also known as
The Fourth Book of Moses

***

Introduction

A number never means anything by itself; it only means something when it is compared to another number. Therefore, when you see a number in the book of Numbers (or anywhere else, for that matter), you may have no interest in it. Further, you may not even be able to imagine having an interest in it. But as you read on, some point of comparison may arise – whether in the page or merely in your mind – and, at that point, the numbers (note the plural) may become of interest to you.

There is more to the book of Numbers than numbers; and it is not the only book in the Bible that contains numbers. Yet “Numbers” is the name by which it is called; and, in line with its name, it begins with a census of the nation of Israel.

Speaking of numbers, let’s attempt date the events recorded in the book of Numbers. It covers a 40-year period – the 40 years Israel spent wandering in the wilderness before it entered the promised land of Canaan. According to Num 1:1, the book’s events begin with a census taken near the beginning of the second year of Israel’s freedom from Egypt. That much is clear, but Moses does not make similar date-related remarks throughout the book, so it’s not apparent to readers when there might be long periods of time between one event and the next. Using Ussher’s Chronology, here’s how the rest of the book’s events can be dated with reference to Num 1:1.

Num 1-15 – took place during the 2nd year after the exodus from Egypt.
- Num 13-14 tells of the twelve spies – the how and why Israel’s invasion of Canaan was postponed for a generation.
Num 16-19 – took place around the 20th year after the exodus.
- These events include Korah’s rebellion and Aaron’s rod that bore fruit.
Num 20 – took place during the 38th year after the exodus.
- This is when Miriam and Aaron died. It’s also when Moses lost his chance to enter the promised land by his behavior at the waters of Meribah.
Num 21-34 – took place during the 39th year after the exodus.
- This is when another census was taken which allowed a comparison with the census taken in Num 1.
Num 35-36 – took place during the 40th year after the exodus, as the Israelites were finally on the verge of entering the promised land.

***

Numbers 1

The Census of Israel’s Warriors

Num 1:1 – At this point in the five books of Moses, we are about 13 months removed from day Israel passed out of Egypt through the Red Sea Ex 14). A lot has happened. During that time, Moses has received the Ten Commandments from the Lord on Mount Sinai (Ex 20), along with design specifications for the tabernacle (Ex 25-31, 35-40), and many rules both for priests in the tabernacle as well as for the people in daily life. To shape a bunch of slaves into a functional nation takes time.

The main purpose of the census was to manage Israel’s military efforts. God delivered Israel from Egypt without Israel wielding a weapon or even a fist, yet Israel was going to have to conquer the land of Canaan by force. Some things God does for us; other things He wants us to do for ourselves. He would certainly be with Israel in its battles, but the Israelites had their role to play.

From the Lord’s perspective, Canaan was occupied by people who had hardened their hearts and sinned flagrantly – even sacrificing their own children to false gods. But these hardened sinners weren’t going to give up their land without a fight, so Israel had to be prepared to fight…and win, if they expected to occupy this land. God would give them victory but He wasn’t going to do it by Himself. He was going to work through His people.

Num 1:2-3 – The census was to include only men of fighting age (“from twenty years old and upward”) and in fighting condition (“whoever is able to go out to war”).

Num 1:4-19 – The natural division of Israel’s fighting men was into their tribes – that is, according to their ancestral lineage. The tribe of Levi was already set apart for the Lord’s service so they were exempted from military service. To keep the number of tribes to twelve, Joseph’s two sons – Ephraim and Manasseh – were each counted as having their own tribe. Thus there was no tribe of Joseph – rather, there were the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.

Israel is, of course, about five generations removed from the twelve patriarchs, so each tribe has a current leader with a different name. We’ll just list them here, however, according to the tribe’s name so as not to bring in too much detail.

Num 1:20-21 – The tribe of Reuben had 46,500 fighting men.

Num 1:22-23 – The tribe of Simeon had 59,300 fighting men.

Num 1:24-25 – The tribe of Gad had 45,650 fighting men.

Num 1:26-27 – The tribe of Judah had 74,600 fighting men. This was the largest tribe.

Num 1:28-29 – The tribe of Issachar had 54,400 fighting men.

Num 1:30-31 – The tribe of Zebulun had 57,400 fighting men.

Num 1:32-33 – The tribe of Ephraim had 40,500 fighting men.

Num 1:34-35 – The tribe of Manasseh had 32,200 fighting men. This was the smallest tribe. That said, when you combine it with Ephraim’s number to get a count for Joseph’s male descendants of fighting age and in fighting condition of 72,700. This is second in size only to Judah’s.

Num 1:36-37 – The tribe of Benjamin had 35,400 fighting men.

Num 1:38-39 – The tribe of Dan had 62,700 fighting men.

Num 1:40-41 – The tribe of Asher had 41,500 fighting men.

Num 1:42-43 – The tribe of Naphtali had 53,400 fighting men.

