Numbers 33:31

Study note

Setting — Moses records the Israelites' wilderness itinerary as they move between encampments following the Exodus. The narrator lists their departure from Moseroth and subsequent stop at Bene-jaakan as part of a chronological travel log.

The words — The Hebrew verbs וַיִּסְעוּ (va.yis.‘û) and וַיַּחֲנוּ (va.ya.cha.nû) literally mean "and they set out" and "and they encamped." These paired terms mark the standard pattern of departure and rest in the wilderness journey.

The thread — This route appears in Deuteronomy 10:6, which notes the Israelites traveled from Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah. The same geographical markers appear in the surrounding itinerary lists of Numbers 33:30 and 33:32.

Why it lands — The text records a routine military-style march without commentary on the destination's significance. A reader must note the exact location names to track the covenant community's physical progress toward the promised land.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.