numbers

Background

Author.   The authorship issue here is very similar to those of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus (which see). As with the rest of the Pentateuch scarcely any other person beside Moses was as qualified; the New Testament saw the Pentateuch as Mosaic (John 5:46); and the Pentateuch has been accepted as a unified whole by unbroken tradition.

Date of composition.   Moses died within a few weeks or months after the end of the history recorded in Numbers, in about 1406 BC.

Historical setting.   The historical setting is everywhere evident in the text of the book itself. It opens with the nation still at Sinai; follows them to Kadesh Barnea where they rebelled against God, whereupon they were consigned to wander in the desert for the next thirty-nine years; and traces their steps to the plains of Moab at the end of those thirty-nine years, where the new generation was poised to enter the land under its new leader.

Argument

The book of Numbers rehearses episodes from the history of Israel during the nation’s thirty-nine year period of wilderness wanderings between the Sinai revelation and the entrance into the Land. Obviously written at the end of that time, it served as a warning to every generation that God would not hesitate to judge his own elect people for their infidelity to him. That message is developed literarily around the structural key of the two censuses (chapters 1–4 and 26). The first part of the book traces the post-Sinai preparations of the Red Sea – Mt. Sinai generation for entrance into Canaan, their rebellion, and their judgment (1–25); and the second part shows the subsequent preparation of the next generation for the same (26–36). Significantly, to representatives of this younger generation Moses issues the warning that they are themselves not beyond the same judgment as their parents suffered (32:11–15).

Martial order is the first order of business, as a census of the troops is taken first (1), and those troops are assigned their respective situations in camp (2). Their orientation around the tabernacle emphasizes the centrality of God in their warfare. The Levites’ exemption from military service (1:47–54) is understood when their assignment is made explicit (3–4): the priority of the tabernacle worship is reinforced by the degree of organizational attention given to the Levites’ service.

Since the people of Israel were holy by their relationship to Yahweh by election, their community was to reflect that holiness in a number of ways (5:1—9:14). Uncleanness—even of a mere ceremonial type—had to be removed from the midst of the camp (5:1–4). Social violations of brethren required attention, including provision for restitution and verification of accusations (5:5–31). Special consecration to God (presumably by laymen) had to be provided for and regulated (6:1–21), as did the clergy blessing of the laymen (6:22–27).

The centrality and holiness of the tabernacle worship are again emphasized by the section on the dedication of the altar (7). Even the placement of the lampstand was crucial (8:1–4). The dedication of the Levites (8:5–26) resembles that of the priests (Lev. 8), and reinforces the theme of holiness. The record of the Passover (9:1–14) is probably displaced chronologically (cf. Exod. 40:17 and Num. 10:11). It probably represents therefore the climax of this section on the holiness of the nation’s camp: its basis goes back to their redemption out of Egypt one year prior, an event they could not afford to forget.

The final matters that remained relative to their preparation to break camp and advance on Canaan concerned the clear national guidance they would need for their journey and conquest of the land. God would lead by his presence manifested in the cloud and fire (9:15–23), and the nation would be alerted by the silver trumpets (10:1–10).

The migration began well enough (10:11–36): divine order and direction were observed. However, rebellion arose almost immediately from all quarters and of fatal dimensions (11–14). The first outbreak of rebellion merely introduces the phenomenon (11:1–3). The complaint, led by “rabble,” against the diet of manna, and answered by the glut of quail (11:4–35), is clearly against God, showing an illegitimate dissatisfaction with the ‘flavor’ of his provision. The next evidence of dissatisfaction with God’s provision came from the opposite extreme of Israelite society, the highest level of the ‘clergy,’ the complaint of Miriam (and Aaron) against Moses (12).

The climactic expression of rebellion came when the nation voted with the majority report of the spies, and decided to refuse to enter the land (13–14). God allowed them to abide by their decision, and turned it into a judgment which became not only the critical turning point in their own lives, but also a lesson for all subsequent generations of Israel which was at the very heart of this entire book. (See the opening paragraph of this Argument.)

That God had not summarily cast off his people (cf. Rom. 11:1) nor given up on his intention of bringing them into his land of plenty is immediately evident by his commands about offerings to be presented upon their entrance into that land (15), followed by other instructions pertaining to sustained relationship (16–19). Where the offerings (15:1–21) bespoke assured entrance into the land, the rest of the chapter related more directly to faithfulness to the covenant—the matter of distinguishing between unintentional and defiant transgressions of the law (15:22–36), with its classic example of the stoning of the man who picked up sticks on the Sabbath, and the requirement of tassels on clothing to remind the people of the covenant (15:37–41).