Num 1:44-46 – The total number of fighting men (20 years old and above) is 603,500. About two years earlier, at the first Passover and the exodus from Egypt, the number was estimated to be “about” 600,000 (Ex 12:37-38). Some 38 years from now, as the Israelites are preparing to cross the Jordan River and finally enter the promised land, another census will be taken and the total will be 601,730 (Num 26:51). Recall that it was about 70 men, women, and children that went down to Egypt at the time of Joseph (Ex 1:5) some 430 years earlier (Ex 12:40-41). Compare these numbers and consider what they might mean.

Levites Exempted

Num 1:47-53 – The tribe of Levi could be considered “chaplains” for the “soldiers” in the other tribes.

Num 1:54 – As always with God, doing what He says is the key to success. That Adam and Eve did not do this in the beginning, got us off to a bad start and we still see the effects of it whenever a child is born. Yet through Jesus Christ, we are more than able to overcome whatever is against us (Rom 8:37-39).

***

Numbers 2

Arrangement of the Twelve Camps
around the Tabernacle
and
Formation When Relocating from One Place to Another

Num 2:1-2 – In this chapter, the Lord is telling Moses how to bring order to the arrangement of the 603,500 men. (God always seeks order and not chaos.)

Num 2:3-9 – On the east side of the tabernacle would be the tribe of Judah in the lead, accompanied by the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun.

Num 2:10-16 – On the south side of the tabernacle would be the tribe of Reuben in the lead, accompanied by the tribes of Simeon and Gad.

Num 2:17 – As always, the Levites are treated differently. Notice also that this arrangement was not just for when everyone was stationary, but also implied an order to be followed when they moved as a nation from one location to another on their way to the promised land.

Num 2:18-24 – On the west side of the tabernacle would be the tribe of Ephraim in the lead, accompanied by the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin.

Num 2:25-31 – On the north side of the tabernacle would be the tribe of Dan in the lead, accompanied by the tribes of Asher and Naphtali.

Num 2:32 – This arrangement accounts for all 603,500 fighting men.

Num 2:33 – That the Levites were not counted is a reminder that the purpose of the census was primarily for the purpose of knowing the troops that could be mustered for battle. Since the Levites weren’t going to be fighting, they should not be counted.

Num 2:34 – Again, as was said at the end of the previous chapter, the key to success with God is doing what the Lord commands.

***

Numbers 3

Levites to Be Priesthood

Num 3:1-4 – The incident that led to the death of Nadab and Abihu is recorded in Lev 10.

Num 3:5-10 – Israel’s priesthood was very small at this first stage – just Aaron and his two remaining sons. The rest of the tribe of Levi was given to Aaron and his sons as assistants.

Num 3:11-13 – The Lord was accepting the tribe of Levi as a replacement for His claim on the firstborn of all Israel. Recall that in the tenth and final Egyptian plague, all the firstborn of Egypt died but the firstborn of Israel were claimed by the Lord for service which is the basis on which they were “passed over” when the plague came through the land. Because it would have been disruptive and impractical to pull the firstborn out of every nuclear family in Israel to serve the Lord on behalf of the nation, He accepted the tribe of Levi as an reasonable substitute.

Num 3:13 – Luke alludes to this verse about the firstborn (as well as others: Ex 13:2, 12; Num 8:17) when describing Jesus as He was presented at Jerusalem’s temple as an infant in Lk 2:22-24 (see also BSN notes on that passage).

Num 3:14-16 – Earlier in Numbers, the Lord said that the tribe of Levi would not be counted along with the other tribes, but here they are being counted. The reason for this counting will come out in Num 3:40-51 below. It has nothing to do with military service.

Since the purpose of this numbering was not for warfare, the cutoff was one month instead of twenty years. Presumably, the reason was that, contrary to modern times, survival of the birth process was a very risky matter. Many infants, and mothers, did not survive it. I suppose after a month, they could be confident of the child’s viability.

The Levites Are Divided into Three

Num 3:17 – Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Num 3:18-20 – The sons of Levi in turn had their own sons. And so on down to the time of Moses and Aaron. But the divisions were named according to the three sons of Levi. That is, the tribe of Levi consisted of these three divisions.

The Gershonites

Num 3:21-26 – The division of Gershon was stationed on the immediate westward side of the tabernacle, and they were assigned duties associated with maintaining the outward structure of the tabernacle (including the tent, coverings, and screen).

The Kohathites

Num 3:27-32 – The division of Kohath was stationed on the immediate southward side of the tabernacle, and they were assigned the duties associated with the furnishings of the sanctuary (including the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, and the utensils).

The Merarites

Num 3:33-37 – The division of Merari was stationed on the immediate northward side of the tabernacle, and they were assigned the duties associated with the connecting components of the tabernacle (such as bars, pillars, sockets, pegs, and cords).

The Placement of Moses and Aaron

Num 3:38 – The immediate eastward side of the tabernacle (which was the side through which the interior of the tabernacle was accessed) was reserved for Moses, Aaron, and their families.

