The Campsites of Israel through the Desert - Louis & Danette Davis

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Called to Canaan Volume 3 Revelation in the Wilderness A Study of the the Final… 14 …Camps of Israel Danette Davis and Shauna Manfredine Copyright © 2016 All rights reserved.  PREFACE Within the pages of this book, the reader will find the Name, Yahweh, or the shorter form, Yah, used to refer to our Covenant-keeping Heavenly Father. He had claimed the descendents of Jacob, and all who worshipped Yahweh. These are called “His son,” when they answered His Call to come out of spiritual darkness and follow Him in Light. Through Moses (Exodus 4:22-23), the Almighty brought the multitude out of Egypt by faith. Actually, Israel’s adoption was more about what Yahweh’s could do in fallen mankind than about their abilities. The journey from Egypt to Canaan, is a rehearsal revealing what it takes for the End-time, literal and spiritual sons of Jacob to inherit the ultimate Promised Land. The campsites throughout the Wilderness journey form a prototype for the stages of our redemption in the Last Generation. We, as they, must first learn to trust Him Who has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous Light. In this Called to Canaan trilogy, volumes one and two explored the process of bringing God’s people out of Egypt and into the adoption of sons of Yah. In volume one, covering the first fourteen camp lessons, we learn the steps Yahweh uses to take His people out of spiritual Egypt, and find what it takes to have spiritual Egypt taken out of us. In volume two, covering the middle fourteen camp lessons in the Wilderness, we find the Refiner’s Fire of character develop- ment, molding rebellious slaves into submitted sons. Through repeated chastisement Yahweh subverts our pride fitting us to receive our Heavenly Adoption. For whom [Yahweh]loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, (YAH) dealeth with you as with sons. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons, Hebrews 12:6-8. 2 In this third and final volume, our examination of the final 14 encampments in the Wilderness Journey is especially relevant. This is because we expect to soon face the same challenges, lessons, and tests which the Children of Israel faced in their Wilderness Journey. Many are experiencing the “quiz” level of these challenges now. Our spiritual Wilderness Journey begins with accepting Christ and walking with Him in faithfilled obedience. Their lessons and tests will prepare us to trust Yahweh, where former Israel failed. Israel’s level of obedience was proportionate to their level of surrender to Yahweh’s Will. Ancient Israel was as carnal as men and women are today, but Yahweh counted their efforts as “acceptable” when they repented and surrendered. Watch for these lessons throughout this volume. From this examination of these prophetic shadow pictures, we may apply the insights gained to our own lives. Within the pages of this volume, we will examine the camp-lessons (tikkun in Hebrew) which taught and tested ancient Israel in the final fourteen campsites, moving into the Last Events that complete this Redemption journey. There can be no question that the Wilderness Journey is a prophetic message which predominantly applies in the Last Days. Scripture states that these lessons, hidden in names, numbers, and experiences, are for our learning, upon whom the End of the World will come. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come, 1 Corinthians 10:11. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, Romans 15:4. Each of the camping places throughout this journey corresponds to a letter in Yahweh’s forty-two letter Name. These are the same forty- two letters that are found at the beginning of Torah.1 As we study the camp name, number and experiences, we will discover, letter by letter, the forty-two stages of the final Sealing process. They also lend understanding of the coming End-Time challenges in allegorical types. 3 May we have ears to hear and a will to follow through the intensity of these lessons. Victoriously facing these tests in full surrender is essential for the final sealing before we may enter the ultimate Canaan. The Wilderness Journey is an uncomfortable experience, to be sure. For the tests in it expose our own weaknesses; yet, also reveal our Saviour’s strength. What Yahweh requires, He enables His Children to complete in His strength. It is our part to surrender our will, it is His part to give us the victory. And He said unto me, My Grace is sufficient for thee: for My Strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9, Throughout this trying and testing process, the Great I AM is only asking to be believed and trusted. The devils believe, but they do not trust in Yahweh. We are “born again” into sons of the Living YAH by dwelling in explicit trust in His Divine Protection, Direction, Chas- tisment, and Sustenance. Our Yahweh will supply ALL OUR NEEDS by Yahshua (Philippians 4:19). Throughout Volume Three, as we explore the events that compose the final fourteen camp experiences, let us learn from Israel’s failures through arrogance and their victories through submission. The special focus of these final fourteen camplessons will be Spiritual Warfare. We must understand the wiles of the enemy to threaten and deceive. We must learn lessons from the past to strengthen our faith, that we be ready for what is coming in the near future. 4 CONTENTS All Scripture is given by inspiration of (Yahweh), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of (YAH) may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Volume 3: Called to Canaan: Revelation in the Wilderness Introduction: “The Journey Thus Far” 6 Chapter 1 - Camp 29: Unity Restored (Jotvathah) 13 Chapter 2 - Camp 30: Crossing Over (Abronah) 28 Chapter 3 - Camp 31: The Rooster Crows (Etzion Geber) 53 Chapter 4 - Camp 32: Wilderness Sanctuary (Kadesh Barnea) 66 Chapter 5 - Camp 33: Mountain of Mountains (Mt.Hor) 109 Chapter 6 - Camp 34: Encircling the Enemy (Zalmonah) 143 Chapter 7 - Camp 35: Israel at the Snake Pit (Punon) 160 Chapter 8 - Camp 36: Oboth: Encounter with the Occult 184 Chapter 9 - Camp 37: Beginning the Conquest (Iye 199 Abarim) Chapter 10 - Camp 38 : The Choice (Divon Gad) 218 Chapter 11 - Camp 39: Figs of Judgment (Almon Diblathaim) 224 Chapter 12 - Camp 40: Crossing Over Through Sexual Sin 236 (Abarim) Chapter 13 - Camp 41: From Shepherd to Warrior (Moab) 258 Chapter 14 - Camp 42: Sealing the Saints and Possessing 272 the Land (Abelshittim) Epilogue – Jericho & the Fall of Babylon 310 Bibliographical Footnotes 333 Volume 1: Reproof and Rules for the Road – Lessons from the First Fourteen Camps Volume 2: Choosing the Sons of God – Lessons from the Middle Fourteen Camps 5 INTRODUCTION The Journey Thus Far Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples; and C they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 1 Corinthians 10:11 alled to Canaan is a series of books which applies the journey of ancient Israel, from Egypt to Canaan, with the spiritual journey of the End-time children of God. This connec- tion between literal Israel and the final saints was first explained by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as [were] some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. 