Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Links to Book of Numbers (Bemindbar) Study

Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Numbers 20-25


  • Chapter 20 - The New Generation complains; Moses Strikes the Rock; Miriam and Aaron die.

    • This chapter opens 37 years after the incident with the 12 spies at Kadesh and 40 years since leaving Egypt.

    • Now they're camped at Kadesh once again now that the old generation has died off.

    • Miriam dies and is buried at Kadesh.

    • The new generation now rebels too complaining about the food and lack of water - wishing they were in Egypt (Egypt is a type of the world).

    • God in His "glorious presence" directs Moses and Aaron what to do, but they don't follow His directions to the letter:

      Numbers 20:8-13: "You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, command the rock over there to pour out its water. You will get enough water from the rock to satisfy all the people and their livestock." So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the LORD. Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. "Listen, you rebels!" he shouted. "Must we bring you water from this rock?" Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So all the people and their livestock drank their fill. But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!" This place was known as the waters of Meribah, because it was where the people of Israel argued with the LORD, and where he demonstrated his holiness among them.

      Meribah means "arguing."

    • Why was God so angry with them? Who is the Rock? Christ! They broke the type where rivers of living water would come from Him:

      John 7:37-39: On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ ” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

      1 Corinthians 10:4: and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.

      The first time God told Moses to strike the rock in Exodus 17:6 and water would come forth. This represented Christ’s death that brings forth life giving water. However, the second time Moses was told to only speak to the Rock, because Christ would never die twice. Moses and Aaron disobeyed and were punished.

    • Edom refuses to let Israel pass through their land on the king's road on their way to the Promised Land.

      If Israel could go through Edom, it would be only 20 miles, and they could then go on the east of the Dead Sea to cross the Jordan near Jericho. Yet for Israel this meant a long journey of 120 miles rather than 20 miles.

      The Edomites were descended from Jacob's brother, Esau.

      The king's road was an old caravan route.

      Moses tells the king of Edom that an angel brought them out of Egypt. Who was this "angel"?


    • Israel arrives at mount Hor.

    • God tells Moses and Aaron that "the time has come for Aaron to join his ancestors in death."

    • Moses, Aaron and Aaron's son Eleazar ascend to the top of Mount Hor. Moses removes Aaron's priestly garments from him and puts them on Eleazar, thus appointing him as the new high priest, and Aaron dies.

    • Israel mourns for 30 days.





  • Chapter 21 - Victory over the Canaanites; the Bronze Serpent; Journey to Moab; Israel Defeats the Ammorites and occupies their Territory.

    • The Canaanite king of Arad in the Negev attacks Israel and is defeated. Israel destroys all their towns.

    • The people start complaining about the manna.

    • As a result, God sends poisonous snakes among them and many die.

    • Numbers 21:8-9: Then the LORD told him, "Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to the top of a pole. Those who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!" So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to the top of a pole. Whenever those who were bitten looked at the bronze snake, they recovered!

      2 Kings 18:4: He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan. Nehushtan means a thing of brass. It's not a god - it's just a piece of brass. The "He" is Hezekiah (about 715 BC).

      John 3:14-15: And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

    • The serpent is always a symbol for sin because Satan came in the form of a serpent in the Garden of Eden. Brass is always a symbol of judgment.

    • Now if you go to the Saint Ambrose Cathedral in Milan, Italy you can see the glued-together pieces of brass and the people going up and offering their prayers and kissing the glass cover and so forth again. Because according to their story, someone picked up the pieces and now they've got it on display and are using it again.

    • The Amorites also refuse to let Israel pass through their territory on the king's road. Israel defeats King Sihon and King Og and occupies their land as far as the fortified territory of the Ammonites.




  • Chapter 22 - Balaam

    • Israel camps east of the Jordan River, across from Jericho, in the plains of Moab.

    • Balak, the Moabite king, sends for Balaam, a sorcerer, living in Pethor near the Euphrates River, to put a curse on Israel.

    • Balak's messengers give money to do the job; he tells them to stay the night (probably in hopes of getting more money).

    • God speaks to Balaam and tells him not to go with them and says He will not curse Israel.

