◄ Numbers 33:21 ►
They set out from Libnah and camped at Rissah.
Study Bible
They set out
This phrase indicates movement and transition, a common theme in the Israelites' journey through the wilderness. The Hebrew root for "set out" is "nasa," which means to pull up, especially the tent pegs, signifying the beginning of a journey. This action reflects obedience to God's command and a readiness to follow His guidance, emphasizing the importance of faith and trust in God's plan.

from Libnah
Libnah, meaning "whiteness" in Hebrew, was one of the stations in the Israelites' wilderness journey. Historically, Libnah was a Canaanite city that later became part of the territory of Judah. Its mention here serves as a reminder of the Israelites' progress and God's faithfulness in leading them through various stages of their journey. The name "whiteness" could symbolize purity or a fresh start, aligning with the idea of moving forward in faith.

and camped
The act of camping signifies a temporary halt in their journey, a time for rest and reflection. The Hebrew word "chanah" means to pitch a tent or encamp, suggesting a period of dwelling and community. This pause in their travels allowed the Israelites to regroup, worship, and prepare for the next phase of their journey, highlighting the importance of rest and spiritual renewal in the believer's life.

at Rissah
Rissah, meaning "dew" in Hebrew, is another station in the wilderness journey. Dew is often associated with blessing and provision in the Bible, as seen in passages like Deuteronomy 33:28. The mention of Rissah may symbolize God's provision and sustenance for the Israelites, even in the desert. It serves as a reminder of God's constant care and the refreshing presence of His Spirit in the lives of His people.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Libnah
A location where the Israelites camped during their wilderness journey. The name "Libnah" means "whiteness" in Hebrew, possibly referring to the white stones or chalky soil of the area.

2. Rissah
Another campsite for the Israelites. The name "Rissah" means "dew" or "moisture" in Hebrew, which could indicate a place with water or a refreshing environment.

3. The Israelites
The people of God, led by Moses, journeying from Egypt to the Promised Land. This passage is part of a larger account detailing their travels and encampments.

4. The Wilderness Journey
The broader context of this verse is the Israelites' 40-year journey through the wilderness, a time of testing, reliance on God, and preparation for entering the Promised Land.

5. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, who guided them through the wilderness under God's direction.
Teaching Points
God's Guidance in Every Step
Just as God led the Israelites from Libnah to Rissah, He guides us in our daily lives. We must trust His direction, even when the path seems unclear.

Significance of Each Place
Every stop in the Israelites' journey had a purpose. Similarly, every season in our lives, whether challenging or refreshing, is part of God's plan for our growth and preparation.

Faithfulness in Transition
The Israelites' journey was marked by constant movement. In our lives, we must remain faithful and obedient to God during times of transition and change.

Learning from the Past
Reflecting on the Israelites' journey helps us learn from their successes and failures. We should strive to avoid their mistakes by maintaining a soft heart and a willing spirit.

Dependence on God
The wilderness journey teaches us about reliance on God for provision and guidance. In our own lives, we must depend on Him for our needs and direction.
Bible Study Questions
1. What can we learn from the Israelites' journey from Libnah to Rissah about trusting God's guidance in our own lives?

2. How does the meaning of the names "Libnah" and "Rissah" enhance our understanding of the significance of these places in the Israelites' journey?

3. In what ways can we apply the lessons from the Israelites' wilderness journey to our own experiences of transition and change?

4. How does reflecting on the Israelites' journey help us avoid the pitfalls of hardening our hearts, as warned in Hebrews 3:7-19?

5. What are some practical ways we can demonstrate our dependence on God for provision and guidance in our daily lives, as the Israelites did during their wilderness journey?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 13-14
These chapters describe the beginning of the Israelites' journey from Egypt, highlighting God's deliverance and guidance, which sets the stage for their subsequent travels, including the encampments listed in Numbers 33.

Deuteronomy 8:2-4
This passage reflects on the purpose of the wilderness journey, emphasizing God's provision and the testing of the Israelites' faith, which is relevant to understanding the significance of each encampment.