6 When he wrote 1 Corinthians 10:1-12, Paul was not writing to Jews. He was writing to a mixed multitude in Corinth, composed of both Jews and Gentiles who had accepted Yahshua as the Messiah. And this God’s Standard Operating Procedure, for Moses also led a mixed multitude to become the congregation of Israel. Numbers chapter thirty-three provides the listing of Israel’s forty-two campsites, faithfully recorded by Moses. As 1 Corinthians 10:11 explains, the camp experiences in this list are the tests which the people of God will face in the End of the World. Everything about this Wilderness Journey, even the numbers, holds great significance. The fact that there were 42 recorded camp locations in the Wilderness is not just an interesting factoid, rather it is a message bearing deep spiritual Truths:  As we have already stated, from Egypt to Canaan, a total of 42 campsites, with their related lessons and tests, are listed by Moses (in Numbers 33).  Yahweh’s sealing Name, translated into the KJV Bible as “I AM THAT I AM,” is 42 letters long in Hebrew: ‫אב”ג ית”ץ קר”ע שט”ן נג”ד יכ”ש בט”ר צת”ג חק”ב‬ ‫טנ”ע יג”ל פז”ק שק”ו צי”ת‬  Forty-two is also the number indicating the duration of the final Antichrist’s reign. Signifying the extreme testing God’s people will face in their confrontation with the Antichrist. (Revelation 11:2; 13:5).  Forty-two is made up of 6X7. Six is the number signifying man’s failure and weakness. Seven is the number of Yah’s perfection and strength. Thus 42 reveals the keys to Sanctification and Victorious Christian living.  Two bears came out of the woods and slew forty-two young men, who were showing disrespect to Yah and His servant Elisha (2 Kings 2:24). Thus we see a connection between the number 42 and Divine Judgment. 7  The phrase 'little children' appears forty-two times in the Old Testament, connecting the message of 42 with the process of becoming sons of the living God.  Minus the 6 cities of refuge, the tribe of Levi was given 42 cities as part of their inheritance in the land of milk and honey. (Numbers 6 – 7) This reveals a connection between the faithful priesthood and their Heavenly Inheritance.  Matthew records 42 patriarchs in the genealogy of Yahshua, connecting 42 with the Everlasting Covenant.  “The Life” as referred to in John 14:6, occurs 42 times in Scripture, the first being the record of the angel guarding the way to the Tree of Life. This reveals that 42 signifies everlasting Life, and the steps one takes to regain it.  Showing the Covenant, there are 42 lines in each column of Torah text.  Being the very heart of the Torah and the root system of all Truth, it is significant that the Torah text known as the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-6) is 42 words in Hebrew.  Psalms 100, a praise to the Creator God’s most exalted Name, contains 42 words.  Deepening the connection to the Sealing Message of 42, one must note that there are 42 days between the last day of Unleavened Bread (the time of getting sin out of the life) and Pentecost (the infilling of the Holy Spirit, or the Latter Rain, and the final Sealing).  The deceiver tries to mimic the significant things of Yahweh, for we see that Balaam offered 42 sacrifices trying to curse Israel (Num. 23:1, 14, 29). However, it is notable that Israel could not be cursed by the 42 – signifying God’s eternal of blessing and Covenant.  Forty two is connected with Light, specifically being the Light of the World. We see this in that it is the sum of the Menorah parts (knobs, flowers, and branches) Ex. 25:31-40. In this third book of the Called to Canaan series, the number forty-two and its significance in the life of Israel, the Messiah, and our personal lives being groomed for Eternity, all come together in the final drama. 8 By the time God’s Last Day people have come 2/3 of the way through their ultimate “Wilderness” testing, they may hope that the worst is over. After all, when we have come so far, aren't we assured of the reward? No! We have just been trained for the final Conflict! The Battle of Armageddon is an all-out war between all the powers of evil and all the forces of Heaven! We may see ourselves as insignificant spectators, merely observing Yah's power. But, there are no “wall- flowers” in this conflict. We are all being called into Yahweh’s Army! Trusting in Him, what we will become is beyond all imagination! We will fight the battle, in His Power – but make no mistake – if you are among the saved, you will be in the thick of the conflict! The prior camp lessons have dealt with belief, loyalty, sub- mission and a life-style of faith in the Covenant relationship you have entered with Yah. Firmly establishing the prior foundation matures the believers, preparing them to recognize and combat the all-out spiritual warfare battles of the final camp tests. These will include: witchcraft, Satanism, and surprise attacks of the enemy in the last lap of the journey. This is the period of the “roaring lion seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). This book is prayerfully intended to prepare God’s people to be suited up for battle. Preparation is vital, for you won't be watching from the grandstand!  9 SUMMARY OF THE INTRODUCTION  Volume 1 explored the parallels between the multitude leaving Egypt with our own conversion and walk by faith.  Experience strengthens faith, but faith must come from believing the Word of God.  Volume 2 focused upon the humiliating process that destroys carnal motivation and builds into our characters the meek and humble traits of the Saviour.  Without being emptied of pride and self-determination we will not be fit to endure the final test.  Volume 3 will lead into unchartered territory for most Christians, especially those in North America. Few have had prior experience, or have made note of the battle plan that will require self-discipline, weaponry, and Spiritual Warfare essential to forge through enemy land.  Imagery from the Book of Revelation may frequently appear throughout this final segment of our spiritual journey, for the journey symbolically begins when we answer the call to come out of Egypt/Babylon. 