Through The Bible

Session #6

December 19, 2001

Numbers

The title of the book in Hebrew is literally, “In the Wilderness.” (Bamidbar)

Our title, Numbers, based on Greek (Arithmoi) and Latin (Numeri) translations.
Book deals with a census of the people which counts two generations – (a) those who came out of Egypt and died off in the land; (b) the new generation which would go into the Promised Land.

Setting: The Wilderness (show people map from Marshall entitled, “From the Wilderness to the Conquest”, p. 63).

Numbers does not idealize the wilderness wanderings.
Contrast: relative security of slavery in Egypt; insecurity of freedom in the wilderness.
How does this contrast play itself out? (power struggles among leaders that raises the question, “Who speaks for God?”). Moses was constantly seeking to transfer his obedience to the people. The people constantly are murmuring against Moses and God.
Wander for 40 years: both literal (move about Sinai Peninsula); also spiritual – grumble, don’t believe, disobey, and receive discipline from God.
The growth if Hebrew nation was painful. It’s place in the OT seems to shout out, “Learn from their mistakes!”

Outline for Numbers

Numbers 1-10 – the Census of the Tribes and the march to Canaan

· 603,550 was the count (1.45-46).

· Camp facing the Tent of meeting (2.2). 3 tribes on each side.

· The total number of Levites was 22k (3.39). Each son of Aaron had charge of an ancestral house and also was responsible for caring for part of the tabernacle.

· Cleansing of woman caught in adultery (5.5ff).

· The firstborn are the Lord’s (8.17). This pattern began with God taking the firstborn of Egypt and now is set up as an ordinance before God. The Levites take the place of everyone having to set aside their first born to God.

· The keeping and practice of the Passover (9).

· The moving of the people as dictated by the cloud (9.15-23).

· God instructs Moses to make trumpets to be used to sound alarms and move people in orderly fashion (10.1-10).

· The people move from Sinai to Paran (10.11ff).

· Jethro serves as a mentor for Moses (10.29-32).

Numbers 11-20 – Complaining and rebellion

a. Chapter 11 – No meat!

· (11.1-6) The people complain because they wanted meat.

· (11.7) A description of manna.

· (11.10-17) Moses complains to God about the burden of the people and others assume some of the responsibility.

· (11.19-20) God says, “You want meat! I’ll give you meat until it runs out your nose!”

· (11.31) God provides quail who are probably tired and easily caught.

b. Chapter 12 – brother and sister rebellion and jealousy. Miriam becomes leprous.

· (12.1-9) Miriam and Aaron complain about Moses primarily because he married a Midianite (Zipporah) but really it seems to be jealousy.

· (12.10) Miriam gets some kind of skin disease (leprosy). Why only her and not Aaron too?

c. Chapter 13 – spies go into the land eleven days after Mt. Sinai.

· (13.1-24) spies go into Canaan. There’s one spy from each of the twelve tribes. They’re there for 40 days.

· (13.16) Note the name change for Joshua here. He becomes Joshua and was Hoshea – it really means the same thing.

· (13.30) Caleb speaks up boldly and says they should take the land after the other 10 spies say it’s going to be too tough.

d. Chapter 14 – consequences of rebellion and not trusting God (vv. 20-23).

· (14.10) The people threaten to stone Joshua and Caleb for being so bold. The people think attacking the land will lead them into a death trap.

· (14.23) God says because you think you’ll die in the wilderness, so you shall. None of the present generation will go into the Promised Land.

· (14.34) For every day they spied, they shall wander in the wilderness for one year.

· (14.39-45) The people tried to fix things on their own. The Amalekites and Canaanites pursued them. Moses tried to warn them this would happen but they didn’t listen.

e. Chapter 15-19 – Priestly matters – offerings, etc.

· (15.17-21) people were to give a first portion of their bread to God.

· (15.32-36) a man was stoned outside the camp for picking up sticks on the Sabbath.

· (16.1-9) Korah, Dathan, and Abiram lead a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. They think others should have access to God in the way Aaron does. The proof of who should be the high priest was in a censer test – all were to bring a censer before God and God would choose.

· (16.20-22) Aaron and Moses plead for Israel’s life when God wants to consume them.