The issue of Korah’s rebellion (16) is not the same as the previous rebellions. Here the issue is the unique qualification of Aaron and his sons to perform priestly service. In spite of the dramatic divine judgment on the offending principals (16:31–35), a subsequent popular rebellion broke out the next day (16:41–50), which was answered by the miraculous vindication of Aaron’s priesthood in the episode of the budding rod (17). By these historical notes the sanctity of the priestly order is established, providing a solemn foundation for the prescriptions of duties and privileges for the priests and Levites (18), which can then lead into the regulations for the purification ritual (especially for contact with the dead) with water mixed with the red heifer ashes (19).

The next two chapters (20:1—22:1) look like somewhat of a mishmash, and probably they are meant to. Chapters 20 to 25 seem to be a transitional section, as the nation sloughs off the old generation and situates the new in position to conquer and possess the land. (And chapters 22 to 25 are clearly a distinct subunit dealing with the Moabite problem and Balaam’s oracles.) This section then includes events indicating those two developments: the end of the Sinai generation—with the deaths of Miriam and Aaron, with the passing on of the priestly office, Moses’ critical failure at Meribah, and the last plague of the serpents—and the movement of the surviving generation into position on the plains of Moab. Along that route their progress involved highly significant encounters with such enemies as Edom, Sihon of the Amorites, Og of Bashan, and finally Moab. The victory over Arad is significant only in the matter of the nation’s notable reliance on God for victory (21:1–3).

Finally in Moab Israel met the most significant enemy of all. The story of Balaam’s prophecies (22–24) demonstrates God’s supernatural overruling on behalf of Israel, and confirms his promises of their destiny of supremacy. The following story of Israel’s failure at Peor (25) points to the weakness of that people to assume that supremacy by their own power, thus signaling tacitly the necessity of a champion-deliverer for Israel.

Beginning with the census of chapter 26 the attention is exclusively on the organization and preparation of the younger generation for assaulting the land.  Along with the census are instructions for the apportionment of that land among the several tribes, and the Levites’ special case, as well as other special cases (orphan virgin girls, 27:1–11). The transition to the succeeding generation takes one more giant step with the provision of Joshua as Moses’ replacement (27:12–23).

It is to be noted that in the section on the rituals of the offerings (28–29) the progression is from daily to annual. In these and the vows that follow (30) the Sinai covenant is reinforced by their emphasis on the seriousness of properly relating to God.

The judgment wrought by God against Midian (31) could probably be put under the category of ‘loose ends:’ it was their women in particular who voluntarily sold themselves for the purpose of defiling Israel after Balaam was unable to curse her. Before leaving the wilderness experience, God was compelled to finish this unfinished business.

The possession of the land is anticipated in the settlement of the 2½ tribes in Transjordan (32). Tucked in this chapter is a warning to which allusion was made in the opening paragraph of this argument, which points to the main message of the book: as God did not hesitate to judge the generation of his people who rebelled at the spy mission, so he would not hesitate to judge them again for rebellion. Still, despite the rebellion (incurring Sinaitic curse), he did not cast them off (Abrahamic blessing).

The ‘log book’ of the nation’s wilderness wanderings provides a clear statement of the completion of that episode from their history (33:1–49). The next era would be in the land. The rest of the book completes the instructions to the generation that would take the land, providing for its conquest, the definition of its borders, the naming of the tribal representatives entrusted with the division of the land, and the Levites’ inheritance (33:50—35:8). The section on manslaughter and the cities of refuge provide for maintaining the purity of the land from the guilt of the unjust taking of human life (35:9–44). Finally, provision was made to guarantee the continuance of each tract of land within its original tribal assignment (36).

Outline

I. Failure of the first generation to enter Canaan  1–25

A. Preparations to depart from Sinai  1:1—10:10

1. Organization for war and worship  1–4

a) Organization of the national army  1–2

(1) Numbering of the troops  1

(a) Divine instructions to Moses  1:1–16

(b) Summary statement of Moses’ compliance  1:17–19

(c) The numbers by tribe  1:20–46

i) Reuben  1:20–21

ii) Simeon  1:22–23

iii) Gad  1:24–25

iv) Judah  1:26–27

v) Issachar  1:28–29

vi) Zebulun  1:30–31

vii) Ephraim  1:32–33

viii) Manasseh  1:34–35

ix) Benjamin  1:36–37

x) Dan  1:38–39

xi) Asher  1:40–41

xii) Naphtali  1:42–43

xiii) Sum total  1:44–46

(d) The Levites’ exemption  1:47–54

(2) Camp situation of the troops around the tabernacle  2

(a) East side tribes: Judah, Issachar, Zebulun  2:1–9

(b) South side tribes: Reuben, Simeon, Gad  2:10–16

(c) Central setting of the tabernacle  2:17

(d) West side tribes: Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin  2:18–24