10 CHAPTER ONE Unity Restored: Jotvathah …And they went from Hor Haggidgad and pitched in T Jotvathah, Numbers 33:33. he final fourteen camp experiences of Israel, past and future, are all about spiritual warfare. Canaan must be conquered and the giants of the land defeated, in order for The final fourteen the Children of God to possess the camp experiences… Promised Land. For this reason, as you read this volume, we encourage you to are all about watch for the vital principles of effec- Spiritual Warfare. tive spiritual warfare woven through- out. Finding these warfare keys in the camp names and experiences of ancient Israel is a vital part of preparing Yahweh’s End-time saints for the upcoming battles with the enemy we must all soon face, climaxing in the epic Battle of Armageddon. Bearing this vital purpose in mind, let us turn our attention to Jotvathah, Israel’s first campsite in the final fourteen encamp- ments, or the twenty-ninth ordinal camp. The battles fought and giants conquered in this final segment of Israel’s wilderness experience culminated in the fall of Jericho, which foreshadows the fall of ultimate Babylon, at the end of the world. In naming this twenty-ninth encampment, Jotvathah, Moses conveyed the meaning of “unity” and “goodness.” Both are vital concepts for the Body of Christ to adopt in order to ensure victory in the battles ahead. Let’s first turn our attention to the 11 importance of unity within the Body of Christ. True unity is per- haps best expressed and understood in the Greek word koinonia. Koinonia is a transliterated form of the Greek word, κοινωνία, which means communion, joint participation; the share which one has in anything, participation, a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, etc. It identifies the idealized state of fellowship and unity that should exist within the Christian church, the Body of Christ,2 The word koinonia appears 19 times in most editions of the Greek New Testament. In our English Bibles, it is translated as “fellowship,” “sharing,” “unity,” “participation” and “contribu- tion.” True unity, or koinonia, begins with a joining of the faithful believers in unity with Yahshua and one another. This union is also experienced in practical daily life. The same bonds that link the individual to Yahshua also unite him with like-minded, fellow believers. These bonds are so vital and genuine that a deep level of intimacy can be experienced among the members of the Fellowship of Believers. The first usage of koinonia in the Greek New Testament is found in Acts 2:42-47, where we find a striking description of the deep unity shared by the early Christian believers: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the communion, to the breaking of bread and to prayer...All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need…They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. 12 In nature, Jotvathah’s koinonia is perhaps best illustrated by geese. When we see geese heading south for the winter, flying in their familiar “V” formation, we see the message of Jotva- thah in action in the exemplary “togetherness” of migrating geese. Like Israel in the desert, geese function with order, de- sign and inspiring unity. They look after one another as they make their epic journey. Science reveals that, as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift aiding the bird immediately behind it. By flying in a “V” formation, the flock together expends less energy, gaining over 70% more flying range than if each bird flew on its own. Moving together in a sense of community allows individual strengths to encourage and aid others in the group. Whenever one goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone. It will quickly work to get back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds in front. Similary, we Christians encourage and strengthen one another in our journey to ultimate Canaan. This is one reason we were instructed to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25), for a cord of many strands is not so easily broken. 13 When the lead goose tires, it rotates back in the formation, and another takes over the point position for a time. Whichever geese happen to be behind, support the leader by honking constantly. One reason for this is to encourage those up front to keep up their pace. Finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded, and falls out of the formation, two geese follow it down to stay with it and protect it. They stay until the goose is either able to fly again, or dies. They then launch out on their own or with another formation, making effort to catch up with their original group.3 Dr. Vance Havner, who provided sermon material for ministers for several decades, once said, “Christians, like snowflakes, are frail, but when they stick together they can stop traffic.”4 THE POWER OF KOINONIA Like the geese, who strengthen and aid each other in migration, members of the Body of Christ strengthen and edify each other through godly koinonia. Without it, believers will be less likely to survive the future battles coming in this dangerous final segment of our spiritual journey. This is why we we are counseled to live in koinonia, as it states in Hebrews 10:24-25: Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching, Hebrews 10:24-25. 14 Koinonia is something every Christian must first experience with Yahweh, before believers can practice it within the Body of Christ. It is a loving relationship with the Creator, characterized by intimate fellowship with YAH. We can know that the unity of koinonia is something God wants His people to Yahshua prayed enjoy. We know this because, while He was here on Earth, Yahshua pray- that His followers ed that His followers would exper- would experience ience true koinonia, finding unity with true koinonia, God and one another. The Saviour’s prayer is found in John Chapter Sev- finding unity with enteen. God and one another. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them (followers of Christ) out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world… Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word (the Saviour included you and me in His prayer); That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are One. I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me, John 17:15-23. Finding koinonia with Yahweh is the essence of restoration. Experiencing koinonia unity with the other believers in your church fellowship is essential in order to function in the Army of Yahweh. It is through koinonia that believers become the dynamic apostles ablaze with Truth, found in the first, Christian Church. 