Numbers 33 17

Numbers 33:17 kjv

And they departed from Kibrothhattaavah, and encamped at Hazeroth.

Numbers 33:17 nkjv

They departed from Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.

Numbers 33:17 niv

They left Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.

Numbers 33:17 esv

And they set out from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.

Numbers 33:17 nlt

They left Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.

Numbers 33 verses

Numbers 33 17 Meaning

Numbers 33:17 details one specific leg of the Israelites' journey during their forty years in the wilderness. It states their departure from Kibroth-hattaavah, a place named for their covetous craving for meat, and their subsequent encampment at Hazeroth. This verse underscores the precise, divinely ordained progress of Israel's journey, moving them from a location marked by their sin and God's judgment to the next designated stopping point.

Numbers 33 17 Context

Numbers Chapter 33 is a unique and significant record: a comprehensive, chronological itinerary of the Israelites' entire journey from Rameses in Egypt to the plains of Moab. It meticulously lists 42 distinct encampments, providing a precise geographical and historical account of their movements. This chapter serves as a summary of the wilderness wanderings described throughout the Books of Exodus and Numbers.

Verse 17 is situated within this detailed travel log, specifically marking the second stop after their significant encampment at Mount Sinai, where they received the Law. It chronicles their progression from Kibroth-hattaavah ("Graves of Craving"), a site notoriously associated with the people's intense complaining about lack of meat, resulting in divine judgment through a plague (Numbers 11). From there, they advanced to Hazeroth, a location also marked by significant events, notably Miriam and Aaron's challenge to Moses' leadership and Miriam's subsequent temporary leprosy as divine discipline (Numbers 12).

The purpose of this meticulously kept record is multi-fold. It underscores God's meticulous oversight and providential guidance over His people's journey. Each stop, even those associated with sin or rebellion, was part of God's appointed path for Israel. The itinerary reaffirms the historicity and factual basis of the Exodus and wilderness experience, serving as a historical account that defied skepticism about their divine liberation and long journey. It implicitly stands against the contemporary idea that fate or human accident directed their path, instead pointing to God's deliberate control.

Numbers 33 17 Word analysis

• They moved (וַיִּסְעוּ - vayyis'u): The Hebrew verb root is נ.ס.ע (n.s.'a), meaning "to journey, depart, set out, pull up stakes." This active verb emphasizes a deliberate action, implying movement under divine instruction rather than aimless wandering. It denotes a continuous, ordered progression, crucial for understanding God's guidance of the Israelite camp.

• from Kibroth-hattaavah (מִקִּבְרֹת הַתַּאֲוָה - mikKivrot hatTa'avah): This is a highly significant place name.

  • Kibroth (קִבְרֹת - kivrot): Plural of qever, meaning "graves" or "burial places."
  • hattaavah (הַתַּאֲוָה - hatTa'avah): "The craving" or "the lust," stemming from the verb ת.א.ו. (t.a.v.) "to long for, crave."
  • Together, it translates as "Graves of Craving/Lust." This name serves as a perpetual reminder of Israel's unholy desires for fleshly satisfaction over God's provision, and the subsequent plague that resulted from their complaining (Num 11). Moving from this place signifies a movement away from past sin and its consequences, albeit into a new stage of trials.

• and camped (וַיַּחֲנוּ - vayyahanu): The Hebrew verb root is ח.נ.ה (ch.n.h), meaning "to encamp, pitch a tent, settle down for a time." This term signifies a temporary cessation of travel, a designated pause or resting place. It implies order and a disciplined halt within their continuous journey, again pointing to divine orchestration rather than haphazard stopping.

• at Hazeroth (בַּחֲצֵרֹת - bachatzerot): This is another significant location.

  • Hazeroth (חֲצֵרֹת - Hatzerot): Plural of hatzer, meaning "courtyards," "settlements," or "villages."
  • In the broader biblical narrative, Hazeroth is famously the location where Miriam and Aaron challenged Moses' leadership, questioning his authority and marriage, leading to Miriam being temporarily struck with leprosy as a divine judgment (Num 12). Thus, while Kibroth-hattaavah marked an external challenge related to the people's craving, Hazeroth marked an internal challenge related to leadership.

• Words-group Analysis: The phrase "They moved from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth" illustrates the methodical nature of God's leading. It highlights a continuous process of progression through specific stages, each associated with distinct challenges and lessons learned (or failed to learn). It is a journey from a place of intense sinful craving and judgment to a new location where leadership integrity would be tested. This progression signifies that God continues to move His people forward, even from places of great failure, guiding them step by step towards His ultimate destination.

Numbers 33 17 Bonus section

The precise naming of the encampments and the recording of the sequence of movement in Numbers 33 emphasize the deliberate, purposeful nature of God's work. The Israelites were not merely wandering; they were being led, disciplined, and refined. The transition from a place of gluttony and plague (Kibroth-hattaavah) to one of leadership challenges and divine judgment (Hazeroth) highlights a consistent theme in Israel's wilderness journey: God consistently exposes and addresses the sins within His people, from the collective craving of the masses to the pride and challenge of His appointed leaders. This meticulous record serves to underscore God's unwavering control over every detail of their exodus, affirming His covenant promises and demonstrating that every event, whether joyous or punitive, served His ultimate purpose of shaping a holy nation. The chapter's very existence counters any notion that Israel's history was a series of random occurrences or a narrative of merely human efforts; it definitively portrays divine choreography.

Numbers 33 17 Commentary

Numbers 33:17 succinctly details one of the numerous divine movements in Israel's wilderness pilgrimage. It is not merely a geographic waypoint but a significant step in the divinely directed itinerary, demonstrating God's consistent guidance and detailed providence over His chosen people. The shift from "Kibroth-hattaavah"—the "graves of craving" and divine judgment against Israel's lust for the fleshpots of Egypt—to "Hazeroth" is emblematic of their spiritual journey. Every stop was predetermined by God, often serving as a classroom for faith, revealing both His faithfulness and their failings. This precise record confirms that their journey was neither random nor based on human wisdom, but meticulously planned by the Sovereign Lord, leading them through humbling experiences to test and ultimately prepare them for the Promised Land. This historical account serves as a reminder for believers that even stages marked by past failures (Kibroth-hattaavah) are steps from which God moves His people forward into new lessons and challenges (Hazeroth), all under His constant, guiding presence.