The interpretation timeline

Num 33:20

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

Num 33:20 · Douay-Rheims

“And they departed from thence and came to Lebna.”

Patristic before A.D. 750

254

A.D.

Origen Patristic

c. A.D. 184–253

“Next they came to Lebna [Libnah], which means "whitewashing." I know that in some respects whitewashing has a pejorative connotation.… But this whitewashing is that concerning which the prophet says, "You will wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.…" So then, this whitewashing must be understood to come from the radiance of the true light and to descend from the brightness of heavenly visions.”

Source

Modern · 1953 →

The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.