The Stages of Israel's Journey from Egypt: Numbers 33.1-49
An appendix records the travel of Israel by stages. The biblical author claims it was recorded by Moses, but this version was probably recorded by the biblical author. It follows the following formula:
They set out from X and camped at Y. They set out from Y and camped at Z.Every now and then some extra information is added.
For simplicity's sake I will only list the places in order, with notable details if I find details to be notable. Be sure to read it all, there is a quiz at the end.
Rameses (First month, fifteenth day, "while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn." Ouch.)
Succoth
Etham (on the edge of the wilderness)
Pi-hahiroth
Marah (a three-day's trudge into the wilderness)
Elim (has 12 springs of water, 70 palms)
Red Sea (literally "Sea of Reeds")
Sin
Dophkah
Alush
Rephidim (where there is no water)
Sinai
Kibroth-hattaavah
Hazeroth
Rithmah
Rimmon-perez
Libnah
Rissah
Kehelathah
Mount Shepher
Haradah
Makheloth
Tahath
Terah
Mithkan
Hashmonah
Moseroth
Bene-ja-akan
Hor-haggidgad
Jotbathah
Abronah
Ezion-geber
Zin (also known as Kadesh)
Mount Hor (on the edge of Edom; where Aaron died at age 123 on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year of wandering)
Zalmonah
Punon
Oboth
Iyeabarim (in Moab)
(This is weird; the set out from Iyim, which is not mentioned before. Perhaps it is synonymous with Iyeabarim?)
Dibon-gad
Almon-diblathaim
Abarim
Jericho (in the plains of Moab by the Jordan)
Quiz: Which Abrahamic faith does Barack Obama subscribe to?
You can submit your answer in the comments. Correct answers only, please.
Directions for the Conquest of Canaan: Numbers 33.50-56
The Lord gives Moses instructions regarding what to do when they enter Canaan.
They shall drive out the inhabitants, destroy their idols (literally "figured stones" and "cast images"), and demolish their temples (literally "high places"). Once in Canaan, they shall divide the land by lot.
Then the Lord gives a command that shows that adherence to the Lord's word is absolutely crucial. They will not only be plagued by the people they did not remove, but the Lord will exact punishment on them equal to what he desired for their enemies. So after all that time, the promised land might not in fact belong to Israel. It's up to them. Let's end with that foreboding quote:
But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, then those whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides; they shall trouble you in the land where you are settling. And I will do to you as I thought to do to them.
(Num. 33.55-56)
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