As noted in the previous entry (#335) the Priestly writer’s itinerary stops listed in Numbers 33:18-35 are unknown to the itinerary tradition(s) of Numbers 11-21. Yet four of these place-names were apparently know to another tradition which the Deuteronomist picked up and briefly used. Comparatively, here is how each tradition used these place-names:
Moseroth
Bene-Jaakan
Hor-Haggidgad
Jotbathah
Beeroth-bene-Jaakan
Moserah
Gudgod
Jotbathah
Even though three of these place-names are variously vocalized
- Moseroth and Moserah
- Bene-Jaakan and Beeroth (the Wells of) Bene-Jaakan
- Hor-Haggidgad (גדגד) and Gudgod (גדגד)
it’s apparent that they originate from the same tradition.
Finally, I’ve questioned whether the tradition represented in Deuteronomy 10:6-7 is an original part of the Deuteronnomic tradition. My reason for doing so will be addressed in the next entry where we will look at this tradition’s association with Aaron’s death at Moserah—contradictory to the Priestly tradition in Numbers 20:23-29.
Might be a dumb question, but how much do we know about these locations? Can we identify many of them?