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The Ties That Bind in Numbers 26–36

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The Ties That Bind in Numbers 26–36 ABR 62 (2014) 1–13 THE TIES THAT BIND IN NUMBERS 26–36 Mark A. O’Brien Catholic Theological College University of Divinity ABSTRACT After years of being a somewhat neglected area of Pentateuchal/Torah studies compared to Genesis, Exodus and Deuteronomy, the book of Numbers has re- cently been enjoying increasing attention. A leading question is whether there is some overall design to the book or is it, as many earlier commentators judged, a loose collection from a number of authors and editors. In relation to this ques- tion, a particularly challenging section is chapters 26–36. This article argues there is good evidence that these chapters, although of varied origin, have been carefully assembled and edited to advance two key themes in the book and the larger Torah, namely the promise of descendants (in the emergence of a new generation) and the promise of land (this new generation will inherit the land). INTRODUCTION UNTIL THE LATTER PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY THE BOOK OF NUMBERS DID not rate highly in historical-critical study of the Pentateuch/Torah. Along with the latter part of Exodus and the book of Leviticus, it was regarded as a collec- tion of post-exilic, priestly material, marking the retreat of a once dynamic, prophetic religion into the safety of legalism and liturgy.1 The focus of analysis was firmly on Genesis, the earlier chapters of Exodus, and Deuteronomy. More recently, however, there has been a spate of studies and commentaries on the nature and composition of Numbers—although no consensus has so far been reached about these matters. This welcome change is partly due to growing in- terest in synchronic and literary analysis, fuelled by the conviction that there is more to Numbers than the alleged number involved in its production. This is not to say that historical critical analysis of the book is losing momentum, as is This is the Presidential Address delivered to the Fellowship for Biblical Studies in Melbourne, 7 November 2013. 1 Cf. the review of scholarship by Jean-Louis Ska, Introduction to Reading the Penta- teuch (Winona Lake, Ind.; Eisenbrauns, 2006), particularly 108–12. 2 A USTRALIAN B IBLICAL R EVIEW 62 (2014) evident for example in the massive thesis published recently by Reinhard Achenbach.2 Although there is no consensus on the structure or organisation of Numbers, a glance at some recent studies and commentaries that have tackled the ques- tion provide helpful clues and pointers for this study. There is a general con- sensus that 1:1–10:10 constitutes the first large block of material, frequently described as preparation for the journey, or the military campaign. Philip Budd and Baruch Levine differ by identifying a first unit in 1:1–9:14 and 1:1–12:16 respectively.3 With Budd one can see in the break between 9:14 and 15, and following, the same shift of focus as occurs at 10:10; namely from the order of the camp to the movement of the camp. Levine’s division, as far as I can ascer- tain, depends considerably on his source analysis. There is considerable difference of opinion about the extent of the next ma- jor section of the book, whether it extends to 20:29,4 to 21:20,5 to 22:1,6 or to 25:18.7 George W. Coats and Rolf P. Knierim argue for a two-part structure and identify the second section as 10:11–36:13.8 Despite the differences one can say that the majority of commentators identifies a second major section of the book with its dominant theme being the murmuring or rebellion in the wil- derness. As well as this, a number regard the spy episode in Numbers 13–14 as 2 Reinhard Achenbach, Die Vollendung der Tora. Studien zur Redaktionsgeschichte des Numeribuche im Kontext von Hexateuch und Pentateuch (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für altorientalische und biblische Rechtsgeschichte 3; Wiesbaden: Har- rassowitz, 2003). 3 Philip J. Budd, Numbers (Waco, Tx.: Word Books, 1984) xvii–xviii; Baruch A. Lev- ine, Numbers 1–20: A New Translation and Commentary (AB 4A; New York: Dou- bleday, 1993) 66, 483. 4 So Won W. Lee, Punishment and Forgiveness in Israel’s Migratory Campaign (Grand Rapids, Mich.; Cambridge: Eerdmans, 2003) 66–68; Levine, Numbers 1–20 265–66. 5 So Josef Scharbert, Numeri (Die Neue Echter Bibel: Altes Testament 27; Würzburg: Echter Verlag, 1992) 5, 110–11 (n. 4, but reading “Israeliten” rather than “Leviten”). 