Total Count of Levites

Num 3:39 – The total count of Levite males over one month old was 22,000.

Firstborn Redeemed

Num 3:40-51 – Per Num 3:11-13 above, the tribe of Levi was assigned to the Lord’s service in keeping the tabernacle and all its related activities as a substitute for the firstborn of Israel who all belonged to the Lord as a result of the Passover deliverance from Egypt (Ex 13:2). In order to effect the substitution precisely, a means was needed to account for the fact that the number of firstborns and the number of Levites was not going to be an exact match. The valuation “chart” that constitutes the last chapter of Leviticus (Lev 27) provides the means for achieving this reconciliation. Thus was the difference (273) between the total Levite population (22,000) and the total count of firstborns in Israel (22,273) reconciled.

***

Numbers 4

The Duties of the Sons of Levi

In Num 3, we saw Moses divide the duties of the Levites into three divisions, according to the three sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Moses goes into more detail here, but now Kohath comes first – presumably because Moses and Aaron are descended from Kohath Num 26:58-59), and are entrusted with the most important parts of the tabernacle.

The Duties of the Sons of Kohath

Num 4:1-20 – The duties described here are an elaboration on the initial assignment of duties described in Num 3:27-32.

The Duties of the Sons of Gershon

Num 4:21-28 -The duties described here are an elaboration on the initial assignment of duties described in Num 3:21-26

The Duties of the Sons of Merari

Num 4:29-33 -The duties described here are an elaboration on the initial assignment of duties described in Num 3:33-37

The Numbering of the Sons of Levi

The numbering of the sons of Levi in the previous chapter was of males over the age of one month. Here, the focus is on males between the ages of 30 and 50 because this was the age at which they actually performed service in the tabernacle. That is, the first counting of Levites was to make sure there were enough to cover the count of firstborns in Israel; this count is to identify exactly how many men there were to perform the services required by the sacrificial system and the administration of the law.

The Numbering of the Sons of Kohath

Num 4:34-37 – The numbered men were 2,750.

The Numbering of the Sons of Gershon

Num 4:38-41 – The numbered men were 2,630.

The Numbering of the Sons of Merari

Num 4:42-45 – The numbered men were 3,200.

Summary

Num 4:46-49 – The total numbered men from the three divisions was 8,580 to perform the service required.

***

Numbers 5

Keeping the Camp Free of Defilement from…

…Disease and Defect

Num 5:1-4

…Sin in General

Num 5:5-10

…Adultery in Particular

Num 5:11-31

***

Numbers 6

The Nazirite Vow

Num 6:1-21 – See BSN note on Nazirite vow.

Aaron’s Benediction

Num 6:22-27 – Most Americans have heard this benediction pronounced over them at one time or another. It has its fullest meaning and benefit in the recognition that Jesus Christ is “the Lord” whose blessing is being invoked.

***

Numbers 7

The Offerings of the Leaders of the Twelve Tribes
for
Operations of the Tabernacle

Num 7:1 – The day that Moses is referring to is recorded in Ex 40 (see especially verses 9-11 and 17).

Num 7:2 – The leaders of the twelve tribes are those named in the census (Num 1:5-16).

Six Carts and Twelve Oxen

Num 7:3-9 – The carts and oxen were received from the leaders of the twelve tribes and allocated to the Levitical divisions of Gershon (one-third) and Merari (two-thirds). Kohath had no need of the carts and oxen because this division kept the holy objects (the ark, the table, etc.) which were transported using poles which rested on the shoulders of the Kohathites.

Aaron had lost two sons (Nadab and Abihu – Lev 10), so the oversight of the Levites was allocated to his remaining sons:

Eleazar oversaw the division of Kohath (Num 3:32; 4:16) who kept the most sensitive parts of the tabernacle complex.
Ithamar oversaw the divisions of Gershon (Num 4:28) and Merari (Num 4:33).

Twelve Identical Collections of Assorted Gifts

Num 7:10-11 – The leaders came forth with their respective offerings one day at a time. The order of the tribes listed here are the same order Moses laid down for their arrangement around the tabernacle and when relocating from one place to another in Num 2.

Num 7:12-17 – Day One – Judah
Num 7:18-23 – Day Two – Issachar
Num 7:24-29 – Day Three – Zebulun
Num 7:30-35 – Day Four –Reuben
Num 7:36-41 – Day Five – Simeon
Num 7:42-47 – Day Six – Gad
Num 7:48-53 – Day Seven – Ephraim
Num 7:54-59 – Day Eight – Manasseh
Num 7:60-65 – Day Nine – Benjamin
Num 7:66-71 – Day Ten – Dan
Num 7:72-77 – Day Eleven – Asher
Num 7:78-83 – Day Twelve – Naphtali

The Summation of the Offerings for the Altar

Num 7:84-88 – All the gifts from the twelve tribes listed above are totaled here.

