Bible

Continuing the “Getting Started Bible.”  Today we open the summary of Numbers Part 1, chapters 1 – 18.  

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Numbers – Part 1

Introduction to Numbers:

Writer: Probably Moses, though some scholars posit that later statisticians could have provided additional details. The book’s name derives from the census, ordered twice by the Lord, to determine the number of fighting-age men in the Nation of Israel.

Scope: The book chronicles events that took place during the nearly thirty-nine-year expedition of Israel from Mt. Sinai to the banks of the Jordan River east of the ‘Promised Land’ of Canaan.     

Chapter 1. Census

At Mt. Sinai the Lord commands Moses to take a census:

• Moses and Aaron are to count the number of males over twenty years old, who are able to serve in the military;
• One census taker for each tribe is appointed;
• The Levites are not counted at this time;
• A total of 603,550 men make up the potential fighting force.  (Editor’s note:  Based on this number of military-age  men, plus other men, women, and children, the number who came out of Egypt could possibly be two to three million people, or even more.)

Chapter 2. Campgrounds

Twelve separate campgrounds are established.

• The Levitical tribe is encamped near the Tabernacle;
• The Levites are numbered separately.

Chapter 3. Levites

In addition to Aaron and his sons, all the tribe of Levites will comprise the Priesthood.

• Previously, God had claimed for himself every first-born male of the Israelites to be priests:  22,273 in total;
• Now, God appoints the Levite clan of 22,000 as the Priesthood, yields back the first-born sons;
• The 273 extra men are redeemed at 5 shekels each.

Chapter 4. Duties

One of the Levites is the leader of the Kohathites:

• Priestly duties include taking care of the Most Holy things;
• The Merarites are in charge of moving the Tabernacle;
• Priesthood includes males from 30 to 50 years old.

Chapter 5. Purity

Physical and spiritual purity is maintained throughout.

• Restitution is made for any wrong committed;
• There are consequences for unfaithfulness in marriage.

Chapter 6. Nazirite

Anyone can make a vow and become a Nazirite:

• Such a vow involves separation to the Lord for as long as desired:
• No fermented drink, no head shaving.

Chapter 7. Dedication

Twelve days of dedication of the Tabernacle:

• Every tribe brings special offerings to the Tabernacle:
• Totals:  24 oxen, 60 rams, 60 male goats, 60 male lambs, 2,400 shekels of silver, 120 shekels of gold.

Chapter 8. Separation

The Levites are set apart for the service of the Priesthood.

• Special sacrificial bulls are offered on the Altar as part of the separation ceremony.

Chapter 9. Passover

Passover is to be celebrated:

• Commemorating the night of escape from Egypt;
• The Lord’s presence is the cloud by day and fire by night.

Chapter 10. Move

Two trumpets are made of silver, used for signal calling.

• Number of blasts signals different events;
• Trumpet signals, God commands Israel to move out from Sinai, start the journey to Canaan.

Chapter 11. Fire

A few days into the trip grumbling about food, again:

• The Lord sends fire (lightning) to the outskirts of camp, temporarily quelling the uprising;
• Meat is demanded in lieu of Heaven’s manna for food;
• The Lord sends quail, plenty for everyone.

Chapter 12. Opposition

Aaron and Miriam (his sister) become jealous of Moses who has direct access to God:

• They rise up in opposition to Moses;
• The Lord chastises them.

Chapter 13. Spies

Encamped in the desert of Paran near Kadesh:

• Moses sends twelve men to spy into Canaan;
• Forty days and nights later, they return with their report:
• Joshua and Caleb are positive: The land is fertile, it does ‘flow with milk and honey;’ grapes from Eshcol are huge;
• The other ten spies give negative reports: The people are large, the cities fortified, there is no way to defeat them;
• Israel runs back south, wanders for thirty-eight more years.

Chapter 14. Grumbling

Israelites grumble against Moses and Aaron:

• Some wish they had stayed in Egypt;
• Some want to select a new leader, go back to Egypt;
• The Lord condemns Israel’s fighting men for their contempt, declares that all of them will die in the desert, never see Canaan;
• Only Joshua and Caleb will survive to enter Canaan.

Chapter 15. Failure

An unintentional failure to keep the law is forgivable, a willful failure is not forgivable:

• Atonement is available through the priest with the proper sacrificial offerings;
• Sinful defiance of the Law is not forgivable, must be cut off;
• Willful sabbath breakers are to be stoned to death;
• Colorful tassels are attached to garment hems to be continuous reminders of requirements of the Law.

Chapter 16. Punishment

The 250-man Community Council leads a rebellion, demands a meeting with Moses and Aaron to discuss their leadership:

• As Levite leaders, they declare that everyone is holy;
• They question Moses and Aaron about their leadership;
• Moses tells them the Lord will answer their questions;
• The Lord’s answer: A blast of fire destroys the 250 Levites;
• The ground opens, swallows other rebellious leaders;
• Plague attacks the rest of the rebellion.

Chapter 17. Confirmation

The Lord tells Moses to put an end to the rebellious grumbling:

• He collects twelve wooden staffs from leaders of each of the twelve tribes, along with Aaron’s staff;
• He plants all of them in the ground, says to the men:
• “The man who owns the staff that sprouts will be the leader;”
• The next morning Aaron’s staff has sprouted and growing;
• Aaron, a Levite, is confirmed by God to be their leader.

Chapter 18. Duties

Aaron, and the tribe of Levi, are chosen by God as the spiritual leaders of the Israelites:

• The Levites are the Priesthood forever in Israel;
• Their duties include being in charge of everything concerning worship, the Tabernacle, sacrifices, etc;
• The Lord gives the collected tithes to the Levites in exchange for their work. 

END OF NUMBERS – PART 1