15 Believers need one another. This is why God designed for each believer to be in a Body of Believers. Like the geese migrating together, through koinonia with the Body of Christ, we are strengthened, edified, encouraged, comforted, and fortified to become mighty in battle. The Bible explains how powerful and effective the Church becomes, when united through true koinonia. …Upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven, Matthew 16:18-19. As we have already seen, Jotvathah is the first encampment in the final fourteen Wilderness camp-lessons and the beginning of the greatest Spiritual Warfare battles. Characterizing this final leg of our journey, it is significant that the time of our greatest Spiritual Warfare crises begins with Jotvathah, the place of godly unity or koinonia within the Body of Messiah. Yet, as vital and desireable as koinonia is to God’s End-time people, how and with whom it is achieved is also critical to our becoming the Holy Spirit-filled, hell-shattering Church, as Yahweh intends. Certainly, our role in the Body of Christ could be completely neutralized, if we became part of a mamby- pamby fellowship where the individuals held onto their sinful pasts and reject the elements of personal koinonia with Yahweh. MANDATORY UNITY Looking at Jotbathah; from a prophetic, Revelation-in-the- Wilderness, perspective; reveals the significance of godly unity in the Last Days. Yet, not recognizing the value of unity, nor understanding its role in the End, an increasing number of 16 Christians today may avoid fellowship and unification with any body of believers. They may recognize the dangers of becoming unified with the wrong side, and choose to become spiritual “islands” rather than take the chance of fellowshipping with or being influenced by the wrong people. But what these well- intentioned folks don’t seem to realize, is that unity isn’t something which can be avoided. The world is spiritually polarizing. And in the Battle of Armageddon, all will be unified either on the side of the Beast or under the In the End, every Banner or Yahweh. There is no middle ground – no spiritual Switzerland. man, woman and child, will be 100% We are in the time of polarization right possessed! now. In the End, every man, woman and child, will be 100% possessed! We will either be fully indwelt by the Holy Spirit, or completely possessed by evil spirits. But there can be no question that full unity is foretold in the prophecies of Revelation, characterizing both the sides of the fallen AND the faithful. “…And all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:3-4.. “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” Ephesians 4:12-13. The unified Body of Messiah is prophetically called Yahweh’s End-time Battle Axe, which He will ultimately wield to break the power of the Beast and his kingdom. 17 “Thou art My Battle Ax and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms,” Jeremiah 51:20. Unity is the key to strength in the spiritual battle. Certainly, we all know that a “house divided against itself can- not stand” (Mat- thew 12:25). But what we also need to recognize is that unity, within the Body of Messiah, is a vital source of strength and en- couragement to the Believer. Just as the geese need one another to successfully complete their marathon migrations, so the followers of Christ need the encouragement, edification, and “iron-sharpening” character development which can only be found through fellowshipping with the saints. “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend,” Proverbs 27:17. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the Day approaching, Hebrews 10:23-25. 18 Without godly unity, the Fellowship of Messiah is weak and ineffective. Thus, island isolation isn’t the answer to the concern about unifying with the wrong “body.” Careful, prayerful selection is the Jotvathah message that we find “good unity,” rather than avoiding it. THE KEY TO “GOOD” UNITY In addition to the brief Numbers 33 account, we can find a few more details about Israel’s experience at Jotvathah from the Bible record found in Deuteronomy 10:7. From Deuteronomy, we learn that this twenty-ninth camp, recorded for the edification of Yah- weh’s End-time saints, was set up in a Jotbathah means place of “pleasantness.” Character- “unity” and ized by clear flowing brooks, and pleasant pastures, Israel’s first camp “goodness” in the final fourteen encampments, called “Yatbah” in Deuteronomy 10:7, was a pleasant and good experience for the weary travelers. Yabah is from the root, y-t-v, meaning “goodness.” This is a term which signifies both natural and moral “goodness.”5 The letters “J” and the “Y” are often interchangeable, with the “J” being a younger letter in the Hebrew alephbet, but pro- ducing the same sound as the older “Y.” This is just one of several differences in spelling you will observe in the writing of these campsites between the Numbers account and the record in Deuteronomy. But, while the spelling is slightly different, the meaning is the same. To give significance to this camp on the wilderness journey, we must think of what a true Christian would consider as “peaceful prosperity.” A nominal Christian would not appreciate the Wilderness Journey, in the first place. But, to the genuine 19 follower of Yahweh, who is willing to enter His suffering, “in His presence is fullness of joy, and at His Right Hand are pleasures forever more,” Psalms 16:11. Think of it! We should be learning to enjoy submission to Yahweh now! The springs of Yotvathah were an important stop on the road through the Arava desert, located south of the Jordan hills. This Red Sea road later became a major trade route. During the time of Solomon, this route was used for trade with the southern kingdoms, bringing Ophir6 from Africa, Sheba, and Arabia (See I Kings 10),7 from which King Solomon built his wealth and fame, renowned world-wide. Although a desert now, the Bible record indicates that this was once a land of brooks and grasslands.8 The region is described in Deuteronomy 10:7 as “a land of rivers of waters.” Therefore, 20 Moses called this camp-station “Jotbath.” This is the same place as he had listed in the Numbers 33 itinerary as “Jotbathah.” It was a beautiful and refreshing place, to be com- pared with Elim, where fountains and palm groves beckoned to weary travelers. Often, after a period of chastisement, Yahweh, our Model Parent, and Yahshua, our spiritual Shepherd and Guide, send symbols of love and mercy after a period of great trial or chastisement. From this fact, we may learn that when we humble ourselves and turn completely to Him, He will lead us into the refreshment of His Presence,9 strengthening our faith in Him. It is also significant that the refreshment of springs of water are providentially at this spiritual “place of turning.” There the Holy Spirit draws us to the fountains of Living Water where we rejoice in His Presence as we confess and forsake our waywardness. Because Jotvathah literally means “goodness,” both natural and moral, we may know that the unity Israel enjoyed at this en- campment was “good.” Spiritually advancing in faith, Yahweh’s people are brought into the refreshment of the Holy Spirit, having just come through the chas- tisement of the Heavenly Father. The object of true discipleship is to keep our hearts humble on the “narrow Unity is not of road.” Throughout our spiritual jour- Yahweh when it is ney, circumcision of the heart and the obtained at the crushing pressure of tribulation are interspersed with peace and prosperity sacrifice of