How the Lord Spoke to Moses

Num 7:89 – The ark of the covenant was the basis of the conversations God would have with Moses just as the new covenant is the basis of the conversations God has with us. Reference is also made to the way God spoke with Moses in Num 12, when Miriam and Aaron challenge Moses’ unique stature with God.

***

Numbers 8

Lighting the Seven Lamps of the Lampstand

Num 8:1-4 – The lampstand as well as all the other components of the tabernacle complex are described in Ex 25-31 and 35-40.

The Cleansing of the Levites

Num 8:5-13 – Moses describes the process for the cleansing.

Num 8:14-19 – Moses recalls the reason for the Levites’ service to Him.

Num 8:17 – Luke alludes to this verse about the firstborn (as well as others: Ex 13:2, 12; Num 3:13) in Lk 2:22-24 (see also BSN notes on that passage).

Num 8:20-21 – Moses declares that the cleansing of the Levites has been achieved.

Num 8:22 – The Levites actually begin their tabernacle work.

The Retirement of the Levites

Num 8:23-26 – In Num 4, the working age of Levites was specified as 30 to 50. Commentators through the ages have assumed this reference to 25 implies a five-apprenticeship was required.

***

Numbers 9

The Second Passover

Num 9:1-14 – The first Passover was described in Ex 12-13. It took place just before the Israelites left Egypt. They have been in the wilderness, mainly at Mount Sinai, for the last year.

The Cloud by Day and the Fire by Night over the Tabernacle

Num 9:15-23 – The “cloud-by-day, fire-by-night” phenomenon was first mentioned in Ex 13:21-22 when the Israelites were leaving Egypt. It’s mentioned at this time to emphasize that with the completion of the tabernacle, the pillar of cloud or fire would henceforth be centered on the tabernacle – the tabernacle having been established as the central focal point of the nation. The tabernacle’s very existence testified to the covenant between God and His people. In the new covenant, Jesus Christ is the place God and people come together.

***

Numbers 10

The Two Silver Trumpets

Num 10:1-10 – The trumpets were used in the same way that an army would use bugles – for signaling over distances. Thus the people could be assembled, sent into battle, or called to any other action by the number of trumpets that the sounds they made. Very practical in a world where no one wore watches or carried smartphones.

The Nation Breaks Camp and Leaves Sinai

Num 10:11-36 – After spending roughly a year at Sinai, the Israelites break camp. During the time at Sinai, Moses received the Ten Commandments on tablets, God’s instructions for the construction of the tabernacle and the administration of sacrifices, the rules for the priests and Levites, and laws for the people to follow. It was not idle time.

When the Israelites set out, they followed the order prescribed in Num 2.

***

Numbers 11

The People Complain at Taberah

Num 11:1-9 – Like kids squabbling in the car on family vacation, the Israelites complained of adversity since their enslavement in Egypt. The Hebrew word “Taberah” meant “burning.” Naming a place is, of course, a way of memorializing a specific event. The people’s greed got the better of them and they complained of the blandness of a manna diet. They begin to remember their time in Egypt far more fondly than it deserved. Of course, you and I would never do anything like that.

Moses Complains

Num 11:10-15 – When the people complained at Taberah and the Lord showed His displeasure, Moses lost heart and asked the Lord to kill him rather than have him continue in his role. Moses saw himself as a failure because he was not able to please the Lord or the people in his role as mediator. In other words, he felt like a parent.

70 Elders Appointed to Assist Moses

Num 11:16-30 – God lightened the burden on Moses by telling him to assemble 70 elders to whom God can give His Spirit – the same Spirit that enabled Moses to speak for the Lord. This was, of course, the Holy Spirit. Where the Spirit is, prophecy results. To prophesy is to speak for the Lord – that is, speak for the Lord instead of one’s self, to speak His thoughts instead of your own. Moses’ assistant Joshua was upset that a couple of men got carried away with the prophesying but Moses rebuked him and expressed the wish that every person could receive the Holy Spirit and prophesy. (Num 11:29). This hope would blossom into a full-fledged promise from God through the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32) and was fulfilled dramatically on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17-21). And this promise was continually fulfilled after that (1 Cor 14:31).

The Quail and the Plague

Num 11:31-35 – The Lord responded to the people’s complaining at Taberah not only with the prophesying of the 70 but with enough meat to make them wish they’d never asked. Kibroth-hattaavah means “graves of greediness.”

***

Numbers 12

Miriam and Aaron Complain about Moses

Num 12:1-16 – Num 7:89 made brief reference to the way God spoke with Moses. This passage expands on that description. ***** For additional testimony of Moses’ humility, see Ex 18:13-23 and accompanying BSN note. Is it possible that the author of this book wrote this about himself? Given what Jesus said about Himself in Mt 11:29, we may conclude that the most humble people…are willing to admit it. If that’s unimaginable to us, maybe it means we’re not yet humble enough.

