Numbers 33:23 kjv
And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in mount Shapher.
Numbers 33:23 nkjv
They went from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.
Numbers 33:23 niv
They left Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.
Numbers 33:23 esv
And they set out from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.
Numbers 33:23 nlt
They left Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.
Numbers 33 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 9:18 | "At the command of the LORD they journeyed, and at the command of the LORD they encamped..." | Divine leading of journeys and encampments |
| Num 9:23 | "...At the command of the LORD they encamped, and at the command of the LORD they journeyed..." | Emphasis on God's precise direction |
| Exod 13:21 | "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud... and by night in a pillar of fire..." | God's visible guidance during their travels |
| Deut 8:2 | "And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness..." | Remembering God's faithfulness in guidance |
| Ps 78:52 | "He led his people forth like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock." | God's shepherd-like leadership |
| Ps 107:7 | "He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in." | God leads to a place of rest/destination |
| Isa 48:17 | "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go." | God as instructor and guide |
| Neh 9:12 | "Moreover, you led them by day with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire..." | Acknowledging God's continued guidance |
| Psa 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | God's word illuminates the path |
| Prov 3:5-6 | "Trust in the LORD with all your heart... He will make your paths straight." | Trusting God for direction |
| Josh 3:17 | "The priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground..." | God clearing the path into the promised land |
| Jer 2:6 | "...Who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits..." | Recalling the challenging wilderness journey |
| Heb 3:7-11 | "...Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion..." | The importance of obedience during the journey |
| Heb 4:1-9 | "Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it." | The ultimate spiritual rest awaiting believers |
| 1 Cor 10:1-6 | "Our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea..." | Israel's journey as spiritual lesson for believers |
| 2 Cor 5:7 | "For we walk by faith, not by sight..." | Journey of faith for believers |
| Phil 3:14 | "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." | Pressing forward in the spiritual journey |
| Deut 2:7 | "For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness..." | God's awareness and blessing in the journey |
| Ps 23:2-3 | "He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." | God's restorative and guiding hand |
| Isa 42:16 | "And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them..." | God guides those who are spiritually blind |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good..." | God orchestrates all stages of the journey |
| Col 2:6 | "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him..." | Continued walking/journeying in Christ |
| Heb 11:13-16 | "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar..." | Believers as sojourners awaiting a heavenly country |
Numbers 33 verses
Numbers 33 23 Meaning
Numbers 33:23 records a specific stage in the wilderness journey of the Israelites. It details their departure from the camp at Mount Shapher and their subsequent encampment at Haradah. This verse, part of a comprehensive itinerary, signifies God's precise guidance and the structured progression of the nation of Israel as they moved through the wilderness under His direct command, toward the promised land of Canaan. Each journey and encampment was a direct act of obedience to divine leading, illustrating God's meticulous care and Israel's continued reliance on Him.
Numbers 33 23 Context
Numbers chapter 33 serves as a historical and geographical appendix, meticulously documenting all the stages of the Israelites' journey from their departure from Egypt through the wilderness until their arrival in the plains of Moab. This detailed itinerary emphasizes the extraordinary nature of God's leadership over His people for forty years. Each recorded stop, including the one at Haradah in verse 23, was a specific encampment where the pillar of cloud rested, signifying God's command to halt. Conversely, each departure occurred when the cloud lifted, signaling God's command to move. This detailed record reinforces the historical veracity of the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, countering any doubt about their reality. The entire list highlights God's constant presence, miraculous provision, and direct governance over His people's physical movements and their spiritual development during this prolonged period of testing and purification before entering the Promised Land.
Numbers 33 23 Word analysis
- And they journeyed: The Hebrew is וַיִּסְעוּ (vayyissu'). This is a continuous narrative verb, signifying the ongoing progression. The root נ.ס.ע. (nasa') means "to pull up stakes," "to journey," or "to depart." It implies a structured movement, not aimless wandering, but deliberate steps taken in response to God's directives. It connects to the theme of the mobile Tabernacle, ready to move when God led.
- from Mount Shapher: The Hebrew is מֵהַר שָׁפֶר (mehar Shapher).
- מֵהַר (mehar) means "from the mountain of" or "from Mount." It is the preposition 'from' (mem) attached to 'mountain' (har).
- שָׁפֶר (Shapher): The name itself is not deeply elucidated in other biblical contexts regarding its meaning or significance. Some etymologies suggest it might be related to "brightness," "beauty," or "to be fair/pleasing," or even "trumpet/ram's horn." However, in the biblical record of travel itineraries, place names often simply identify a specific location, indicating God's precise, known path for them, regardless of a known meaning for the modern reader. The specificity underscores the reality of the historical journey.
- and encamped: The Hebrew is וַיַּחֲנוּ (vayyaḥanū). The root ח.נ.ה. (ḥanah) means "to pitch a tent," "to encamp," or "to settle down." This verb consistently accompanies nasa' (journey) throughout the Exodus narrative, forming a pair that represents the cyclical nature of their divinely ordered travels: movement followed by rest, and rest followed by movement. It signifies the period of divine provision and rest God ordained for them before the next leg of their journey.
- at Haradah: The Hebrew is בַּחֲרָדָה (baḥaradah).
- בַּחֲרָדָה (baḥaradah) means "at Haradah" or "in Haradah," with בְּ (be-) being the preposition "in" or "at."
- חֲרָדָה (Ḥaradah): The name Haradah is possibly derived from the Hebrew root חָרַד (kharad), meaning "to tremble," "to shudder," or "to be anxious/frightened." If so, the place name could subtly allude to experiences of fear, trembling, or anxiety that the Israelites faced in the wilderness, or perhaps even the awe or dread associated with God's presence or judgments (e.g., Mount Sinai experience). Alternatively, it could simply be a place name whose etymological significance is lost or not intended to convey a deeper meaning beyond identifying the location. The existence of these places, however remote, attests to the factual nature of their wanderings.
Numbers 33 23 Bonus section
- The exhaustive list of 42 encampments in Numbers 33 reinforces the divine truthfulness and historicity of the wilderness wanderings. It's a testament to God's exact management, indicating that every location, every journey, and every rest was according to His predetermined plan.
- The fact that most of these places cannot be definitively identified on modern maps underscores their ancient origin and specific contextual relevance to the Israelite journey, rather than diminishing their significance. Their primary purpose in the text is to demonstrate the path God specifically led Israel on, fulfilling His promise to bring them into the land.
- This detailed itinerary served as a tangible memory for future generations of Israelites, reminding them of God's unwavering faithfulness through their wilderness journey. It cemented their identity as a people divinely chosen and supernaturally led.
Numbers 33 23 Commentary
Numbers 33:23 is not a theological pronouncement or a command, but a factual historical record within the comprehensive itinerary of Israel's journey. It functions as a meticulous ledger, emphasizing God's detailed supervision over every movement of His people. The consistent "they journeyed... and encamped" pattern found throughout Numbers 33 highlights two primary theological points: divine direction and human obedience. Every halt and every departure was strictly by the "command of the LORD" (Num 9:18-23), illustrating that Israel's journey was not haphazard, but perfectly orchestrated. Even though some locations, like Haradah, might seem obscure with names that evoke concepts like "trembling," the crucial message is that God led them through every terrain and experience, good or challenging, guiding them step by step towards their ultimate destination. This precision in record-keeping validates the divine authorship and meticulous planning behind their forty-year wilderness sojourn, setting a paradigm for how believers are guided by God in their spiritual walk—not without challenges, but with constant divine presence and purpose.