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BOOK OF NUMBERS – INTRODUCTION

(Jerry Fite)

After the Law of Moses was given on Mount Sinai and the tabernacle was erected  in the Book of Exodus (Exodus 40:17),  and the month of instruction regarding acceptable sacrifices was established in the Book of Leviticus,  the journey to the promised land of Canaan was ahead and documented in the Book of Numbers (Numbers 1:1).      

I. TITLE  OF THE BOOK  

A. Hebrew:  “Be-midbar” “in the wilderness” (desert)   (Num. 1:1) – meaningful phrase for the Book in first verse .

B. Greek: “Arithmoi” – The Septuagint translation LXX (approximately 250 B.C.) of the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek.

C. Latin: “Numeri” -meaningful because numbering the people is highlighted in  the Book (Num. 1:1, 26:4)

D. English: “Numbers”

II. AUTHOR OF THE BOOK: Moses

A. “And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of Jehovah: and these are the journeys according to their goings out:” (Num. 33:2)

B. Recording of Aaron’s death (Num.33:38)

C. Recording God’s Commandment to him to instruct the people upon arriving in in the plains of Moab (Num. 33:50).

III. THEME OF THE BOOK:  “Behold the Goodness and Severity of God”

A. Journey to Canaan:

1. God’s goodness: Manna, water (sustenance)  (Num. 11:7-9, Ex. 16:31; Num. 20:11)  

2. God’s severity: Judgement against unbelief – a generation who would not enter the promised land  (Num. 14:29-30); Judgement against rebellion – Son’s of Korah (Num. 16)

B. New Testament Reference:

1. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall”  (I Cor. 10:5-12)

2. “And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief” (Heb. 3:15).

IV. STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK (From Explore the Book – J. Sidlow Baxter)

A. The Old Generation (Sinai to Kadesh)

1. The Numbering (Num. 1-4)

2. The Instructing (Num. 5-9)

3. The Journeying (Num. 10-14)

B. The Transition Era (in the wilderness)

1. The Wandering (Num. 15-20)

C. The New Generation (Kadesh to Moab)

1. The New Journeying (Num. 21-25)

2. The New Numbering (Num. 26-27)

3. The New Instructing (Num. 28-36)

V. FEATURES OF THE BOOK

A. Numbering Israel’s males twenty years old and older  - able for war – 603,550 (Num. 1:46)

1. Levites are distinguished, numbered, and instructed (Num. 3-4)

a. Levites to assist the Priests (from Aaron and his sons onward) (Num. 3:6)

b. Nadab and Abihu named among the four sons of Aaron though dead –  warning instruction of the reason for their sudden death  (Num. 3:2-4);

Eleazar in charge of the oil for light, incense, continual meal offering, furniture, etc.

(Num. 4:16)

c. The numbering of the firstborn males of tribe of Levi being distinguished from the firstborn males of Israel from the age of one month and upward –– the firstborn of Israel hallowed unto God on the day when He smote all the firstborn of Egypt (Num. 3:11-13).

d. Keeping the charge of the Tabernacle – focus upon the distinguishing responsibilities regarding the transporting the tabernacle on the journey – males numbered from 30-50 years old  (Num. 4)

i. Aaron and his sons (taking down the veil separating the most holy place from the holy place, and covering the furniture: the ark, altar of incense, etc.)

ii. Levites: Kohathites – internal equipment (only allowed to enter the sanctuary with Aaron and his sons to appoint them to take and carry the holy things already covered) – life and death issue. (4:17-20)

iii. Levites: Gershonites -external coverings – Under the hand of Ithamar (Num. 4:28)

iv. Levites: Merarites – structural components – Under the hand of Ithamar

(Num. 4:33)

B. Instruction to the people on the move

1. Reverencing God – respecting the movement of the cloud (glorious presence of God)

(Num. 9:15-23).

2. Keeping healthy  camp – separation from leper, those contaminated by contact with the dead

(Num. 5:1-4).

3. Calling of the Congregation Trumpets (Num. 10:1-10)

a. Blowing two trumpets – all the congregation gather at the Tabernacle

b. Blowing one trumpet – Princes gather

c. Blowing the trumpets distinctions – gathering together  contrasted with sounding alarm of war.

4.  Numbering a New Generation on the move with specific instructions                     

a.    New Numbering: 601,730 (Num. 26:1-51)                                                       

b.    Amplifying the Lord’s offerings already revealed in Leviticus 23 and Exodus 29:38-42

(daily offerings) – addition of Sabbath day offerings and new month offerings (new month)  (Num. 28:9-10; 11-15).                        

c.  Safeguarding vows in family and marriage relationships (Num. 30:1-16).

d.  God’s Retributive war on Midian – Israel is the means Easy victory  - Large Spoil - no loss of life among Israel  (Num. 31; 7-8, 25-47, 49).  

 

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK:

I.   BEFORE LEAVING  SINAI (1:1-10:10) (19 days -1st to 20th of second month of 2nd. year  after Exodus)       A.  Numbering and ordering of the people (Chapters 1-4)                                                                         

      B. The cleansing and blessing of the congregation (Chapters 5-6)                                                          

      C. The princes’ offerings and the dedication of the altar (Chapters 7-8)                                        

      D. The Observations of the second Passover (9:1-14)                                                                                      

      E. The Cloud and the trumpets for the march (9:15-10:10)

II.  FROM SINAI TO KADESH (10:11-14:45) (10 days – 20th. to 30th. of the second month of 2nd. Year

after Exodus)

      A.  Departure from Sinai (10:11-35)                                                                                                

      B.  Events at Taberah and Kibroth-hattaavah (Chapter 11)                                                                         

      C.  The rebellion of Miriam and Aaron (Chapter 12)                                                                                     

      D.  The mission of the spies (Chapters 13-14)

III. THE WANDERINGS IN THE WILDERNESS (Chapters 15-19) (38  years from the Exodus)

     A.  Sundry laws and punishment of a Sabbath breaker (Chapter 15)            

     B.  The rebellion of Korah (Chapter 16)                                                                                                  

     C.  The budding of Aaron’s rod (Chapter 17)                                                                                   

     D.  The duties and revenues  of the priests and Levites (Chapter18)                                                    

     E.  The water of separation for the unclean (Chapter 18)  

IV. FROM KADESH TO MOAB (Chapters 20-21)   (10 months of the 40th. year of  Exodus)

                 A. The narrative story  of the prophet Balaam (Chapters 22: -24:25)                                             

                 B. The zeal of Phinehas (Chapter 25)                                                                                                      

                 C. The Second Census (26:1-51)                                                                                                              

                 D. Directions for dividing the land (26:52-27:11)                                                                                       

                 E. Appointment of Moses’ successor (27:12-23)                                                                               

                 F.  Concerning  offerings of vows (Chapters 28-30)                                                                                   

                G.  God’s retributive war against Midian (Chapter 31)                                                                                     

                H. Settlement of Reuben and Gad (Chapter 32)                                                                                           

                 I.  List of camping stations (33:1-49)                                                                                                 

                J.  Canaan to be cleared of its inhabitants and divided (33:50-34:29).                                                         

               K. Cities of refuge to be appointed (Chapter 35)                                                                                        

               L. The marriage of heiresses (Chapter 36)