***

Numbers 13

A 40-Day Reconnaissance Mission
That Will Lead to 40 Years in the Wilderness

Spies View the Land

Num 13:1-16 – The Israelites had been hearing of this “promised” land all their lives. The “promise” went all the way back to their ancestor Abraham, but they themselves had never even seen this land because they had lived in Egypt all their lives. Both out of curiosity and out of the need for military intelligence, Moses chose one man from each of the twelve tribes to go as a group of spies to Canaan in order to scope out the place.

Num 13:16 – #FJOT “Joshua” was not Hoshea’s birth name; it was a nickname Moses gave him, much like the name “Peter” that Jesus gave to Simon Bar Jonah. This nickname was to have enormous significance. In a sense, Moses named Jesus before Joseph and Mary did. Let me explain.

“Joshua” is, of course, the name that Mary and Joseph were told to give their firstborn. For “Jesus” is simply the Greek name for the Hebrew name “Joshua” in the same way that “Juan” in the Spanish name for the English name “John.”

Joshua was Moses’ understudy and successor. Moses got the people of God to the promised land, but it was Joshua who took them into it. Similarly, the Law of Moses got a portion of humanity only so far, but the way of Jesus leads the way to heaven for the whole human race.

Pharaoh’s daughter said she chose the name “Moses” for the baby she found because she “drew him out of the water” (Ex 2:10). Jesus in His resurrection was drawn out of blood, which is to say drawn out of death. He who is born of water is born of a woman; he who is born of blood – Jesus’ blood – is born again, born from heaven and not earth. Thus the names “Moses” and “Joshua (Jesus)” mentioned in tandem say so much to us about our creation and our redemption. These men are the two great lawgivers in human history; the first is the shadow (type), and the second is the reality being foreshadowed.

John 1:17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

As the five books of Moses are followed by the one book of Joshua (Jesus), so the much larger Old Testament is followed by the New. The heavy yoke is followed by the light one.

Matt 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Matt 11:29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
Matt 11:30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Moses explicitly promised that he would have a successor:

Deut 18:15 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.

People initially may have thought that Joshua was that successor. Indeed, Joshua was an initial fulfillment – a down payment on that promise. But the fullness of that promise would come with a second Joshua who would be literally “raised up” some 15 centuries after the first Joshua.

The name “Joshua” (“Jesus”) means “The Lord saves” or “The Lord is salvation.” Moses’ successor deserved such a name because Moses proved that even a great man could not save the human race – it would take someone who was more than a man.

Although Moses does not say that it was the Lord who inspired him to call Hoshea “Joshua,” it is hard to imagine that Moses chose to give Hoshea this name entirely on his own. In any case, the Lord ratified Hoshea as Moses’ successor in Num 27:15-23 by calling him “Joshua the son of Nun” and not “Hoshea the son of Nun.” See also the accompanying BSN note below on this passage.

When the Lord, through Moses, called Hoshea “Joshua,” He was saying a lot. #FJOT

***

Numbers 14

The People Rebel

Num 14:1-4 – The negativity of the ten unbelieving spies spreads rapidly through the entire congregation. The mass hysteria results in the people turning their backs on Moses, Aaron, and the Lord in favor of appointing a leader who will take them back to Egypt. Alas, this chickenheartedness was foreseen. As Israel was preparing to leave Egypt, Moses wrote this:

Ex 13:17 Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”

And just before the Lord’s miracle of parting the Red Sea, when Pharaoh and his chariots were bearing down on the Israelites, they were whimpering about how slavery in Egypt hadn’t been all that bad.

Ex 14:10 As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD.
Ex 14:11 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt?
Ex 14:12 “Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Num 14:5-10 – While Moses and Aaron prayed, Joshua and Caleb made a passionate and well-reasoned appeal to the people that they stick with the Lord’s plan to invade and conquer Canaan. Instead, the people were so worked up by their fears that they decided to stone the two optimists. Only the Lord’s intervention prevented the loss of two good men.

Moses Pleads for the People

Num 14:11-12 – The Lord is so put out with the people that He proposes killing them all and starting over with Moses as the new “Abraham.”

Num 14:13-19 – Rather than taking the easy way out, Moses intercedes for the people as he interceded for them after they made a golden calf.

The Lord Pardons and Rebukes:
Sentences Israel to a 40-Year Sojourn in the Desert

Num 14:20-38 – The Lord pardons Israel according to Moses’ request, however, He sentences that generation to sojourning in the wilderness for forty years – one year for each day of the reconnaissance mission. As the for 12 spies, the ten unbelieving ones died by a plague, while Joshua and Caleb were granted a delay of death so that they could enter into the promised land with the next generation.

Israel Repulsed

Num 14:39-45 – Regretting its behavior, the unbelieving generation decides to fight for the promised land after all – but their regret comes too late. The Lord had pronounced sentence and therefore the Israelites had no help from the Lord in battle. Therefore, they were defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites.

