Learning God

Numbers

The Price of Disobedience

Summary  |  About  |  Why You Should Read it  |  Author  |  When Written |  Context  |  Timeline  |  Location  |  Outline  |  Observations  |  Resources


Summary

The Book of Numbers details the journey of the Israelites from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land, covering events during their 40-year wilderness wanderings. The book’s name comes from the census of the Israelites at the beginning and near the end of their journey.  It focuses on the following:

  1. Census and Organization (Chs 1-10)
  2. Journey and Rebellion (Chs 11-20)
  3. Laws, Leadership, and Challenges (Chs 21-36)

The following table provides a summary of the structure and contents of the book of Numbers.


About

Numbers is the fourth book of the Torah (Hebrew), also known as the Pentateuch (Greek), written by Moses.  This collection is commonly referred to as “The Law”.  


Why You Should Read It

Numbers offers valuable lessons about faith, obedience, and God’s character that are relevant to Christian life. Here are some key reasons why Numbers is important for Christians:

  1. Understanding God’s Faithfulness and Patience: Numbers shows God’s unwavering faithfulness to His promises despite the repeated failures and complaints of the Israelites. This illustrates God’s patience, mercy, and commitment to His people, offering a reminder of His grace in the lives of believers today.
  2. Lessons on Obedience and Disobedience: The narrative of Numbers highlights the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience. The Israelites’ experiences serve as a warning against unbelief and rebellion while encouraging Christians to trust and obey God, even in difficult circumstances.
  3. Spiritual Growth and Leadership: Numbers provides insights into the challenges of spiritual leadership, showcasing Moses’ role as a leader amid complaints, rebellions, and crises. It teaches lessons on humility, perseverance, and reliance on God, which are crucial for Christian leaders and followers alike.
  4. Preparation for the Promised Land: Just as the Israelites were prepared for the Promised Land, Christians are on a journey toward God’s ultimate promises. The book encourages believers to remain faithful and hopeful, trusting God’s guidance through life’s wilderness moments.
  5. Christ-Centered Foreshadowing: Numbers contains typology and symbolism that point to Christ, such as the bronze serpent lifted up for healing (Numbers 21:8-9), which Jesus references in John 3:14-15 as a foreshadowing of His crucifixion. These connections enrich a Christian’s understanding of salvation and redemption.
  6. The Importance of Holiness: Numbers emphasizes the necessity of holiness, purity, and worship, teaching that approaching God requires reverence and obedience. It underscores the need for Christians to live set apart in devotion to God.

Overall, reading Numbers helps Christians understand God’s nature, learn from the past, and be inspired to live faithfully in their own spiritual journeys.


Author

Despite all of the debate over this topic, there is a simple and clear answer to this question, assuming you believe Jesus is the Son of God.  Jesus said himself, the answer is Moses, when he said, “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luk 24:27 KJV).  It is generally accepted that Moses is the author of the first 5 books, known in Hebrew as the Torah and in Greek as the Pentateuch.   

There are those who argue against this.  The Documentary Hypothesis (Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis) says that the Torah was compiled by later editors: J (Jehovahist, Yahwist); E (Elohist); D (Deuteronomic source); and, P (Priestly source). This hypothesis was created without any compelling historical, linguistic or textual evidence and has been shredded by Oswalt T. Allis, R.N. Whybray, E.J. Young, Umbertos Cassuto, R.K. Harrison, Kenneth A. Kitchen and others.

“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” – John 5:45-47


When Written

This topic is hotly debated among the best Christian scholars because there is more than one way to interpret the chronology.  The issue is that most of the ways result in issues with one or more of the biblical statements regarding such dating.  What is presented here is our best understanding of the various chronologies that enable the logic and mathematics to align so that all biblical statements are true and accurately add up to the dates presented.  As such, the dating of the Exodus used by LearningGod.org assumes it took place in 1446 B.C. as shown in the timeline below.  The timeline shows from the birth of Abraham, which is shortly before the dating related verses begin.  The timeline reflects the 430 year period referred to Exodus 12:40 and the 400 year period of Genesis 15:13 and Acts 7:6.  It also shows the 480 year period after the Exodus until the building of the Temple referred to in 1st Kings 6:1.

Numbers was written during the wilderness wanderings before entering the promised land as described in the verse below.

“Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you;” – Deu 31:26


Context

Moses had been called out of his own personal exile to lead a family of slaves to freedom from a harsh empire.  Egypt was at the pinnacle of their power at this time and was ruler of the known world.  The family descended from Abraham and had grown exponentially during their roughly 400 years of captivity.  This family knew nothing but slavery and Moses was challenged with getting Pharaoh to free them.  Moses was the second in command in Egypt before fleeing into exile 40 years earlier.  He was familiar with the Egyptian might and knew he had a challenging task before him.  It was only by the power of God that they would be freed. 