(e) North side tribes: Dan, Asher, Naphtali  2:25–31

(f) Summary of the troops  2:32–34

b) Organization of the Levites  3–4

(1) Setting apart of the Levites  3

(a) The priests: Aaron and his sons  3:1–4

(b) Instructions concerning Levites  3:5–13

(c) Numbering of all Levite males and their general duties  3:14–39

i) God’s command  3:14–16

ii) Heads of families  3:17–20

iii) Gershonites  3:21–26

iv) Kohathites  3:27–32

v) Merarites  3:33–37

vi) Summary  3:38–39

(d) Numbering of all Israel’s firstborn males  3:40–43

(e) Redemption of the firstborn  3:44–51

(2) Assignments of the Levites  4

(a) Assignments by clan  4:1–34

i) Kohathites  4:1–20

ii) Gershonites  4:21–28

iii) Merarites  4:29–34

(b) Censuses (30–50 year old men) by clan  4:35–45

i) Kohathites  4:35–37

ii) Gershonites  4:38–41

iii) Merarites  4:42–45

(c) Summary  4:46–49

2. Provision for the holiness of the camp  5:1—9:14

a) Cleansing and consecration  5–6

(1) Uncleanness outside the camp  5:1–4

(2) Restitution  5:5–10

(a) To the offended party  5:5–7

(b) To the priests  5:8–10

(3) Test for adultery  5:11–31

(a) Occasion for the test  5:11–14

(b) Preparations for the test  5:15–18

(c) The oath of the test  5:19–22

(d) The administration of the test  5:23–28

(e) Summary  5:29–31

(4) Nazirite vow  6:1–21

(a) Abstinences  6:1–12

i) From grape products  6:1–4

ii) From cutting hair  6:5

iii) From dead bodies  6:6–12

a) The normal regulation  6:6–8

b) Cleansing from incidental contact  6:9–12

(b) Concluding ceremonies  6:13–20

(c) Summary  6:21

(5) Priestly blessing  6:22–27

b) Tabernacle service  7–8

(1) Offerings in dedication of the altar  7

(a) Contributions for the tabernacle service  7:1–9

(b) The twelve days’ offerings  7:10–88

(c) Moses’ communion with God  7:89

(2) Lamp-lighting in the tabernacle  8:1–4

(3) Dedication of the Levites  8:5–26

(a) God’s directives  8:5–19

i) Their consecration  8:5–14

ii) Their possession by God as firstborn  8:15–19

(b) The people’s obedience  8:20–22

(c) Their term of service: from 25 to 50 years old  8:23–26

c) Passover instructions  9:1–14

(1) National observance  9:1–5

(2) Answers regarding non-observance  9:6–14

(a) The problem  9:6–8

(b) The answer from God  9:9–14

i) Exception for the ceremonially unclean  9:9–12

ii) No exception for disobedient  9:13

iii) One law for native and alien  9:14

3. Signals for national action  9:15—10:10

a) Divine direction by the cloud-fire pillar  9:15–23

b) Instructions concerning the two silver trumpets  10:1–10

(1) Their fabrication  10:1–2

(2) The signals  10:3–10

B. Rebellion and wandering in the desert  10:11—25:18

1. National failure  10:11—14:45

a) Initial movement away from Sinai  10:11–36

(1) The command to march  10:11–13

(2) The order of march  10:14–28

(a) East side tribes  10:14–16

(b) Tabernacle porter Levites  10:17

(c) South side tribes  10:18–20

(d) Tabernacle furniture Levites  10:21

(e) West side tribes  10:22–24

(f) North side tribes  10:25–27

(g) Summary  10:28

(3) Accompaniment of Moses’ father-in-law  10:29–32

(4) Description of divine direction  10:33–36

b) Popular complaints  11

(1) Initial complaining judged by fire  11:1–3

(2) Complaining for meat  11:4–34

(a) The complaint: meat, not manna  11:4–9

(b) Moses’ intercession  11:10–23

i) His cry to God  11:10–15

ii) God’s answer to Moses  11:16–23

a) Provision of 70 elders  11:16–17

b) Provision of meat  11:18–23

(c) God’s provisions  11:24–34

i) 70 elders anointed with the Spirit  11:24–30

ii) Quail  11:31–34

a) The people’s greed  11:31–32

b) God’s judgment plague  11:33–34

(3) Removal to a new camp  11:35

c) Clerical complaint  12

(1) Aaron and Miriam’s complaint against Moses  12:1–3

(2) God’s answer  12:4–15

(a) His words of rebuke  12:4–8

(b) Miriam’s leprosy  12:9–15

