Numbers – Chapter 33

Old Testament56 Verses

Chapter Summary

"These are the mansions of the children of Israel, who went out of Egypt by their troops under the conduct of Moses and Aaron," — so begins Numbers 33. The chapter centers on Moses and Aaron. Across its 56 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and sin and divine judgment. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1These are the mansions of the children of Israel, who went out of Egypt by their troops under the conduct of Moses and Aaron,

2Which Moses wrote down according to the places of their encamping, which they changed by the commandment of the Lord.

3Now the children of Israel departed from Ramesses the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the phase, with a mighty hand, in the sight of all the Egyptians,

4Who were burying their firstborn, whom the Lord had slain (upon their gods also he had executed vengeance,)

5And they camped in Soccoth.

6And from Soccoth they came into Etham, which is in the uttermost borders of the wilderness.

7Departing from thence they came over against Phihahiroth, which looketh towards Beelsephon, and they camped before Magdalum.

8And departing from Phihahiroth, they passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness: and having marched three days through the desert of Etham, they camped in Mara.

9And departing from Mara, they came into Elim, where there were twelve fountains of waters, and seventy palm trees: and there they camped.

10But departing from thence also, they pitched their tents by the Red Sea. And departing from the Red Sea,

11They camped in the desert of Sin.

12And they removed from thence, and came to Daphca.

13And departing from Daphca, they camped in Alus.

14And departing from Alus, they pitched their tents in Raphidim, where the people wanted water to drink.

15And departing from Raphidim, they camped in the desert of Sinai.

16But departing also from the desert of Sinai, they came to the graves of lust.

17And departing from the graves of lust, they camped in Haseroth.

18And from Haseroth they came to Rethma.

19And departing from Rethma, they camped in Remmomphares.

20And they departed from thence and came to Lebna.

21Removing from Lebna they camped in Ressa.

22And departing from Ressa, they came to Ceelatha.

23And they removed from thence and camped in the mountain Sepher.

24Departing from the mountain Sepher, they came to Arada,

25From thence they went and camped in Maceloth.

26And departing from Maceloth, they came to Thahath.

27Removing from Thahath they camped in Thare.

28And they departed from thence, and pitched their tents in Methca.

29And removing from Methca, they camped in Hesmona.

30And departing from Hesmona, they came to Moseroth.

31And removing from Moseroth, they camped in Benejaacan.

32And departing from Benejaacan, they came to mount Gadgad.

33From thence they went and camped in Jetebatha.

34And from Jetebatha they came to Hebrona.

35And departing from Hebrona, they camped in Asiongaber.

36They removed from thence and came into the desert of Sin, which is Cades.

37And departing from Cades, they camped in mount Hor, in the uttermost borders of the land of Edom.

38And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the Lord: and there he died in the fortieth year of the coming forth of the children of Israel out of Egypt, the fifth month, the first day of the month,

39When he was a hundred and twenty-three years old.

40And king Arad the Chanaanite, who dwelt towards the south, heard that the children of Israel were come to the land of Chanaan.

41And they departed from mount Hor, and camped in Salmona.

42From whence they removed and came to Phunon.

43And departing from Phunon, they camped in Oboth.

44And from Oboth they came to Ijeabarim, which is in the borders of the Moabites.

45And departing from Ijeabarim they pitched their tents in Dibongab.

46From thence they went and camped in Helmondeblathaim.

47And departing from Helmondeblathaim, they came to the mountains of Abarim over against Nabo.

48And departing from the mountains of Abarim, they passed to the plains of Moab, by the Jordan, over against Jericho.

49And there they camped from Bethsimoth even to Ablesatim in the plains of the Moabites,

50Where the Lord said to Moses:

51Command the children of Israel, and say to them: When you shall have passed over the Jordan, entering into the land of Chanaan,

52Destroy all the inhabitants of that land: Beat down their pillars, and break in pieces their statues, and waste all their high places,

53Cleansing the land, and dwelling in it. For I have given it you for a possession.

54And you shall divide it among you by lot. To the more you shall give a larger part, and to the fewer a lesser. To every one as the lot shall fall, so shall the inheritance be given. The possession shall be divided by the tribes and the families.

55But if you will not kill the inhabitants of the land: they that remain, shall be unto you as nails in your eyes, and spears in your sides, and they shall be your adversaries in the land of your habitation.

56And whatsoever I had thought to do to them, I will do to you.

Important Verses in Numbers 33

These are the mansions of the children of Israel, who went out of Egypt by their troops under the conduct of Moses and Aaron,

Numbers 33:1

Who were burying their firstborn, whom the Lord had slain (upon their gods also he had executed vengeance,)

Numbers 33:4

And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the Lord: and there he died in the fortieth year of the coming forth of the children of Israel out of Egypt, the fifth month, the first day of the month,

Numbers 33:38

And whatsoever I had thought to do to them, I will do to you.

Numbers 33:56

Historical Context

Numbers addresses israel on the threshold of the Promised Land, warned by the failures of the wilderness generation within the broader story of God's covenant people. Chapter 33 of 36 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a legal and cultic instruction given to Israel regarding worship, holiness, and daily life with 56 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Moses and Aaron, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. The chapter begins: "These are the mansions of the children of Israel, who went out of Egypt by their troops under the conduct of Moses and…" The chapter ends with: "And whatsoever I had thought to do to them, I will do to you. " Read against its original backdrop, Numbers takes its name from the two censuses of Israel and covers nearly forty years of wandering between Sinai and the plains of Moab. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Numbers around Wilderness traditions of the 13th century BC; final form by the 5th century BC.

Who Wrote It

Traditionally attributed to Moses, with priestly editing

When It Was Written

Wilderness traditions of the 13th century BC; final form by the 5th century BC

Catholic Commentary

The text sets forth laws and observances that distinguished Israel as a people consecrated to the Lord. A pivotal line is verse 1: "These are the mansions of the children of Israel, who went out of Egypt by their troops under the conduct of Moses and Aaron," The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

According to Catholic interpretation, this chapter contributes to the book's portrait of wilderness journey and God's faithfulness. the Church sees Israel's journey as an image of our pilgrimage to heaven (CIC 2119). The Catechism and the liturgy frequently draw on such passages to nourish faith and moral life (CIC 2559).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God guides His people through the desert. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Numbers 33 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.
  • God binds Himself to His people by covenant, and He never breaks His word.

People in This Chapter

Moses3 mentionsAaron2 mentions

Reflection for Today

Catholic exegesis approaches Numbers Chapter 33 with reverence, seeking both the literal sense and the spiritual meaning ordered to Christ.

Catholic theology recognizes that wilderness journey and God's faithfulness is not an abstract idea but a reality encountered in prayer, sacraments, and charity. This chapter contributes to that vision by stressing the call to holiness in ordinary life.

Consider praying with this chapter again at day's end, offering God gratitude for one insight received. The Church encourages daily contact with Scripture (CIC 1032) so that Christ's mind may be formed in us.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Numbers Chapter 33 about?

Numbers 33 contains 56 verses. It opens with "These are the mansions of the children of Israel, who went out of Egypt by their troops under the conduct of Moses and…" and closes with "And whatsoever I had thought to do to them, I will do to you. ". The book as a whole is narrative, census lists, and law.

What is a key verse in Numbers 33?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "These are the mansions of the children of Israel, who went out of Egypt by their troops under the conduct of Moses and Aaron," It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Numbers Chapter 33?

This chapter mentions Moses, Aaron.

Who wrote Numbers and when?

Traditionally attributed to Moses, with priestly editing. Wilderness traditions of the 13th century BC; final form by the 5th century BC.

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