Numbers 17 is found twice...check to make certain there is nothing additional in the second Num. 17
Introduction to the book of Numbers: A quote from Barthel: The fourth book of Moses, Numbers, also does not
have much to offer the modern reader. As its name implies, it is a detailed census report of the twelve tribes of
Israel, along with a checklist of the dates prescribed for certain sacrifices and festivals, a survey of the boundaries
between the grazing grounds allotted to the various tribes, and a complete itinerary of their early migrations. As
usual, the unbeliever does not even have a clue.
Much of Numbers, like the book of Leviticus, is a set of direct
quotes from God, and therefore has been all but eliminated from the teaching in God's churches, slandered as we
have here, and poorly and inconsistently rendered. All of this is unfortunate because the content of the book of
Numbers is fascinating and completely relevant to our lives today. The NIV Study Bible calls Numbers theologically
significant;
which is an understatement. As I write this introduction, my personal notes on this book exceed four
hundred pages. This will not be some dusty book that, in your program to read through the Bible in one year, that
you spend three hours with, recall little or nothing, and have moved on. We will, for awhile, live and breathe this
book, and our lives will be the richer for it.
In the final four books of Moses, there is an interesting checkerboarding which occurs. The Exodus covers a period
of eighty years,
the last forty years of which is covered in detail. The book of Leviticus does not even cover a
period of a month. Then Numbers covers a time period of almost forty years and Deuteronomy is only a few days
long in its scope. However, its scope in time does not take from the direct quotes from God, which are plentiful in
this book.
Theme: The book of Numbers deals with the various responsibilities of the sons of Israel—it is in this book where
we see where the various tribes are stationed with regards to the tabernacle; we are given more specifics
concerning the service of the sons of Aaron; and the responsibilities of the Levites are delineated in this book, not
in the book of Leviticus.
Another theme found in this book is, and I attribute this to Zodhiates, is that it was easier for God to get Israel out
of Egypt than it was for Him to get the Egypt out of Israel. We will find Israel on many occasions in this book
recalling their idyllic life in Egypt, resplendent with great foods (Num. 11:4–6 14:2–4 20:4–5 21:5). It is as though
they had completely forgotten that the Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously; and they made
their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and field labor [with] all their labors which they rigorously
imposed upon them...and the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage and they cried out; and their cry for help
because of bondage rose up to God (Ex. 1:13–14 2:23b).
The Title: The Jewish Scribes knew this portion of the Pentateuch as In the Wilderness (or, In the Desert), which
is the Hebrew word Bemîdebar (ר ַ ׃ד ̣מ ׃ ) [pronounced b'meede-BAHR] (?), which is the fifth word in this Num. 1:1.
This is a better description of this book than our name, Numbers. In the Wilderness gives us a feel for the entire
book of Numbers, as this is where the Israelites spent their time. Our English name is derived from the two
censuses which were taken in this book (the Greek and Latin designations are similarly named). In the Greek, the
title is arithmoi (AΡIθΜOI), from whence we obviously derive our word arithmetic. Although the numbering of the
people for battle—the numbering of the first and second generations—was important, still, this is not the thrust of
the book. Although the men were numbered for battle at the beginning of the book of Numbers, that generation
failed in every respect in battle. The second generation was also numbered and they enter into several short wars
with several peoples, emerging victorious. However, the actually numbering of these Israelites is but two significant
events in a book which is packed with important doctrines.
The date of writing: The time during which the book of Numbers was written is dependent upon the time of the
Exodus. Unfortunately, that time period is hotly disputed, being dated between 1440 b.c. and 1260 b.c.
Conservative Biblical scholars lean toward the earl date, archeologists toward the later. One reknown
archeologist—Nelson Glueck—spent ten years (1930–1940) studying the Negev and the Trans-Jordanian area and
his conclusions were that the regions mentioned, particularly in Numbers, were large unihabited during the time
period quoted by conservative theologians. In fact, it is his contention that that area was populated by other than
nomads no sooner than 1300 bc. However, his conclusions were based on surface observations and climatic
considerations made several thousand years after the fact, making his conclusions scientifically unviable. As I will
state later, the climate during that time was very likely different than the climate is now. There were some dry areas
and some areas where Israel went without water; however, they went for a long time when that was not an issue.
