Exodus 19:2
For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּסְע֣וּ
For they were departed
H5265
וַיִּסְע֣וּ
For they were departed
Strong's:
H5265
Word #:
1 of 12
properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e., start on a journey
וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙
and were come
H935
וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙
and were come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
3 of 12
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר
in the wilderness
H4057
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר
in the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
4 of 12
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
וַיִּֽחַן
and had pitched
H2583
וַיִּֽחַן
and had pitched
Strong's:
H2583
Word #:
6 of 12
properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch a tent; generally to encamp (for abode or s
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר
in the wilderness
H4057
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר
in the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
7 of 12
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
וַיִּֽחַן
and had pitched
H2583
וַיִּֽחַן
and had pitched
Strong's:
H2583
Word #:
8 of 12
properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch a tent; generally to encamp (for abode or s
שָׁ֥ם
H8033
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
and there Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
and there Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
10 of 12
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Cross References
Exodus 17:1And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.Exodus 3:1Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.Exodus 3:12And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.Exodus 18:5And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:Exodus 17:8Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
Historical Context
Rephidim was the site of Israel's recent victories and complaints (Exodus 17). The transition from Rephidim to Sinai moves from crisis-based encounters with God to covenant establishment. Archaeological evidence suggests massive ancient campsites in the Sinai region.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Israel's shift from plural to singular grammatically signify about covenant community?
- How do the lessons learned at Rephidim prepare Israel for what they'll encounter at Sinai?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.
The Hebrew 'vayichan' (and camped) shifts from plural to singular—Israel camps as ONE people before God's mountain. This grammatical shift is theologically loaded: the rabble of tribes becomes a unified nation. Rephidim, the site of water-from-the-rock and victory over Amalek through Moses' raised hands, gave way to Sinai where God Himself would descend. The phrase 'neged hahar' (before/opposite the mount) positions Israel as witnesses to divine revelation—they face the mountain where heaven will touch earth.