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Understanding the Book of Numbers*

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Understanding the Book of Numbers* Understanding the Book of Numbers* The Book of Numbers may be viewed as a transitional work describing the period between the arrival at Sinai with the giving of the Ten Commandments and the Law along with the establishment of the priesthood and the actual entry of the Children of Israel into the Promised Land. The key themes of Numbers are: • The Promised Land and the journey toward it • The faithfulness of God • Rebellion, complaints, and human weakness In this regard, Numbers deals with four thematic segments: 1. Lists and Legislation 2. Dissatisfaction and Rebellion 3. Difficulties and Contributions 4. Numbers and Jewish Ritual We will proceed through our study of Numbers in six groups of chapters. The first will be for Sunday, January 22nd, Chapters 1-6 addressing the following issues: • Chapter 1 – The census of Israel • Chapter 2 – The arrangement of the camp • Chapters 3-4 – The numbering of the Levites and the census of the clans • Chapters 5-6 – Various laws (cleanliness, wives, Nazarites, and the priestly blessing *John Bowker. The Complete Bible Handbook: an Illustrated Companion. DK Publishing. New York 1998 Numbers Study Questions NUMBERS 1 The following questions are intended to guide your study of the Book of Numbers. 1. What is time frame described in Numbers 1:1? 2. What are the Lord's instructions and what is the purpose for them? (Numbers 1:2-4) 3. What are the tribes, who was numbered, and what are their numbers? (Numbers 1:5-43) 4. What was the total number of those counted? (Numbers 1:45-46) 5. Why are the Levites excluded from the census, and what is their responsibility? (Numbers 1:47-51) 6. What is the penalty for anyone else handling the tabernacle, and why? (Numbers 1:52) Understanding the Book of Numbers Page | 2 NUMBERS 2 1. How are the camps of the people of Israel to be placed, and what possible significance might there be in these placements? (Numbers 2:1-34) (Genesis 48:13-22) (Genesis 49:3- 28) NUMBERS 3 1. Who are Aaron's descendants, and what happened to two of them? (Numbers 3:1-4) Leviticus 10:1-2) 2. What are the Lord's instructions regarding Aaron and the tribe of Levi, and what is the penalty for anyone else carrying them out? (Numbers 3:5-10) 3. What does the Lord say in Numbers 3:11-13, and why did the Lord select Levi for this special responsibility instead of Reuben? 4. What are the names of the sons of Levi? (Numbers 3:17) 5. What is the first family numbered among the Levites, and what is their responsibility? (Numbers 3:21-26) 6. What was the second family of Levi, and what was their responsibility? (Numbers 3:27- 32) 7. Who was to oversee the responsibilities of this family and why? (Numbers 3:32) 8. What was the third family of Levites, and what was to be their responsibility? (Numbers 3:33-37) 9. Who was to encamp at the east side of the tabernacle, and why? (Numbers 3:38) 10. What are the Lord's next instructions and why? (Numbers 3:40-43) 11. What does the Lord tell Moses to do next and why is this different from what he was instructed to do previously and why? (Numbers 3:44-51) NUMBERS 4 1. Which family of Levites is singled out for special service, and what are the criteria? (Numbers 4:1-3) 2. Who is supposed to pack up all of the parts and contents of the tent of meeting and why? (Numbers 4:4-15) Understanding the Book of Numbers Page | 3 3. What are the sons of Kohath forbidden to touch and why? (Numbers 4:15) 4. Which son of Aaron is given special responsibilities for the contents of the sanctuary, and why? (Numbers 4:16) 5. What further stipulation does the Lord make regarding to Kohathites? (Numbers 4:17-20) 6. What is the next family of Levites singled out for special services, and what is it? (Numbers 4:21-28) 7. What son of Aaron is given charge over the Gershonites, and why? (Numbers 4:28) 8. Which is the next family of Levites singled out for special service and what is it? (Numbers 4:29-33) 9. Under whose supervision are the Merarites, and why? (Numbers 4:33) 10. What is the reason for this division of responsibilities? (Numbers 4:1-49) 11. What is the total number of these members of the tribe of Levi (Numbers 4:34-49) NUMBERS 5 1. What does the Lord command Moses to do, and why? (Numbers 5:1-4) 2. Where has the Lord's commandments pertaining to these things appeared before? (Leviticus 13-15) 3. What is the Lord's commandment pertaining to sins, and where has this stipulation appeared before? (Numbers 5:5-10) (Leviticus 5 & 6) 4. Under what circumstances may a man bring his wife to the priest? (Numbers 5:11-15) 5. What does the man bring to the priest and why? (Numbers 5:15) 6 What does the priest mix for the woman to drink? (Numbers 5:17) 7. What oath must the woman swear, and what must she suffer if her oath is false? (Numbers 5:19-22) 8. What do you think of Numbers 5:29-31? 9. Where does the clause in Numbers 5:31 stem from? (Genesis 3:16) Understanding the Book of Numbers Page | 4 NUMBERS 6 1. What does the term nazir mean? (Numbers 6:2) 2. What special conditions must the Nazirite observe, and why? (Numbers 6:1-8) 3. Why must the Nazirite not come into contact with anything that is from the grapevine? (Numbers 6:3-4) 4. Why must the Nazirite not shave? (Numbers 6:5) 5. Why must the Nazirite not come into contact with a dead body? (Numbers 6:6-8) 6. What is the meaning or purpose of Naziriteship? (Numbers 6:1-21) 7. What is the blessing the Lord tells Moses to have Aaron bestow on the people, and why? (Numbers 6:22-27) .
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