***

This is a pivotal point in Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Because of Israel’s unbelief, especially as demonstrated in the previous chapter with the negative report from 10 of the 12 spies, God decided that they should have to sojourn in the desert for 40 years until that generation died off and the next generation took the reigns of power. Only at that point would the journey to Canaan be continued to conclusion. Therefore, practically everything that happens between here and the book of Joshua takes place in the context of wandering around in the desert.

At this point, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb are exempted and will get to the enter the promised land when the next generation comes of age, but Moses and Aaron will disqualify themselves at the waters of Meribah in Num 20. Only Caleb and Joshua make it to the end.

***

Numbers 15

Laws of Canaan

Num 1:1-13

Law of the Sojourner

Num 15:14-31

Sabbath-breaking Punished

Num 15:32-36 –

Tassels on Garments

Num 15:37-41

***

To recap (from the Introduction to this book):

Num 1-15 took place during the 2nd year after the exodus from Egypt.
Num 16-19 take place around the 20th year after the exodus – in other words around the halfway point of Israel’s 40 years in the desert.

***

Numbers 16

The Rebellion of Korah

Num 16:1-40 – This incident is mentioned very briefly by Jude (Jude 1:11) as an example of the false teachers that were springing up in New Testament times during the last days before the Second Coming. ***** Korah was of the division of Kohath, which was privileged among the Levites to manage the holy objects (ark of the covenant, the table for showbread, the lampstand, and so on). Already having a place of privilege demonstrated Korah’s greed in wanting to be considered equal with the priests (Aaron and his sons), too. Greed is never satisfied.

The People Continue Grumbling,
and a Plague Takes 15,000

Num 16:41-50 – Even after the death of Korah and the 250 others, grumbling against Moses continued. As a punishment, God sent a plague among the people, but Moses and Aaron interceded for them and the plague was checked at 14,700 dead.

***

Numbers 17

Aaron’s Rod…Buds, Blossoms, and Bears Almonds

Num 17:1-7 – God’s dealings with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in the previous chapter did not quell the rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Even the plague that followed as a result of continued grumbling against Moses and Aaron did not completely settle the issue. Therefore, God lays out yet another way He will verify to the people that He Himself has chosen Aaron to lead Israel’s priesthood.

The test for Korah and the 250 rebels was a negative one; that it, it would reveal who was not with the Lord. This test was a positive one; that is, it would reveal who was with the Lord…which was Aaron. The test for Korah involved fire, which is a sign of judgment. This test for Aaron would involve life.

Presumably, the rods were formerly tree branches which had been cut, trimmed, dried, and perhaps otherwise treated to make them useful as rods. Rods would have all sorts of uses in ancient times, including the shepherding of animals.

Ps 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

A rod might also be used ceremoniously by a king or other leader.

Ps 2:9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.'”

***

Ps 89:32 Then I will punish their transgression with the rod
And their iniquity with stripes.

Thus instead of a test of firepans, this would be a test of rods. As with the death of Korah and the 250, and the death that came by plague to the 15,000, so God would produce the effect of His test by a means no man could duplicate – only this time He would do it with a form of life instead of a form of death. That is, instead of burning, the rod of His choice would “sprout.”

No one would have been surprised if Aaron’s rod had sprouted while it was still attached to a tree, but, when you think about it, it would have been just as much a miracle. We only count as miracles what God does rarely; if He does it regularly, we tend to take it for granted. For example, we’d make a much bigger deal about sunrises if they occurred once or twice in a lifetime rather than every day. Fruit coming a dead branch is just as much as divine work as fruit coming from the life one. Could one way be any more difficult for God than the other?

Num 17:8-11 – #FJOT That Aaron’s branch produced fruit “after its time” was a foreshadowing of Jesus who produced fruit “after His time” – that is, after He died. In fact, Jesus has produced even more fruit as a dead rod than He did as a living branch – just as Samson did.

Judg 16:30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life.

Think of all people Jesus taught, healed, and otherwise helped in the life He lived before He died; now think of all the people He taught, healed, and otherwise helped through the apostles during the rest of New Testament times and ever since. The difference between the two numbers is infinite, especially since His goodness will never stop being poured out on creation.

Perhaps all of the rods came from an almond tree, but we can assuredly assume Aaron’s did since an almond is what his rod produced.

Gen 1:11 Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so.

***

Luke 6:44 “For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.

Without mentioning Aaron explicitly, God gives Jeremiah a vision some 800-900 years later of a rod of an almond tree (Jer 1:11-12). See accompanying BSN notes for further pointers to Jesus the Messiah.

#FJOT Speaking more broadly than just almond trees, “the Branch” is a recurring figure for, and title of, Messiah: The Branch.

Paul makes reference to Aaron’s rod being kept in the ark of the covenant in his description of the holy place of the tabernacle (Heb 9:1-5).

Num 17:12-13 – The people seem to have gotten the message that Aaron was indeed divinely called and that tasks such as his should not be taken on as a matter of one’s own choice. The apostle Paul emphasizes this point.

