Charles Ellicott Commentary Numbers 33:1

"These are the journeys of the children of Israel, when they went forth out of the land of Egypt by their hosts under the hand of Moses and Aaron." — Numbers 33:1 (ASV)

These are the journeys of the children of Israel ... — The word rendered journey appears to denote primarily the breaking up of the encampments, which lasted for very different periods, and which, during the prolonged wanderings in the wilderness, may have averaged a year in duration.

The list of the encampments is expressly said to have been written by Moses. It served as a permanent memorial, on the one hand, of the sin and rebellion of the nation, and on the other hand, of the faithfulness and long-suffering of God in leading and sustaining His people throughout their sojourn in the wilderness.