16 and they journey from the wilderness of Sinai, and encamp in Kibroth-Hattaavah. 17 And they journey from Kibroth-Hattaavah, and encamp in Hazeroth; 18 and they journey from Hazeroth, and encamp in Rithmah. 19 And they journey from Rithmah, and encamp in Rimmon-Parez; 20 and they journey from Rimmon-Parez, and encamp in Libnah. 21 And they journey from Libnah, and encamp in Rissah; 22 and they journey from Rissah, and encamp in Kehelathah. 23 And they journey from Kehelathah, and encamp in mount Shapher; 24 and they journey from mount Shapher, and encamp in Haradah. 25 And they journey from Haradah, and encamp in Makheloth; 26 and they journey from Makheloth, and encamp in Tahath. 27 And they journey from Tahath, and encamp in Tarah; 28 and they journey from Tarah, and encamp in Mithcah. 29 And they journey from Mithcah, and encamp in Hashmonah; 30 and they journey from Hashmonah, and encamp in Moseroth. 31 And they journey from Moseroth, and encamp in Bene-Jaakan; 32 and they journey from Bene-Jaakan, and encamp at Hor-Hagidgad. 33 And they journey from Hor-Hagidgad, and encamp in Jotbathah; 34 and they journey from Jotbathah, and encamp in Ebronah. 35 And they journey from Ebronah, and encamp in Ezion-Gaber; 36 and they journey from Ezion-Gaber, and encamp in the wilderness of Zin, which 'is' Kadesh. 37 And they journey from Kadesh, and encamp in mount Hor, in the extremity of the land of Edom. 38 And Aaron the priest goeth up unto mount Hor, by the command of Jehovah, and dieth 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; 39 and Aaron 'is' a son of a hundred and twenty and three years in his dying in mount Hor. 40 And the Canaanite—king Arad—who is dwelling in the south, in the land of Canaan, heareth of the coming of the sons of Israel. 41 And they journey from mount Hor, and encamp in Zalmonah; 42 and they journey from Zalmonah, and encamp in Punon. 43 And they journey from Punon, and encamp in Oboth; 44 and they journey from Oboth, and encamp in Ije-Abarim, in the border of Moab. 45 And they journey from Iim, and encamp in Dibon-Gad; 46 and they journey from Dibon-Gad, and encamp in Almon-Diblathaim. 47 And they journey from Almon-Diblathaim, and encamp in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo; 48 and they journey from the mountains of Abarim, and encamp in the plains of Moab, by Jordan, 'near' Jericho. 49 And they encamp by the Jordan from Beth-Jeshimoth, unto Abel-Shittim, in the plains of Moab.
50 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, in the plains of Moab, by Jordan, 'near' Jericho, saying, 51 'Speak unto the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, When ye are passing over the Jordan unto the land of Canaan, 52 then ye have dispossessed all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and have destroyed all their imagery, yea, all their molten images ye destroy, and all their high places ye lay waste, 53 and ye have possessed the land, and dwelt in it, for to you I have given the land—to possess it. 54 'And ye have inherited the land by lot, by your families; to the many ye increase their inheritance, and to the few ye diminish their inheritance; whither the lot goeth out to him, it is his; by the tribes of your fathers ye inherit. 55 'And if ye do not dispossess the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it hath been, those whom ye let remain of them, 'are' for pricks in your eyes, and for thorns in your sides, and they have distressed you on the land in which ye are dwelling, 56 and it hath come to pass, as I thought to do to them—I 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.