Numbers 33 41

Numbers 33:41 kjv

And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah.

Numbers 33:41 nkjv

So they departed from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.

Numbers 33:41 niv

They left Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.

Numbers 33:41 esv

And they set out from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.

Numbers 33:41 nlt

Meanwhile, the Israelites left Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.

Numbers 33 verses

Numbers 33 41 Meaning

Numbers 33:41 meticulously records another segment of the Israelite Exodus journey, stating their departure from Mount Hor and their subsequent encampment at Zalmonah. This verse is part of a detailed itinerary compiled by Moses, serving as a historical chronicle of the divine guidance and purposeful movement of the people of Israel through the wilderness. It marks a transition point, as the community moves on from a significant previous station, demonstrating their ongoing obedience to God’s leading as they advance towards the Promised Land.

Numbers 33 41 Context

Numbers chapter 33 serves as a meticulous itinerary, chronicling every encampment and journey point of the Israelites from their departure from Egypt to their arrival on the plains of Moab. This chapter reinforces the historical accuracy and divine oversight of the Exodus event. Verse 41 specifically recounts a segment of this journey following the significant events at Mount Hor, where Aaron, the high priest, passed away (Numbers 33:38-39). The subsequent departure from this somber but momentous location and their movement to Zalmonah underscores God's unwavering command for Israel to press onward toward the Promised Land, regardless of previous experiences or difficulties. The entire chapter, including this verse, emphasizes God’s continuous and direct leadership over His people, demonstrating His faithfulness, orderliness, and absolute control over their every movement and destiny.

Numbers 33 41 Word analysis

• They set out (וַיִּסְעוּ, vayyis‘u): This is from the Hebrew verb נָסַע (nasa'), meaning "to pull up stakes," "to journey," or "to march." It denotes a collective, purposeful movement. The use of this verb consistently throughout Numbers 33 highlights that each move was an intentional, divinely-commanded action rather than a random wandering. It signifies their obedience to the signals, usually the pillar of cloud/fire (Num 9:17-23).

• from Mount Hor (מֵהֹר הָהָר, mehor ha-Har): This phrase literally means "from Hor the Mountain" or "from the mountain, Hor." Mount Hor was a highly significant landmark where Aaron, Moses' brother and the high priest, died and was buried (Num 20:22-29, Num 33:38-39). Their departure from this place marks a continuation of the journey beyond a major personal and national event, signifying God's continued forward leading despite loss.

• and encamped (וַיַּחֲנוּ, wayyachanu): From the Hebrew verb חָנָה (ḥana), meaning "to camp," "to pitch (a tent)," or "to settle down temporarily." Like "set out," this verb is used throughout the itinerary to emphasize that even their pauses were specific and directed, indicating divine provision for rest and refuge at particular points.

• in Zalmonah (בְּצַלְמֹנָה, bəTsalmonah): This is a proper noun identifying the specific location of their next encampment. Its exact geographical location is debated among scholars, but its inclusion signifies the meticulous nature of the record and the literal reality of the journey. The name might be related to "shade" or "darkness" but its specific meaning here is simply as a waypoint.

Words-group analysis

• They set out from Mount Hor: This phrase underscores the principle of divine movement after a significant spiritual and national moment. Even after a period of mourning and significant transition (Aaron's death and succession of Eleazar), God commanded continued forward progress. This reveals God's continuous initiative and the necessity of His people's unwavering response to His leading.

• and encamped in Zalmonah: This highlights that their journey was not aimless wandering but a series of distinct, divinely appointed stages. Each encampment was a point of rest and often, reflection or preparation, guided by God's pillar of cloud. This detailed recording testifies to God's omnipresence and meticulous care in directing every phase of Israel's journey through the wilderness.

Numbers 33 41 Bonus section

The inclusion of such precise travel details in Numbers 33, even for obscure locations like Zalmonah, serves multiple crucial purposes. Firstly, it historically verifies the reality of the Exodus and wilderness wandering, standing as a refutation against any claims that it was merely mythological. Secondly, it subtly reinforces YHWH's absolute control over time, space, and events, implicitly polemicizing against the unpredictable and often chaotic fate attributed to pagan deities. Each stage, carefully listed, underscores God's unwavering covenant commitment, assuring His people that their future steps, like their past ones, would be guided by His unchanging plan. The very mundane nature of this itinerary, therefore, carries profound theological weight, portraying God as a meticulous conductor of His people's journey.

Numbers 33 41 Commentary

Numbers 33:41, as part of the detailed Israelite itinerary, highlights the core truth of God’s personal and precise leading of His people. Their entire forty-year journey was a series of specific, divinely-ordered movements and rests. Departing from Mount Hor, a place recently marked by sorrow and the death of Aaron, and moving to Zalmonah, demonstrates God’s constant providence. The repetitive structure of "setting out from... and encamping in..." throughout this chapter is not mere geographical recording but a powerful theological statement. It asserts God’s sovereignty over every step of Israel’s pilgrimage, affirming His faithfulness to guide them through challenging landscapes and significant life events toward their promised inheritance. It reinforces the understanding that every journey, physical or spiritual, taken by faith is meticulously orchestrated by divine will.