    • Balak sends even more people and, probably more money, to persuade Balaam to come and curse Israel. This time, God says to go with them the next day, but he is only to do what God directs him to do.

    • God was furious that Balaam was going - then we get the incident of Balaam's donkey. So why was God upset at Balaam for doing what God told him to do?

    • In the story, God opens Balaam's eyes when the donkey won't go any further and he sees the angel of the Lord.

    • 2 Peter 2:15-16: They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.

    • An 8th century BC inscription found in Jordan begins with, "Inscription of Balaam the son of Beor, the man who was a seer of the gods."



  • Chapters 23-24 - Balaam Bless Israel

    • First attempt: Balaam has Balak build 7 altars with sacrifices.

      God gives Balaam a message for Balak that Israel is a nation set apart from other nations and is blessed by God.

    • Second attempt: Balaam has Balak build 7 altars with sacrifices at a different place where Balaam will only see part of Israel and hopefully can at least weaken them.

      God tells Balaam to tell Balak that no sorcery has any power against Israel.

    • Third attempt: Balaam and Balak go the top of Mount Peor and again has seven altars built with sacrifices.

    • Balaam's prophecy: Balaam realizes that the Lord intends to bless Israel. The Spirit of the Lord comes on him and he delivers a prophecy and a vision of Israel and says "...Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you."

    • Balaam's final prophecy: Balaam prophecies that "A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel".

      This star is usually assumed to refer to the Messiah.

      And he prophecies that Moab, Amalek and Edom will be conquered and the Kenites will be taken captive by Assyria and that eventually Assyria will also be destroyed.

      Then Balaam and Balak return to their homes.




  • Chapter 25
    - Moab Seduces Israel

    • Israel is camped at Shittim, the final encampment before they cross the Jordan (Joshua 2:1). Satan brings forth another way of keeping Israel out of the promised land.

    • Numbers 31:16 and Revelation 2:14 reveal that it was Balaam's idea to involve Israel in sexual sin with the local Moabite women/prostitutes and then to be sucked into their Baal worship.

      Numbers 31:16: “These are the very ones who followed Balaam’s advice and caused the people of Israel to rebel against the Lord at Mount Peor. They are the ones who caused the plague to strike the Lord’s people.

      Revelation 2:14: “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.


       Numbers 31:8: All five of the Midianite kings—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—died in the battle. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword .

       Joshua 13:22: The Israelites had also killed Balaam son of Beor, who used magic to tell the future.

    • God orders Moses to execute the ringleaders and impale their bodies on stakes.

    • One Israelite man, Zimri, even brought a Moabite woman into the Israelite camp into his tent and Phinehas ran his spear through the man into the woman's stomach, killing both.

    • 24,000 died (including 1,000 of the leaders who were executed) as a result of this sin:1 Corinthians 10:8: And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.

    • Because of what he did, God made a special covenant with Phinehas (Eleazar's son and Aaron's grandson) that he and his descendants would be priests for all time.

    • God orders Moses to attack the Midianites and destroy them.




Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation of the Bible.



On-Line Sources:



Off-Line Sources:


Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Numbers 10-19


  • Chapter 10 - TWO SILVER TRUMPETS
    (verses 1-10)

    • The two silver trumpets were to be made of hammered or beaten work.

    • If both trumpets were blown, this was the signal for all the congregation
      of Israel to gather before Moses at the door of the tabernacle.

    • If only one trumpet was blown, this was to summon the leaders
      of each tribe.

    • When about to travel, an alarm was blown, the
      first alarm signaling the movement of the camps on the east side (Judah),
      the second alarm calling for the movement of those on the south
      side. Nothing is said as to the north and west sides. Perhaps
      it is to be understood that the alarm was blown the third and fourth
      time for these.

    • At the coming of the Lord, His word will be a clarion call to
      summon all believers away from earth to His own glorious presence.

    • The sons of Aaron were those designated to blow the trumpets,
      therefore it was priestly work.

    • If, on entering their land, it was necessary to engage in warfare,
      then the trumpets were to sound an alarm.

