And all the congregation of the children of
Israel
journeyed from the wilderness of Sin
Where they had stayed some time, at least a week, as it should
seem, from the gathering the manna there six days, and resting on
the seventh:
after their journeys:
first from the wilderness of Sin to Dophkah, and from Dophkah to
Alusb, and from Alush to Rephidim, as appears from ( Numbers
33:12-14 ) their two stations at Dophkah and Alush are here
omitted, nothing very remarkable or of any moment happening at
either place:
according to the commandment;
or "mouth of the Lord" F4, who, either with an articulate
voice out of the cloud, ordered when they should march, and where
they should encamp; or else this was signified by the motion or
rest of the pillar of cloud or fire, which always went before
them, in which the Lord was:
and pitched in Rephidim;
which was a place on the western side of Mount Sinai: according
to Bunting F5, Dophkah was twelve miles from the
wilderness of Sin, and Alush twelve miles from Dophkah, and
Rephidim eight miles from Alush: and Jerom says F6,
according to the propriety of the Syriac language, it signifies a
remission of hands: and to which the Targum of Jonathan seems to
have respect, adding,
``the place where their hands ceased from the precepts of the law, wherefore the fountains were dried up;''and it follows:
and there was no water for the people to drink;
being a sandy desert place.