You cannot judge the state of the Mideast then by how it is today. Since Glueck had published his findings,
L. Harding has shown that during the Hyksos period of Egypt (1750–1550 bc), there were well--stocked tombs in
the area of Amman (known in the Bible as Rabbath-Ammon). Nomads do not tend to bury their dead in tombs, so
this calls into question Glueck's stand for the late date of the Exodus
.
There are other considerations which point toward the earlier date. Egypt had very little influence outside her realm
during this time period (thought to be during the rule of Ikhnaton); which would make sense, since God all but
decimated the army of Egypt prior to the Exodus. Furthermore, the run-ins with Midian as recorded in the book of
Numbers, is consistant with the historical Midians of this era, but not of any other. During this time period, they did
not own much territory, but they exercised control over a lot of territory due to their commercial enterprises which
were protected by their military
.
As I will state in the chronology section, I believe that Moses did the majority of his final draft while Israel cooled her
heals in Kadesh-barnea after their spectacular failure in Num. 13–14. This would place the date of writing between
1438 bc and 1400 bc. The events herein described would have taken place between 1439 bc and 1400 bc.
Content: We begin the book of Numbers right after the majority of the Mosaic Law had been given and the
construction of the tabernacle had been completed. The children of Israel are at the foot of Mount Sinai and will
march into the Land of Promise with the intention of taking the land. Along this march, they are continually beset
by their own mental attitude sins and lack of trust in God. Once they reach the land, the size of the occupants
frightens them and they fall into serious disfavor with God (this is putting it mildly—God will kill every man, twenty
years and older with the sin unto death). So Israel settles into a period of stagnation while God kills many of them
off. Once most of that evil generation are destroyed, they approach the land once more, traveling in a much more
circuitous route (however, in accordance with God's leading). The book of Numbers takes them right to the Jordan
Jericho, just due east of their land, poised and prepared for combat.
Allow me to quote from Scofield's introduction: Redeemed from Egypt, possessing the law, led by Moses, daily
loking upon the Tabernacle, and supernaturally guided by cloud and pillar of fire, Israel should have walked
triumphantly in in the perfect will of God. Instead they failed repeatedly, as this book records
.
Like the book of Leviticus, much of the book of Numbers is quoted directly from God. To the untrained eye, the book
of Numbers might seem to be an hodgepodge of events, battles, movement, laws and legal addendums. This may
be attributed to the authorship of a man who has recently experienced the events herein found and has more to
write about than he has time to write. Nevertheless, the book of Numbers tends to be generally chronological, the
ordinances and laws recorded here are often an integral part of the events which were occuring at this time. For
instance, the Exodus generation, generation X, were dying off in large numbers due to the sin unto death.
Therefore, it would make sense to include here laws which dealt specifically with the uncleanness incurred when
coming into contact with a dead body—a very common event of that time period only (Num. 9).
Like all of the Old Testament, there are incidents and their meanings which are not completely perspicuous until
after the death and resurrection of our Lord. The bronze serpent event, the movement toward and promise of the
land of Canaan, the budding of Aaron's rod (Num. 17), the seriousness of the mistake of Moses when he struck
the rock twice instead of merely speaking to it (Num. 20), the horrible infiltration of other religions into the life of
Israel (Num. 25) and the cities of refuge (Num. 35) all have meaning which go beyond their simple historic
recording. All of these events forshadow and foretell the death of our Lord and His resurrection. Their complete
meaning is easy to ascertain today, whereas the full import of these events would be less understood, even by their
author, Moses. What I am telling you is that you, an individual Christian with whatever background you have, are
in a position to have a better grasp of the events of this book and their spiritual import, guided by the ministry of God
the Holy Spirit, than even Moses did, likely the greatest man in the history of Israel, and one of the greatest men in
the history of the world.