    • Also, at the set times of Israel's appointed feasts, and at the
      beginning of each month, the trumpets were to be sounded in drawing
      attention to their burnt offerings and peace offerings.





  • Chapter 10 - JOURNEYING FROM SINAI
    (verses 11-36)

    • What follows is the history of the wilderness journey of
      Israel.

    • About one year and five weeks after the Passover in Egypt the
      cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle in mid-spring, so that Israel began
      their journey following the cloud. As they followed God's leading, so should we!

    • They left the wilderness of Sinai only to enter the wilderness
      of Paran.

    • The tribes set out on the journey in the order God had prescribed:

      • Judah first.

      • When these had moved
        the tabernacle was taken down, and the sons of Gershon and the sons
        of Merari set out, carrying the tabernacle.

      • The tribe of
        Reuben was next

      • Then
        Simeon.

      • Then Gad.

      • Following
        Gad were the Kohathites carrying the furniture of the tabernacle,
        so that on their arrival the tabernacle would have been prepared
        for them. Thus the Kohathites would be in the middle of the procession,
        with the holy things having a central place.

      • Ephraim next began their journey, then Manasseh, then Benjamin. Dan followed, then Asher
        and finally Naphthali.



    • Verse 29 speaks of Moses asking Hobab, son of Reuel to come with
      Israel. Hobab was the brother of Moses' wife Zipporah. No doubt
      it was simply because of this relationship that Moses requested
      him to come. Before the law was given, Jethro (known as Reuel also)
      had come to Moses and advised him to delegate authority to others
      in Israel, then had returned to his own land (Exodus 18:17-27). But he told Moses he would not
      go with Israel, but would return to his own land.

    • Moses nevertheless urged him, because Hobab knew something of
      the country they would pass through, and he could be "eyes"
      for Israel. Besides, Moses promised him, they would treat him well,
      as the Lord treated Israel. However, nothing is said as to whether Hobab
      accepted this. Still, Hobab is not mentioned again in all the wilderness
      history. His children are mentioned in Judges 4:11, but not as part
      of Israel.

    • Leaving Mount Horeb, the first leg of Israel's journey took three
      days.

    • We are told that
      the ark went before them, and that the cloud was above them.

    • Because the ark was the symbol of the Lord's presence, Moses prayed
      when it set out, "Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered! Let them flee before you!". Then when the ark rested, Moses prayed, "Return,
      O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel      ".



  • Chapter 11 - THE PEOPLE COMPLAIN

    • The people began complaining about their hardships and the fire of the Lord
      destroyed the outskirts of the camp.

    • When Moses prayed, the fire stopped. Then the area was called Taberah (the place of burning).

    • Then the "foreign rabble" despised the manna and wanted to turn back to Egypt.

    • Moses was sick of them and felt the burden was greater than
      he could bear.

    • Then God told him appoint
      seventy men (same number that went up the mountain and the number in the Sanhedrin) to be elders of the people on whom
      He put some of Moses' spirit and they prophesied.

    • In answer to their complaint of no meat, God gave them quails (three feet deep on the ground).

    • But God caused a plague to break out among them.

    • The place was called Kibroth-hattaavah (the graves of craving).

    • Then God moved them to Hazeroth where they stay for some time.



  • Chapter 12
    - MIRIAM and AARON OPPOSE MOSES

    • Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses saying they were upset about Moses marrying a Cushite women, but were actually upset that their little brother was the leader.

    • God said "I speak to him face to face, directly". Is this the incarnate Christ?

    • The
      Lord struck Miriam with a skin disease (translated "leprosy") but at the intercession
      of Moses it was removed from her, though she was shut out of the camp
      seven days.


    Chapter 13-14
    - THE TWELVE SPIES

    • God instructs Moses to send out 12 men to spy out the land of Canaan.

    • Caleb represented Judah and Joshua represented Ephraim.

    • Joshua's original name was Hoshea (which means "salvation") but Moses renamed him Joshua (which means "The LORD is salvation").

    • Detailed the searching of the land by the spies, and
      the consequences of their lack of faith. The route would have been a round trip of about 500 miles.

