Israel's journey from Egypt to Moab

1As Israel travelled from Egypt under the command of Moses and Aaron, 2Moses kept a list of the places where they camped, just as the LORD had instructed. Here is the record of their journey:

3-4Israel left the Egyptian city of Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month.33.3,4 first month: See the note at 9.3. This was the day after the LORD had punished Egypt's gods by killing the firstborn sons in every Egyptian family. So while the Egyptians were burying the bodies, they watched the Israelites proudly33.3,4 proudly: Or “bravely”. leave their country.

5After the Israelites left Rameses, they camped at Succoth, 6and from there, they moved their camp to Etham on the edge of the desert. 7Then they turned back towards Pi-Hahiroth, east of Baal-Zephon, and camped near Migdol. 8They left Pi-Hahiroth,33.8 Pi-Hahiroth: Two ancient translations and the Samaritan Hebrew Text; the Standard Hebrew Text “a place near Hahiroth”. crossed the Red Sea,33.8 Red Sea: Hebrew hayyam “the Sea”, understood as yam suph, “Sea of Reeds” (see also the note at Exodus 13.18). then walked three days into the Etham Desert and camped at Marah. 9Next, they camped at Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. 10They left Elim and camped near the Red Sea,33.10 Red Sea: Hebrew yam suph, here referring to the Gulf of Suez, since the term is extended to include the north-western arm of the Red Sea (see also the note at Exodus 13.18). 11then turned east and camped along the western edge of the Sinai Desert.33.11 the western edge of the Sinai Desert: Hebrew “the Sin Desert”. 12-14From there they went to Dophkah, Alush, and Rephidim, where they had no water.33.12-14 Rephidim…no water: See Exodus 17.1-7. 15They left Rephidim and finally reached the Sinai Desert.

16-36As Israel travelled from the Sinai Desert to Kadesh in the Zin Desert, they camped at Kibroth-Hattaavah, Hazeroth, Rithmah, Rimmon-Perez, Libnah, Rissah, Kehelathah, Mount Shepher, Haradah, Makheloth, Tahath, Terah, Mithkah, Hashmonah, Moseroth, Bene-Jaakan, Hor-Haggidgad, Jotbathah, Abronah, Ezion-Geber, and finally Kadesh. 37When they left Kadesh, they came to Mount Hor, on the border of Edom.

38That's where the LORD commanded Aaron the priest to go to the top of the mountain. Aaron died there on the first day of the fifth month,33.38 fifth month: Ab, the fifth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-July to mid-August. forty years after the Israelites left Egypt.33.38: Nu 20.22-28; Dt 10.6; 32.50. 39He was one hundred and twenty-three years old at the time.

40It was then that the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Southern Desert of Canaan, heard that Israel was headed that way.33.40: Nu 21.1.

41-47The Israelites left Mount Hor and headed towards Moab. Along the way, they camped at Zalmonah, Punon, Oboth, Iye-Abarim in the territory of Moab, Dibon-Gad, Almon-Diblathaim, at a place near Mount Nebo in the Abarim Mountains, 48and finally in the lowlands of Moab across the River Jordan from Jericho. 49Their camp stretched from Beth-Jeshimoth to Acacia.

The LORD's command to conquer Canaan

50While Israel was camped in the lowlands of Moab across the River Jordan from Jericho, the LORD told Moses 51to give the people of Israel this message:

When you cross the River Jordan and enter Canaan, 52you must force out the people living there. Destroy their idols and tear down their altars. 53Then settle in the land—I have given it to you as your own.

54I will show you33.54 I will show you: See the note at 26.55,56. how to divide the land among the tribes, according to the number of clans in each one, so that the larger tribes will have more land than the smaller ones.33.54: Nu 26.54-56.

55If you don't force out all the people there, they will be like pointed sticks in your eyes and thorns in your back. They will always be trouble for you, 56and I will treat you as cruelly as I planned to treat them.