i) The divine judgment  12:9–10

ii) Aaron’s pleading  12:11–12

iii) Moses’ intercession  12:13

iv) God’s judgment and mercy  12:14–15

(3) Removal to a new camp  12:16

d) National rebellion  13–14

(1) The spies’ mission  13:1–24

(a) God’s command  13:1–2

(b) The contingent of spies  13:3–16

(c) Their commission  13:17–20

(d) Their work  13:21–24

(2) The spies’ report  13:25–33

(a) The description of wealth and threat  13:25–29

(b) The minority recommendation  13:30

(c) The majority recommendation  13:31–33

(3) The nation’s rebellion  14

(a) Mutiny  14:1–4

(b) Leaders’ pleading for obedience  14:5–10

(c) Moses’ plea for divine mercy  14:11–19

(d) God’s judgment  14:20–38

i) No entrance into the land  14:20–25

ii) Forty years and death in the desert  14:26–35

iii) The disposition of the spies  14:36–38

a) Death for the ten  14:36–37

b) Life for the two  14:38

(e) Abortive attempt to enter without God  14:39–45

2. Instructions  15–19

a) Rehearsal of the covenant statutes  15

(1) Offerings  15:1–21

(a) Sweet-savor offerings accompanied by grain, oil, and wine  15:1–16

(b) Firstfruit offerings  15:17–21

(2) Unintentional and defiant transgressions  15:22–36

(a) The precepts  15:22–31

i) Unintentional sins  15:22–29

ii) Defiant sins  15:30–31

(b) The example  15:32–36

i) The offense  15:32

ii) The sentence: death  15:33–35

iii) The execution by stoning  15:36

(3) Tassels to remind of the covenant  15:37–41

b) Prerogatives of the priestly order  16–18

(1) Korah’s rebellion  16

(a) The challenge to Moses’ authority  16:1–3

(b) The judgment from God  16:4–40

i) Moses’ counter-challenge  16:4–11

ii) Dathan and Abiram’s defiant refusal  16:12–14

iii) Moses’ words of condemnation  16:15–30

iv) Divine judgment  16:31–35

v) Salvage of the holy censers  16:36–40

(c) The subsequent popular rebellion  16:41–50

(2) The vindication of Aaron  17

(a) The twelve rods deposited in the tent  17:1–7

(b) The miraculous testimony  17:8–11

(c) The people’s despair  17:12–13

(3) Duties and privileges of the priests and Levites  18

(a) Responsibility for the tabernacle  18:1–7

(b) Priests’ privileged reception of offerings  18:8–20

(c) Levites’ privileged reception of tithes  18:21–24

(d) Levites’ responsibility to pay tithes  18:25–32

c) Laws of purification  19

(1) Preparation of the red heifer ashes  19:1–10

(2) Cleansing by the red heifer ashes water  19:11–19

(3) Summary of cleanness  19:20–22

3. Transition: the end of the old generation and progress to Moab  20:1—22:1

a) Death of Miriam  20:1

b) Failure of Moses at Meribah  20:2–13

(1) The people’s complaint of thirst  20:2–5

(2) God’s directive to speak to the rock  20:6–8

(3) Moses’ disobedience: striking the rock  20:9–11

(4) God’s judgment: no leading the people into the land  20:12–13

c) Edom’s refusal to let Israel pass  20:14–21

d) Death of Aaron, investiture of Eleazar  20:22–29

e) Destruction of Arad  21:1–3

f) Judgment of complainers: bronze serpent  21:4–9

g) Travels toward Moab  21:10–20

h) Victory over Sihon of the Amorites  21:21–32

i) Victory over Og of Bashan  21:33–35

j) Arrival at Moab  22:1

4. Encounters with Moab (and Midian)  22:2—25:18

a) Israel’s blessing through Balaam  22:2—24:25

(1) Balaam’s coming  22:2–38

(a) Moab’s decision to hire Balaam  22:2–6

(b) Moab’s missions to hire Balaam  22:7–20

i) First mission  22:7–14

ii) Second mission  22:15–20

(c) Balaam’s lesson en route  22:21–35

i) The donkey’s hesitancy three times  22:21–30

ii) The angel’s rebuke and message  22:31–35

(d) The meeting of Balaam and Balak  22:36–38

(2) Balaam’s oracles  22:39—24:24

(a) First oracle  22:39—23:12

i) Preparations for speaking  22:39—23:6

ii) The message: Israel is blessed of God.  23:7–10

iii) Argument with Balak  23:11–12

(b) Second oracle  23:13–26

