The Chapters – Quick Access

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31	32	33	34	35	36

Basics

BOOK: Numbers

Description: 4th book of the Pentateuch, the Law of Moses – two census’ & life in the wilderness

Author: Moses

Date written: somewhere about 1400 BC (latter part of Moses’ life)

Chapters: 36

Brief Synopsis

• Gets its name from the two main census results (Ch.1 & Ch.26) and of the Levites (Ch.3 & 4)
• Takes place in the wilderness
• Starts from Sinai, travels to border of Promised Land, refusal to enter
• God’s condemnation of the older generation means they remain in wilderness for forty years
• At end of that time, they prepare a second time to enter the land
• We see various problems – opposition from Aaron and Miriam, rebellion of Korah, Moses’ anger that results in him being barred from entering the Land.
• Dealing with the various neighbors on the way to the land.

The Context of Numbers

Without question, the nation of Israel is unique in the world and in history and we need to see Numbers in the context of the rest of the Pentateuch (Genesis to Deuteronomy) to see where it fits in Israel’s story.

In Exodus we find them growing into a nation in Egypt and then being delivered from slavery in Egypt, and then in Ex 13-19 we follow them in their travels to Mount Sinai where they encounter God and are constituted a nation in covenant relationship with God. The main basic laws for the community also appear in Exodus, together with the design and basic use of the Tabernacle, their meeting place with God.

In Leviticus we find instruction for the Offerings to be brought to the Tabernacle, together with the setting up of the Priesthood who would administer them. But also there we find fifteen chapters of laws that one might say are laws about purity and being a holy people. Leviticus has nothing about their travels.

Numbers brings Israel as a holy nation into focus both by who they were,

• numerically, structurally [ch.1-4,17,18,26,27,32-36], and
• ritually [ch.5-9,15,19,28-30]

but also in terms of,

• their travels from Sinai [ch.10-14,16,20,] and
• specifically battles they had [ch.21,31] not to mention the specific moral and spiritual attack that came about via Balaam [ch.22-25]

Why Read Numbers

Several questions arise here.  First, we are talking of laws that were made and things that happened a little over three thousand years ago! Second, many of the practices changed over the years after they entered the land, when the temple was built to replace the Tabernacle, and after division of the nation and conquests meant that the tribal land divisions disappeared. Third, virtually none of these things have any relevance to the believer today. So why read Numbers? It is worth the Bible student’s time in that,

1. it reveals the detail that went into establishing the nation, numbering them and structuring them, and giving them laws at the very beginning of their existence,
2. it fits the gap between Exodus & Deuteronomy showing travels and trials of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land, particularly helping us see the failures of the nation in their lack of faith, lack of trust, rebelliousness against authority, and being so quick to turn away from the Lord, even from the very beginning,
3. it shows the greatness as well as some of the weaknesses of some of the key players,
4. it shows the lengths the Lord went to in order to try to create a holy nation with clear goals,
5. it shows the details and logic of many of the laws given to guide them,
6. many of the laws show us wisdom in applying justice and fairness and care for other human beings, i.e. it shows how God gave them a good and fair chance to make their society work.

There are no doubt other reasons that the reader might find as they read through this book. Because it varies between record keeping, laying down laws and recording the travels and mishaps of the nation, in the Contents List below we have sought to bring clarification of the nature of what is found in each chapter. To go to any chapter, use the quick access table at the top of the page.

CONTENTS

PART 1: Preparing a Holy Nation

The first part is establishing the nation numerically and establishing the Priesthood and the Levites within it. It entirely comprises instructions.

Part 1.1: Ch.1 & 2: Israel, the Nation in Camp at Sinai

• 1: [Records] The First Census of Israel at Sinai
• 2: [Law] The Arrangement of the Tribal Camps

Part 1.2: Ch.3 & 4: The Levites & their Roles

• 3: [Law] Introducing the Levites
• 4: [Law] The Levite Clans

Part 1.3: A Holy Camp

• 5: [Law] Working for a Pure Camp – Purity of the Camp, Restitution for Wrongs & Unfaithful Wives
• 6: [Law] Nazarites – The Nazirite Vow
• 7: [Law] Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle – The Twelve Tribal offerings
• 8: [Law] Setting Apart the Levites – The Levites are set apart for service
• 9: [Law] Passover & Presence – carrying out the second Passover

PART 2: To Canaan

The second part covers the travel from Sinai to Kadesh and the events along the way.

• 10: [Action] Leaving Sinai – Breaking camp
• 11: [Action] Complaints, Fire, Quail, Plague – First grumblings, discipline, meat provided and plague follows
• 12: [Action] Internal Opposition – Aaron & Miriam complain & are disciplined

PART 3: To Refusal & Judgment

The third part finds Israel at the border of the Promised Land, sending in spies, and then refusing to go in. Chapter 15 reiterates rules and looks to the future when they do go in.

