Numbers 33:34Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The thirty-first encampment signifies a passage. To this encampment arrives the authentic Jew, the passer-by, who proclaims, I will witness this magnificent sight (Exodus 3:3). The Psalmist likewise proclaims, And ye that pass by shall not say, The blessing of the Lord is upon you (Psalms 128:8). The imagery of this world is fleeting, prompting the saints to aspire toward a better realm, and their dissatisfaction with present circumstances leads them to sigh daily. I have reflected upon these matters and have poured out my soul, for I yearn to enter a place of wondrous dwellings, even unto the house of God (Ps. 41:5). It would take considerable time to gather the testimonies from the entirety of Holy Scripture related to the term ‘passage.’