Numbers 33:3

_AND THEY DEPARTED FROM RAMESES IN THE FIRST MONTH, ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH; ON THE MORROW AFTER THE PASSOVER THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WENT OUT WITH AN HIGH HAND IN THE SIGHT OF ALL THE EGYPTIANS._ Rameses - generally identified with Heroopolis, now the modern Abu-Keisheid (see the note at Exodus 12:37), which was probably the capital of Goshen, and, by direction of Moses, the place of rendezvous to the Israelites previous to departure (see the note at Exodus 12:37)....

3_And they departed from Rameses. _I do not approve of their opinion, who think that the name of this city is used for the whole land of Goshen: since it is not reasonable that they should have set forth at the same time from various distant and remote places. And this would still less accord with what presently follows, (222) that they went forth in orderly array; though it might not be the case that they all mustered together in the city, because it is hardly credible that so great a multitude could be received within its walls, but that by the order of Moses and Aaron, they were all assembled in the neighborhood of the city, so that they might be organized, lest in the confusion of their hurried march they should impede each other. After having stated that they went out by “the high hand” of God, for the purpose of extolling still more His wonderful power, he adds that the Egyptians w...

1-49 This is a brief review of the travels of the children of Israel through the wilderness. It is a memorable history. In their travels towards Canaan they were continually on the remove. Such is our state in this world; we have here no continuing city, and all our removes in this world are but from one part a desert to another. They were led to and fro, forward and backward, yet were all the while under the direction of the pillar of cloud and fire. God led them about, yet led them the right way. The way God takes in bringing his people to himself is always the best way, though it does not always seem to us the nearest way. Former events are mentioned. Thus we ought to keep in mind the providences of God concerning us and families, us and our land, and the many instances of that Divine care which has led us, and fed us, and kept us all our days hitherto. Few periods of our lives can b...

Verse Numbers 33:3. _FROM RAMESES_] This appears to have been the metropolis of the land of Goshen, and the place of rendezvous whence the whole Israelitish nation set out on their journey to the promised land; and is supposed to be the same as _Cairo_. Exodus 12:37, Exodus 12:37....

This list was written out by Moses at God’s command Numbers 33:2, doubtless as a memorial of God’s providential care for His people throughout this long and trying period. Numbers 33:3. For these places, see the marginal reference. Numbers 33:8 PI-HAHIROTH - Hebrew “Hahiroth,” but perhaps only by an error of transcription. However, the omitted “pi” is only a common Egyptian prefix. WILDERNESS OF ETHAM - i. e., that part of the great wilderness of Shur which adjoined Etham; compare Exodus 15:22

EXPOSITION ITINERARY OF THE WANDERINGS (Numbers 33:1). NUMBERS 33:1 THESE ARE THE JOURNEYS. The Hebrew word מַסְעֵי is rendered σταθμοί_ _by the Septuagint, which means "stages" or "stations." It is, however, quite rightly translated "journeys," for it is the act of setting out and marching from such a place to such another which the word properly denotes (cf. Genesis 13:3; Deuteronomy 10:11). Numbers 33:2

AND THEY DEPARTED FROM RAMESES,.... A city in Egypt, where the children of Israel, a little before their departure, seem to have been gathered together in a body, in order to march out all together, as they did. This place the Targum of Jonathan calls Pelusium. Dr. Shaw a thinks it might be Cairo, from whence they set forward; see Exodus 12:37 and it was IN THE FIRST MONTH; in the month Nisan, as the same Targum, or Abib, which was appointed the first month on this account, and answers to part of our March and April: ON THE FIFTEENTH OF THE FIRST MONTH, ON THE MORROW AFTER THE PASSOVER; that was kept on the fourteenth, when the Lord passed over the houses of the Israelites, and slew all the firstborn in Egypt, which made way for their departure the next morning; the Egyptians being urgent upon them to be gone: the children o

FIRST MONTH That is, April....

9. THE ENCAMPMENTS IN THE WILDERNESS CHAPTER 33:1-49 _ 1. The first stage: From Egypt to Sinai (Numbers 33:1)_ 2. The second stage: From Sinai to Kadesh (Numbers 33:16) 3. The third stage: From Rithmah to Kadesh-- The 38 years wandering (Numbers 33:18) 4. The fourth stage: From Kadesh to the plain of Moab-- The fortieth year (Numbers 33:37) The chapter shows most blessedly how the eye of God follows the journeys and wanderings of His people and how He keeps record of them. Nothing escapes His watchful eye. And He leads His people in spite of their failures to the promised goal. Noti

THE ITINERARY OF THE ISRAELITES BETWEEN EGYPT AND THE JORDAN (P) The time covered is rather more than forty years (Numbers 33:3; Numbers 33:38), and there is probably an artificial correspondence between the number of the years and the number of the stations, which, excluding the terminus (the plain of Moab), amount to Numbers 33:40. The names in Numbers 33:5 designate stations on the march from Egypt to Sinai; those in Numbers 33:16 places visited during the forty years-' wanderings; and those in...