Heb 5:4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.

That said, the people, while having given up their rebellion, are still acting inappropriately – even hysterically. For this reason, God will calm them by turning to Aaron (in the next chapter) and explaining how coming near the tabernacle doesn’t have to be fatal if only God’s rules are followed – which is to say, leave the work of priests to the priests and everything will be fine. It’s like electricity in a home. Electricians can go into receptacles and work with wires while the rest of us might only get ourselves electrocuted.

Aaron’s rod budding is the kind of sign the Pharisees kept asking Jesus to perform to prove to them that He had been sent by God. But they were ignoring the reality of the One standing right in front of them and asking for yet another foreshadowing of Him. Right after Jesus fed four thousand men, the Pharisees responded with this:

Mark 8:11 The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him.
Mark 8:12 Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
Mark 8:13 Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side.

How many miracles would Messiah have to perform before the Pharisees would give up asking Him to “perform a sign” to prove His identity? “Hey, doc, I appreciate that you successfully performed heart transplant surgery on me, but until you remove my ingrown toenail I can’t be sure you’re legit.”

***

Numbers 18

Duties of Levites

Num 18:1-7

The Priests’ Portion

Num 18:8-32

***

Numbers 19

Ordinance of the Red Heifer

Num 19:1-22

***

To recap (from the Introduction to this book):

Num 16-19 took place around the 20th year after the exodus – in other words around the halfway point of Israel’s 40 years in the desert.
The remainder of the book takes place during their 38th to 40th years in the wilderness.

***

Numbers 20

The events of this chapter took place during the 38th year after the exodus from Egypt.

Miriam Dies

Num 20:1 – Miriam, Aaron, and Moses were quite the siblings. Miriam was the oldest; Moses the youngest. She was a prophetess (Ex 15:20) and played an important role in the birth of the nation of Israel. Egypt was the mother’s womb, Moses and his siblings were the midwives, and God was giving the birth.

The Waters of Meribah:
Moses and Aaron Consigned to Die in the Wilderness

Num 20:2-13 – In order to get the water to flow from the rock, the Lord told Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses did not speak to the rock but rather struck it with the rod – twice. God called this an act of unbelief in which Moses did not “treat God as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel.”

Num 20:13 – “…the sons of Israel contended with the LORD, and He proved Himself holy among them.” – In addition to recording history, these words foreshadow the life the LORD would live on earth as Jesus of Nazareth…proving Himself holy among us! #FJOT

From Kadesh, Israel Asks Edom for Permission to Pass Through;
Edom Refuses

Num 20:14-22 – Recall that Edom was the nation of Esau’s descendants. When Moses sent the message requesting a right to pass through the land of Edom, he referred to Israel as “Israel” and not as Jacob. Since “Israel” was the name that God gave Jacob, Moses was making God a party to the request. Thus it was not just the descendant’s of one brother asking the descendants of the other brother for a favor, it was God asking for the favor as well. Edom’s refusal was therefore not only a sign of disregard of one brother for another, it was a sign of disregard for God. This is another sign that Esau – even through his descendants – never “got it.” He never liked the way the way things turned out for him, but never saw that he might need to repent of something either. Esau/Edom became a prime example of unredeemed man; of man focusing only on this world, refusing to repent. Related: See Mal 1:1-5 (including accompanying BSN notes) and Heb 12:15-17 (and accompanying BSN notes).

Aaron Dies at Mount Hor;
Eleazar Takes His Place as High Priest

Num 20:23-29 – The Lord viewed Aaron as complicit in the lack of reverence Moses showed at Meribah (Num 20:2-13) and so also denied him what He was denying Moses – which was the delay of death that would have been required to enter the promised land with the upcoming generation. ***** Aaron had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar (Ex 6:23; 28:1; Num 3:2). Nadab and Abihu died when they were irreverent before the Lord (Num 3:4; Lev 10:1-3). Thus, Moses and Aaron were getting off easy by even surviving their lapse in reverence. “To whom much is given, much is expected” (Lk 12:48). None of us has a right to take God for granted; and when we do wrong, we have no right to question the fairness of any judgment He makes. He’s proven Himself just and merciful over and over again; therefore, whenever we don’t understand something He does or doesn’t do, we have more than enough reason to trust Him.

***

A pivotal point in Israel’s journey from Egypt was reached between Num 14 and Num 15. When 10 of the 12 spies came back pessimistic about Israel’s chances to conquer Canaan (Num 14) was when Israel ceased making progress toward the promised land and were put on hold for a generation (40 years). Now, between, Num 20 and 21, Moses and Aaron, because of what happened at Meribah in Num 20, have also been sentenced to death in the desert without reaching the promised land. Both Aaron and Moses will die natural deaths; only Caleb and Joshua will be allowed to be a part of the actual entry into Canaan.

Num 21-34 took place in the 39th year after Israel’s departure from Egypt.

