4- The Book of Numbers

Author

Not written but known to be Moses the prophet

Date

Written around 1400 B.C.

Purpose

The story of God’s people wandering in the desert of Sinai for almost 40 years. This represents our own wandering in this life after baptism and how God deals with us in our lives. This is the Septuagint name, probably for the census of God’s people at the beginning and end of the book.

Summary of content (Main Ideas)

For forty years I was grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they have not known My ways; to whom I swore in My wrath that they should not enter into My rest.

(Psa 95:10-11)

 

The Divisions of the Book (if possible)

• Divisions of the book:

Preparations for the travel across the wilderness	Chapter 1 to 10:10
From Sinai to Moab	Chapter 10: 11 to Chapter 21
The event of Balaam	Chapter 22 to Chapter 25
Preparation for entering Canaan	Chapter 26 to Chapter 36

 

Chapters 1: Census for God’s people after the exodus (603,550), counted are those who are

20 years or older and are ready to fight the Lord’s battle. We are all called to fight the

Lord’s battles.  Everyone is counted

Chapters 2: How the Israelites should camp around the tabernacle. Tribes would form the

shape of a cross. Christ is in the midst of His people

Chapters 3: The counting of the Levites. How they are dedicated to the Lord and replace every   first born.

Chapters 4: Coordinating the service of the Levites. Each group has a well defined service

Chapters 5:  Sanctification of the camp, the individuals, and the families. Any sin is a sin against God.

Chapters 6:  Rules for the Nazarenes. God gives Aaron and his children the Blessings to give to the people

Chapters 7:   Each tribe made its offering and sacrifices to the service of the Tabernacle. God remembers the offering of each person.

Chapters 8:   Lighting the lamp in the Holy. Consecrating the Levites as an inheritance for the Lord

Chapters 9:    Preparing the Passover. Rules for those who are not clean during Passover time (hold it the second month). God leads His people with the cloud in the day and pillar of fire by night.

Chapters 10:   Making silver trumpets to communicate with the people and the leaders

Chapters 11:   People start complaining which causes fire in the camp. They desire meat. God assigns 70 people to help Moses (took from Moses and gave to them).  Story of Eldad and Midad who received The Spirit when they were still at the camp. God drives the quail to the camp so they can eat meat. God strikes them with a plague

Chapters 12:  Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of his marriage to the Cushite woman. The Lord defends Moses.

Chapters 13:  Spying on Canaan. Twelve spies are sent including Joshua and Caleb. People were afraid of the strong owners of the land.

Chapters 14:  People complain about the Promised Land and rebel against Moses and Aaron. Joshua and Caleb encourage the people, but the fail to convince them. The Lord’s glory appears. Moses intercedes with the Lord not to destroy the people of Israel. The Lord sentences the Israelites to wonder in the desert for 40 years. People repent and try to conquer the land on their own, and they fail.

Chapters 15:  Sanctification for sin done by ignorance. Gentiles can participate in some of the offering as a sign that God will accept them later on.

Chapters 16:   God defends the priesthood: Korah, Dathan, and On rebel against Moses and Aaron. God asks Moses to separate them and their families. The ground open and swallowed them. Those 250 who raised incense in a illegitimate way, fire came from the altar and consumed them.

Chapters 17:   Aaron’s rod: God orders Moses to collect one rod from each tribe and to keep in the Tabernacle. Aaron’s rod produces Almond’s flower, blossom, and fruit. The rod is kept in the Tabernacle as a testimony.

Chapters 18: Priests responsibilities toward the altar versus the responsibilities of the Levites. Levites are to give their tithing to the priests.

Chapters 19: The law of the red cow. Its ashes are used to sanctify the people.

Chapters 20:  No water again, People complain. God tells Moses to talk to the Rock. Moses strikes the rock and brought water. Aaron departs. Eleazar his son becomes the new high priest

Chapters 21: Wars with the Cananites. The people tempted the Lord by complaining. God sends serpents to punish them. Moses makes a brass serpent and whoever looks at it is healed.  More wars against the nations.

Chapters 22:   Balak king of Moab calls Balaam to curse the Israelites. God finally lets him go. Balaam donkey spoke to him.

Chapters 23:   Balaam offers sacrifices and end up blessing God’s people

Chapters 24:   Balaam blesses Israel instead of cursing them. He prophesizes about the Messiah

Chapters 25:    The Israelites sin to God and worship idols. Plague starts in the camp. Phinehas the priest stops the plague.

Chapters 26:  Second census, instructions on dividing the Land, counting the Levites.

Chapters 27:   Daughters of Zelophehad demand their share of the inheritance.

Chapters 28-29:   Summary of the various feasts, as they prepare to enter the promised land

Chapters 30:   The Vows and rules to govern them

Chapters 31:   God orders Moses to revenge from the Midianites who caused them to sin against God. Revenge from Balaam for his evil council.

Chapters 32:  Reuben and Gad request to stay in Gilead East of the Jordan.

Chapters 33:  God orders Moses to document the trip from Egypt to the Jordan.

Chapters 34:  God sets the boundary of the new nation and instruct on the division of the land. Joshua and Eleazer and one from each tribe

Chapters 35:   Giving the land to the Levites and assigning the Cities of Refuge

Chapters 36:   Rules for marriage for the female heirs

How to benefit

Our life here on earth is a journey. We will meet various difficulties. The Lord promised that He will be with us. If we complain all the time, we will never see His glory. Only those who trusted in the Lord (Caleb and Joshua) entered into the promised land. The devil will make us forget the bondage of sin and tempt us to go back to it.

God’s role

God is the protector of His people during their journey in the world.

Symbols in the Book

The Cloud and the pillar of Fire	God’s presence in our lives
Moses pleads with God	Christ is our intercessor
Aaron’s rod	Virgin Mary who brought forth life without human intervention
The Brass serpent	The Crucified Lord who was raised on the wood of the cross
The rock that brought forth water	The Lord whose side brought forth water and blood

Verses to memorize

 

• The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. (Num 6:24-27)
• And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take of the spirit on you, and will put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you so that you do not bear it yourself alone. (Num 11:17)
• And Jehovah said to Moses, Has Jehovah’s hand become short? You shall see now whether or not My word shall come to pass to you. (Num 11:23)
• Not so, My servant Moses. He is faithful in all My house. (Num 12:7)
• Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations. (Num 15:21)
• I shall see him, but not now. I shall behold him, but not near. There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall strike the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult. (Num 24:17)