Numbers 10 · Verse 33

Numbers 10:33

And they departed from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them.
Numbers 10:33, King James Version

Numbers 10:33 in other translations

BSBSo they set out on a three-day journey from the mountain of the LORD, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them.
WEBThey set forward from the Mount of the LORD three days’ journey. The ark of the LORD’s covenant went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them.
ASVAnd they set forward from the mount of Jehovah three days’ journey; and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting-place for them.
YLTAnd they journey from the mount of Jehovah a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah is journeying before them the journey of three days, to spy out for them a resting-place;
DARBYAnd they set forward from the mountain of Jehovah and went three days' journey; and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting-place for them.
BBESo they went forward three days' journey from the mountain of the Lord; and the ark of the Lord's agreement went three days' journey before them, looking for a resting-place for them;
WebsterAnd they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to seek a resting-place for them.

What does Numbers 10:33 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
33. they departed ... three days' journey--the first day's progress being very small, about eighteen or twenty miles. ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them--It was carried in the center, and hence some eminent commentators think the passage should be rendered, "the ark went in their presence," the cloud above upon it being conspicuous in their eyes. But it is probable that the cloudy pillar, which, while stationary, rested upon the ark, preceded them in the march--as, when in motion at one time (Ex 14:19) it is expressly said to have shifted its place.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 33 The ark - went before them - We find from Num 10:21 that the ark was carried by the Kohathites in the center of the army; but as the army never moved till the cloud was taken up, it is said to go before them, i. e., to be the first to move, as without this motion the Israelites continued in their encampments.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 10:33-36
Their going out and coming in, gives an example to us to begin and end every day's journey and every day's work with prayer. Here is Moses's prayer when the ark set forward, "Rise up, and let thine enemies be scattered." There are those in the world who are enemies to God and haters of him; secret and open enemies; enemies to his truths, his laws, his ordinances, his people. But for the scattering and defeating of God's enemies, there needs no more than God's arising. Observe also the prayer of Moses when the ark rested, that God would cause his people to rest. The welfare and happiness of the Israel of God, consist in the continual presence of God among them. Their safety is not in their numbers, but in the favour of God, and his gracious return to them, and resting with them. Upon this account, Happy art thou, O Israel! who is like unto thee, O people! God will go before them, to find them resting-places by the way. His promise is, and their prayers are, that he will never leave them nor forsake them.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Numbers 10:33 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּסְעוּ֙vai.yis.'Uand they set outH5265
מֵהַ֣רme.Harfrom [the] mountain ofH2022
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
דֶּ֖רֶךְDe.rekha journey ofH1870
שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetthreeH7969
יָמִ֑יםya.MimdaysH3117
וַאֲר֨וֹןva.'a.Ronand [the] ark ofH727
בְּרִית\־be.rit-[the] covenant ofH1285
יְהוָ֜הYah.wehYahwehH3068
נֹסֵ֣עַno.Se.a'[was] setting outH5265
לִפְנֵיהֶ֗םlif.nei.Hem<to> before themH6440
דֶּ֚רֶךְDe.rekha journey ofH1870
שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetthreeH7969
יָמִ֔יםya.MimdaysH3117
לָת֥וּרla.Turto seek outH8446
לָהֶ֖םla.Hemfor <the> them
מְנוּחָֽה\׃me.nu.Chaha resting placeH4496

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Numbers 10:33

  • Deuteronomy 1:33

    Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.

  • Exodus 3:1

    Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

  • Joshua 4:7

    Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

  • Matthew 11:28-30

    Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

  • Ezekiel 20:6

    In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:

  • Judges 20:27

    And the children of Israel enquired of the Lord, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

  • Numbers 10:12

    And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.

  • Hebrews 13:20

    Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

  • Exodus 19:3

    And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

  • Psalms 95:11

    Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

  • Isaiah 66:1

    Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

  • Hebrews 4:3-11

    For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the mount.
Ex 3:1; 19:3; 24:17,18
the ark.
De 9:9; 31:26; Jos 4:7; Jud 20:27; 1Sa 4:3; Jer 3:16; Heb 13:20
went before.
Ex 33:14,15; De 1:33; Jos 3:2-6,11-17; Jer 31:8,9; Eze 20:6
a resting place.
Ps 95:11; Isa 28:12; 66:1; Jer 6:16; Mt 11:28-30; Heb 4:3-11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Numbers 10:32

    And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the Lord shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.

  • Numbers 10:33

    And they departed from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them.

  • Numbers 10:34

    And the cloud of the Lord was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.

Read all of Numbers 10

Numbers 10:33 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Así partieron del monte de Jehová camino de tres días; y el arca de la alianza de Jehová fué delante de ellos camino de tres días, buscándoles lugar de descanso.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ils partirent de la montagne de l’ Éternel, le chemin de trois jours; et l’arche de l’alliance de l’ Éternel alla devant eux, le chemin de trois jours, pour leur chercher un lieu de repos.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie brachen auf von dem Berge Jehovas, drei Tagereisen weit, und die Lade des Bundes Jehovas zog drei Tagereisen vor ihnen her, um ihnen einen Ruheort zu erkunden;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Profecti sunt ergo de monte Domini viam trium dierum, arcaque fœderis Domini præcedebat eos, per dies tres providens castrorum locum.