Forty-Two Journeys of the Israelites

1These are the journeys of the Israelites (God prevails) when they came out of the land of Egypt (land of bondage) by their divisions under the leadership of Moses (drawn out) and Aaron (light bringer). 2At the LORD’s {YHWH} command, Moses (drawn out) recorded the stages of their journey. These are the stages listed by their starting points:

3On the fifteenth day of the first month, on the day after the Passover, the Israelites set out from Rameses (child of the sun). They (he wrestles with God) marched out defiantly (marched out boldly)a in full view of all the Egyptians (double straits), 4who (double straits) were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD {YHWH} had struck down among them; for the LORD had executed judgment against their gods. 5The Israelites (God prevails) set out from Rameses (child of the sun) and camped at Succoth (booths).

6They set out from Succoth (booths) and camped at Etham (with them: their plowshare), on the edge of the wilderness.

7They set out from Etham (with them: their plowshare) and turned back to Pi-hahiroth (place where sedge grows), opposite Baal-zephon (lord of the north), and they camped near Migdol (tower).

8They set out from Pi-hahiroth [Hahiroth]b and crossed through the sea, into the wilderness, and they journeyed three days into the Wilderness of Etham (with them: their plowshare) and camped at Marah (bitter).

9They set out from Marah (bitter) and came to Elim (palms), where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.

10They set out from Elim (palms) and camped by the Red Sea (the Sea of Reeds).c

11They set out from the Red Sea and camped in the Desert of Sin (thorn).d

12They set out from the Desert of Sin (thorn / clay) and camped at Dophkah (knocking).

13They set out from Dophkah (knocking) and camped at Alush (I will knead bread).

14They set out from Alush (I will knead bread) and camped at Rephidim (resting places), where there was no water for the people to drink.

15They set out from Rephidim (resting places) and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai (thorny).

16They set out from the Wilderness of Sinai (thorny) and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah (graves of craving).

17They set out from Kibroth-hattaavah (graves of craving) and camped at Hazeroth (settlement).

18They set out from Hazeroth (settlement) and camped at Rithmah (heath).

19They set out from Rithmah (heath) and camped at Rimmon-perez (pomegranate of the breaking out).

20They set out from Rimmon-perez (pomegranate of the breaking out) and camped at Libnah (pavement).

21They set out from Libnah (pavement) and camped at Rissah (ruin).

22They set out from Rissah (ruin) and camped at Kehelathah (assembly).

23They set out from Kehelathah (assembly) and camped at Mount Shepher (beauty).

24They set out from Mount Shepher (beauty) and camped at Haradah (fear).

25They set out from Haradah (fear) and camped at Makheloth (place of assembly).

26They set out from Makheloth (place of assembly) and camped at Tahath (station).

27They set out from Tahath (station) and camped at Terah.

28They set out from Terah (station) and camped at Mithkah (sweetness).

29They set out from Mithkah (sweetness) and camped at Hashmonah (fatness).

30They set out from Hashmonah (fatness) and camped at Moseroth (bonds).

31They set out from Moseroth (bonds) and camped at Bene-jaakan (sons of twisting).

32They set out from Bene-jaakan (sons of twisting) and camped at Hor-haggidgad (cavern of Gidgad).

33They set out from Hor-haggidgad (cavern of Gidgad) and camped at Jotbathah (pleasantness).

34They set out from Jotbathah (pleasantness) and camped at Abronah (passage).

35They set out from Abronah (passage) and camped at Ezion-geber (backbone).

36They set out from Ezion-geber (backbone) and camped at Kadesh (holy) in the Wilderness of Zin (flat).

37They set out from Kadesh (holy) and camped at Mount Hor (mountain), on the outskirts of the land of Edom (red). 38At the LORD’s {YHWH} command, Aaron (light bringer) the priest climbed Mount Hor (mountain) and died there on the first day of the fifth month, in the fortieth year after the Israelites (God prevails) had come out of the land of Egypt (land of bondage). 39Aaron (light bringer) was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor (mountain).

40Now the Canaanite (merchant) king of Arad (a wild donkey), who lived in the Negev (southland) in the land of Canaan (lowland), heard that the Israelites (God prevails) were coming. 41And the Israelites set out from Mount Hor (mountain) and camped at Zalmonah (shady).

42They set out from Zalmonah (shady) and camped at Punon (darkness).

43They set out from Punon (darkness) and camped at Oboth (waterskins).

44They set out from Oboth (waterskins) and camped at Iye-abarim (ruins of Abarim) on the border of Moab (of his father).

45They set out from Iyim (Iye-abarim)e and camped at Dibon-gad (wasting) (troop).

46They set out from Dibon-gad (wasting) (troop) and camped at Almon-diblathaim (concealing the two cakes).

47They set out from (concealing the two cakes) Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim (the mountains beyond the river)f facing Nebo (prophet).

48They set out from the mountains of Abarim (regions beyond) and camped on the plains of Moab (of his father) by the Jordan (flowing down) across from Jericho (city of palms).

49And there on the plains of Moab (of his father) they camped by the Jordan (flowing down), from Beth-jeshimoth (house of the desolation) to Abel-shittim (the Meadow of the Acacias).g

Instructions for Occupying Canaan

50On the plains of Moab (of his father) by the Jordan (flowing down) across from Jericho (city of palms), the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), 51“Speak to the Israelites (God prevails) and tell them: When you⁺ cross the Jordan (flowing down) into the land of Canaan (lowland), 52you⁺ must drive out before you⁺ all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places.

53You⁺ are to take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you⁺ the land to possess. 54And you⁺ are to divide the land by lot according to your⁺ clans. Give a larger inheritance to a larger clan and a smaller inheritance to a smaller one. Whatever falls to each one by lot will be his. You⁺ will receive an inheritance according to the tribes of your⁺ fathers.

55But if you⁺ do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you⁺, those you⁺ allow to remain will become barbs in your⁺ eyes and thorns in your⁺ sides; they will harass you⁺ in the land where you⁺ settle. 56And then I will do to you⁺ what I had planned to do to them.”