Timeline

The timeline below shows from the birth of Abraham until the Temple.


Location

Numbers was written after Moses received the Law at Mt Sinai and before the Israelites entered Canaan.  Archeological evidence suggests that Mt Sinai, also known biblically as Mt Horeb, is east of the Sinai Peninsula.


Outline

I.   Israel at Sinai, Preparing to Depart for the Promised Land (1:1;10:10)

A.   The Commands for the Census of the People (chs. 1-4)

1.  The numbers of men from each tribe mustered for war (ch. 1)

2.   The placement of the tribes around the tabernacle & order (ch. 2)

3.   The peace offering (ch. 3)

4.   The numbers of the Levites in their tabernacle service for the Lord (ch. 4)

B.   The Commands for Purity of the People (5:1;10:10)

1.  The test for purity in the law of jealousy (ch. 5)

2.  The Nazirite vow and the Aaronic benediction (ch. 6)

3.  The offerings of the 12 leaders at the dedication of the tabernacle (ch. 7)

4.  The setting up of the lamps and the separation of the Levites (ch. 8)

5.  The observance of the Passover (9:1-14)

6.  The covering cloud and the silver trumpets (9:15;10:10)

II.   The Journey from Sinai to Kadesh (10:11;12:16)

A.   The Beginning of the Journey (10:11-36)

B.   The Beginning of the Sorrows: Fire and Quail (ch. 11)

C.   The Opposition of Miriam and Aaron (ch. 12)

III.   Israel at Kadesh, the Delay Resulting from Rebellion (13:1;20:13)

A.   The 12 Spies and Their Mixed Report of the Good Land (ch. 13)

B.   The People’s Rebellion against God’s Commission, and Their Defeat (ch. 14)

C.   A Collection of Laws on Offerings, the Sabbath and Tassels on Garments (ch. 15)

D.   The Rebellion of Korah and His Allies (ch. 16)

E.   The Budding of Aaron’s Staff: A Sign for Rebels (ch. 17)

F.   Concerning Priests, Their Duties and Their Support (ch. 18)

G.   The Red Heifer and the Cleansing Water (ch. 19)

H.   The Sin of Moses (20:1-13)

IV.  The Journey from Kadesh to the Plains of Moab (20:14;22:1)

A.   The Resistance of Edom (20:14- 21)

B.   The Death of Aaron (20:22-29)

C.   The Destruction of Arad (21:1-3)

D.   The Bronze Snake (21:4-9)

E.   The Song of the Well and the Journey to Moab (21:10-20)

F.   The Defeat of Sihon and Og (21:21-35)

G.   Israel Returns to Moab (22:1)

v.   Israel on the Plains of Moab, in Anticipation of Taking the Promised Land (22:2;32:42)

A.   Balak of Moab Hires Balaam to Curse Israel (22:2-41)

B.   Balaam Blesses Israel in Seven Oracles (chs. 23-24)

C.   The Baal of Peor and Israel’s Apostasy (ch. 25)

D.   The Second Census (ch. 26)

E.   Instructions for the New Generation (chs. 27-30)

1. The inheritance for women (27:1-11)

2.  The successor to Moses (27:12-23)

3.  Commands regarding offerings (28:1-15)

4.  Commands regarding festivals (28:16;29:40)

5.  Commands regarding vows (ch. 30)

F.   The War against Midian (ch. 31)

G.   The Settlement of the Transjordan Tribes (ch. 32)

VI.  Appendixes Dealing with Various Matters (chs. 33-36)

A.   The Stages of the Journey (ch. 33)

B.   The Land of Inheritance (chs. 34- 35)

C.   The Inheritance for Women (ch. 36)


Observations

  • Numbers has been called:
    • The “Book of Journeyings.”
    • The “Book of Murmurings.”
    • The “Fourth Book of Moses.”
  • Numbers covers almost 39 years.
    • 1:1 – 10:11 covers some 21 days.
    • 10:1 – 33:38 covers about 38 years.
    • 33-38 through Deuteronomy 1:3 covers about 6 months.
  • Numbers opens some 13 months after the Exodus.
  • Numbers records the tragic story and consequences of Israel’s unbelief.
  • What could have been an 11-day journey turned into a 40 year ordeal.
  • Numbers has more than 80 claims that “the Lord spoke to Moses.”
  • Because of the rebellion at Kadesh Barnea in accepting the report of 10 of the 12 spies while rejecting the reports of Joshua and Caleb, the generation of the exodus will not be the generation of the conquest.
    • The mission of the spies lasted 40 days.
    • God assigned one year of wandering for each day the spies spied out the land. With this time already elapsed since having left Egypt, that added about 38 more years.
  • Almost nothing is recorded about the transition years after the rebellion at Kadesh Barnea.
  • Kadesh Barnea was some 150 miles north of Mt. Sinai, and some 50 miles south of Beersheba, the southern gateway to Canaan.

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