· (16-30-35) The ground opened up and swallowed Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and their families. All 250 who rebelled also swallowed.

· (16.41-50) People rebel again. God kills 14,700 who rebelled and Aaron walks with a censer into the middle of the people.

· (17.1-3) At God’s initiative, God chooses from among 12 representatives of the 12 tribes. Aaron’s staff sprouted with buds as proof that Aaron was chosen.

· (18.1-32) Priestly responsibilities.

· (19-1-10) Purification offering of a red heifer.

· (19.11-22 ) the uncleanness of touching a dead body.

f. Chapter 20 – the waters of Meribah (both Miriam and Aaron die), the people complain about not having water to drink; Moses improvises on God’s command to speak to the rock and hits the rock twice.

· (20.1) Miriam dies in Kadesh.

· (20.12) Moses and Aaron are not allowed to go into Promised Land because they struck the rock rather than spoke to the rock as God commanded.

· (20.14-21) Israel requests to go through Edom. Edom denies their request and comes out with an army. Israel turns away.

· (20.22-29) Eleazar is anointed new high priest. Aaron dies on Mt. Hor. Israel mourns for 30 days.

Numbers 21 – The Bronze Serpent

· (21.1-3) Israel defeats the Canaanite King Arad.

· (21.4-9) The people complain. God sends poisonous serpents and many die. The people repent. God says to make a serpent and put it on a pole. All who look on it after being bit shall live.

· (21.21-31) Israel wants to pass through Amorite territory. Like King Arad, King Sihon won’t allow it. War happens and Israel prevails. Israel settled for a while in the Amorite towns.

· (21.33-35) Israel defeats King Og of Bashan as they defeated the Amorites.

Numbers 22-24 – fearful neighbors – Balak and Balaam.

· (22.1-24.25) Balak, King of Moab, sends for Balaam, a seer or holy man, to come and curse Israel. Balaam receives a message from God not to go and curse Israel. Balaam is told by God to go with Balak’s messengers. On the way, the donkey speaks to Balaam. It protects Balaam from the angel of the Lord. Balaam blesses Israel three times. Balaam also curses those who oppose Israel. We should note though what happens to Balaam in 31.8 (he’s killed in a battle with Midian).

Numbers 25 – The potential for corruption of the Israelite faith

· (25.1-16) Israel began to intermarry with people who worshipped Ba’al of Peor. Their monotheistic faith was compromised. God’s judgment was upon the people for their sin. 24,000 people died. Phineas was blessed for his zeal for God.

Numbers 26 – The 2^nd Census to allot the land.

Numbers 27 – Appointment of Joshua to succeed Moses

· (27.1-11) Women didn’t normally possess inherited land. God sets a precedent here that daughters should inherit the land of their fathers.

· (27.12-23) God appoints Joshua to take Moses’ place.

Numbers 28-30 – Offerings for various occasions and vows

· (chapters 28-29) various offerings (chapters 28-29).

· (30.1-16) Charge to maintain integrity and keep one’s word and conditions where one’s vows were not valid.

Numbers 31 – a Holy War against Midian

· (31.5) 12,000 were to fight against Midian.

· (31.7) all the males of Midian were killed including the leadership (i.e., kings).

· (31.17) all male children and all women who were not virgins were also killed.

Numbers 32-34 – Allotment of land, warnings, and boundaries

· (32.1-42) The Reubenites and the Gadites had a lot of cattle. They wanted to settle down instead of crossing the Jordan to take possession of the Promised Land. Moses says this goal is a continuation of the hesitancy the spies brought on the nation. Moses said as long as they helped the rest of Israel take possession of the Promised Land, they could set up their farms opposite the Jordan as their inheritance.

· (33.1-56) An itinerary for where they started and how far they traveled up to this point.

· (34.1-12) Geographical references for the land given to Israel.

Numbers 35 – Cities of refuge and cities for the Levites

· (35.1-34) Cities of refuge were created for the Levites to own as their possession. The cities of refuge were so that revenge would not be the immediate form of justice. If the cities of refuge were put in place, one accused could go there until a proper trial set up and carried out.

Numbers 36 – keeping tribal property intact.