Teks -- Numbers 12:16 (NET)

12:16 After that the people moved from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Num 12:16 - Paran

That is, in another part of the same wilderness.

JFB: Num 12:16 - pitched in the wilderness of Paran

The station of encampments seems to have been Rithma (Num 33:19).

Clarke: Num 12:16 - The wilderness of Paran

The wilderness of Paran - This could not be the same Paran with that mentioned Deu 1:1, for that was on the borders of the promised land, see the note on Deu 1:1, Deu 1:2; they were long near the borders of Canaan, and might have speedily entered into it, had it not been for their provocations and iniquities. They spent thirty-eight years in a journey which might have been accomplished in a few weeks! How many through their unfaithfulness have been many years in gaining that for which, in the ordinary procedure of Divine grace, a few days had been sufficient! How much ground may a man lose in the Divine life by one act of unfaithfulness or transgression! Israel wandered in the wilderness because Israel despised the pleasant land, and did not give credence to the word of the Lord. They would have a golden calf, and they had nothing but tribulation and woe in return.

Calvin: Num 12:16 - And afterward the people departed from Hazeroth

Num 12:16.And afterward the people departed from Hazeroth At first sight Moses appears to be at variance with himself: for he here states that he sent the spies at God’s command, whereas in Deu 1:22, he relates that he made this concession at the request of the people; ⁴⁸ but the two statements are easily reconciled. It is, indeed, unquestionable that God had regard to the infirmity and distrust of the people; for the spies are not sent to see in what direction the land was to be attacked, with which design two were afterwards sent by Joshua, but God had here no other object than to encourage them, when they else were cowardly and inert, to throw off their inactivity, and eagerly to advance. The necessity of such a remedy was evidently shown, when they all demanded this of Moses. The second narrative, therefore, is fuller, and in it Moses goes back further than he had done in the first, viz., that it arose from the timidity and pusillanimity of the people that he did not at onto hasten whither God invited him; for, if they had straightway obeyed, they would have won the land of their enemies without any delay; but they requested that a respite might be given them. It is, then, by no means inconsistent that Moses did, at the request of the people, what God at the same time enjoined, because tie saw that they were otherwise hesitating, and but little disposed to advance, and needed this stimulus. For, if the spies had honestly per.-formed their duty, the people would have been led forward as if they had seen the land themselves, which would have been the readiest means for putting an end to all delays.

First, however, the place is described, from whence the spies were sent, viz., at no great distance from mount Sinai, although they had encamped twice, so that it was their third station. It has already been stated in chapter 10, that the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran, which some understand to have been said by anticipation, (πρόληψιν,) as if Moses had said that, from the time when the people left Mount Sinai, they had not made any permanent halt, until they came to that wilderness, and there pitched their tents. But this opinion is by no means consistent; for it is clear that they stayed some time in Taberah; and many days were spent at the graves of lust, (Kibroth-hattaavah;) for there they were gorged for a month with the flesh of the birds, and then the pestilence attacked them, which cut off many of them, for whose burial it was necessary to provide. Now, their next halt was for more then seven days. It, therefore, appears probable to me that by the word Paran, a different place is not expressed; but that it is merely meant that, though they advanced, they still remained in some part of that wilderness. For, since the wilderness of Paran was in one direction contiguous to Mount Sinai, that name is sometimes given to it; for Moses certainly confounds them elsewhere, as also does the Prophet Habakkuk. (Deu 33:3; Hab 3:3.)

TSK: Num 12:16 - afterward // Hazeroth // the wilderness

afterward : Num 11:35, Num 33:18

Hazeroth : The exact situation of this place is unknown. Dr. Shaw computes it to be three days’ journey, i.e., thirty miles from Sinai. From this passage, it appears that the wilderness of Paran commenced immediately upon their leaving this station. Calmet observes, that there is a town called Hazor in Arabia Petrea, in all probability the same as Hazerim, the ancient habitation of the Hivites (Deu 2:23); and likewise, according to all appearances, the Hazeroth, where the Hebrews encamped.

the wilderness : Num 10:12, Num 13:3, Num 13:26; Gen 21:21; 1Sa 25:1; Hab 3:3

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Num 12:16 - Hazeroth // In the wilderness of Paran

Hazeroth where they abode , as is said, Num 11:35 , for Miriam’ s sake.

In the wilderness of Paran i.e. in another part of the same wilderness, as may be gathered from Num 10:12 : see also Deu 33:2 . It is possible they might have removed out of one part of that wilderness into another wilderness, and then returned again into another part of it, as we know the Israelites had many strange windings and turnings in their wilderness travels. And this part was more especially called Rithmah , Num 33:18 , and Kadesh-barnea , Num 13:26 Deu 1:19 , which were two noted places in that part, both which seem to be comprehended within their camp, or near adjoining to it.

Gill: Num 12:16 - And afterwards the people removed from Hazeroth // and pitched in the wilderness of Paran

And afterwards the people removed from Hazeroth,.... After seven days, where they had been so long at least; the cloud being returned to the tabernacle, and having been taken up, which was the signal for motion, the camps of Israel, in their order, removed and marched forward:

and pitched in the wilderness of Paran; at a place in it called Rithmah, Num 33:18; which, according to Bunting ^m, was eight miles from Hazeroth, near to which was another place called Kadesh, or else this was another name of Rithmah, see Num 13:3; and now the Israelites were very near the land of promise, and from hence they sent spies to make their observations on it, and bring a report of it; and had it not been for their ill conduct in that affair, in all probability would have been quickly in it, but on that account were kept out thirty eight years longer: it was on the twenty eighth or twenty ninth of the month Sivan the Israelites came to this place, according to the Jewish writers ⁿ, which month answers part of our May and part of June.