    • Forgetting God, and judging from
      their own standpoint, the spies (except Caleb and Joshua) gave an evil
      report of the land - mentioning that there were giants in the land and the cities were walled and heavily fortified.

    • The whole congregation exclaimed, "We wish we had died in Egypt or even here in this wilderness".

    • They suggest appointing a new leader and going back to Egypt.

    • Caleb and Joshua tore their clothes and proclaimed that the people in the land had no protection because the Lord was with His people.

    • God proposed wiping out the complainers and making a new nation from Moses. Moses responded by saying basically "what would the Egyptians think?".

    • God decreed that all of twenty years old and upwards would die in
      the wilderness, except Caleb and Joshua, and that their little ones should
      be brought into the land.

    • The ten false spies died.

    • In further rebellion they said they would go
      up into the land, but they were smitten by the Amalekites and Canaanites.
      This is the beginning of their wandering 40 years in the wilderness - the same as the number of days the spies explored the land.



  • Chapter 15-19
    - THE KORAH REBELLION; WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS

    • God had not deviated from His purpose and give some of
      the laws of the offerings when they come into the promised land.

    • The punishment for breaking the Sabbath law - stoning to death.

    • Institution of the blue tassels.

    • Then is recorded the rebellion of Korah, Dathan,
      and Abiram, that which is spoken of in Jude 1:1 as the gainsaying of Core.
      It was the assumption of the priesthood by the Levites and rebellion against
      the anointing of God. Remember, not all Levites were priests - only Aaron and his descendants!

    • The brass incense burners of the rebellious Levites (250 in all) were beaten into plates as a covering for the altar.

    • 14,700 people die from the plague for rebelling against God.

    • By the budding of Aaron's rod, God bore witness as to whom He had chosen
      for the priesthood, and He gave instructions as to the responsibility
      and the portions of the priests and Levites.

    • Instructions are again given about the offerings and tithes.

    • Then is given
      the law of the Red Heifer, a provision for defilement in the wilderness.

       








Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation of the Bible.



On-Line Sources:



Off-Line Sources:


Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Friday, August 14, 2009

Numbers 5-9


  • Chapter 5 - Laws of Uncleanness, Trespassing and the unfaithful
    Wife:

    • Removal of the "unclean": Because the
      Lord dwelt among the sons of Israel, he ordered Moses to command
      the sons of Israel to purify the camp by sending out those who were
      unclean - "lepers" (the Hebrew word used describes various
      skin diseases) and those defiled by contact with the dead.

    • Restitution: When someone was robbed or wronged,
      they were to confess their sin, make full restitution plus add a
      penalty of 20%. If the wronged person was dead and there were no
      close relatives, the restitution and a ram for atonement went to
      the priest. This was a unique concept for that day.

      The lesson for us to draw from this is that we should not only apologize
      and make amends but that we should go beyond what might
      be expected of us.

    • The trial of jealousy: When a wife committed
      adultery or when her husband became jealous and suspected his wife
      of committing adultery, she was brought before the priest with a
      grain offering and required to drink water with the dust of the
      tabernacle in it; whereupon she would be shown to be guilty her
      "stomach swelled and her thigh wasted away" such that
      she could not get pregnant, or she would be vindicated if nothing
      happened. Suspicion and mistrust will destroy a marriage.



  • Chapter 6 - Law of the Nazirite and the Priestly Blessing:

    • (from the Hebrew root nazar, meaning "to separate")

    • God instituted the Nazirite vow for people who
      wanted to devote some time exclusively to serving him.

    • Parents could take the vow for their young child - such as with
      Samuel.

    • The vow included 3 restrictions:

      • He had to abstain from wine or anything else
        from the grapevine (including grape juice and raisins).

      • His hair could not be cut and the beard
        could not be shaved - See story about Samson.

      • Touching a dead body was not allowed - not
        even if a parent or sibling.

      • At the end of the vow, he would bring to the Tabernacle entrance
        the appropriate offerings.

        Then, the Nazirite was to shave his hair and
        put it on the fire beneath the peace-offering sacrifice.