One of the themes running throughout this book is one of the blessings of obedience to Yehowah and the cursing
and discipline attendant to disobedience. When Israel listened to and obeyed God's Word, they received protection
and blessing (Num. 21:21–35). When they rebelled against God and His Laws, God punished them (Num. 21:4–9).
Near the end of the book of Numbers, we not only see the deaths of the faithless Exodus generation, but we read
of the unceremonial death of Miriam (she will also be involved in her own little rebellion against God's authority) as
well as the death of Aaron, who was revered of the people and who was an honorable man, despite several glaring
errors of judgment. Even Moses, in this book, will make one grave mistake—the extent of which, he will not fully
understand in his own lifetime—but a mistake, nonetheless, which will keep him from even entering into the
Promised Land with those he has led for forty years.
Throughout the Pentateuch, as well as from Joshua to Samuel, the Jews were under a theocracy—that is, they
were ruled by God. They did not have a king as did the other nations.
However, there was always someone who
stood between the people and God, and, throughout their early history, this was Moses. God began right from the
very start to teach that there is a mediator between God and man. We know that Mediator today as Jesus Christ;
the Jews had their first mediator in the person of Moses, who, in occupying that office, was a shadow of Jesus
Christ.
The more specific content can be found immediately below in the outline.
Outline of Chapter 1: The book of Numbers can essentially be divided into two parts: Part I:Generation X—the
Exodus generation. Part II: The Second Generation. Throughout this book, we have a contrast between the fathers
and the sons.
Generation X
I. Israel is organized (Num. 1:1–10:10)
A. A census is taken of the adult members of eleven tribes of Israel (Num. 1:1–46)
B. The Levites are not included in this census and their general duties are given (Num. 1:47–54)
C. The camps are arrange around the tabernacle (Num. 2)
D. The Levites are a gracious gift to the Aaronic priesthood (Num. 3:1–13)
E. The Levites are numbered, all males of a month of age and older and given duties (Num. 3:14–39)
F. The first-born of the Levites are numbered and redeemed (Num. 3:40–51)
G. Specific Levitical responsibilities (Num. 4:1–33)
1. Those of the Kohathites (vv. 1–20)
2. Those of the Gershonites (vv. 21–28)
3. Those of the Merarites (vv. 29–33)
H. The three Levitical families are numbered according to those who will actually serve (Num. 4:34–49)
I. Sets of laws and customs (mostly peculiar to the Age of Israel) (Num. 5–6)
1. Concerning defilement (Num. 5:1–4)
2. Concerning confessions of sin and restitution (Num. 5:5–10)
3. The test for adultery (Num. 5:11–31)
4. Nazirite vows (Num. 6:1–21)
5. A blessing for Aaron to invoke (Num. 6:22–27)
J. Rituals (Num. 7:1–10:10)
1. The leaders of the tribes bring offerings (Num. 7:1–88)
2. The lampstands (Num. 7:89–8:4)
3. The cleansing of the Levites (Num. 8:5–26)
4. The second Passover (Num. 9:1–15)
5. Erection of the tabernacle and the guidance of Yehowah (Num. 9:16–23)
6. The silver trumpets (Num. 10:1–10)
II. Israel moves out (Num. 10:11–19:22)
A. The people leave Sinai (Num. 10:11–36)
B. Complaints along the journey (Num. 11–12)
1. The people complain to Moses about being tired of manna (Num. 11:1–9)
2. Moses complains to leadership God about his position of leadership (Num. 11:10–15)
3. God provides leaders to assist Moses, quail for the people and the Holy Spirit (Num. 11:16–35)
4. Miriam, and Aaron, complain to Moses about their authority and God disciplines Miriam (Num. 12)
C. The people at the edge of the Land of Promise (Num. 13–14)
1. Moses sends spies into the land (Num. 13:1–24)
2. The spies bring back their report (the majority report is that the inhabitants of the land are too big for
