Numbers 33:9

Summary

The verse narrates a stage in the wilderness itinerary: the Israelites depart from Marah and arrive at Elim, a site described as having a specific number of water springs and palm trees, where they set up camp.

Key words

• va-yyis'u ("and they set out", H5265) — qal narrative verb, third person masculine plural, continuing the chain of travel notices typical of this itinerary chapter.
• Eilimah ("Elim", H0362) — the place name Elim with a directional he suffix (H9011) attached, marking it as the destination "toward Elim."
• sh'teim 'esreh ("two-ten" = "twelve", H8147 + H6240) — a compound cardinal number; sh'teim is feminine dual "two," in construct-like sequence with 'esreh ("ten"), together yielding "twelve" to modify the following noun.
• 'einot mayim ("springs of water", H5869M + H4325G) — feminine plural noun in construct chain with "water," meaning "springs of water" rather than a generic term for water sources.
• va-yyachanu ("and they encamped", H2583) — qal narrative verb closing the verse, marking the completion of the movement sequence (departure → arrival → encampment).

What the text says

The verse follows the repetitive three-part structure common to this itinerary list: departure (va-yyis'u mi-Marah, "and they set out from Marah"), arrival (va-yyavo'u Eilimah, "and they came to Elim"), and encampment (va-yyachanu sham, "and they encamped there"). Each verb is a qal narrative form (vav-consecutive), producing a simple sequential chain: "and then... and then... and then."

Between arrival and encampment, the text inserts a descriptive clause about Elim itself: u-ve-Eilim sh'teim 'esreh 'einot mayim ve-shiv'im temarim ("and at Elim, twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees"). This clause has no verb; it is a nominal sentence stating what is present at the location, using the construct chain 'einot mayim ("springs of water") to specify the type of springs, and pairing it with shiv'im temarim ("seventy palm trees") as a parallel numerical description. The directional he on Eilimah (word 8) marks movement toward Elim, distinguished from the following be-Eilim (word 10-11), which uses the preposition be ("in/at") to locate the springs there rather than to indicate motion.

Differences between versions

The Hebrew states sh'teim 'esreh ("twelve") springs, and this number is reflected in the Vulgate (duodecim fontes, "twelve springs") and in RV1909/SBLIBRE (doce fuentes, "twelve springs"). The LXX text as given renders the number as οβ΄ πηγαὶ, a Greek numeral notation representing "seventy-two" springs, differing numerically from the Hebrew and from the Latin/Spanish translations, which align with the Hebrew "twelve." The LXX also renders "Marah" as Πικριῶν ("of Bitterness"), translating the meaning of the place name rather than transliterating it, unlike the Hebrew Marah (H4785) and the Vulgate Mara, which preserve it as a proper noun.