How many times did Israelites move camp?

Answer 1

That question is probably not answerable except to say that when God told

them to move, they did it. It could have been also done as the resources were

used up in each area, but mostly when God told them to move.

The Bible says that God provided their protection, their clothes and shoes

didn't wear out, a pillar of cloud denoted His presence by day and a pillar of

fire denoted it by night, He fed them with manna and meat as they needed it,

directed them to water or miraculously provided it for them etc. Other than

these things, no one but God probably knows how many times they moved -

from place to place unless it is in an ancient document somewhere preserved

by the Jews over many thousands of years. A rabbi may be able to answer this

also.

Addendum: Please read the 33rd chapter of the book of Numbers to get a

better grasp of the Israelites movements. I believe I counted approximately 42

times. The above answer is correct in mentioning that depletion of natural

resources, as well as strategic progressive and protective measures needed,

created a measure of necessity for God to move His people at different

junctures of their lives. Each move still required a corporate obedience,

comprised of individuals' respect for God and their building trust in His plans for

them. Even as a good shepherd plans grazing fields and durations of use in

advance, so that the sheep do not destroy shrubs below the root-line and

grow so comfortably fat that they are prone to down casting, so God mapped

out "grazing fields" for His people and kept them progressing, industrious, and

obedient for their own well being.

Jewish answer:

The Israelites moved camp exactly 42 times.

Jewish Answer #2:

The notion of the Israelites camping and living off of the resources until they

were depleted, and then moving on, is so absurd, and misses the whole point

so completely, that it almost borders on naive sacrilege. Anyone who has

visited the Sinai desert, as I have, is thunderstruck by a new understanding

of the 40 years that followed the Exodus from Egypt.

The whole point is: There ARE no resources there . . . No water, no topsoil,

no vegetation, no shade, no building materials, nothing edible. When we read

the account of the 40 years that followed the Exodus, we're in danger of

missing what may have been the greatest miracle of all, simply because it

permeates every moment of the Torah from early in the Book of Exodus

(mid-parshat Bo) until the end. We miss it because there is no break in the

constant environment, and no contrast with any other.

Simply put, there is nothing in that place on which an individual can survive,

and yet the nation of Israel flourished in their millions, thriving for decades,

in a place hostile to life, thanks to continuous Divine intervention.

Answer 2

The Israelites moved their camp a total of 42 times according to the Book of Numbers in the Bible. This was during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land under the leadership of Moses.