Num 33.1-56 is going to tell us about the “stages” out of Egypt to the land of Canaan. This portion will also deal with the “stops” they made rather than the “journeying.”
There will be 42 stops or stages and this will mirror our own “Exodus” out of sin to our own destination. The number 42 is the number of transition and these stops had good and bad aspects to them, but things turned out according to God’s plan in the end. This should be an encouragement to us in our journey (Rom 8.28). Israel failed at certain points of the journey, and so do we. That is where teshuvah (repentance) comes in.
We will see that Israel progressed in these 42 steps and things did not get easier for them either. The number 42 here alludes to the 42 generations from Abraham to Messiah (Luke 3.23-38). There will be 42 months from the beginning of the Birth-pains to the False Messiah, and 42 months from the False Messiah to the coming of Yeshua. The famine in the time of Elijah was 42 months. There were children who mocked Elisha and animals came out of the forest and killed 42 of them (2 Kings 2.24).
The number 42 in Hebrew is made up of the letters Mem and Bet. Mem has the meaning of “water, mighty and blood.” Bet has the meaning of “house or tent.” The word “Masei” carries the idea of “breaking camp” and it took Israel 40 years to make an 11 day journey (Deut 1.2). That is the hardest part about camping, the breaking up of the camp. The wilderness experience was not a lot of fun, but it teaches us about how the Lord is a loving parent who took care of his people. They had some very difficult moments. It also showed how the people loved the Lord to keep moving, often without much water. God expresses his appreciation in Jer 2.2.
The total count of the journeys is 42, and if you take off the first 14 which were before the 10 scouts, and the last 8 which occur during Israel’s move forward into the land of Canaan after the death of Aaron, you have 20 moves in 38 years. This is a move every every two years or so. This demonstrates how even an evil decree is tempered by God’s kindness.
Why does Num 33.2 repeat itself? It is because when we look at the future we must know the past, and when we look at the past we must realize what lies ahead. Many Torah-based congregations do not have a building of their own. They are usually small groups in a community and there can be a lot of moving. These groups can usually break camp in two years of less. They can identify with Israel’s experiences. In the Torah, there are certain passages you read all the way without stopping for commentary. Exodus 20 is one and this portion is another.
When we read Num 33.1-56 we find 42 locations in 40 years. Why does the Torah mention the names of all these encampments? If you do a word study on all the names they will speak of growth, insight and prophecy, so lets look at a few examples. For instance, “Rameses” in Num 33.3 means “child of Ra” or “created by Ra.” Ra in Hebrew means “evil.” Meses (Moses) means “created by” or even “delivers” in Egyptian. The numerical value of Rameses is 480, and it was 480 years from Abraham to the Exodus. The place called “Sukkot” in Num 33.7 means “stables or booths.” The numerical value is 480. and it was 480 years from the Exodus to the building of the Temple (1 Kings 6.1).
Migdol in Num 33.7 means “tower” and this has allusions to the Lord (a strong tower) and the place where Yeshua would be born (Mic 4.8-“Migdal Eder” or “tower of the flock”). In Num 33.13 we see “Alush” and it means “I will knead” as in bread. It is where the manna was first received. In Num 33.29 we have “Hashmonah” which is related to Hasmoneh” which was the last name of the leaders of the Chanukah story. It is the 25th stop, and Chanukah starts on the 25th day of Kislev. This list teaches Israel’s journey from slavery to freedom. Our lives are in stages (Ecc 3.1-8). each person has his own challenges and purposes, and we must learn from them.
Miriam dies at Kadesh (related to kedusha) and it is known today as Wadi Rum, and Aaron dies at Mount Hor (v 36-37). In Num 33.47, “Avarim” means “crossing over” or “those on the other side (of the Jordan).” You can cross the Jordan at several places there and there is a lush valley. This is where Reuben and Gad wanted to stay (half of the tribes). Manasseh wanted to stay for their cattle business. They said they were going to send their warriors to help the other tribes secure their land inheritances.
