Numbers 33:49-56

49 They camped along the Jordan on the plains of Moab, and their camp went from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Acacia.

50 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan River across from Jericho, the Lord spoke to Moses. He said,

51 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'When you cross the Jordan River and go into Canaan,

52 force out all the people who live there. Destroy all of their carved statues and metal idols. Wreck all of their places of worship.

53 Take over the land and settle there, because I have given this land to you to own.

54 Throw lots to divide up the land by family groups, giving larger portions to larger family groups and smaller portions to smaller family groups. The land will be given as the lots decide; each tribe will get its own land.

55 "'But if you don't force those people out of the land, they will bring you trouble. They will be like sharp hooks in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will bring trouble to the land where you live.

56 Then I will punish you as I had planned to punish them.'"

Numbers 33:49-56 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 33

This chapter gives an account of the journeys of the people of Israel, from their first coming out of Egypt, to their arrival in the plains of Moab by Jordan, and the names of the various stations where they rested are given, Nu 33:1-49 and they are ordered, when they passed over Jordan, to drive out the Canaanites, destroy their idols, and divide the land among their families in their several tribes, Nu 33:50-54 or otherwise it is threatened the Canaanites should be troublesome and vexatious to them, even those that remained; and it might be expected God would do to the Israelites as he thought to do to those nations, Nu 33:55,56.