The Journey of the People of Israel Through the Wilderness

Numbers 33 presents the itinerary of israel's journeys over the forty years of their wilderness wanderings. Israel would soon be entering into the land, and so it was a fitting occasion to look back upon the way that they had come in recounting their travels. They also needed to consider the lessons that they had learned upon the way. Although the forty years in the wilderness was in part a punishment for the people's refusal to enter the promised land on account of their unbelief, it was also an intensive period of training that israel had to undergo before they could graduate to life in the land.