• 13: [Action] Exploring the Land & Report of the Spies – sending spies in to assess the land
• 14: [Action] Refusing Entry & Judgment – a negative report and a rebellious people
• 15: [Law] Offerings in the Land & [Action] a Disobedience

PART 4: Rebellion & Corrections

In the fourth part it is difficult to know quite where the jump of forty years takes place but in it we find a rebellion and judgment but then a re-establishing of Aaron and the Priesthood, a clarification of the role of the Levites, and an additional set of rules that can be applied outside the priesthood.

• 16: [Action] Rebellion – the rebellion and judgment of Korah etc.
• 17: [Action] The Lord Elevates Aaron
• 18: [Law] Priests versus Levites
• 19: [Law] Water for Cleansing ‘Uncleanness‘

PART 5: Travelling North

Part five sees them travelling north up the east side of the Dead Sea and three battles.

• 20: [Action] Water from the Rock & encounter with Edom
• 21: [Action] Battles physical & spiritual & travel

PART 6: An Attempt to Undermine Israel [Balaam]

In part six we have an extreme attempt to curse Israel – which the Lord foils – but then the nation succumbing to temptations that follow the advice of the Seer.

• 22: [Action] Balaam called & Permission Given
• 23: [Action] Balaam’s First & Second Messages
• 24: [Action] Balaam’s Third to Seventh Messages  
• 25: [Action] The Seduction of Israel

PART 7: Clarifications on the Plains before Entering the Land

Part seven covers laws & activities on the Plains of Moab before entering the Land. It is about numbers & locations [26,32-35] as well as a variety of laws in respect of keeping the calendar [28,29] and misc. laws about succession [27,36] and vows [30]. It also includes the major incident of dealing with the Midianites [31]. Apart from this last item, it is all about Moses establishing the nation – it’s number, it future locations and ongoing laws that seek to create an orderly and peaceful community.]

• PART 7A: Records & Laws
  • 26: [Records] The Second Census
  • 27: [Law] All about Succession – Zelophehad’s Daughters
  • 28: [Law] The Calendar of Remembrance Established
  • 29: [Law] Three Special Times
  • 30: [Law] Vows: dealing with different sorts of vows

• PART 7B: An Aside: Justice & Retribution
  • 31: [Action] Dealing with the Midianites

• PART 7A: Records & Laws (Continued)
  • 32: [Records] The Transjordan Tribes
  • 33: [Records] Israel’s Journey: Egypt to Promised Land
  • 34: [Records] Boundaries and Locations
  • 35: [Law] Towns for the Levites & Cities of Refuge
  • 36: [Law] More about Succession – Zelophehad’s Daughters

Concluding Comments

• Numbers is a mixture of census figures, history and regulations.
• The history is the crucial part.
• Before Sinai the Lord was tolerant about Israel ‘s grumblings – they were an embryonic people after all.
• However, after Sinai, their experiences of Him there should have been sufficient to see them through the difficulties they experienced in their travels from Sinai to the borders of the Promised Land.
• But they were slow to learn and indeed throughout their entire history they simply reveal again and again the presence of Sin in mankind – that tendency to be self-centred and godless.
• However, God is seeking to train them to reveal Him to the rest of the earth and that means they need to be seen as a people who, positively,
  • Trust in God
  • Obey the laws and regulations He gave them•  Receive all of His blessings
• But who hopefully do NOT display, negatively
  • Inability to trust God and rely on themselves and turn to idol worship,
  • Disobey His laws and regulations and so•  Fail to display peace, order and blessing as a community of God’s people.
• We cannot emphasize enough the importance of this people conforming to these characteristics if God is to be faithfully revealed to the rest of the world.
• Thus we see the corrective hand of God upon them again and again and in a variety of ways, but every time there is way of avoidance for the righteous among them; they will not be destroyed.
• Even Moses, whose daily experience of the Lord should have resulted in a perfect display of a man of God, failed at a crucial point and (probably more for Israel’s sake and ours) was refused entry into the land and was ‘taken home’ at the ripe old age of 120, after an otherwise remarkably distinguished testimony. It was never an easy experience to be the leader of this people and, apart from this one occasion, he excelled.
• Israel ‘s history in this book may be summarized as follows:

• Leaving Mount Sinai
• Travelling through the desert to the border of Canaan , the Promised Land,
• Refusing to enter the land
• Wandering in the wilderness for another forty years while everyone over the age of twenty, at the beginning, died off so it was only the next generation who went in,
• Making their way through various neighboring lands to arrive at what will be their entry point into Canaan across the river Jordon near Jericho.

During this history there are numerous episodes to provide us with plenty of teaching, as we watch how people and God act in each case.