6 So Timothy R. Ashley, The Book of Numbers (New International Commentary on the Old Testament; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Cambridge: Eerdmans, 1993) 8; Eryl W. Davies, Numbers: Based on the Revised Standard Version (Grand Rapids, Mich.; Cambridge: Eerdmans, 1995) liii. Thomas B. Dozeman identifies the beginning of the third section of the book in 22:1 (Numbers [The New Interpreter’s Bible: A Commentary in Twelve Volumes; Nashville: Abingdon, 1998] II, 3–268; see espe- cially 4, 23). 7 So Achenbach, Die Vollendung der Tora 447, 452; Budd, Numbers xvii–xviii; Jacob Milgrom Numbers: The Traditional Hebrew Text with the New JPS Translation (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1990) xiii, 219; Denis T. Olson, The Death of the Old and The Birth of The New: The Framework of the Book of Numbers and of the Pentateuch (Brown Judaic Studies, 71; Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press, 1985) 119–20; and Numbers (Interpretation; Louisville Ky.: Westminster John Knox, 1996) 5–6; Horst Seebass, Numeri (BKAT IV/1; 1,1–10,10; Neukirchen: Neukirchener Verlag, 2007) 146. 8 George W. Coats and Rolf P. Knierim, Numbers (FOTL 4; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Cambridge: Eerdmans, 2005) 16. O’B RIEN : T HE T I E S T H A T B IND IN N UMBERS 26–36 3 a central feature of the “murmuring in the wilderness” stories that pervade the second section of the book. Because of the exodus generation’s rebellion against God’s plan to have them enter the land they are sentenced to languish in the wilderness for 40 years until they die out. Their children who succeed them will inherit the land (cf. 14:28–34). What is of particular interest for this study is that several of the commen- taries and studies consulted (Achenbach, Budd, Milgrom, Olson, Seebass) identify a third and final major section of the book in 25:19–36:13 (NRSV 26:1–26:13). This section commences in 25:19–26:65 with a census of the people like the one with which the book begins. It is a census of warriors (“everyone in Israel able to go to war”). It concludes with the observation that none of those numbered in the first census remained except the good spies Caleb and Joshua; the whole exodus generation had died in the wilderness ac- cording to the decree of the Lord in 14:28–34. As Olson and more recently Achenbach have argued, Numbers 1 and 26 are the two major structural com- ponents of the book.9 In my judgement a threefold division of the book into 1:1–10:10; 10:11– 25:18; 25:19–36:13 is the most acceptable. The first section is concerned with preparations for Israel’s journey through the wilderness to the conquest of the land, with God leading the way. The second section tells of the exodus genera- tion’s rebellion and God’s decree that it will die in the wilderness, to be re- placed by the next generation who will complete the journey and enter the land. These two decrees are vindicated in the subsequent storyline. The exodus generation is exposed as completely unworthy to enter the land in subsequent accounts of rebellion (20:2–13; 21:4–9) culminating in a final fatal fling with the women of Moab and the Baal of Peor (25). Many commentators judge that this episode and that of the golden calf in Exodus 32–34 form a frame around the account of the exodus generation and its demise.10 But God’s decree that their children will inherit the land is also vindicated in the stories of East- Jordan conquest in Numbers 21 and the prophecies of Balaam in 22–24. As those of the exodus generation gradually die out over the 40 years in the wil- derness, they see their children replacing them as the heirs to the promised land, in accord with God’s decree. In this way 14:34 is fulfilled; “you shall know my displeasure.” The census of Numbers 26 narrates the completion of this process.11 9 Olson, The Death of the Old 89, 119–20; Achenbach, Die Vollendung der Tora 451. 10 See for example, Olson, Numbers 153. 11 Lee (Punishment and Forgiveness 266–79) argues that the turning point in the book is 21:1–3, not 25:19–26:65. This means he has to attribute the rebellions in 21:4–9 and 25 to the new generation who are therefore apostates like their parents. How do they then qualify to inherit the land, and what is the point of the second census as stated in 26:64–65? It is also worth noting that in 31:16 Moses refers to “the Israel- 4 A USTRALIAN B IBLICAL R EVIEW 62 (2014) Most of the commentators who identify Numbers 26–36 as a distinct block regard it either as preparations for the conquest and settlement of the land by the new generation, or as a rather loose collection of material that has been lo- cated towards the end of the book. There is little doubt that the text of Num- bers 26–36 is of varied origin but, in my judgement, the section is more than a loose collection or that it has the land as its sole focus.
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