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This is a review of the travels of the children of Israel through the wilderness. It was a memorable history, and well worthy to be thus abridged, and the abridgment thus preserved, to the honour of God that led them and for the encouragement of the generations that followed. Observe here —

I. HOW THE ACCOUNT WAS KEPT (ver. 2). "Moses wrote their goings out." When they began this tedious march God ordered him to keep a journal or diary, and to insert in it all the remarkable occurrences of their way, that it might be a satisfaction to himself in the review and an instruction to others when it should be published. It may be of good use to private Christians, but especially for those in public stations, to preserve in writing an account of the providences of God concerning them, the constant series of mercies they have experienced, especially those turns and changes which have made some days of their lives more remarkable. Our memories are deceitful, and need this help, that we may "remember all the way which the Lord our God has led us in this wilderness" (Deuteronomy 8:2).

II. WHAT THE ACCOUNT ITSELF WAS. It began with their departure out of Egypt, continued with their march through the wilderness, and ended in the plains of Moab, where they now lay encamped.

1. Some things are observed here concerning their departure out of Egypt, which they are minded of upon all occasions as a work of wonder never to be forgotten.

2. Concerning their travels towards Canaan, observe —

(1) They were continually upon the remove. When they had pitched a little while in one place, they departed from that to another. Such is our state in this world: we have here no continuing city.

(2) Most of their way lay through a wilderness, uninhabited, untracked, unfurnished even with the necessaries of human life, which magnifies the wisdom and power of God, by whose wonderful conduct and bounty the thousands of Israel not only subsisted for forty years in that desolate place, but came out at least as numerous and vigorous as they went in. At first they pitched in the edge of the wilderness (ver. 6), but afterwards in the heart of it. By lesser difficulties God prepares His people for greater. We find them in the wilderness of Etham (ver. 8), of Sin (ver. 11). of Sinai (ver. 15). Our removes in this world are but from one wilderness to another.

(3) That they were led to and fro, forward and backward, as in a maze or labyrinth, and yet were all the while under the direction of the pillar of cloud and fire. He led them out (Deuteronomy 32:10), and yet led them the right way (Psalm 107:7). The way God takes in bringing His people to Himself is always the best way, though it does not always seem to us the best way.

(4) Some events are mentioned in this journal, as their want of water at Rephidim (ver. 14), the death of Aaron (vers. 38, 39), the insult of Arad (ver. 40); and the very name of Kibroth-hattaavah, "the grave of the lusters" (ver. 16), has a story depending upon it. Thus we ought to keep in mind the providences of God concerning us and our families, us and our land, and the many instances of that Divine care which hath led us and fed us and kept us all our days hitherto.

( Matthew Henry, D. D..)

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KJV: These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.

WEB: These are the journeys of the children of Israel, when they went forth out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.