Israel to oppose; the minority report is that the land is just as Yehowah said it it is; let's go and take
it (Num. 13:25–33)
3. The people whine and bitch and refuse to go into the land (Num. 14:1–10)
4. God threatens to destroy all of the sons of Israel; Moses intercedes; God will just kill those who are
twenty years old and up (Num. 14:11–38)
5. The Israelites, in a burst of emotion, attack the Amalekites and the Canaanites, and Israel is struck
down and forced back to Hormah (Num. 14:39–45)
D. God's marvelous grace; His laws for entering into the Land of Canaan (Num. 15:1–31)
1. Offerings to be brought before God upon entering into the land (Num. 15:1–13)
2. God's laws apply to the temporary immigrant as well (Num. 15:14–31)
E. An incident of Sabbath-breaking occurs (Num. 15:32–41)
F. Korah's rebellion against Moses and subsequent actions
1. Korah, Dathan and Abiram all point to Moses as the reason that the Jews could not take the land of
Promise (Num. 16:1–14)
2. Moses and his rebels face off; an earthquake envelops the rebels and lightening kills some of them
(Num. 16:15–35)
3. The bronze incense burners of the rebels are hammered into sheets and used upon the altar as a
sign to suceeding generations (Num. 16:36–40)
4. The people complain to Moses because of the harsh treatment of the rebels and God disciplines them
with a plague (Num. 16:41–50)
5. Aaron's rod that buds is a sign to the rebels (Num. 17)
G. Spiritual ordinances (Num. 18–19)
1. Levitical assistance (Num. 18:1–7)
2. The portion of the priests (Num. 18:8–20)
3. The portions and obligations of the Levites (Num. 18:21–32)
4. The red heifer sacrifice (Num. 19:1–12)
5. Personal contact with dead body (Num. 19:13–22)
The Second Generation (the Generation of Hope)
I. From Kadesh to Jazer: several victories and two deaths (Num. 20–21)
A. The death of Miriam and the second generation's no-water test (Num. 20:1–13)
B. Negotiations to transverse Edom fail (Num. 20:14–23)
C. Aaron's death (Num. 20:24–29)
D. The Israelites defeat the king of Arad of the Negev (Num. 21:1–3)
E. The long additional journey causes the people to complain; the bronze serpent (Num. 21:4–9)
F. Israel continues to advance (Num. 21:10–20)
G. Victory over the Amorites (Num. 21:21–32)
H. Victory over Og, the king of Bashan (Num. 21:33–35)
II. Israel, Balak and Balaam (Num. 22–24)
A. Balak, king of Moab, sends for Balaam (Num. 22:1–21)
B. Balaam goes to Balak (Num. 22:22–41)
C. Balaam blesses Israel instead of cursing her (Num. 23–24)
III. The last of Generation X dies (Num. 25)
A. The influence of the cults of the women of Moab and Midian and the subsequent plague (Num. 25:1–9)
B. Phinehas stops the plague (Num. 25:10–18)
IV. Preparations for entrance into the Land of Promise (Num. 26–36)
A. The second major census (Num. 26)
B. Inheritance laws (Num. 27:11–14)
C. Joshua is to succeed Moses (Num. 27:15–23)
D. Offerings and vows (Num. 28–30)
1. The accompnaying bread offerings (Num. 28)
2. Special offerings for the seventh month (Num. 29)
3. Special voluntary vows (Num. 30)
E. The slaughter of Midian
1. Preparation (Num. 31:1–6)
2. War (Num. 31:7–10)
3. The spoil and prey (Num. 31:11–18)
4. Purification of the men of war (Num. 31:19–24)
5. The division of the spoil (Num. 31:25–54)
F. Reuben and Gad settle in the lands recently conquered (Jazer and Gilead) (Num. 32)
1. Their formal request to Moses (Num. 32:1–5)
2. Negociations between Moses and the elders of Gad and Reuben (Num. 32:6–27)
3. The agreement is formally ratified in public (Num. 32:28–32)
4. Gad, Reuben and a portion of the tribe of Manasseh settle their families there (Num. 32:33–42)
G. The journey from Egypt to Jordan Jericho is reviewed (Num. 33:1–49)
H. The apportioning of the land (Num. 33:50–36:13)
1. The general principle of possessing the land (Num. 33:50–56)
2. The borders of the land which is to be conquered are given (Num. 34:1–15)
3. Delegation of authority of land management (Num. 34:16–29)