i) Preparations for speaking  23:13–17

ii) The message: God has determined to defend Israel.  23:18–24

iii) Argument with Balak  23:25–26

(c) Third oracle  23:27—24:9

i) Preparations for speaking  23:27—24:2

ii) The message: God will lead Israel in triumph.  24:3–9

(d) Final argument with Balak  24:10–14

(e) Fourth oracle: A hero will defeat Israel’s enemies.  24:15–19

(f) Fifth oracle: Destruction of Amalek  24:20

(g) Sixth oracle: Destruction of Kenites  24:21–22

(h) Seventh oracle: Roman conquest (?)  24:23–24

(3) Balaam’s return  24:25

b) Israel’s sin at Peor  25

(1) Idolatry with the Moabites  25:1–3

(2) Slaughter of the guilty  25:4–9

(a) The command from God  25:4

(b) The command from Moses  25:5

(c) Phinehas’ zeal  25:6–8

(d) The disastrous summary  25:9

(3) Commendation of Phinehas  25:10–13

(4) God’s angry command concerning Midian  25:14–18

II. Preparations of the new generation to enter Canaan  26–36

A. Numbering of the troops for land inheritance (new generation)  26:1—27:11

1. God’s command to number the troops  26:1–4

2. The numbers by tribe  26:5–51

a) Reuben  26:5–11

b) Simeon  26:12–14

c) Gad  26:15–18

d) Judah  26:19–22

e) Issachar  26:23–25

f) Zebulun  26:26–27

g) Manasseh  26:28–34

h) Ephraim  26:35–37

i) Benjamin  26:38–41

j) Dan  26:42–43

k) Asher  26:44–47

l) Naphtali  26:48–50

m) Sum total  26:51

3. The apportionment of land by population  26:52–56

4. The Levites  26:57–62

5. Summary  26:63–65

6. Land assignments in special cases  27:1–11

a) The case of Zelophehad’s daughters  27:1–5

b) The ruling from God  27:6–11

B. Announcement of Joshua’s succession of Moses  27:12–23

1. God’s command to prepare to die  27:12–14

2. Moses’ prayer for a good shepherd for Israel  27:15–17

3. God’s command to commission Joshua  27:18–21

4. Joshua’s commission  27:22–23

C. Offerings, festivals, and vows  28–30

1. Offerings  28–29

a) The daily burnt offerings  28:1–8

b) The weekly burnt offerings  28:9–10

c) The monthly offerings  28:11–15

d) The annual festival offerings  28:16—29:38

(1) Passover-Unleavened bread  28:16–25

(2) Weeks  28:26–31

(3) Trumpets  29:1–6

(4) Day of Atonement  29:7–11

(5) Tabernacles  29:12–38

e) Conclusion  29:39–40

2. Vows  30

a) Men’s: binding  30:1–2

b) Women’s  30:3–16

(1) While under her father  30:3–5

(2) Brought to a marriage  30:6–8

(3) Post-marriage  30:9

(4) While under her husband  30:10–15

(5) Summary  30:16

D. Divine judgment on Midian  31

1. The victorious battle  31:1–12

2. The command to destroy some of the captives  31:13–17

3. The cleansing from the battle  31:18–24

4. The division of the booty  31:25–54

a) Divine instructions  31:25–31

b) The total inventory of booty  31:32–35

c) The soldiers’ and priests’ (Yahweh’s) portions  31:36–41

d) The people’s and Levites’ (Yahweh’s) portions  31:42–47

e) The tribute to Yahweh  31:48–54

E. The inheritance of the Transjordan tribes  32

1. The request  32:1–5

2. Moses’ warning  32:6–15

3. The agreement  32:16–32

4. Their cities  32:33–42

F. Record of Israel’s encampments in the desert  33:1–49

1. From Egypt to Mt. Hor  33:1–37

2. Aaron’s death: year 40, month 5  33:38–39

3. From Mt. Hor to the plains of Moab  33:40–49

G. Final instructions concerning life in Canaan  33:50—36:13

1. Instructions for conquering and possessing Canaan  33:50–56

2. The borders defined  34:1–15

3. The tribal designees for apportioning the land  34:16–29

4. Levites’ inheritance  35:1–8

5. Manslaughter and cities of refuge  35:9–34

a) Designation of six cities  35:9–15

b) Laws of manslaughter  35:16–34

6. Inheritance and intra-tribal marriage  36

a) The problem posed by the Zelophehad daughters ruling  36:1–4

b) The addendum to the ruling  36:5–9

c) The congenial outworking  36:10–12

d) Conclusion  36:13