Forty-two stations appear in the list. Eighteen do not appear elsewhere in the record of the journey (vv. 13, 19-29), and four mentioned previously are absent in this chapter (cf. 11:3; 21:19). Obviously this is a selective list. What was God's criterion for including what He did here? As one studies this account of Israel's experiences since leaving Egypt certain patterns begin to emerge. For example, similar events recurred with regularity such as judgment by death, victory over enemies, provision of water and food, and opposition from within Israel. Evidently Moses intended this record to help the Israelites recognize first, their failure to learn from their past, and second, God's continuing faithfulness in spite of this inability.275
Archaeologists have not yet discovered many of the sites named. They were probably only camping places in the desert.
33:1-49 After introductory comments (vv. 1-2), Moses gave a list of 12 important places where Israel stopped from Egypt to Mt. Sinai (vv. 3-15). Note that he did not describe the march by identifying the places where Israel stopped but by citing them as places from which they set out (v. 2). This emphasizes the importance of the goal of their journey: the Promised Land. They set out from these places on their trek to the land.
Moses described the journey from Mt. Sinai to Kadesh and from Kadesh back to Kadesh next (vv. 16-36). This includes the period of 38 years in which Israel wandered while the older generations died out. From the comparatively small number of sites mentioned it is probable that Israel stayed at some locations for long periods of time. The nation was probably at rest much more than it was in transit during these years.
Some scholars believe Israel reversed directions after leaving Mt. Hor (20:23) and marched north to bypass Edom at its north end rather than its south.276This view depends on identifying Punon and Oboth (vv. 42-44; cf. 21:10-11) with modern Feinan and el-Weibah, both of which are on Edom's west side rather than the east. These identifications are not sure, however. Deuteronomy 2:8 says the Israelites turned at Elath and Ezion-geber, which are at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba. Therefore this view seems unlikely.277
The last leg of the journey was from Kadesh, the second time, to the plains of Moab (vv. 37-49; cf. chs. 20-21).278
"His [Aaron's] death [vv. 38-39] came at a great age--a mark of God's blessing in his life. By the mercy of the Lord, his time was extended to the very last year of Israel's desert experience; his own sin (Num 20) kept him from living into the time of the conquest of the land."279
"Within the list of encampments are two short narratives that focus on the work of Moses (vv. 2-3) and Aaron (vv. 38-39). . . . Both narratives have the same comment that Moses (v. 2) and Aaron (v. 38) obeyed the command of the LORD.' Thus one of the purposes of this list within the larger strategy of the book appears to be to give a brief review of the work of these two great leaders. God used them and their obedience to lead the people in the wilderness for the forty years."280
"One impression cannot escape the student who has followed the account of Numbers up to this point, that is, the long-suffering grace of God in preserving a people as He had originally promised, through all the experiences of this vast number of places."281
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