What is a…
Day’s journey

The usual length of a day’s journey in the in the Middle East in Biblical times, by camel or horseback, was 6-8 hours. This covered about 25 or 30 miles (some say 20-25 miles).

During Israel’s Exodus from Egypt, Moses mentions,

Now there went forth a wind from the Lord and it brought quail from the sea, and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side… —Numbers 11:31 NASB excerpt

When the prophet Elijah fled from Queen Jezebel, Scripture says that…

…he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree… —1 Kings 19:4 NASB excerpt

God gave Moses the following command,

…you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt and you will say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ “But I know that the king of Egypt awill not permit you to go, except under compulsion.” —Exodus 3:18-19 NASB excerpt

The “three days’ journey” mentioned in Exodus 3:18 is simply a journey which would occupy three days in going and returning.

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Article Version: July 9, 2021