Truth. by the comfort of the Holy Spirit. This is by Yahweh’s loving Design as He works to bring about our greater bonding with Him; greater trust in His love and reliance upon Him for future guidance. These are the elements which produce unity of faith, at last. 21 Just as it is dangerous to isolate in the Last Days, it is equally unwise to join with just any spiritual body, simply because we desire unity with something. Unity is not of Yahweh when it is obtained at the sacrifice of Truth or the tolerance of evil. Using the roadmap of Scripture, we may find those who are traveling in the Homeward direction. With these we gather in formation. Thus, he analogy between geese in formation and individuals in a congregation only applies in certain ways and circumstances. We are not birds “flocking together” merely to flock. Sadly, because many are tempted to “flock together” as a vital end in itself, Truth is not accepted by many Christians, until it is endorsed by their pastor or respected leaders. But, that is not how our spiritual lives should be ordered. Yahweh is leading; He alone holds ALL Truth. Unite first with Yahweh, then with one another in spirit and love; but lean not on the arm of flesh. Depend upon Yahweh Almighty and His Word as you travel toward Home. In the Wilderness, when the people gathered under the inlufence of their tribal leaders, they often ended in rebellions against Moses. There is only a short step between unity among brethren and rebellion toward Yahweh. Even in our antitypical application, we find spirits of destruction and disharmony that enter to weaken Yah’s army. Depend upon Yahweh Almighty and His Word, as you travel with Him, towards Home. The key to Heavenly unity is that we must each one come into unity with Yahweh, not with the “nations” or religious leaders and viewpoints around us. Yahweh is the trustworthy Leader of the Homeward formation. And human unity, gained within the Body of Messiah will be a natural outgrowth of becoming joined with Yahweh, in submission under His leadership. Thus, we need not pursue UNITY, rather, we need to pursue a real love relationship with Yahweh and His Truth. In gaining this, true unity is the automatic result. 22 Let’s take a moment to look at the concept of unity, in the Scripture. The word “Unity” appears three times in the Bible: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalms 133:1. I therefore, the prisoner of (Yahweh), beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, Ephesians 4:1-3. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, Ephesians 4:13. (Love) is the Although rarely found in the Bible, decisive factor that the love between brethren that results determines your in unity is often identified as essential. destination in the “By this will all men know that you are My disciples, if you love one an- End. other,” (John 13:35). It is the decisive factor that determines your destination in the End. Yet, we must discern between unity in love and unity in understanding of Scripture. Some unde-stand more than others. Unity in Truth was the crucial and pivotal issue, Yahweh was watching for before giving His approval to turn His people around in the wilderness, and head them toward their promised home. The goodness of this campsite is really about “Goodness” as an attribute of Yahweh toward those whose hearts are turned toward Him. The word must not be confused with grace or mercy, or even love, which are manifestations of Yah toward us. They are acts of His will. Goodness is an inherent attribute of 23 the Almighty, which we do not naturally share (Matthew 19:17). Yahweh chooses to be gracious, merciful, and loving toward us because He IS GOOD. This is why the word “Good” is used to refer to Deity, “for the word ‘God’ simply means “the Good One.”10 Yahshua once asked an inquirer, “Why do you call Me Good?” Matthew 19:17 reads, And he said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.... On our journey to the Land of Promise, “we may have formerly gained spiritual insight, an infilling of the Holy Spirit, at some ‘oasis’ retreat or convocation, only to learn that others were not so enriched,” wrote William Harsha in 1890. This is also true of church membership today. Each has his own reasons for desiring the belonging experience: For some it is fellowship, for others it is tradition or culture, for still others it is a matter of family training. “But when one is seriously seeking the route Home,” continued Harsha, “church is more about setting up camp in the desert than about going anywhere. Church is more about occupation than about obligation; more about setting in concrete than about setting in motion.”11 Clearly church membership is not the vehicle which carries us to godly unity. ALIVE AND MOVING You may have discovered the “pro’s and con’s” of church membership through your own need for something “moving,” “advancing,” and “convicting.” Perhaps William Harsha’s state- ment (noted above) is most shocking because he identified the danger of unity through Church membership more than 24 120 years ago, at a time when Movements were “moving”! But the idea that unity was based upon Truth alone, not one’s church membership, was well known, even earlier than Harsha’s comments given in the 1800’s. An English Protestant theologian from the 1600’s, Roger Williams believed in ‘spiritual and doctrinal unity,’ but did not believe in church organizations. With absolute faith in the literal truth of the Bible and in his interpretation of that truth, with absolute confidence in his ability to convince others of the truth of his convictions, he nonetheless believed it ‘monstrous’ to compel conformity to his or anyone else’s beliefs.12 “Having fought to allow all to worship as they please, in the end, Williams, like his friends John Milton and Oliver Crom- well worshiped at no church, concluding that God's Will was better discerned by individuals than by institutions.”13 What should we take from “Jotvathah”, or “Yotvathah,” on our journey? Rabbi Daniel Rendelman of Emet Ministries asserts that there were actually forty-two years in the Exodus from Egypt until the taking of Jericho. “This understanding is important because the number of years is highly symbolic,” he says. Forty-two is not only the number of years spent in training for occupancy, but also the number of stations, or stops, Israel made along the way to the taking of Jericho. He explains. “The number of years that Israel wandered in the wilderness may be the same as the number of stops made along the route. Even though these stops occurred thousands of years ago, they are still occurring today in our lives,” preached Rabbi Rendelman, in a sermon delivered on August 2, 2008.14 This is scripturally substantiated, by the record that Moses lead the journey for 40-years, but died before the Children of Israel crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. The crossing of Jordan, setting