Numbers 33:38 kjv
And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.
Numbers 33:38 nkjv
Then Aaron the priest went up to Mount Hor at the command of the LORD, and died there in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.
Numbers 33:38 niv
At the LORD's command Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor, where he died on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt.
Numbers 33:38 esv
And Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor at the command of the LORD and died there, in the fortieth year after the people of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.
Numbers 33:38 nlt
While they were at the foot of Mount Hor, Aaron the priest was directed by the LORD to go up the mountain, and there he died. This happened in midsummer, on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after Israel's departure from Egypt.
Numbers 33 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 20:22-29 | And they journeyed from Kadesh; and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came unto mount Hor. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron... Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah... And Aaron died there in the top of the mount... | Detailed account of Aaron's death, location, and reason. |
| Deut 32:50 | And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people: | God's command for Moses' similar death, referencing Aaron. |
| Deut 10:6 | And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera: there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead. | Mentions Mosera as the place of death, indicating Mount Hor's location or proximity. |
| Ex 28:1-43 | And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. | Establishment of Aaron's priesthood and the Aaronic line. |
| Lev 8:1-36 | And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take Aaron and his sons with him... Moses consecrated Aaron and his sons and anointed them. | Ordination of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood. |
| Num 20:12 | And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. | The cause of Aaron's death outside the Promised Land – Meribah. |
| Num 27:12-14 | And the Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim... for thou shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered: because ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation... | Moses' similar judgment for the same offense. |
| Deut 34:5 | So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. | Parallel account of Moses' death by divine decree. |
| Ex 16:35 | And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan. | References the 40-year period of wilderness wandering. |
| Acts 7:36 | He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. | Stephen's summary of the 40-year wilderness period. |
| Heb 3:17-19 | But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. | The generation whose carcases fell in the wilderness, fulfilling the 40 years. |
| Num 33:1-49 | These are the journeys of the children of Israel... from the land of Egypt. | Chapter 33 is a comprehensive itinerary of the Israelite's journeys, anchoring this event. |
| Num 10:11 | And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. | The Israelites beginning their journey from Sinai, showing initial timing. |
| Num 14:33-34 | And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years... | Prophecy of the 40-year judgment for unbelief. |
| Psa 95:10-11 | Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. | Reiterates the divine wrath and the 40-year period. |
| 1 Cor 10:1-12 | Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud... But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. | New Testament warning using the wilderness generation as an example. |
| Ex 29:9, 29 | ...and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute... and they shall wear them seven days, when they minister in the tabernacle of the congregation. | Priesthood is a perpetual office, continued through succession. |
| Heb 5:4 | And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. | Affirmation of the divine call for the high priesthood, personified by Aaron. |
| Lev 16:1-34 | The regulations for Aaron's service as High Priest on the Day of Atonement. | Details the critical role of the High Priest for the people. |
| Num 3:3 | These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office. | The named sons, emphasizing Eleazar's future role after Nadab and Abihu. |
| Jos 14:7 | Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. | Joshua's age at the time of the spies, fitting the forty-year period. |
| Num 20:28-29 | And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount... and Eleazar succeeded him in the priest's office. | Detailed account of the garment transfer and immediate succession. |
Numbers 33 verses
Numbers 33 38 Meaning
Numbers 33:38 precisely records the death of Aaron the High Priest on Mount Hor. This pivotal event, occurring at the direct command of the Lord during the fortieth year of Israel's wilderness wanderings and on the first day of the fifth month, signifies the conclusion of a significant era in the nation's journey and marks a transition in their spiritual leadership from Aaron to his son, Eleazar, as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.
Numbers 33 38 Context
Numbers 33:38 is a key historical marker within the broader context of Numbers chapter 33, which provides a detailed chronological record of the 42 encampments and stages of the Israelites' journey from their exodus from Egypt to the plains of Moab. This chapter serves as a historical and geographical anchor for the wilderness period.
Specifically, verse 38 falls within the later stages of this journey, at the very end of the almost 40-year wandering period, as the new generation prepared to enter Canaan. The death of Aaron signifies the end of the leadership of the old generation that sinned at Meribah, highlighting divine judgment even for prominent figures like Aaron and Moses, who were denied entry into the Promised Land due to their disobedience. This moment, ordained "by the commandment of the Lord," is not merely a record of a natural death but an event laden with theological significance regarding God's justice, the transition of leadership, and the purification of the nation before they could inherit the covenant land. The timing, the fortieth year, connects it directly to the end of the punishment for the generation that left Egypt.
Numbers 33 38 Word analysis
- And Aaron: (וְאַהֲרֹן, vəʾaharōn) - "Aaron," the elder brother of Moses, was divinely chosen as the first High Priest of Israel. His name means "mountain of strength" or "light-bringer." He served as the primary mediator between God and Israel, responsible for performing rituals of atonement and leading worship. His death here marks the passing of an foundational figure and the close of an era, directly involving God's prior judgment upon him for his part in the sin at the waters of Meribah (Num 20:12).
- the priest: (הַכֹּהֵן, hakkohen) - This title underscores his specific divinely appointed role and status. The Hebrew word kohen signifies one who stands before God on behalf of the people, consecrated for sacred service. His death impacts the entire priestly line and the nation's spiritual well-being, necessitating the immediate transfer of his office.
- went up: (וַיַּעַל, vayyaʿal) - From the root עָלָה (ʿalah), meaning "to ascend" or "to go up." This often implies an ascent of importance, whether for worship, battle, or a significant life event. Here, it denotes his physical ascent up the mountain for a specific, solemn purpose—his death, as commanded by God.