        Acts 18:18,21:24: Paul stayed in Corinth
        for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers
        and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved
        his head         according to Jewish custom, marking
        the end of a vow        . Then he set sail for Syria, taking
        Priscilla and Aquila with him...Go with them to the Temple and
        join them in the purification ceremony, paying
        for them to have their heads ritually shaved. Then everyone
        will know that the rumors are all false and that you
        yourself observe the Jewish laws        .



    • Aaron and his sons were to bless the people of Israel
      with this special blessing:

         ‘May the Lord bless you and protect you.

         May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.

         May the Lord show you his favor and give you his
      peace.      ’

      This blessing was discovered in 1979 on a silver amulet in a Judean
      tomb dating to the 7th or 6th century B.C.



  • Chapter 7 - Offerings of the Twelve Princes of Israel for
    the Dedicating of the Altar:

    • Setting: On the day that Moses finished setting
      up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it, all its furnishings,
      the altar and its utensils.

    • God spoke to Moses from between the two cherubim: When
      Moses entered into the tabernacle "he heard the
      voice       speaking to him from between the two cherubim above
      the Ark’s cover - the place of atonement - that rests on the
      Ark of the Covenant. The Lord spoke to him from there.      "

      He had access to the mercy-seat and received his directions from
      there, while the place of approach for the people was at the brazen
      altar. BUT, we are called to approach the throne BOLDLY:

      Hebrews 4:16: So let us come boldly
      to the throne       of our gracious God. There we will receive
      his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

      Exodus 29:42: “These burnt offerings
      are to be made each day from generation to generation. Offer them
      in the Lord’s presence at the Tabernacle entrance;
      there I will meet with you and speak with you.

    • The Chieftains’ Initiatory Gifts: The leaders
      of the tribes of Israel offered six covered carts and twelve oxen
      before the tabernacle which were accepted and given to the sons
      of Gershon and Merari, and Moses demonstrated the unified acceptance
      of the tabernacle through the gifts from the leaders of the twelve
      tribes.

    • Tribal Offerings: The leaders of the tribes of
      Israel, the heads of their fathers’ households, offered six
      covered carts (one for every two leaders) and twelve oxen (one for
      every leader) before the tabernacle.

    • Acceptance of Offerings: Moses daily accepted
      the carts and oxen for twelve days and gave two carts and four oxen
      to the sons of Gershon, four carts and eight oxen to the sons of
      Merari, none to the sons of Kohath since they carried the holy objects
      on their shoulder.



  • Chapter 8 - Light of the Sanctuary and Dedication of the Levites:

    • Lighting the Menorah: The Lord spoke to Moses
      exhorting him to tell Aaron that he is to mount the seven lamps
      on the lampstand so that they would give their light forward - the
      light of the glory of God was in Israel -. the light of His face
      might shine on them as the lampstand shone on the showbread in the
      Sanctuary

    • Dedication and purification of the Levites: They
      were to shave their entire body and wash their clothing and bring
      their grain and sin offerings. They were then brought to the entrance
      to the tabernacle and the people of Israel laid their hands on them.

    • Purification of the Levitical Order: The Lord
      prescribed through Moses how the Levite work-force (in place of
      the first-born Israelites) was dedicated and purified for their
      work as movers of the tabernacle.

    • The Retirement of the Levites: The Lord commanded
      Moses that the Levites may only do the hard work of erecting, dismantling
      and transporting the tabernacle from ages 25-50
      whereupon, they are to retire and only help the younger men do “guard
      duty”. See 4:1 where those above 30 were counted. Apparently,
      they served as apprentices from 25 to 30.

      Numbers 4:3: List all the men between
      the ages of thirty and fifty       who are eligible to serve
      in the Tabernacle.



  • Chapter 9 - Passover in the Wilderness; the Cloud as Guide
    of the People:

    • Observance of the First Passover: On the first
      month of the second year after the people had come
      out of Egypt, the Lord commanded Moses to have Israel observe the
      Passover at twilight on the fourteenth day.

