Numbers 33:1
in Numbers 33These are the journeys of the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt by their divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
These are the journeys of the children of Israel, when they went forth out of the land of Egypt by their hosts under the hand of Moses and Aaron.
KJV
These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.
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This verse in Numbers 33
Commentary
7 notes on this verseUnrolling the book still further, [Fabiola] came to the passage in which is given the list of all the halting places by which the people after leaving Egypt made its way to the waters of Jordan. And when she asked me the meaning and reason of each of these, I spoke doubtfully about some, dealt with others in a tone of assurance and in several instances simply confessed my ignorance.
This site's exposition
under the hand of Moses
on Numbers 33:1-4
The list opens with a statement about itself, that Moses wrote these stages by the commandment of the Lord, so the keeping of the record was commanded work rather than a private memorandum. Verse 4 supplies a line the Exodus account never gave, that upon their gods also the Lord executed judgments, reporting as done what Exodus 12:12 had said would be done. The departure is dated to the fifteenth day of the first month, on the morrow after the passover, and Israel goes out with an high hand while Egypt is burying its firstborn.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
The one hand of Moses was not enough for going forth from Egypt, and the hand of Aaron was also needed. Moses stands for knowledge of the law; Aaron, for skill in making sacrifices and immolations to God. It is therefore necessary for us when we come forth from Egypt to have not only the knowledge of the law and of faith but also the fruits of works well pleasing to God.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
), rank and file, as an army with banners. (2.) Under the hand of Moses and Aaron, their guides, overseers, and rulers, under God. (3.) With a high hand, because God's hand was high that wrought for them, and in the sight of all the Egyptians,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
These are the journeys of the children of Israel,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
This list was written out by Moses at God’s command Num 33:2, doubtless as a memorial of God’s providential care for His people throughout this long and trying period. Num 33:3-6. For these places, see the marginal reference. Num 33:8 Pi-hahiroth - Hebrew “Hahiroth,” but perhaps only by an error of transcription. However, the omitted “pi” is only a common Egyptian prefix. Wilderness of Etham - i. e., that part of the great wilderness of Shur which adjoined Etham; compare Exo 15:22 note.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
These are the journeys of the children of Israel--This chapter may be said to form the winding up of the history of the travels of the Israelites through the wilderness; for the three following chapters relate to matters connected with the occupation and division of the promised land.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
After the vengeance [executed] upon Midian, concerning which the Holy One, blessed be He, told Moses, afterwards shalt thou be gathered unto thy people, 1 Above,:2.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
These are the journeys of Bnei Yisroel who went out of Egypt in organized groups under the leadership of Moshe and Aharon.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֵ֜לֶּה | ʾeleh | these | H428 → | 746 times |
| מַסְעֵ֣י | masei | [are] [the] settings out of | H4550 → | 12 times |
| בְנֵֽי־ | venei- | [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יָצְא֛וּ | yatzeu | they came out | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| מֵאֶ֥רֶץ | meeretz | from [the] land of | H776 → | 2504 times |
| מִצְרַ֖יִם | mitzrayim | Egypt | H4714 → | 641 times |
| לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם | letzivotam | to military groups their | H6635 → | 485 times |
| בְּיַד־ | beyad- | by [the] hand of | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| מֹשֶׁ֖ה | mosheh | Moses | H4872 → | 765 times |
| וְאַהֲרֹֽן׃ | veaharon | and Aaron | H175 → | 347 times |
אֵ֜לֶּהthese
ʾelehH428 →746 times
מַסְעֵ֣י[are] [the] settings out of
maseiH4550 →12 times
בְנֵֽי־[the] people of
venei-H1121 →4930 times
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רwho
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
יָצְא֛וּthey came out
yatzeuH3318 →1067 times
מֵאֶ֥רֶץfrom [the] land of
meeretzH776 →2504 times
מִצְרַ֖יִםEgypt
mitzrayimH4714 →641 times
לְצִבְאֹתָ֑םto military groups their
letzivotamH6635 →485 times
בְּיַד־by [the] hand of
beyad-H3027 →1618 times
מֹשֶׁ֖הMoses
moshehH4872 →765 times
וְאַהֲרֹֽן׃and Aaron
veaharonH175 →347 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Micah 6:4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery. I sent Moses before you, as well as Aaron and Miriam.
it leads to
- Exodus 12:51
And on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their divisions.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Deuteronomy 7:8
But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand…
- Psalms 136:10–11
He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever.
- Exodus 12:51
Through
Psalms 77:20You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
it leads to
- Exodus 13:21
And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel…
- Exodus 14:19
And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them,
- Isaiah 63:11–12
Then His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses. Where is He who brought them through the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is the One who set His…
- Psalms 78:52
He led out His people like sheep and guided them like a flock in the wilderness.
- Exodus 13:21
Through
Joshua 24:5Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and afterward I brought you out.
it leads to
- Exodus 3:10
Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
- Exodus 3:10
About Numbers

Who and where
3 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonExodus and Wilderness PeriodMosesIsrael's deliverer from Egyptian slavery, covenant mediator, and lawgiver.
- PersonExodus eraAaronBrother of Moses and Israel's first high priest; his rod budded, his garments were for glory and beauty, and his line carried the…
- PlaceThe NileEgyptThe land where Joseph rose, where Israel grew into a nation in bondage, where the Passover lamb was slain and the sea opened, and…
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, LETTER 77.7; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON NUMBERS 27:6.
