Numbers 33 2

Numbers 33:2 kjv

And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out.

Numbers 33:2 nkjv

Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the LORD. And these are their journeys according to their starting points:

Numbers 33:2 niv

At the LORD's command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages:

Numbers 33:2 esv

Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the LORD, and these are their stages according to their starting places.

Numbers 33:2 nlt

At the LORD's direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress. These are the stages of their march, identified by the different places where they stopped along the way.

Numbers 33 verses

Numbers 33 2 Meaning

Numbers 33:2 signifies that Moses meticulously documented the itinerary of the Israelites' wilderness journey. This detailed record of their departures and encampments was not an arbitrary historical exercise but a direct command from the LORD, emphasizing divine guidance and oversight throughout their forty years of wandering. The verse highlights Moses's obedience as the divinely appointed scribe and establishes the authoritative, God-ordained nature of this historical account.

Numbers 33 2 Context

Numbers 33:2 functions as an introductory statement to one of the most comprehensive itinerary lists in the Old Testament, spanning Numbers 33:3-49. Verse 1 indicates that this is 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." Immediately, verse 2 clarifies who recorded these events, what they recorded, and, crucially, whose authority it was under.

Historically, ancient Near Eastern cultures often kept records of royal movements, campaigns, or victories. However, this record is distinct. It is not merely a human king's boasting of conquest but a divinely commissioned account of the journey of an entire nation led by their God. This detailed chronicle serves several purposes: it substantiates the Exodus event, validates God's covenant faithfulness in leading His people through a vast and perilous wilderness, and provides a clear historical precedent for their eventual claim to the promised land. It acts as an authoritative, Spirit-inspired travelogue, leaving no doubt about the literal reality of the events and the LORD's direct, purposeful guidance over His chosen people, countering any naturalistic explanations or pagan beliefs in chaotic deities.

Numbers 33 2 Word analysis

• And Moses: (וַיִּכְתֹּב מֹשֶׁה - vayyikhtov Mosheh) Refers to Moses, God's chosen prophet and leader. His unique role as both the recipient of divine revelation and its immediate recorder is emphasized. He is not merely an editor or later compiler but the primary author of this record, acting under divine instruction. This sets the stage for the authority and reliability of the text.
• wrote: (וַיִּכְתֹּב - vayyikhtov) A direct verbal action, indicating the physical act of inscribing. This stresses the tangible and permanent nature of the record. The same Hebrew root is used elsewhere when God commands Moses to write down His laws or judgments, highlighting that this historical record holds similar weight to the divine commandments themselves.
• their goings out: (מוֹצָאֵיהֶם - motza'eihem) Lit. "their departures." This Hebrew term signifies the starting point of each stage of their journey from one encampment to the next. It emphasizes the sequential nature of their travel, from one clear beginning point to another.
• according to their journeys: (לְמַסְעֵיהֶם - lemass'ehem) The Hebrew word mass'a means "journey" or "stage of travel," often implying the stopping place or encampment reached during that stage. This phrase specifies that Moses organized the record systematically, following the precise sequence of their travels from one halting place to the next. It denotes a careful, orderly listing of each leg of their extensive travel.
• by the commandment of the LORD: (עַל־פִּי יְהוָה - al-pi YHWH) This crucial phrase attributes the ultimate authority and impetus for the writing to God Himself. YHWH (the LORD) is God's covenant name, signifying His personal involvement and faithfulness. The phrase al-pi means "at the mouth of" or "according to the word/command of," unequivocally stating that Moses was acting as a divinely instructed scribe, not on his own initiative. This confirms the divine inspiration and inerrancy of this specific historical account.
• and these are their journeys according to their goings out: (וְאֵלֶּה מַסְעֵיהֶם לְמוֹצָאֹתָם - ve'elleh mass'ehem l'motza'otam) This clause echoes and slightly reverses the preceding phrase, forming a chiastic structure (goings out – journeys // journeys – goings out). This literary device emphasizes the thoroughness and comprehensive nature of the record. It signifies that the list accounts for both the sequence of travel and the precise points of departure, making the inventory complete and meticulously ordered. It reiterates the specific nature of what is being listed in the subsequent verses – a chronological and geographical record of their God-directed pilgrimage.

Numbers 33 2 Bonus section

The chiastic structure of "their goings out according to their journeys... these are their journeys according to their goings out" is a deliberate literary device emphasizing completeness and accuracy. It reinforces that the account meticulously covers both the departure and arrival points of each stage of the forty-year sojourn. This kind of precise, divinely-mandated record-keeping served a practical function for the Israelites, not only for remembering their past but potentially as a legal document establishing their legitimacy as a nation whose every move was divinely orchestrated and sanctioned as they prepared to claim the promised land. It counters any potential polemic from neighboring nations who might claim the land was randomly seized, instead showcasing God's methodical preparation of His people. The emphasis on the written word ("wrote") indicates God's preference for an enduring, unalterable testament to His acts in history, providing a permanent basis for faith and future generations to draw instruction and assurance from.

Numbers 33 2 Commentary

Numbers 33:2 serves as the divine validation and framework for the meticulously detailed itinerary of Israel's journey through the wilderness. It establishes Moses not as an independent historian, but as God's faithful scribe, commissioned to document every departure and encampment. This isn't just a geographical list; it's a profound theological statement that underscores God's sovereignty and meticulous oversight of His covenant people. Every step was orchestrated by Him, dispelling any notion of aimless wandering or happenstance. The specificity "by the commandment of the LORD" highlights that even the mundane details of their historical movement were considered significant enough by God to be preserved as Scripture, bearing witness to His direct involvement in human history. This comprehensive record acted as both a testimony to past generations and a crucial instruction and reassurance for future ones, solidifying their heritage and affirming God's unfailing leadership through even the longest and most challenging journeys.