Numbers 33:34
And they removed from Jotbathah, and encamped at Ebronah.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּסְע֖וּ
And they removed
H5265
וַיִּסְע֖וּ
And they removed
Strong's:
H5265
Word #:
1 of 4
properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e., start on a journey
Historical Context
The 40-year period in the wilderness was punishment for unbelief (14:26-35), but also preparation. The generation that entered Canaan had known only desert life and total dependence on manna—they had no nostalgic attachment to Egypt.
Questions for Reflection
- How does viewing earthly life as a series of temporary 'encampments' rather than permanent settlements change your priorities?
- What attachments prevent you from 'moving' when God calls you to a new season?
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Analysis & Commentary
Removed from Jotbathah, and encamped at Ebronah—עַבְרֹנָה ('Abrōnāh, perhaps from עֶבְרָה, 'crossing' or 'ford'). The root suggests a passage or transition point, though the exact location remains unidentified.
Israel's journey consisted of constant removal and encampment—never settling, always moving. This enforced nomadism trained them to trust God's timing rather than their own preferences. The patriarchs similarly 'confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth' (Hebrews 11:13), seeking a better country. Christian life mirrors this transience: we have no continuing city (Hebrews 13:14).