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Author: was the author of the .

Date of Writing: The Book of Numbers was written between 1440 and 1400 B.c.

Purpose of Writing: The message of the Book of Numbers, is universal and timeless. It reminds believers of the spiritual warfare in which they are engaged, for Numbers is the book of the service and walk of God's people. The Book of Numbers essentially bridges the gap between the receiving the (Exodus and Leviticus) and preparing them to enter the (Deuteronomy and ).

Key Verses: Numbers 6:24-26, "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Numbers 12:6-8, "When a of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"

Numbers 14:30-34, "Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. But you - your bodies will fall in this desert. Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. For forty years - one year for each of the forty days you explored the land - you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you. III

Brief Summary: Most of the events of the Book of Numbers take place in the wilderness, primarily between the second and fortieth years of the wandering of the Israelites. The first 25 chapters of the book chronicle the experiences of the first generation of in the wilderness, while the rest of the book describes the experiences of the second generation. The theme of obedience and rebellion followed by repentance and blessing runs through the entire book, as well as the entire Old Testament.

The theme of the holiness of God is continued from the into the book of Numbers, which reveals God's instruction and preparation of His people to enter the Promised Land of . The importance of the Book of Numbers is indicated by its being referred to in the New Testament many times. The Holy Spirit called special attention to Numbers in 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. The words "all these things happened to them for examples" refers to the sin of the Israelites and God's displeasure with them.

In Romans 11:22, Paul speaks about the "goodness and severity of God." That, in a nutshell, is the message of Numbers. The severity of God is seen in the death of the rebellious generation in the wilderness, those who never entered the Promised Land. The goodness of God is realized in the new generation. God protected, preserved, and provided for these people until they possessed the land. This reminds us of the justice and love of God, which are always in sovereign harmony.

Foreshadowings: God's demand for holiness in His people is completely and finally satisfied in Jesus Christ, who

lof2 2/16/11 5:17 PM :.(>okof Nwnbers - Printer Friendly http://www.gotquestions.orglPrinterlBook-of-Nwnbers-PEhtml

came to fulfill the law on our behalf (Matthew 5: 17). The concept of the promised Messiah pervades the book. The story in chapter 19 of the sacrifice of the "without defect or blemish" prefigures Christ, the Lamb of God without spot or blemish who was sacrificed for our sins. The image of the bronze snake lifted up on the pole to provide physical healing (chapter 21) also prefigures the lifting up of Christ, either upon the cross, or in the ministry of the Word, that whoever looks to Him by faith may have spiritual healing.

In chapter 24, Balaam's fourth oracle speaks of the star and the scepter who is to rise out of Jacob. Here is a prophecy of Christ who is called the "morning star" in Revelation 22: 16 for His glory, brightness, and splendor, and for the light that comes by Him. He may also be called a scepter, that is, a scepter bearer, because of his royalty. He not only has the name of a king, but has a kingdom, and rules with a scepter of grace, mercy, and righteousness.

Practical Application: A major theological theme developed in the New Testament from Numbers is that sin and unbelief, especially rebellion, reap the judgment of God. First Corinthians specifically says-and Hebrews 3:7-4: 13 strongly implies-that these events were written as examples for believers to observe and avoid. We are not to "set our hearts on evil things" (v. 6), or be sexually immoral (v. 8), or put God to the test (v. 9) or gripe and complain (v. 10).

Just as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness 40 years because of their rebellion, so too does God sometimes allow us to wander away from Him and suffer loneliness and lack of blessings when we rebel against Him. But God is faithful and just, and just as He restored the Israelites to their rightful place in His heart, He will always restore Christians to the place of blessing and intimate fellowship with Him if we repent and return to Him (l John 1:9).

© Copyright 2002-2011 Got Questions Ministries.

~of2 2/16111 5:17 PM The Book of Numbers (Greek: AQIBJ.lOLarithmoi meaning "numbers") or Bamidbar (Hebrew: '::I'~::I, literally "In the desert [of]") is the fourth book of the , and the fourth of five books of the Jewish ThmhIPentateuch. This book may be divided into three parts:

1. The numbering of the people at Sinai, and prepamtions for resuming their march (1-10: 10). 2. An account of the journey from Sinai to , the sending out of the spies and the report they brought back, the munnurings (eight times) of the people at the hardships by the way, and the subsequent exile into the wilderness for 40 years (10: 11-21 :20). 3. The transactions in the plain of Moab before crossing the (21:21-36).

