempt us, will vex us. It was intended that the Canaanites should be put out of the land; but if the Israelites learned their wicked ways, they also would be put out. Let us hear this and fear. If we do not drive out sin, sin will drive us out. If we are not the death of our lusts, our lusts will be the death of our souls.