    • The Complaint of Those Barred from Participating in the
      Passover:       Some men who were unclean because they had been
      with a dead person asked Moses why they should not be allowed to
      present their offering to the Lord at the Passover with the sons
      of Israel, and Moses agreed to seek the Lord’s command concerning
      them.

    • Observance of the Second Passover at Sinai: On
      the first month of the second year after the people had come out
      of Egypt, the Lord commanded the sons of Israel to observe the Passover
      on the fourteenth day according to its statues and ordinances and
      made provisions for exceptional cases--the defiled, the disobedient,
      and the alien.

    • Clean: If one is clean and not on a journey but
      does not keep the Passover, that one is to be cut off from the people
      and to bear his sin for not presenting his offering to the Lord.

    • If a foreigner is among the sons of Israel and
      observes the Passover according to the statue and ordinance of the
      Passover, he is permitted since there is one statue for both alien
      and the native of the land.

    • The Journey Commences: The Cloud and Silver Trumpets:
      The prescribed means of guidance for the sons of Israel was the
      movement of the cloud over the tabernacle and the sounding of two
      silver trumpets.

    • Leading of the Lord: On the day that the tabernacle
      was erected, the cloud covered the tabernacle by day and in the
      evening it appeared like fire over the tabernacle leading Israel
      from campsite to campsite by going ahead of them and then resting
      on the tabernacle.




 



Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation of the Bible.



On-Line Sources:



Off-Line Sources:


Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Introduction to & Overview of the Book of Numbers

   The Hebrew name of this fourth book of the Torah is bemidbar (in the wilderness). We won't go into as much detail as we did in Genesis, Exodus and Leviticus.


   Numbers starts where Exodus left off. The last chapter of Exodus (40:17) tells us that "So the Tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year." Numbers 1:1 tells us "A year after Israel’s departure from Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moses in the Tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai. On the first day of the second month of that year he said". So, there is a just a 1 month break between the setting up of the tabernacle at the end of Exodus and the command to number the people at the start of Numbers. The Book of Numbers essentially bridges the gap between the Israelites receiving the Law (Exodus and Leviticus) and preparing them to enter the Promised Land (Deuteronomy and Joshua).


   Numbers is frequently quoted in the New Testament especially in 1 Corinthians 10:1-12: I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. All of them ate the same spiritual food, and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.


   Chapters 1 to 14 deal with the generation that came up from egypt but perished in the wilderness.

   Chapters 21 to 36 deal with the new generation that grew in the wilderness that was going to cross the Jordan river into the Promised land.


CHRONOLOGICAL SETTING: The Passover occurred on the fourteenth day of the first month of the year and the nation departed from Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month (Numbers 33:3; Exodus 12:2, 6) The tabernacle was erected at Mount Sinai exactly one year after the Exodus (on the first day of the first month of the second year; Exodus 40:2, 17). One month later the nation prepared to leave Sinai for the Promised Land (on the first day of the second month of the second year; Numbers 1:1) On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle of the Covenant. So the Israelites set out from the wilderness of Sinai and traveled on from place to place until the cloud stopped in the wilderness of Paran.” (Numbers 10:11-12). Deuteronomy opens with a reference to the first day of the eleventh month of the 40th year. This is 38 years, eight months and ten days after the nation departed from Sinai (Deuteronomy 1:3, Numbers 10:11-12). Therefore, Numbers covers a period of time known as the wilderness wanderings which lasted 38 years, nine months and ten days.


Key Verses:



  • Numbers 6:24-26: May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’

  • Numbers 12:6-8: And the Lord said to them, “Now listen to what I say: “If there were prophets among you the Lord, would reveal myself in visions. I would speak to them in dreams. But not with my servant Moses. Of all my house, he is the one I trust. I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the Lord as he is. So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses

    ?”

  • Numbers 14:30–34: You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. “‘You said your children would be carried off as plunder. Well, I will bring them safely into the land, and they will enjoy what you have despised. But as for you, you will drop dead in this wilderness. And your children will be like shepherds, wandering in the wilderness for forty years. In this way, they will pay for your faithlessness, until the last of you lies dead in the wilderness. “‘Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years—a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.’