The period comprehended in the history extends from the second month of the second year, as measured from , to the beginning of the eleventh month of the fortieth year, in all about thirty-seven years and nine months; a dreary period of wanderings. They were fewer in number at the end of their wanderings than when they left the land of ~. According to tradition, ~ authored all five books of the .

There is a growing consensus among scholars that the book dates from the early Persian period (5th century BCE), and is a reworking of various traditions dating back as far as the 8th century. Title

The Hebrew title B3midbar, short for b

Summary

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Numbering God's people

consecration

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 being excepted, and to appoint princes over each tribe. 603,550 Israelites are found to be fit for military service.l2l. (In chapter 26, a generation later, approximately forty years after wandering in the desert, the Lord God orders a second census).Ul. Moses consecrates the for the service of the 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, , son of Aamn. Preparations are then made for resuming the march to the Promised Land. Various ordinances and are decreed.

Forty years in the wilderness

See also: *, on Numbers 8-12: Levites, journing by cloud and fire. complaints, questioning of Moses *ShJ.rJd1..on Numbers 13-15: Mixed report of the scouts and Israel's response *Kf2.r.ili:h.,on Numbers 16-18: Korah's rebellion, plague, 's staffbuds. duties of the Levites

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 and is ordered to choose seventy elders to assist him in the government of the people. and Aaron insult Moses at Hazeroth, which angers God; Miriam is punished with ~ and is shut out of camp for seven days, at the end of which the Israelites proceed to the . Twelve spies are sent out into Canaan and come back to report to Moses. klsh.!.ill and Caleb, two of the spies, tell that the land is abundant and is "flowing with milk and honey"; the other spies say that it is inhabited by giants, and the Israelites refuse to enter the land. Yahweh decrees that the Israelites will be punished for their loss of fai th by 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 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 in the keeping of the Tabernacle. The Levites are ordered to surrender to the priests a part of the tithes taken to them.

Preparations for crossing the Jordan

See also: *Chukat. on Numbers 19-21: Red heifer, from a rock, Miriam's and Aaron's deaths, victories, serpents *, on Numbers 22-25: Balaam's donkey and blessing *Pinchas, on Numbers 25-29: Phinehas, second census, inheritance, Moses' successor, offerings and holidays *, on Numbers 30-34: Vows, Midian, dividing booty, land for Reuben, Gad. and half of Manasseh *, on Numbers 33-36: Stations of the Israelites' journeys, instructions for conquest, cities for Levites

After Miriam's death at Barnea, the Israelites blame Moses for the lack of water. Moses, ordered by God to speak to a rock, disobeys by striking it, and is punished by the announcement that he shall not enter Canaan. The King of refuses permission to the Israelites to pass through his land. Aaron dies on . The Israelites are bitten by fiery serpents for speaking against God and Moses. A ~ 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 The daughters of Zelophehad, their father having no sons, share in the allotment. Moses is ordered to appoint ~ as his successor.

Prescriptions for the observance of the feasts, and the offerings for different occasions are enumerated. The Israelites massacre the people of Midian population. 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 exterminate the Canaanites and destroy their idols. The boundaries of the land are spelled out. The land is to be divided among the tribes under the superintendence of ~, Joshua, and twelve princes, one of each tribe.

Composition

The Pentateuch does not have a single author, and its composition took place over centuries.Hl From the late 19th century there was a great deal of consensus among a certain school of scholars around the documentary hypothesis, which speculates that the five books were created c.450 BCE by combining four originally independent sources, known as the Jahwist, or J (about 900 BCE), the Elohist, or E (about 800 BCE), the Deuteronomist, or D, (about 600 BCE), and the Priestly source, or P (about 500 BC).w This agreement began to break down in the late 1970s, and today there are many theories but no consensus, or even majority viewpoint.l2I Variations of the documentary hypothesis remain popular, especially in America and Israel, and the recognition of distinctive Deuteronomistic and Priestly "theologies" and vocabularies remains widespread, but they are used to form new approaches suggesting that the books were combined gradually over time by the slow accumulation of "fragments" of text, or that a basic text was "supplemented" by later authors/editors. ill

At the same time there has been a tendency to bring the origins of the Pentateuch further forward in time, and the most recent proposals place it in 5th century Judah under the Persian empire.l!ll.