The Wilderness Wanderings – Exodus to Numbers
Exodus – Deuteronomy · c. 1446–1406 BC
From slavery in Egypt to the plains of Moab – Israel's 40 years in the wilderness, with the giving of the law at Sinai, the trials of the desert and the road to the promised land (Exod 12 to Num 36).
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The Wilderness Wanderings – Exodus to Numbers
Exodus – Deuteronomy · c. 1446–1406 BC
From slavery in Egypt to the plains of Moab – Israel's 40 years in the wilderness, with the giving of the law at Sinai, the trials of the desert and the road to the promised land (Exod 12 to Num 36).
Trip stops (24)
1
Rameses (Goshen)
Exod 12:37
The starting point. After the tenth plague Israel sets out from Rameses, about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children.
2
Succoth
Exod 12:37
The first camp after setting out. The people bake unleavened bread from the dough they brought out of Egypt.
3
Etham
Exod 13:20
On the edge of the wilderness. The Lord goes before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
4
The Red Sea (the crossing)
Exod 14:1-31
Pharaoh pursues them. Moses stretches out his hand over the sea, and the Lord divides the waters. Israel crosses on dry ground. Egypt's army drowns.
5
Marah
Exod 15:23-25
The water is bitter – the people grumble. Moses throws a log into the water, and it becomes sweet. "I am the Lord, your healer."
6
Elim
Exod 15:27
An oasis with twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. The people camp by the water.
7
Wilderness of Sin
Exod 16:1-36
The people grumble about hunger. The Lord sends quail in the evening and manna in the morning – "what is it?" The manna follows them for 40 years.
8
Rephidim
Exod 17:1-16
No water – Moses strikes the rock, and water flows. The Amalekites attack. As long as Moses holds up his hands, Israel prevails.
9
Mount Sinai
Exod 19:1 – Num 10:10
Israel camps at the mountain for almost a year. God gives the Ten Commandments, the law of the covenant and the instructions for the tabernacle. The golden calf. The whole of Leviticus is given here.
10
Taberah
Num 11:1-3
The people complain. The fire of the Lord burns at the edge of the camp. Moses prays, and the fire dies down. The place is called Taberah – "burning".
11
Kibroth-hattaavah
Num 11:31-34
"Who will give us meat to eat?" The Lord sends quail – but strikes the people with a great plague. The place is called "the graves of craving".
12
Hazeroth
Num 12:1-16
Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses because of his Cushite wife. Miriam is struck with leprosy for seven days.
13
Kadesh-barnea (Wilderness of Paran)
Num 13:1–14:45
Twelve spies are sent into Canaan. Ten come back with discouraging reports. The people refuse to go in. God's judgement: 40 years in the wilderness, one for each day the spies were away.
14
38 years in the wilderness
Num 15–19
The silent generation. Korah's rebellion, Aaron's staff that blossoms, the red heifer. The whole adult generation dies in the wilderness – except Caleb and Joshua.
15
Kadesh (again)
Num 20:1-13
Miriam dies and is buried. The people are thirsty again. In anger Moses strikes the rock twice instead of speaking to it – and loses the right to enter the promised land.
16
Mount Hor
Num 20:22-29
On the border of Edom. Aaron dies on top of the mountain, 123 years old. His son Eleazar takes over the high priest's garments. Israel mourns for thirty days.
17
The road around Edom
Num 21:4-9
Edom refuses them passage. The people grumble again. The Lord sends fiery serpents. Moses sets a bronze serpent on a pole – whoever looks at it lives.
18
Oboth
Num 21:10-11
A camp east of Moab on the way north along the eastern border of Edom.
19
The Arnon valley
Num 21:13-15
The deep gorge that forms the border between Moab and the Amorites. Israel crosses it and enters Amorite land.
20
Beer (the well)
Num 21:16-18
The Lord gives water. The people sing the song of the well: "Spring up, O well! Sing to it!" Princes and nobles dig it with their staffs.
21
Heshbon (victory over Sihon)
Num 21:21-30
Sihon, king of the Amorites, refuses passage and attacks. Israel defeats him and takes all his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok.
22
Bashan (victory over Og)
Num 21:33-35
King Og of Bashan comes out against Israel. "Do not fear him!" says the Lord. Israel defeats him, and all of Bashan becomes theirs.
23
The plains of Moab
Num 22:1 – Deut 34
Opposite Jericho, by the Jordan. Balak hires Balaam to curse Israel, but God turns it into a blessing. Moses gives his farewell speeches (Deuteronomy) and hands on the law.
24
Mount Nebo
Deut 34:1-8
Moses looks out over the whole promised land from Gilead to the Negev. "To your offspring I will give this land." Moses dies, 120 years old, and the Lord buries him. No one knows his grave.