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BOOK OF NUMBERS – LESSON FOUR

(Chapters 15-20)

        As a generation of adult Israelites are condemned to thirty-eight more years of wandering in the wilderness, their children are growing to adulthood as they suffer the consequences of the sin of their fathers.  God is faithful to his promises, even in the face of disbelief, and prepares a new generation instructing them initially in chapter 15 of the sacrifices they will be offering when they enter the promised land (15:2,18)..Rebellion against the priesthood is met with God’s punishment, and His consequent reaffirming of the Aaronic priesthood (chapters 16-18).  Chapter 20 documents the death of Miriam and Aaron, while informing us of Moses’ failure  of not sanctifying God before people who are murmuring for the lack of water.  Sadly,  we learn in this lesson that Moses’ frustrated rashness will cost him entrance into the promised land.

I. The Wandering Transition in the Wilderness...

A. Sacrifices and offerings commanded – living holy lives  (15:1-41).

1. Supplementary grain and drink must also be offered  (v. 1-16)

2. Offerings of the first fruits upon inhabiting the land (v. 17-21)

3. Offerings for sins of omission (v. 22-29)

4. Regulations regarding defiant deliberate sins (v. 30-31)

5. Example of a law-breaker – violating the law of the sabbath (v. 32-36)

6. Fringed blue tassels on the bottom of garments – remembering the law    (v.37-41)

B. Rebellion of Korah and associates (16:1-50)

1. Murmuring against Moses and Aaron: They have lifted themselves above Israel as being set apart by God to lead God’s people (v. 1-40)

a. Korah, son of Izhar of Kohath of the tribe of Levi leads the rebellion against Moses and Aaron.

b. Dathan, Abiram, and On of the tribe of Reuben join other tribes to comprise 250 men in the rebellion.  

c. Moses challenges group to offer incense on their 250 censors to see whom God accepts as being set apart unto Him

d. God’s dramatic and sudden answer: ground opens to swallow up households and those standing close to the tents of the rebellious ones, while fire comes down to devour the 250 rebellious men.

e. The 250 censors dedicated to God - melted into covering plates for the altar –  a reminder that no stranger should offer incense that is not of the seed of Aaron.

2. Those who complain of the killing die by a plague – 14, 700 – plague stayed by Moses commanding Aaron to offer incense for the people  (v. 41-50).

C. Aaron’s rod buds, blossoms, and bears fruit – God’s vindication upon all rebels of Aaron’s priesthood (Chapter 17)

D. Divine reaffirmation of the Aaronic priesthood- duties and rights  of Priests and Levites (Chapter 18)

E. Ordinance of a red heifer being offered as a sin offering – ashes  combine creating water for impurity - ceremonial cleansing of the flesh (Chapter 19, cf. Heb. 9:13)

F. The end of the wandering – death of Miriam, and Aaron, and Moses’ failure to sanctify God before the people (Chapter 20).

1. The first month at the end of the 38- year wandering in the wilderness of Zin in Kadesh.

2. Moses, out of frustrated anger strikes the rock instead of obeying God to speak to the rock to bring forth water.

3. Moses and Aaron not allowed to bring God’s people into the promised land God has given to them

4. Gathering at Mt. Hor – Aaron dies being stripped of his priestly garments – placed upon Eleazar.

QUESTIONS:

1. What would be your mood if you were under 20 years olds and over 20 years old when hearing the words of Moses in chapter fifteen, verses 1-16?

2. The offerings under consideration in 15:1-16, considered:

a. Freewill or Votive offerings

b. Sin or Trespass offerings

c. Both

3. What relationship do you see with the animal  being sacrificed and the ingredients of the meal-offering and drink- offering offered with each animal ?

4. What “heave-offering” is being given in 15:17-21?

5. The sins being addressed in 15:22-26 are:

a. sins of commission

b. sins of omission

6. What contrasting attitudes or mindset are behind the sins committed in 15:27-31?

7. If the death penalty was clearly connected with violating the Sabbath day Law (Exodus 31:14), why was the man put in ward to consider his fate in 15:32-36?

8. What was the purpose for the blue tassels on the fringe of the garment worn by the people of Israel?

9. What was the complaint of Korah and his company of 250 men against Moses and Aaron?                      

10. How did Jehovah establish that Moses and Aaron were separated unto him and distinguished from the other Levites?

11. What happened to those who remained close to the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram?

                  

12. How did the 250 men who offered incense die?

13. What happened to the 250 censors?  What message did they convey?

14. Who were the people who suffered on this day of testing besides Korah, Dathan, and Abiram?

15. How did God vindicate the priesthood of Aaron?

16. Why does Jehovah go into detail to distinguish the ministry between the Priests and Levites as set apart from the stranger and the children of Israel ?

17.  What is the purpose of the offering of a red heifer?  How does the author of Hebrews use the red heifer as a contrast in Heb. 9:13-14?

18.  What will happen if a person who touches a dead body does not apply the water for impurity?

19. What month of what year did the people of Israel abide in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin?

20. Who died and was buried in Kadesh?

21. Why did Moses and Aaron fail to enter the promised land?

22. How did Moses reason with Edom when Moses asked to pass through their land?  

23. How does the Lord describe Aaron’s actions at the waters of Meribah?

24. What happened to Aaron in Mt. Hor of the border of Edom?