up camp and circumcision at Gilgal, plus the conquest of Jericho occupied another two years. These 25 last two years of the forty-two were led by Joshua, the warrior. This is an interesting parallel showing the significance of spiritual warfare and the Armageddon experience of Yahweh’s End-time people, as foretold in the Book of Revelation. Once we experientially reach Jotvathah, the battle is just ahead. When we, like Israel of old, have submittedly passed through suffering, accepting our Father’s adoption process into sonship, we, too, will reach the turning point in our spiritual journey. For once we have been baptized by the fire of suffering, and have yet remained submitted, we are finally ready to conquer Canaan. Jotvathah marks the turning point. The people of YAH find joy, goodness, and pleasantness in the awareness that finally the long wait of wilderness wandering is over. Having been unified in the Truth – not in spite of it - at long last, Jotvathah marks the moment when the final people of God know they are “going Home.” If a man therefore purge himself from these worldly ambitions, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work, 2 Timothy 2:21. Humble yourselves therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time... But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Messiah Yahshua, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you, 1 Peter 5:6,10.  26 SUMMARY OF CHAPTER ONE  Jotvathah is the place of unity, fellowship and koinonia with Yahweh and within the Body of Christ.  The final fourteen camp experiences are characterized by spiritual warfare. These battles will be of epic pro- portions, as final spiritual Israel will be facing the ulti- mate Beast power and all the forces of hell. The fall of Jericho, in the time of ancient Israel, fore-shadows the fall of Babylon at the end.  Through godly unity, God’s people are strengthened and prepared to face spiritual giants and be victorious in these final battles. Thus, true unity is a vital preparation for future victory.  Unity is only achieved through receiving the forgiveness of Yahweh and extending it to our brethren. Forgiveness is the greatest expression of true Christianity, being the essence of love in action.  Love for the brethren in the Body of Christ is evidence of our true discipleship.  While unity is a valuable and necessary asset to the saints in the Last Days, it is not to be gained at any cost. Unity, obtained at a sacrifice of the Truth, is not of God. 27 CHAPTER TWO Crossing Over: Abronah And they removed from Jotbathah, and encamped T at Ebronah (spelled Abronah in most Bible versions), Numbers 33:34. he promise of Eternal Life, was conditionally made to Abraham and his seed. Thus, all who will be saved, ultimately inheriting the Promised Land at last, having been counted as the “seed of Abraham.” “Now to Abraham and his seed were the Promises made…” Galatians 3:16. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Yahshua. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the Promise,” Galatians 3:27-29 As is shown in Galatians Three, baptism into the Body of Christ is a requirement for becoming the spiritual Seed of Abraham. But, those who are counted as the “Seed of Abraham” are not only baptized into Christ, they also do the faith-empowered, Grace-filled works of Abraham. Truly faith without works is dead (James 2:20). “They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Yahshua saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham,” John 8:39. 28 Abronah, Israel’s thirtieth encampment since Egypt, bears a camp-message connecting the End-Time Saved with the works of Abraham, perhaps more directly than any prior encampment. This connection with Abraham is made through the meaning of the camp name. Abronah, or Avronah, means “crossing over.”15 And the concept of “crossing over” is the spiritual experience of Abraham, the father of the faithful. To demonstrate this connection between Abraham and Abronah, let’s examine one of Abraham’s titles: the Hebrew (Genesis 14:13). The root of the Hebrew word ‫( עברי‬ivri), translated as “Hebrew”, literally means “to cross over.” Why does the Torah give Abraham this name? Abraham literally gained this name by leaving his birth Abraham was place, in Ur of the Caldees, and known as the one crossing over the Euphrates, a major geographical demarcation line in the who had “crossed ancient world. From this point on, over.” Abraham was known as the one who had “crossed over.”16 But Abraham’s was not only a literally crossing, in passing over the River Euphrates, on his way to the Promised Land. His crossing was also spiritual. In a very real sense, the entire world was philosophically standing on one side, while Abraham cross- ed the boundaries of accepted thought and action by choosing to believe in one God.17 Undeterred by physical hardship or the emotional difficulty of standing alone, Abraham was unafraid of crossing both physical and spiritual borders. …God took this one step further by urging Abraham to go “outside,” leaving behind the strictures of the natural world altogether.18 29 The way Abraham’s name is spelled, in Hebrew, even alludes to his standing alone. There is only one letter difference – the letter alef (‫ – )א‬to distinguish the root of Abraham’s Hebrew name Abram ( ‫ ) םרבא‬from the root of the word “ivri” (‫ )עברי‬which instead contains the letter ayin ( ,ralimis dnuos srettel htoB .(‫ע‬ and are often exchanged in order to reveal a deeper hidden meaning of a word. The numerical values of the letters also tell the story. The letter alef equals one and the letter ayin equals seventy. Seventy is the number of offspring from Noah’s sons (grandsons) who repopulated the world after the Flood. The Sages taught that these seventy souls represent the world’s seventy archetypal nations. This numerical code is the key to understanding the deeper meaning of the aforementioned Midrash: Abraham crossed over and stood alone because of his belief in one God (represented by the alef in his name) while all the other nations (the seventy nations represented by the ayin in the word “Hebrew”) were on the other side!19 With this background, we may next evaluate the prophetic importance of Abronah. In Last Day Events, how does the Abronah message of “crossing over” apply? As we have already discussed, the name Abronah not only refers to ancient Israel experiencing a “crossing”, it also refers to when In the same way Abraham “crossed over” leaving Ur, in that Abraham the realm of Babylon, in order to inherit the Promised Land. In the same crossed over… the way that Abraham crossed over, End-Time saints leaving Babylon for the ultimate must also cross over, Promises of God, the End-Time saints must also cross over, by faith. The by faith. Scriptures are clear that Abraham was not only seeking a physical Promised Land, but an Eternal. This completes our Scriptural connection 30 for