In Num 33.50-56 we get our introduction about coming into the land and how to do it. Israel is told to drive out the inhabitants and if they don’t, those who they let remain will be a “prick in their eyes and a thorn in their flesh.” There are few in Israel who will stand on these verses today. They let the Canaanites dwell, and they learned their ways. As a result of not driving them all out, Israel was driven out and delivered into the hands of their enemies. We are saved from the slavery of sin and death and look for our “promised land.” Our life is like these stages till we cross over into the land of promise (Olam Haba). In the meantime, our “tents” will get old, too. We are to learn the lessons Israel learned in the wilderness, they are for our instruction (1 Cor 10.1-6). In the Birth-pains there will be “stages” and moving will be a common thing (Matt 10.23). It also will tells us about the commands concerning the settlement of the land. So this is the journey from slavery to freedom. Our lives are in stages, too (Ecc 3.1-8).
v 1…These are the journeys (Hebrew “Massey” or “breaking camp”) of the sons of Israel, by which they came out of the land of Egypt by their armies (four corps), under the leadership of Moses and aaron.
v 2…And Moses recorded their starting places according to their journeys by commandment of the Lord (because when the cloud moved, they moved; there are 42 places and this number is associated with the timing of significant events: 42 journeys; 42 generations from Adam to Messiah; 42 months leading to the False Messiah; 42 months leading to the Messiah), and these are the journeys according to their starting places.
v 3…And they journeyed from Rameses (created/delivered by Ra; “ra” in Hebrew means “evil”; the numerical value of Rameses is 480, and it was 480 years from Abraham to the Exodus, and 480 years from the Exodus to the first Temple-1 Kings 6.1) in the first month (of the religious calendar, Nisan/Aviv on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the next day after the Passover (on the 14th) the sons of Israel started out boldly (with a high hand; openly and with great courage) in the sight of all the Egyptians,
v 4…while the Egyptians were burying all their first-born whom the Lord had struck down among them. The Lord had also executed judgment on their gods (and this really intimidated the Egyptians because they realized their gods were useless and they could not stop Israel from departing).
v 5…Then the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses and camped at Succoth (in the Faiyum there was a place called “Succos” in Greek).
v 6…And they journeyed from Succoth, and camped at Etham (” solid”-several miles from Succoth/Succos) which is on the edge of the wilderness (east of the Faiyum going to the Gulf of Suez).
v 7…And they journeyed from Etham and turned back (the cloud took them the straightest way) to Pi-hahirot (mouth of freedom), which faces Baal-zephon (lord of the north; and it was believed he was lord of the sea from a mountain there), and they camped before Migdol (tower).
v 8…And they journeyed from Pi-hahirot (being forced to by EGypt’s army) and passed through the midst of the sea (on Nisan 17) into the wilderness (on the east side of the Gulf of Suez); and they went three days journey in the wilderness of Etham, and camped at Marah (bitter).
v 9…And they journeyed from Marah, and came to Elim (trees); and in Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; and they camped there.
v 10…And they journeyed from Elim and camoped by the Red Sea (probably the Gulf of Aqaba).
v 11…And they journeyed from the Red Sea, and camped in the wilderness of Sin (thorny, moon god).
v 12…And they journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, and camped at Dophkah (knocking).’
v 13…And they journeyed from Dophkah, and camped at Alush (desolation).
v 14…And they journeyed from Alush, and camped at Rephidim (lax; near Sinai); now it was there that the people had no water to drink (Exo 17).
v 15…And they journeyed from Rephidim, and camped in the wilderness of Sinai (thorny, moon god).
v 16…And they journeyed from the wilderness of Sinai, and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah (graves of the greedy).
v 17…And they journeyed from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth (settlement; the 12 spies incident).
v 18…And they journeyed from Hazeroth, and camped at Rithmah (bound; broom bush).
