Numbers 33 43

Numbers 33:43 kjv

And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth.

Numbers 33:43 nkjv

They departed from Punon and camped at Oboth.

Numbers 33:43 niv

They left Punon and camped at Oboth.

Numbers 33:43 esv

And they set out from Punon and camped at Oboth.

Numbers 33:43 nlt

They left Punon and camped at Oboth.

Numbers 33 verses

Numbers 33 43 Meaning

Numbers 33:43 describes a specific stage in the Israelites' wilderness journey: their departure from Hormah and encampment at Zalmonah. This verse continues the detailed itinerary of the Exodus generation, meticulously documenting their movements under God's direct guidance. It signifies continuous progress through challenging terrain and highlights God's constant presence in leading His people from one destination to the next, even after previous victories or defeats associated with the locations. The verse affirms God's faithfulness in guiding His people every step of their wilderness pilgrimage towards the Promised Land.

Numbers 33 43 Context

Numbers 33 functions as a highly structured itinerary, meticulously detailing the 42 stopping places of the Israelites during their forty years of wilderness wandering, from their departure from Rameses in Egypt to their arrival on the plains of Moab. This precise record serves several critical purposes: it confirms the historical authenticity of the Exodus and the subsequent wanderings; it unequivocally affirms God's constant, meticulous guidance of His people through formidable challenges; and it provides an indelible, detailed record of their long, often difficult, but divinely directed pilgrimage. Numbers 33:43 is simply one line item within this comprehensive divine travel log, marking the journey from a previously mentioned site (Hormah) to a new, named encampment (Zalmonah), illustrating the relentless progress of God's unwavering plan.

Numbers 33 43 Word analysis

• and (וַיִּסְעוּ, וַיַּחֲנוּ): The Hebrew 'waw' consecutive ("and") tightly links each stage of the journey. This emphasizes the sequential, continuous, and chronologically precise nature of the wilderness movements, indicating that each step was an integral part of God's divinely ordered plan.

• departed (וַיִּסְעוּ - vayyis’u):

  • From the root nasa (נָסַע), meaning "to pull up stakes," "to set out," "to journey." It conveys the definitive action of breaking camp and commencing movement.
  • Signifies a forward momentum consistently dictated by God's pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. It highlights the divine initiative for movement and the people's required response of obedience, even when moving through unknown or challenging terrains. This ongoing movement underscores the temporary and transitional nature of their wilderness dwelling.

• from Hormah (מֵחָרְמָה - me’Hormah):

  • Hormah (חָרְמָה): The name itself is highly significant, meaning "devotion" or "utter destruction" (from herem, חֶרֶם, referring to something set apart to God, often for complete destruction, typically by divine judgment).
  • Historical significance: This was a pivotal site where Israel previously experienced significant defeat (Num 14:45; Deut 1:44), after presumptuously attempting to enter Canaan against God's explicit command. Later, it became a site of victory when Israel fulfilled a vow of utter destruction against the local Canaanites and Amalekites (Num 21:1-3; Judg 1:17).
  • The act of leaving Hormah symbolizes moving past a location associated with both profound failure and subsequent divine judgment or vengeance. It emphasizes that despite past disobedience or triumphs tied to a place, God continues to lead His people on their destined path.

• and pitched (וַיַּחְנוּ - vayyakhnu):

  • From the root khanah (חָנָה), meaning "to bend down," "to encamp," "to pitch a tent," or "to settle down temporarily." It signifies the cessation of travel and the establishment of a temporary dwelling place.
  • This implies periods of divinely ordained rest, re-gathering, and preparation for the subsequent stage of the journey, all occurring under divine protection and direction. This recurring cycle of departure and encampment demonstrates God's consistent provision for their security and sustenance throughout the wilderness.

• in Zalmonah (בְּצַלְמוֹנָה - beTsalmonah):

  • Zalmonah (צַלְמוֹנָה): The precise etymological meaning is debated. It might relate to tselem (צֶלֶם - "image" or "idol," as in Gen 1:26), implying a "place of an image," possibly referring to a local pagan cult site. Alternatively, it could relate to tsel (צֵל - "shadow," "darkness," or "shade").
  • If "shadow" or "darkness," it could denote a challenging, desolate, or rugged locale, or a place offering limited respite, or even metaphorically a "darker" phase of their journey.
  • Regardless of its exact meaning, its specific mention emphasizes that every single stage of the journey, even through places whose names might carry suggestive or obscure meanings, was meticulously recorded and part of God's divinely orchestrated path. The primary significance is its identity as a divinely appointed stopping point.

• Words-group analysis:

• "departed from Hormah, and pitched in Zalmonah": This entire phrase encapsulates the disciplined and divinely controlled nature of the Israelite journey. It demonstrates constant divine supervision over every single movement of the entire nation. The deliberate transition from a place whose name carries profound historical weight and remembrance (Hormah) to another distinctly named encampment (Zalmonah) is central to God's overarching plan to lead His people through the wilderness to the Promised Land. The meticulous naming of each and every stop underscores God's absolute sovereign presence and His careful, personal management of His covenant people. It stands as a powerful testament to the fact that even locations associated with past failures, battles, or obscurity are interwoven into a larger, coherent divine narrative of redemption and faithful progression.

Numbers 33 43 Bonus section

The inclusion of every stopping point, even those not elaborated upon elsewhere in scripture, within Numbers 33 highlights God's comprehensive sovereignty, not only over major historical events but also over the seemingly minor details of His people's journey. This divine chronicling serves as a perpetual reminder that He orchestrates both the grand plan and its smallest components for His redemptive purposes. The specific move from Hormah to Zalmonah, like all the other 42 stations listed, stands as an irrefutable testament to Yahweh's unchanging commitment to His covenant promises. It powerfully illustrates that despite human failings and the arduous nature of the wilderness, God's divine plan unfolds precisely as He intended. This cyclical journey of 'departing and pitching' profoundly symbolizes the ongoing pilgrimage of faith for all believers – a series of necessary movements from past experiences, challenges, or comfort zones, always advancing forward, trusting implicitly in God's unerring leadership at every single stage until His ultimate destination is reached.

Numbers 33 43 Commentary

Numbers 33:43, embedded within Israel's extensive wilderness itinerary, concisely marks another sequential step in their pilgrimage: moving from a previous campsite to the next. The repeated structural pattern of "departed from X, and pitched in Y" found throughout the chapter underscores God's meticulous, continuous guidance over the entire nation. The act of leaving Hormah, a site weighted with the memory of both Israelite defeat and later divinely enabled destruction, and then encamping at Zalmonah (whose name's precise meaning, perhaps "darkness" or "image," doesn't override the divine command to go there), profoundly testifies to God's relentless purpose. This verse offers a reassuring witness that every stage of the covenant people's journey, even through rugged or unpromising territories, was specifically accounted for and orchestrating by the Almighty, a powerful testament to His unwavering faithfulness and constant, providing presence among His chosen ones.