- into Mount Hor: (אֶל־הֹר הָהָר, ʾel-Hor ha-Har) - "Hor the mountain," signifying "mountain of the mountain." This phrasing often refers to a prominent or notable mountain. It is generally identified with Jabal Haroun (Aaron's Mountain), near Petra in modern-day Jordan. The specificity of the location indicates divine ordination and control, making it a sacred burial site for the high priest. Its height ensured a public display of the passing of garments and authority.
- at the commandment of the Lord: (עַל־פִּי יְהוָה, ʿal-pi YHWH) - Literally "at the mouth of Yahweh." This crucial phrase emphasizes that Aaron's death was not a random event or simple natural demise but a direct, sovereign act and decree from God. It highlights divine justice and sovereignty over life and death, even for His chosen servants (Num 20:24, Deut 32:50). It reinforces that even leaders are subject to God's ultimate authority.
- and died there: (וַיָּמָת שָׁם, vayyamot sham) - The immediate consequence of the divine commandment. The location "there" reiterates Mount Hor as the exact site of his death, adding to its sacred and memorable significance. This direct, unambiguous statement emphasizes the finality of this moment in Israel's history.
- in the fortieth year: (בַּשָּׁנָה הָאַרְבָּעִים, basshanah haʾarbaʿim) - This places the event definitively at the very end of the mandated wilderness wandering period, forty years after the Exodus. This length of time was specifically ordained by God as a judgment for the generation's disobedience and unbelief at Kadesh-Barnea (Num 14:33-34). Aaron's death within this year signifies the close of the old order and the transition to the new.
- after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt: (לְצֵאת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם, lətseth bəney Yisrael meʾerets Mitsrayim) - This phrase precisely dates the event from the foundational event of the Exodus, making the "fortieth year" a direct measure from Israel's liberation, anchoring this critical moment within their entire national history.
- in the first day of the fifth month: (בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ, bakhodesh hachamishi bəʾechad lakhodesh) - This very specific temporal detail provides an exact historical timestamp, typical of Mosaic authorship in the Pentateuch. It underlines the precision and historicity of the biblical narrative. The fifth month on the Hebrew calendar would correspond roughly to parts of July-August.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And Aaron the priest went up into Mount Hor at the commandment of the Lord": This phrase encapsulates divine authority, human submission, and a divinely ordained setting. It underscores that Aaron's ascent and subsequent death were not an arbitrary or natural event but part of God's sovereign plan, tied to specific judgments (Meribah) and the unfolding of Israel's journey. It symbolizes God's direct involvement in the leadership transitions of His people.
- "and died there, in the fortieth year": This connects Aaron's individual destiny directly to the nation's collective judgment. His death marks the culmination of the 40-year period of wilderness wanderings and the transition from the generation under divine wrath to the generation ready to enter the Promised Land. The precision in timing signifies the fulfillment of God's prophetic decree.
- "after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month": This further contextualizes the event within Israel's entire post-Exodus history, reinforcing its chronological significance. It grounds Aaron's passing as a verifiable historical milestone in the unfolding narrative of God's covenant people.
Numbers 33 38 Bonus section
- Succession of the High Priesthood: The account of Aaron's death on Mount Hor in Numbers 20:22-29, implicitly referenced here, details Moses stripping Aaron of his priestly garments and placing them on Eleazar. This ritualistic transfer symbolizes the continuity of the priestly office and God's sovereign choice of Eleazar as Aaron's successor, ensuring the perpetual nature of the Aaronic priesthood as established in the Law (Ex 29:9). This pre-figuring of an uninterrupted spiritual leadership underscores God's commitment to the covenant with His people, even in the face of human failure.
- The Symbolism of Mount Hor: The very location, a prominent mountain (perhaps Jabal Haroun or another site in Edom), serves as a majestic and somber stage for this significant event. The elevation symbolizes a final ascent before passing on, providing a vantage point from which the congregation could witness (or be aware of) the leadership transition. It also speaks to the sanctity associated with such an elevated place chosen for a high priest's passing under divine command.
- Divine Timing and Redemption: Aaron's death on the fortieth year, coinciding with the nearing end of Israel's judgment in the wilderness, illustrates God's perfect timing in executing both judgment and the move towards fulfillment of His promises. It signals the readiness of the new generation, purified by hardship, to receive their inheritance, reflecting a broader biblical pattern of suffering preceding blessing.
Numbers 33 38 Commentary
Numbers 33:38 presents a concise, yet profoundly significant, record of Aaron's death. It highlights not just the end of a life, but the divinely orchestrated conclusion of an era. The mention of "the commandment of the Lord" is critical, reminding the reader that Aaron's death was not merely natural but an act of divine judgment and sovereignty. This judgment stemmed from his shared disobedience with Moses at Meribah, where they failed to sanctify God's name (Num 20:12, 24). Thus, the verse implicitly emphasizes God's justice, even for His most consecrated leaders.
Occurring in the "fortieth year" of the Exodus, this event marks a climactic point in Israel's wilderness experience. It signifies the winding down of the period of punishment and purification for the generation of unbelief, as a new generation, trained in the wilderness, stood poised to enter the Promised Land. Aaron's death thus symbolizes a profound spiritual transition – from the leadership of those who rebelled to a new leadership, with Eleazar stepping into the High Priesthood (Num 20:28-29). This peaceful succession, facilitated by Moses stripping Aaron's priestly garments and clothing Eleazar in them, visually represents the unbroken continuity of the priestly office despite the change in individuals. It shows God's faithfulness to His institution of the priesthood, even when individuals fail. The highly specific timing details (first day of the fifth month) underscore the historical precision of the biblical record.