prophetic, End-Time events: By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of Promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for a City which hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God, Hebrews 11:8-10. Thus, we see that this thirtieth encampment of Israel fore- shadows Revelation Eighteen and the Third Angel’s call to come out of Babylon, lest we partake of her sins and receive her judgment plagues, and so that we may be among the Saved, who have “crossed over.” “And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues,” Revelation 18:2-4. The prophetic, Revelation-in-the-Wilderness message is deep- ened further through connecting the meaning of Psalm 23. As Yoseph Viel explains in his book, The 42 Journey Pattern of Our Spiritual Growth and Prophecy, “Psalm 23 seems to start with the 26th journey to Hashmonah… Almost every time Psalm 23 expresses a thought, it includes two successive encampments as part of that thought.” At Avronah, the prophetic experience for Israel, past and future, is captured in the last part of Psalm 23:3, “He leadeth me in the Paths of Righteousness for His 31 Name’s sake.” Thus we find that Avronah is not only the place of “crossing over,” it is also the experience of crossing through the realm the Psalmist called “the Valley of the Shadow of Death.” This dangerous crossing, foretold in Abronah, is epitomized in the story of the three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abedneggo. For, as happened in their experience in the fiery furnace, Avronah is Yahweh’s promise, not to keep us from suffering or make our way easier, but to be with us, as we pass through the most trying of circum- stances. Avronah reminds us that Yah does not promise to route the Path to Life only through unthreatening territory. Rather, in the Way of Life, we can expect to encounter threats and even persecution. But Yahweh will be with us as we cross over this intimidating ground. He will stand with us, even in the fire. Sadly, many Christians today are mentally closed to this message of Avronah. Yet, in denying the suffering involved in coming out of Babylon, and in refusing to stand against the popular pagan philosophies of our time, we are missing the needed warning! Avronah is about preparing God’s people to face opposition. It’s about expecting to be hated, oppressed and opposed. It’s about trusting God, even when the opposition reaches the level of full-blown persecution. 32 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Yahshua shall suffer persecution, 2 Timothy 3:12. But threats and hatred from the surrounding nations (and even from those professing Christians who choose to cave-in under painful pressure) will surely be directed against God’s people. The Bible tells us that such trials are to be expected. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy, 1 Peter 4:12-13. And ye shall be hated of all men for My Name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved, Matthew 10:22. Avronah isn’t so much a camp message about making geographical changes, as it is about making the spiritual changes necessary to move God’s people out of the philophical borders of Babylon. This spiritual “crossing over” makes the spiritual Seed of Abraham the target of threats and hatred, which will be directed against all of God’s faithful people. It is a camp experience which every believer will need to endure. To illustrate the importance of expecting threats and coming trials at Avronah, consider the following message by Corrie Ten Boom, written in a letter in 1974. This message is so powerful and so appropriate to the experience of Avronah, that we include it for you here, in its entirety. The world is deathly ill. It is dying. The Great Physician has already signed the death certificate. Yet there is still a great work for Christians to do. They are to be streams of living water, channels of mercy to those who are still 33 in the world. It is possible for them to do this because they are overcomers. Christians are ambassadors for Christ. They are repre- sentatives from Heaven to this dying world. And be- cause of our presence here, things will change. My sister, Betsy, and I were in the Nazi concentration camp at Ravensbruck because we committed the crime of loving Jews. Seven hundred of us from Holland, France, Russia, Poland and Belgium were herded into a room built for two hundred. As far as I knew, Betsy and I were the only two representatives of Heaven in that room. We may have been the Lord’s only representatives in that place of hatred, yet because of our presence there, things changed. Jesus said, “In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” We too, are to be overcomers – bring- ing the light of Jesus into a world filled with darkness and hate. Sometimes I get fright- ened as I read the Bible, and as I look in this world and see all of the tribulation and persecu- tion promised by the Bible coming true. Now I can tell you, though, if you too are afraid, that I have just read the last pages. I can now come to shouting “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” for I have found where it is written that Jesus said, “He that overcometh shall inherit 34 all things: and I will be His God, and he shall be My son.” This is the future and hope of this world. Not that the world will survive – but that we shall be overcomers in the midst of a dying world. Betsy and I, in the concentration camp, prayed that God would heal Betsy who was so weak and sick. “Yes, the Lord will heal me,” Betsy said with con- fidence. She died the next day and I could not understand it. They This is the future laid her thin body on the con- crete floor along with all the and hope of this other corpses of the women world. Not that the who died that day. world will survive – It was hard for me to under- but that we shall be stand, to believe that God had overcomers in the a purpose for all that. Yet be- midst of a dying cause of Betsy’s death, today I am traveling all over the world world. telling people about Jesus. There are some among us teaching there will be no tribulation, that the Christians will be able to escape all this. These are the false teachers that Jesus was warning us to expect in the Latter Days. Most of them have little knowledge of what is already going on across the world. I have been in countries where the saints are already suffering terrible perse- cution. In China, the Christians were told, “Don't worry, before the tribulation comes you will be translated – 35 raptured.” Then came a terrible persecution. Millions of Christians were tortured to death. Later I heard a Bishop from China say, sadly, “We have failed. We should have made the people strong for persecution, rather than telling them Jesus would come first. Tell the people how to be strong in times of persecution, how to stand when the tribulation comes – to stand and not faint.” I feel I have a divine