Numbers 33 9

Numbers 33:9 kjv

And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there.

Numbers 33:9 nkjv

They moved from Marah and came to Elim. At Elim were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there.

Numbers 33:9 niv

They left Marah and went to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.

Numbers 33:9 esv

And they set out from Marah and came to Elim; at Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.

Numbers 33:9 nlt

They left Marah and camped at Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees.

Numbers 33 verses

Numbers 33 9 Meaning

Numbers 33:9 records a specific stage in the wilderness journey of the Israelites: their departure from Elim and their subsequent encampment by the Red Sea. This verse marks a progression in their divinely guided pilgrimage, indicating movement from a place of refreshing rest to another strategic stopping point in the desert. It is part of the meticulous historical record of Israel's forty years of wandering, underscoring God's precise leading and their obedience to His command.

Numbers 33 9 Context

Numbers 33 serves as a historical itinerary of the Israelites' wilderness wanderings from their departure from Egypt to their arrival on the plains of Moab. It systematically lists over forty distinct stopping places or "stages," often providing the starting and ending points for a journey segment. This chapter emphasizes the chronological progression of the Israelites' journey, demonstrating God's consistent leadership throughout their 40 years. It functions as a meticulous record, a testament to God's faithfulness, and a legal document affirming Israel's claim to the land.

Verse 9 falls within the early stages of this journey, shortly after the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea and the initial encounters with the wilderness hardships and divine provisions (like water at Marah and Elim). Elim, mentioned immediately prior, was a significant oasis, a brief period of comfort and refreshment provided by God. The subsequent movement from Elim to "by the Red Sea" marks another transition. While the Red Sea itself evokes memories of God's dramatic salvation, this encampment might not be the precise location of the initial crossing (Exodus 14), but rather another point along one of its branches (e.g., the Gulf of Suez or Aqaba), demonstrating that even after a season of rest, the journey towards the Promised Land continued. It implicitly reinforces God's ever-present guidance, even into regions where dangers or trials (or past deliverances) were close at hand. The consistent documentation of their journey serves to prove God's direct involvement in their pilgrimage, implicitly countering any notion that Israel's survival and progress were due to chance or pagan deities.

Numbers 33 9 Word analysis

• And they journeyed (וַיִּסְעוּ - vayyis'u):

  • This is from the root נ.ס.ע (n.s.'.a), meaning "to pull up stakes," "to set out," "to depart," or "to journey." It conveys intentional, often directed, movement.
  • Significance: It emphasizes that Israel was not aimlessly wandering but undertaking a directed expedition under divine leadership. Each journey segment was a step closer to their destiny.

• from Elim (מֵאֵילִם - me'Elim):

  • מִן (min) is the preposition "from."
  • אֵילִם (Eilim) is the name of the place. Elim means "ram" or "strong trees" (e.g., oaks or terebinths), often associated with "palm trees."
  • Significance: Elim was a significant place of abundant refreshment and relief (Exod 15:27: twelve springs, seventy palm trees) after the bitterness of Marah. Moving from Elim implies leaving a place of blessing and comfort, indicating that the journey of faith involves progression, even from places of provision.

• and encamped (וַיַּחֲנוּ - vayyachanu):

  • From the root ח.נ.ה (ch.n.h), meaning "to encamp," "to pitch tents," or "to settle down."
  • Significance: This signifies a period of rest or a strategic pause in their journey. The pillar of cloud and fire indicated both when to move and when to stop, demonstrating divine orchestration of their pace. It shows both God's command for movement and His provision for rest.

• by the Red Sea (עַל יַם־סוּף - al Yam Suph):

  • עַל (al) is the preposition "by," "upon," or "at."
  • יַם־סוּף (Yam Suph) translates to "Sea of Reeds" or "End Sea." This is the consistent biblical term for the Red Sea.
  • Significance: While not necessarily the exact crossing point, the term "Red Sea" (Yam Suph) is highly symbolic, immediately bringing to mind God's mighty act of deliverance and salvation in parting the waters. Encamping "by" it later in their journey could serve as a powerful reminder of God's past intervention, a constant visual cue of His power and their redeemed status. It might also represent a new phase of wilderness life, where their path ran parallel to or revisited significant geographic features related to their deliverance.

Numbers 33 9 Bonus section

The specific enumeration of each travel stage in Numbers 33 highlights God's sovereignty over every step of Israel's journey. It implies divine precision and purpose for every place visited, including those of comfort like Elim, and those of potential danger or historical significance like "by the Red Sea." This level of detail validates the entire historical account, demonstrating that Israel's exodus and wilderness journey were not random events but divinely orchestrated. The act of journeying from a place of past blessing and encamping by a place of past deliverance underscores that faith is dynamic and active, requiring forward motion and continuous reliance on God's provision and protection, rather than resting solely on past blessings or glories.

Numbers 33 9 Commentary

Numbers 33:9, though seemingly a simple geographical notation, encapsulates profound spiritual principles. Following a period of significant divine provision and rest at Elim—a literal oasis mirroring God's spiritual refreshment for His weary people—Israel is commanded to resume their journey. This demonstrates that even after receiving comfort and replenishment, the pilgrimage of faith requires continuous forward movement. The destination of their next encampment, "by the Red Sea," is equally significant. This recalls the foundational act of their redemption and liberation, serving as a powerful visual reminder of God's past faithfulness and miraculous power. It is a divine object lesson, instilling in them reliance on the same God who performed such wonders. The detailed recording of these movements, both the times of rest and times of travel, underlines God's meticulous care and sovereignty over every stage of His people's journey, validating His promise and ensuring their arrival in the Promised Land. The spiritual life mirrors this; there are seasons of Elim-like refreshing and seasons of journeying, often near the 'Red Sea' reminders of past grace and future reliance.