Catholic Daily Mass Take up and read
Search
The interpretation timeline

Num 33:5

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

From the early Church Fathers to now.

Num 33:5 · Douay-Rheims
“And they camped in Soccoth.”
Patristic before A.D. 750
254
A.D.
Origen Patristic
c. A.D. 184–253
“Now the first starting place was from Ramesse [Rameses]; and whether the soul starts out from this world and comes to the future age or is converted from the errors of life to the way of virtue and knowledge, it starts out from Ramesse. For in our language Ramesse means "confused agitation" or "agitation of the worm." By this it is made clear that everything in this world is set in agitation and disorder and also in corruption; for this is what the worm means. The soul should not remain in such agitation but should set out and come to Sochoth [Succoth].”
Source
254
A.D.
Origen Patristic
c. A.D. 184–253
“Sochoth [Succoth] is interpreted "tents." Thus the first progress of the soul is to be taken away from earthly agitation and to learn that it must dwell in tents like a wanderer, so that it can be, as it were, ready for battle and meet those who lie in wait for it unhindered and free.”
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.