mandate to go and tell the people of this world that it is possible to be strong in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are in training for the tribulation, but more than sixty percent of the Body of Christ across the world has already entered into the tribulation. There is no way to escape it. We are next. Since I have already gone through prison for Jesus’ sake, and since I met the Bishop in China, now every time I read a good Bible text I think, “Hey, I can use that in the time of tribulation.” Then I write it down and learn it by heart. When I was in the concentration camp, a camp where only twenty percent of the women came out alive, we tried to cheer each other up by saying, “Nothing could be any worse than today.” But we would find the next day was even worse. During this time a Bible verse that I had committed to memory gave me great hope and joy. If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part evil is spoken of, but on your part He is glorified, 1 Peter 3:14. I found myself saying, “Hallelujah! Because I am suffer- ing, Jesus is glorified!” 36 In America, the churches sing, “Let the congregation escape tribulation,” but in China and Africa the tribu- lation has already arrived. This last year alone more than two hundred thousand Christians were martyred in Africa. Now things like that never get into the news- papers because they cause bad political relations. But I know. I have been there. We need to think about that when we sit down in our nice houses with our nice clothes to eat our steak dinners. Many, many members of the Body of Christ are being tortured to death at this very moment, yet we continue right on as though we are all going to escape the tribulation. Several years ago I was in Africa in a nation where a new government had come into power. The first night I was there some of the Christians were commanded to come to the police station to register. When they arrived they were arrested and that same night they were executed. The next day the same thing happened with other Christians. The third day it was the same. All the Christians in the district were being systematically murdered. The fourth day I was to speak in a little church. The people came, but they were filled with fear and tension. All during the service they were looking at each other, their eyes asking, “Will this one I am sitting beside be the next one killed? Will I be the next one?” The room was hot and stuffy with insects that came through the screenless windows and swirled around the naked bulbs over the bare wooden benches. I told them a story out of my childhood. “When I was a little girl,” I said, “I went to my father 37 and said, “Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a martyr for Jesus Christ.” “Tell me,” said Father, “When you take a train trip to Amsterdam, when do I give you the money for the tick- et? Three weeks before?” “No, Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train.” “That is right,” my father said, “and so it is with God's strength. Our Father in Heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ. He will supply all you need – just in time…” My African friends were nodding and smiling. Suddenly a spirit of joy descend- ed upon that church and the people began singing,“In the sweet, by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore.” Later that week, half the congregation of that church was executed. I heard later that the other half was killed some months ago. But I must tell you something. I was so happy that the Lord used me to encourage these people, for unlike many of their leaders, I had the Word of God. I had been to the Bible and discovered that Jesus said He had not 38 only overcome the world, but to all those who remained faithful to the end, He would give a Crown of Life. How can we get ready for the persecution? First we need to feed on the Word of God, digest it, make it a part of our being. This will mean disciplined Bible study each day as we not only memorize long passages of Scripture, but put the principles to work in our lives. Next we need to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Not just the Jesus of yesterday, the Jesus of History, but the life-changing Jesus of today - Who is still alive and sitting at the right hand of God. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit This is no optional command of the Bible, it is absolutely neces- sary. Those earthly disciples could never have stood up under the persecution of the Jews and Romans had they not waited for Pentecost. Each of us needs our own personal Pentecost, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We will never be able to stand in the tribulation without it. In the coming persecution we must be ready to help each other and encourage each other. But we must not wait until the tribulation comes before starting. The fruit of the Spirit should be the dominant force of every Christian's life. Many are fearful of the coming tribulation, they want to run. I, too, am a little bit afraid when I think that after all my eighty years, including the horrible Nazi concen- tration camp, that I might have to go through the tribulation also. But then I read the Bible and I am glad. When I am weak, then I shall be strong, the Bible says. Betsy and I were prisoners for the Lord, we were so weak, but we got power because the Holy Spirit was on 39 us. That mighty inner strengthening of the Holy Spirit helped us through. No, you will not be strong in yourself when the tribulation comes. Rather, you will be strong in the power of Him who will not forsake you. For seventy-six years I have known the Lord Jesus and not once has He ever left me, or let me down. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him,” (Job 13:15) for I know that to all who overcome, He shall give the crown of life. Hallelujah!20 - Corrie Ten Boom – 1974 LENGTHENING THE JOURNEY According to the Book of Numbers, Abronah (Hebrew: ‫) ַעבְ רֹ נָה‬, sometimes spelled “Ebronah,” was the Israelites’ campsite be- fore reaching the seaport of Ezion-Geber. In addition to meaning “crossing over,” Abronah, alternately called, Avronah, means “passage,” or “transition.” Geographically, it was the point of passage from the mountains down to the sea over- looking Ezion-Geber.21 In Aramaic, the name of this location, Megisathah, means “river crossing,” or “ford,” and is from the same root, Ivrim, meaning “border crossers.”22 Centuries later, the prophet Jeremiah referred to this place of Israel’s difficult “passages,” adding dimension to the message of Abronah. His reference to Israel’s crossing drama was given in a warning to careless Judah. Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Ba’shan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are destroyed, Jeremiah 22:20 (New Century Version) We do not know how many lives were lost in this confrontation with the Edomites. Families may have been torn apart, as 40