Hebrews 3:7-19
This New Testament passage warns against hardening one's heart as the Israelites did in the wilderness, using their journey as a lesson for believers to remain faithful and obedient.
Sermons
The Journeyings of the IsraelitesD. Young Numbers 33:1-49
People
Aaron, Abel, Arad, Egyptians, Gad, Geber, Israelites, Moses, Perez, Tahath, Terah, Zephon
Places
0, Abarim, Abel-shittim, Abronah, Almon-diblathaim, Alush, Arad, Baal-zephon, Bene-jaakan, Beth-jeshimoth, Canaan, Dibon-gad, Dophkah, Edom, Egypt, Elim, Etham, Ezion-geber, Hahiroth, Haradah, Hashmonah, Hazeroth, Hor-haggidgad, Iye-abarim, Iyim, Jericho, Jordan River, Jotbathah, Kadesh-barnea, Kehelathah, Kibroth-hattaavah, Libnah, Makheloth, Marah, Migdol, Mithkah, Moab, Moseroth, Mount Hor, Mount Shepher, Nebo, Negev, Oboth, Pi-hahiroth, Punon, Rameses, Red Sea, Rephidim, Rimmon-perez, Rissah, Rithmah, Sinai, Succoth, Tahath, Terah, Zalmonah, Zin
Topics
Camped, Encamp, Encamped, Journey, Journeyed, Libnah, Pitched, Removed, Rissah, Tents, Traveled
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Numbers 33:3-48

     7222   exodus, events of

Library
Some Miscellaneous Matters Belonging to the Country About Jericho.
Let us begin from the last encampings of Israel beyond Jordan. Numbers 33:49: "They encamped near Jordan from Beth-jeshimoth unto Abel-shittim."--"From Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim were twelve miles." It is a most received opinion among the Jews, that the tents of the Israelites in the wilderness contained a square of twelve miles. So the Targum of Jonathan, upon Number 2:2; "The encamping of Israel was twelve miles in length, and twelve miles in breadth." And the Gemarists say, "It is forbidden …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Arbel. Shezor. Tarnegola the Upper.
"Arbel a city of Galilee."--There is mention of it in Hosea 10:14. But there are authors which do very differently interpret that place, viz. the Chaldee paraphrast, R. Solomon, Kimchi: consult them. It was between Zippor and Tiberias. Hence Nittai the Arbelite, who was president with Josua Ben Perahiah. The valley of Arbel is mentioned by the Talmudists. So also "The Arbelite Bushel." "Near Zephath in Upper Galilee was a town named Shezor, whence was R. Simeon Shezori: there he was buried. There …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Christ the Water of Life.
"Jesus answered and said unto her, Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life" (John iv. 13, 14). "Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John vii. 37). "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank …
Frank G. Allen—Autobiography of Frank G. Allen, Minister of the Gospel

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Kadesh. Rekam, and that Double. Inquiry is Made, Whether the Doubling it in the Maps is Well Done.
The readers of the eastern interpreters will observe, that Kadesh is rendered by all Rekam, or in a sound very near it. In the Chaldee, it is 'Rekam': in the Syriac, 'Rekem': in the Arabic, 'Rakim'... There are two places noted by the name Rekam in the very bounds of the land,--to wit, the southern and eastern: that is, a double Kadesh. I. Of Kadesh, or Rekam, in the south part, there is no doubt. II. Of it, in the eastern part, there is this mention: "From Rekam to the east, and Rekam is as the …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Peaceable Principles and True: Or, a Brief Answer to Mr. D'Anver's and Mr. Paul's Books against My Confession of Faith, and Differences in Judgment About Baptism no Bar to Communion.
WHEREIN THEIR SCRIPTURELESS NOTIONS ARE OVERTHROWN, AND MY PEACEABLE PRINCIPLES STILL MAINTAINED. 'Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?'--Psalm 58:1 SIR, I have received and considered your short reply to my differences in judgment about water baptism no bar to communion; and observe, that you touch not the argument at all: but rather labour what you can, and beyond what you ought, to throw odiums upon your brother for reproving you for your error, …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

In Death and after Death
A sadder picture could scarcely be drawn than that of the dying Rabbi Jochanan ben Saccai, that "light of Israel" immediately before and after the destruction of the Temple, and for two years the president of the Sanhedrim. We read in the Talmud (Ber. 28 b) that, when his disciples came to see him on his death-bed, he burst into tears. To their astonished inquiry why he, "the light of Israel, the right pillar of the Temple, and its mighty hammer," betrayed such signs of fear, he replied: "If I were …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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