Overview of Contents:


I. Numbers 1:1 -10:10: The camp of the people of Israel at Sinai



  • Chapter 1 Census of the People of Israel

  • Chapter 2 Order of Camping and Marching

  • Chapter 3 Separation and Numbering of the Tribe of Levi

  • Chapter 4 Instructions of Service for the Levites

  • Chapter 5 Laws of Uncleanness, Trespassing and the unfaithful Wife

  • Chapter 6 Law of the Nazarite

  • Chapter 7 Offerings of the Twelve Princes of Israel for the Dedicating of the Altar

  • Chapter 8 Light of the Sanctuary and Dedication of the Levites

  • Chapter 9 Passover in the Wilderness ; the Cloud as Guide of the People

  • Chapter 10:1-10 The Two Trumpets of Silver


II. Numbers 10:11-20:29: The 38 years of Wandering in the Wilderness



  • Chapter 10:11-36 First Setting Forward of the Camp

  • Chapter 11 Murmuring of Israel because of the Manna and the Punishment of God; Appointment of 70 Elders

  • Chapter 12 Miriam's Speaking against Moses and her Leprosy

  • Chapter 13 Sending out of the Twelve Spies

  • Chapter 14 Murmuring of the People and God's Punishment : the Forty Years of Wandering in the Wilderness

  • Chapter 15 Various Laws : Instructions for Offering in Canaan; Breaking of the Sabbath;

  • Chapter 16 Rising up of Korah and his Punishment (compare Jude 11)

  • Chapter 17 Aaron is confirmed as High Priest

  • Chapter 18 Instructions for Levites and their Position in Israel

  • Chapter 19 Law of the Red Heifer or the Water of Purification

  • Chapter 20 Moses' Sin ; the Death of Miriam and Aaron


III. Numbers 21-32: The Sojourning on River Jordan



  • Chapter 21 The Serpent of Brass (compare John 3:14); Victory over Sihon and Og

  • Chapter 22 Balak calls for Balaam to curse Israel

  • Chapter 23-24 Balaam's Four Parables of Blessing over Israel

  • Chapter 25 Fornication and Idolatry of Israel and the Zeal of Phinehas for Jehovah

  • Chapter 26 Second Numbering of the People of Israel

  • Chapter 27 The Daughters of Zelophehad ; Joshua is Called to be Moses' Successor

  • Chapters 28-29 Offerings at the Feasts of Jehovah

  • Chapter 30 Laws of Vows

  • Chapter 31 Israel's Vengeance of the Midianites

  • Chapter 32 Two and a Half Tribes beyond Jordan (Reuben, Gad and Manasseh)


IV. Numbers 33-36: Retrospect and Forecast



  • Chapter 33 Israel's Route of Wandering

  • Chapter 34 Canaan's Boundaries

  • Chapter 35 Cities of the Levites and Cities of Refuge

  • Chapter 36 Daughters of Zelophehad and Law of Succession for Women


Above outline from Numbers
by Arend Remmers: http://www.biblecentre.org/commentaries/ar_04_ot_overview_numbers.htm



Summary:



  1. Numbering God's people


    • God orders Moses, in the wilderness of Sinai, to take the number of those able to bear arms—of all the men "from twenty years old and upward," the tribe of Levi being excepted, and to appoint princes over each tribe.

      The result of the numbering is that 603,550 Israelites are found to be fit for military service.


    • Moses is ordered to assign to the Levites exclusively the service of the Tabernacle.

    • God prescribes the formation of the camp around the Tabernacle, each tribe being distinguished by its chosen banner:

         East of the Tabernacle: Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun - a lion.

         South: Reuben, Simeon, and Gad - a man's head.

         West: Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin - an ox.

         North Dan, Asher, and Naphtali - an eagle.

      The same order is to be preserved for the march. The tent of meeting and the camp of the Levites follow the camp of Reuben.

    • Moses is ordered to consecrate the Levites for the service of the Tabernacle in the place of the first-born sons, who hitherto had performed that service.

