Numbers 33 5

Numbers 33:5 kjv

And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth.

Numbers 33:5 nkjv

Then the children of Israel moved from Rameses and camped at Succoth.

Numbers 33:5 niv

The Israelites left Rameses and camped at Sukkoth.

Numbers 33:5 esv

So the people of Israel set out from Rameses and camped at Succoth.

Numbers 33:5 nlt

After leaving Rameses, the Israelites set up camp at Succoth.

Numbers 33 verses

Numbers 33 5 Meaning

This verse details the initial movement of the Israelites after their liberation from Egypt, marking the definitive physical departure from servitude in Rameses and their first designated encampment at Succoth. It signifies the commencement of their wilderness journey under God's divine guidance.

Numbers 33 5 Context

Numbers chapter 33 serves as a divinely mandated record of the Israelite journey from their liberation in Egypt to the plains of Moab. This detailed itinerary, seemingly redundant with earlier Exodus accounts, provides a precise historical and geographical confirmation of God's leading and fulfillment of His promises. It is a formal, almost administrative log, emphasizing God's careful orchestration of every step. Verse 5 is the starting point of this meticulous chronicle, solidifying the initial act of deliverance. Historically, this move followed the tenth plague and the Passover, representing the first collective action of the freed nation. It establishes the theme of guided pilgrimage from slavery to promise that defines much of the Pentateuch.

Numbers 33 5 Word analysis

• And the children of Israel: (Hebrew: וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, U’v’nei Yisra’el) – Emphasizes the entire community, the covenant people as a distinct entity, acting corporately under God's direction. It is the continuation of Jacob's descendants who went down into Egypt.
• removed: (Hebrew: וַיִּסְעוּ, vayis’u) – A Hiphil imperfect verb with Waw-consecutive, meaning "they broke camp," "they journeyed," "they departed." It signifies a decisive, active movement, often indicating a journey undertaken according to God's command or leading. It marks the initiation of a major transition.
• from Rameses: (Hebrew: מֵרַעְמְסֵס, mi-Ram'ses) – Rameses was one of the store cities built by Israelite slave labor (Exo 1:11). It represents the culmination of Egyptian oppression and the very tangible place of their bondage. Departing from Rameses is symbolic of leaving behind a life of forced labor, pain, and hopelessness.
• and pitched: (Hebrew: וַיַּחֲנוּ, vayyaḥanu) – A Hiphil imperfect verb with Waw-consecutive, meaning "they encamped," "they settled." This indicates a deliberate stop, a setting up of temporary dwellings, rather than a random halt. It suggests order, divine provision for rest, and preparedness for the next stage of the journey.
• in Succoth: (Hebrew: בְּסֻכֹּת, b’Sukkôt) – Succoth means "booths" or "tents." It was the first designated encampment outside of purely Egyptian populated territory. Its name, "Booths," is significant as it later aligns with the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths, commemorating Israel's dwelling in tents during their wilderness journey (Lev 23:42-43). It was a logical rallying point for the large multitude to gather effectively as a distinct group, marked by their tent-dwelling existence as pilgrims.
• "removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth": This phrase captures the immediate consequence of the Passover and the final plague—a divinely initiated act of liberation followed by an immediate establishment of new, ordered living outside the former sphere of oppression. It marks the transition from slave camps to an ordered journey under God's direct guidance, even before the pillar of cloud and fire manifested to lead them forward from Succoth. This signifies not chaotic flight, but an organized, divinely led procession.

Numbers 33 5 Bonus section

• The meticulous cataloging of every stopping place in Numbers 33 serves as an undeniable proof of the historicity and factual accuracy of the Exodus narrative. It underscores God's providential care in leading His people step-by-step.
• The journey from Rameses to Succoth involved a mixed multitude (Exo 12:38), not solely Israelites, indicating God's broader redemptive work while still focusing on His covenant people.
• This first stage demonstrates Israel's initial act of obedience and trust in God's command to leave Egypt, despite the enormity of the undertaking and the uncertainty of the future.
• The transition from a settled life (albeit one of slavery) to a tent-dwelling existence (foreshadowed by Succoth, "booths") illustrates a complete shift in their lifestyle and identity, marking them as sojourners entirely dependent on God.

Numbers 33 5 Commentary

Numbers 33:5 is the precise biblical record of Israel's pivotal first step in freedom, moving from the tangible bonds of Rameses, the symbol of their oppression, to Succoth, their initial point of regrouping as a free nation. This short verse highlights God's absolute sovereignty and meticulous guidance over His people's liberation. It underscores that their departure was not a frantic escape but an ordered exodus directed by God, laying the foundational pattern for their subsequent journeying through the wilderness—movement by divine command, and rest at divine designation. It demonstrates the tangible reality of God delivering His promises, moving His people out of bondage into a new life of faith and journey.