Numbers 33 8

Numbers 33:8 kjv

And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.

Numbers 33:8 nkjv

They departed from before Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, went three days' journey in the Wilderness of Etham, and camped at Marah.

Numbers 33:8 niv

They left Pi Hahiroth and passed through the sea into the desert, and when they had traveled for three days in the Desert of Etham, they camped at Marah.

Numbers 33:8 esv

And they set out from before Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and they went a three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.

Numbers 33:8 nlt

They left Pi-hahiroth and crossed the Red Sea into the wilderness beyond. Then they traveled for three days into the Etham wilderness and camped at Marah.

Numbers 33 verses

Numbers 33 8 Meaning

Numbers 33:8 recounts a pivotal stage in Israel's exodus journey: their departure from the camp before Pi Hahiroth, their miraculous passage through the midst of the Red Sea, their subsequent three-day trek into the wilderness of Etham, and their final encampment at Marah. This verse succinctly details a momentous transition from Egyptian pursuit and divine deliverance to the beginning of the wilderness wanderings marked by new challenges.

Numbers 33 8 Context

Numbers chapter 33 serves as a historical record, an itinerary detailing the forty-two encampments of the Israelites during their forty years of wilderness wandering from Egypt to the plains of Moab. This verse, Numbers 33:8, pinpoints the crucial immediate post-Exodus phase. Following the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, which is explicitly described here, Israel definitively severed ties with their Egyptian past. The historical context is of a newly liberated people, transitioning from oppressive bondage to divine dependence, led by God's pillar of cloud and fire. The specific geographical points – Pi Hahiroth, the Sea of Reeds (Red Sea), the wilderness of Etham, and Marah – delineate their journey immediately after the greatest demonstration of God's saving power. It sets the stage for the challenges of desert life that would shape their identity as a nation.

Numbers 33 8 Word analysis

• They set out (נָסְעוּ, nas‘u): This Hebrew verb signifies "to pull up stakes," "to break camp," or "to journey forth." It implies an organized departure, emphasizing God's ongoing leading of Israel.

• from before Hahiroth (מִלִפְנֵי הַחִירֹת, milliphney haChiroth): Pi Hahiroth means "mouth of the gorges" or "place of the reeds." This specific location was where Pharaoh thought Israel was "hemmed in" (Exod 14:3), making the Red Sea miracle all the more dramatic. "From before" indicates their direct line of sight or proximity.

• and passed through (וַיַּעַבְרוּ, vayya‘avru): The verb implies an act of crossing or transition. Here, it refers to the miraculous act of traversing the sea on dry ground.

• the midst of the sea (בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם, betokh hayyam): "Midst" emphasizes the depth and fullness of the sea, highlighting the impossibility of the feat without divine intervention. "The sea" refers to the Yam Suph, traditionally understood as the Red Sea or Sea of Reeds, the location of God's unparalleled deliverance.

• into the wilderness (אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּרָה, el-hammidbārâ): "Wilderness" (midbar) is not a desert in the sense of barren sand dunes, but an arid, uninhabited region used for grazing. This shift signifies entering a new, challenging environment where dependence on God would be paramount. It represents a journey away from known civilization into the unknown, reliant on divine provision.

• and they went (וַיֵּלְכוּ, vayyelchu): A simple verb of motion, denoting continued progress after the spectacular sea crossing.

• a three days' journey (דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים, derekh shloshet yamim): This specifies the duration of their travel after crossing the sea, implying continuous movement rather than quick stops. It signifies the distance and effort required to reach their next major waypoint. This duration is consistent with the initial request to Pharaoh (Exod 3:18) which now takes on real significance as the immediate reality after liberation.

• in the wilderness of Etham (בְּמִדְבַּר אֵיתָם, b'midbar Eytham): Etham (’Êṯām) was the edge of the wilderness, suggesting they were now truly out of Egyptian territory and fully in the uncultivated regions. It’s a specific geographical area, indicating the precision of their divinely guided itinerary.

• and camped (וַיַּחֲנוּ, vayyaḥanu): This denotes setting up their temporary dwelling, indicating a significant stopping point in their journey.

• at Marah (בְּמָרָה, b'Mārâh): Marah (מָרָה, mārāh), meaning "bitter," is a famous site in the Exodus narrative (Exod 15:23). Its name directly alludes to the bitter waters found there, serving as a reminder of their first major test in the wilderness and God's provision.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "They set out from before Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness": This phrase encapsulates the climactic moment of the Exodus. It highlights God's strategic placement of Israel at Pi Hahiroth, leading directly to the unprecedented miracle of passing through the sea. This event is not merely an escape but a profound act of divine deliverance that marked their true liberation from Egypt, symbolizing a "death" to their old life and a "rebirth" into the wilderness, a new territory of dependence on God.
  • "and they went a three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah": This section describes the immediate reality following the miracle. It emphasizes the journey from dramatic salvation into immediate physical challenge. The "three days' journey" is significant as it highlights the relatively short duration between overwhelming divine rescue and the next major test (bitter waters at Marah). It shows that freedom from bondage does not equate to instant ease, but to a path of reliance on God for every need in a demanding environment.

Numbers 33 8 Bonus section

• The stark contrast between the spectacular miracle of the Red Sea crossing and the immediate harsh reality of the three-day journey into the wilderness, leading to the bitter waters of Marah, highlights a consistent theme in the spiritual life: divine salvation often ushers in periods of testing and reliance, rather than immediate comfort. God often leads His people through trials to refine their faith and reveal His sustained provision.
• The "three days' journey" has been a recurrent motif in the biblical narrative (e.g., Abraham's journey to Moriah in Gen 22:4; Jonah's time in the fish in Jon 1:17; Christ's time in the tomb in Matt 12:40), often signifying a period of anticipation, revelation, or significant transition leading to a critical encounter or change. In this context, it marks the span between their profound salvation and their first major test as a freed people.
• This verse underscores God's meticulous care in guiding His people, even to precise geographical locations for both profound demonstrations of His power and crucial lessons in dependency. Nothing in their journey was haphazard; it was all part of God's strategic plan to shape a nation wholly reliant on Him.

Numbers 33 8 Commentary

Numbers 33:8 offers a concise, yet powerful summary of Israel's initial, monumental steps after their escape from Egypt. It marks a crucial pivot from the realm of bondage to a path of divine leadership and testing. The sequence of events – departing a specified location near the sea, the miraculous crossing through the Red Sea on dry land, and then journeying for three days into a distinct wilderness area to encamp at Marah – encapsulates both overwhelming salvation and immediate challenge. The Red Sea crossing served as a unique spiritual "baptism" into their new covenant relationship with God, establishing His role as their powerful deliverer. However, this immediate transition into the "wilderness of Etham" and specifically to "Marah," known for its bitter waters, illustrates God's pedagogy. He moved them swiftly from the euphoria of deliverance to the reality of the desert, where physical needs would press hard, forcing them to learn complete dependence on Him, not just for grand miracles but for daily sustenance and purification from "bitterness."