      The Levites are divided into three families, the Gershonites, the Kohathites, and the Merarites, each under a chief, and all headed by one prince, Eleazar, son of Aaron.

    • The Levites who are suited for the service of the Tabernacle—those from thirty to fifty years of age—were then numbered.

    • Preparations are then made for resuming the march to the Promised Land.

    • Various ordinances and laws are decreed.


  2. Recommencement of the journey



    • Moses is ordered to make two silver trumpets for convoking the congregation and announcing the recommencement of a journey.

      The first journey of the Israelites after the Tabernacle had been constructed is commenced.

      The people murmur against God and are punished by fire.

    • Moses complains of the stubbornness of the Israelites.

    • Moses chooses seventy elders to assist him in the government of the people,

    • Miriam and Aaron insult Moses at Hazeroth, which angers God; Miriam is punished with leprosy and is shut out of camp for seven days, at the end of which the Israelites proceed to the desert of Paran.

    • The spies are sent out into the lands and come back to report to Moses.

      The spies have to see how fertile the ground is, how fortified the cites are and how strong the people are.

      Joshua and Caleb, two of the spies, argue that the land is abundant and is "flowing with milk and honey."

      The other spies say that it is inhabited by strong and evil men, which causes the Israelites to want to return to Egypt.

      The Lord talks to Moses and says he will kill all of the Israelites.

      Moses pleads with God, saying that others would think badly of God for leading his people to the wilderness and abandoning them there.

      God speaks to Aaron of having to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.

    • Moses is ordered to make plates to cover the altar with the two hundred fifty censers left after the destruction of Korah's band.

      The children of Israel murmur against Moses and Aaron on account of the death of Korah's men and are stricken with the plague, with 14,700 perishing; Aaron's rod is used to quell the destruction.

    • Aaron and his family are declared by God to be responsible for any iniquity committed in connection with the sanctuary.

    • The Levites are again appointed to help him in the keeping of the Tabernacle.


  3. Preparations for crossing the Jordan:


    • After Miriam's death at Kadesh Barnea, the Israelites blame Moses for the lack of water.

      Moses, ordered by God to speak to the rock, disobeys by striking it, and is punished by the announcement that he shall not enter Canaan.

    • The King of Edom refuses permission to the Israelites to pass through his land.

    • Aaron dies on Mount Hor.

    • The Israelites are bitten by fiery serpents for speaking against God and Moses. A brazen serpent is made to ward off these serpents.

    • The new census, taken just before the entry into the land of Canaan, gives the total number of males from twenty years and upward as 601,730, the number of the Levites from a month old and upward as 23,000.

    • The land shall be divided by lot.

    • Moses is ordered to appoint Joshua as his successor.

    • Prescriptions for the observance of the feasts, and the offerings for different occasions are remunerated: every day; the Sabbath; the first day of the month; the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread; the day of first-fruits; the day of the trumpets; the Day of Atonement; the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles; the day of solemn assembly.

    • The conquest of Midian by the Israelites and the massacre of the Midian population is recounted.

    • The Reubenites and the Gadites request Moses to assign them the land east of the Jordan. After their promise to go before the army to help in the conquest of the land west of the Jordan, Moses grants their request. The land east of the Jordan is divided among the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

    • The stations at which the Israelites halted during their forty years' wanderings in the wilderness are enumerated.

    • While in the plains of Moab the Israelites are told that, after crossing the Jordan, they should expel the Canaanites and destroy their idols.

    • The boundaries of the land of which the Israelites are about to take possession are spelled out.

    • The land is to be divided among the tribes under the superintendence of Eleazar, Joshua, and twelve princes, one of each tribe.




Graphic from Book of Numbers - Preparing for the Lord's Battle: http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/References/OT/Pentateuch/Numbers/Numbers00.html


Outline of the first 4 chapters:



  1. The census of adult males (20 years + excluding the Levites)

  2. Distribution of the tribes

  3. The census of Levite males (30-50 years old)

  4. Distribution of Levite duties



Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation of the Bible.



On-Line Sources:



Off-Line Sources:


Posted by at No comments:
Labels:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)