Numbers 33:37
And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּסְע֖וּ
And they removed
H5265
וַיִּסְע֖וּ
And they removed
Strong's:
H5265
Word #:
1 of 8
properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e., start on a journey
וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙
and pitched
H2583
וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙
and pitched
Strong's:
H2583
Word #:
3 of 8
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
הָהָ֔ר
in mount
H2022
הָהָ֔ר
in mount
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
5 of 8
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
Historical Context
Mount Hor's precise location is debated (either Jebel Harun near Petra or Jebel Madurah northeast of Kadesh). Its significance lies not in exact geography but in theological function: it's where the Aaronic priesthood passed from father to son (Eleazar), ensuring continuity despite death.
Questions for Reflection
- Why is Mount Hor positioned 'on the edge'—neither in wilderness nor in Canaan—appropriate for Aaron's death?
- How does God ensure continuity of ministry across generational transitions (Aaron to Eleazar)?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom—הֹר הָהָר (Ḥōr hāhār, 'Mount Hor' or 'mountain of the mountain'). Positioned on Edom's border, this elevation would become Aaron's burial site, marking a major transition in Israel's leadership.
The geographic notation—in the edge of the land of Edom—underscores Israel's liminal status: no longer deep in wilderness, not yet in Canaan, but on boundaries of inhabited lands. They were poised for transition. Mount Hor represents the threshold moment when old leadership yields to new, prefiguring how Moses himself would later view but not enter the Promised Land.