The Lord commanded Moses to record each stage of Israel's journey — from the day they left Egypt until they reached the plains of Moab. Moses wrote down every stop, every move, every step of their forty-year journey.
The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out boldly, right before the eyes of the Egyptians, who were mourning the death of their firstborn — for the Lord had struck them down and brought judgment upon Egypt's gods.
From Rameses, they camped at Succoth.
From Succoth, they moved to Etham, at the edge of the desert.
Then they turned back toward Pi Hahiroth, near Baal Zephon, and camped beside Migdol.
From there, they crossed through the Red Sea, walking into the wilderness. After three days in the Desert of Etham, they camped at Marah, where the water was bitter.
Then they moved on to Elim, a peaceful oasis with twelve springs and seventy palm trees.
They left Elim, camped by the Red Sea, then moved into the Desert of Sin, Dophkah, Alush, and Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.
From Rephidim, they journeyed to the Desert of Sinai.
Then they went from Sinai to Kibroth Hattaavah, where the people craved meat and were struck by a plague.
They continued to Hazeroth, Rithmah, Rimmon Perez, Libnah, Rissah, Kehelathah, and Mount Shepher.
From there, they moved to Haradah, Makheloth, Tahath, Terah, Mithcah, Hashmonah, Moseroth, Bene Jaakan, Hor Haggidgad, Jotbathah, Abronah, and Ezion Geber.
From Ezion Geber, they reached Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.
From Kadesh, they went to Mount Hor, on the border of Edom.
It was there that the Lord commanded Aaron to climb Mount Hor, where he died on the first day of the fifth month, in the fortieth year after Israel left Egypt. Aaron was 123 years old when he died.
While they camped there, the Canaanite king of Arad, living in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming.
The journey continued — from Mount Hor to Zalmonah, then to Punon, Oboth, Iye Abarim, Dibon Gad, Almon Diblathaim, and the mountains of Abarim near Nebo.
Finally, they camped on the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River from Jericho. Their camp stretched from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Shittim.
There, on the plains of Moab, the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
"When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, drive out all the people living there. Destroy their idols, smash their carved images, and tear down their high places. Take possession of the land, for I have given it to you as your inheritance.
Divide the land among your tribes by casting lots — a larger portion to a large tribe, and a smaller portion to a small tribe. Whatever falls to them by lot will belong to them.
But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will be like barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will trouble you in the land you live in. And if you disobey, I will do to you what I planned to do to them."