v 19…ANd they journeyed from Rithmah, and camped at Rimmon-perez (pomegranate of the breach).
v 20…And they journeyed form Rimmon-perez, and camped at Libnah (pavement).
v 21…And they journeyed from Libnah, and camped at Rissah (ruin).
v 22…And they journeyed from Rissah, and camped at Kehelathah (assembly, root is “Kahal”).
v 23…And they journeyed from Kehelathah, and camped at Mount Shepher (beauty).
v 24…And they journeyed from Mount Shepher, and camped at Haradah (fear).
v 25…And they journeyed from Haradah, and camped at Makheloth (place of assembly).
v 26…And they journeyed from Makheloth, and camped at Tahath (station).
v 27…And they journeyed from Taahath, and camped at Terah (delay).
v 28…And the journeyed from Terah, and camped at Mithkah (sweet).
v 29…And they journeyed from Mithkah, and camped at Hashmonah (fat soil, fruitful; the 25th resting place and alludes to the Hasmoneans who led the war against the Greeks, where Chanukah, the festival of lights, on Kislev 25 comes from, giving rest to Israel; 25th word in Genesis is “light”).
v 30…And they journeyed from Hashmonah, and camped at Moseroth (bonds).
v 31…And they journeyed from Moseroth, and camped at Bene-jaakam (sons of twisting).
v 32…And they journeyed from Bene-jaakam, and camped at Hor-haggidgad (cavern of Gidgad).
v 33…And they journeyed from Hor-haggidgad, and camped at Jotbathah (pleasantness).
v 34…And they journeyed from Jotbathah, and camped at Abronah (passage).
v 35…And they journeyed from Abronah, and camped at Ezion-geber (backbone of a mighty one).
v 36…And they journeyed from Ezion-geber, and camped in the wilderness of Zin, that is Kadesh (Barnea, or “holy desert of wandering”, today called Wadi Rum-MIriam dies here).
v 37…And they journeyed from Kadesh (Wadi Rum; moving north now), and camped at Mount Hor (to be high; mountain; near Petra, at the edge of the land of Edom (red; related to “adam”).
v 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 of the fifth month (Av 1).
v 39…And Aaron was one hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.
v 40…Now the Canaanite (traffickers, merchants), the king of Arad (wild donkey) who lived in the Negev (south) in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of sons of Israel.
v 41…Then they journeyed from Mount Hor, and camped at Zalmonah (shady).
v 42…And they journeyed from Zalmonah, and camped at Punon (darkness).
v 43…And they journeyed from Punon, and camped at Oboth (waterskins).
v 44…And they journeyed from Oboth, and camped at Iye-abarim (heaps of passers-over or Hebrews) on the border of Moab (of father)
v 45…And they journeyed from Iye-abarim and camped at Dibon-gad (washing).
v 46…And they journeyed from Dibon-gad, and camped at Almon-diblathaim (hidden in the two cakes).
v 47…And they journeyed from Almon-diblathaim, and camped in the mountains of Abarim (the crossing over, where Reuben and Gad wanted to stay) before Nebo (prophet).
v 48…And they journeyed from the mountains of Abarim, and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho.
v 49…And they camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth (house of desolation) as far as Abel-shittim (meadow of acacias) in the plains of Moab.
v 50…Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho, saying (this is how they will enter and conquer the land),
v 51…”Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross over (not if) the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
v 52…then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their molten images and demolish all their high places (bamot);
v 53…and you shall take possession of the land and live in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it.
v 54…And you shall inherit the land by lot (Num 26.53-this would be determined by the will of the Lord not man) according to your families, to the larger you shall give more inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give less inheritance. Wherever the lot falls to anyone, that shall be his. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers.
v 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 shall be as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides (an idiom Paul uses in 2 COr 12.7 for continual troubles and annoyances), and they shall trouble you in the land which you live.
v 56…And it shall come about that as I plan to do to them, so I will do to you (There a few in Israel who will stand on these verses today.’ “
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