Numbers 21

Israel Conquers Arad in the Negev

Num 21:1-3 – The term “Negev” means “south” and referred to southern Canaan and the land south of it. Because this land is arid, “Negev” came to be as synonymous with “desert” as it was with “south.”

The Bronze Serpent

Num 21:4-9 – This is the incident to which Jesus referred when Nicodemus was seeking Him for answers in John 3.

John 3:14 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
John 3:15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

We wouldn’t naturally associate the Messiah with a serpent, but Jesus was suffering for our sins and they certainly bring a serpent to mind.

Is 53:6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.

Consider also that Jesus is the “reparations,” if you will, for our sins.

1 John 2:2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

Thus did Jesus tell Nicodemus that this serpent in Num 21 foreshadows the Messiah. Must’ve been hard for that highly-respected rabbi to take being shown an #FJOT by a carpenter from flyover country.

The Lord Leads Israel to a Well in Its Sojournings

Num 21:10-20 – “Beer” is the Hebrew word for well. Finding wells was, of course, necessary to sustaining life in the desert. The Israelites even sang a song about it: “Spring up, O well!” We can relate in a couple of ways. First, the Bible at times – and especially parts of the Old Testament – are like a desert to us and thus we appreciate the “wells” we find – that is, those chapters, or even just verses sometimes, that give us something we can understand and apply in our lives. (I also call such places in the Bible “landing zones in the midst of a jungle” and usually underline them so I can easily find them later.) Second, our souls can be like a desert and the Holy Spirit within us is the well that can spring up and give us life. Jesus promised this to us.

John 4:13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;
John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

***

John 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
John 7:38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'”
John 7:39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Israel Defeats Sihon King of the Amorites and Og King of Bashan

Num 21:21-35 – These two victories are mentioned elsewhere in the Scriptures over half a dozen times – including extensively in Deut 2-3 and briefly in Ps 135:11. The Israelites took them as signature victories.

***

The next three chapters – Num 22, 23, 24 – deal with interactions between Balak and Balaam. Balak was the king of Moab and Balaam was a questionable prophet about whose origin we know little except that he lived in a place called Pethor. References to this three-chapter interaction between Balak and Balaam can be found in three books of the New Testament. Jesus mentions these two men in a warning He gave one of the seven churches addressed in the book of Revelation (Rev 2:14-16). Plus Balaam is mentioned individually in 2 Pet 2:15 and Jude 1:11. The essential takeaway from these three chapters in Numbers is that Balaam’s love of money corrupted his ministry and sent mixed signals to Balak, thus confusing Balack and others about the nature, intentions, and desires of God – the very opposite of what a prophet ought to be doing for people.

***

Numbers 22

Balak Sends for Balaam

Num 22:1-21 – Balaam’s love of money (2 Pet 2:15; Jude 1:11) made him double-minded. That is, he wanted to please both God and Balak. Jesus and His apostles, by contrast, stayed single-minded on the subject.

Acts 8:18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
Acts 8:19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 8:20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
Acts 8:21 “You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

***

1 Tim 3:3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

***

Heb 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”

Balaam was trying to thread a needle that couldn’t be threaded. Once he knew God was not going to curse Israel, he never should have entertained any further conversation with Balak.

Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel

Num 22:22-35 – Sentient spirits speaking through, or even residing in, animals, is not common in the Bible. However, neither is it unheard of.

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman…

***

Matt 8:31 The demons began to entreat Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.”

Balaam and Balak Meet

Num 22:36-41 – Balak’s agitation at the very beginning of their face-to-face meeting suggests that Balaam had a reputation for being more responsive to lucrative offers than he was showing in this case. Balak will come to learn that Balaam’s different behavior in this case was tied directly to God’s special relationship with Israel.

***

Numbers 23

The Prophecies of Balaam

Num 23:1-30 – Reading the prophecies of Balaam is like reading the words of Job’s friends – Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. By this, I simply mean that each of the four men say things about God and on behalf of God that are generally true, but all four men are ultimately corrected by the Lord. Therefore, their words must be scrutinized in a way that we don’t scrutinize the words of other men like Moses, Isaiah, or Peter. That is, we read the words of Balaam and Job’s friends with varying degrees of uncertainty. That said, who can argue that this is an example of a true word:

Num 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent;
Has He said, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Nor can we ignore the fact that while Balak wanted a cursing of Israel, and while Balaam wanted remuneration, all that came out of Balaam’s mouth and all that Balak heard was blessing for Israel.

***

Numbers 24

The Prophecy from Peor

Num 24:1-25 – #FJOT After Balaam delivers the third prophetic blessing of Israel, Balak blows his stack and sends Balaam away empty-handed. Before the two part company, however, Balaam delivers yet more prophecies, and these not focused exclusively on the nation of Israel. They include this one that has stood out for centuries as a pointer to Messiah.

Num 24:17 “I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near;
A star shall come forth from Jacob,
A scepter shall rise from Israel,
And shall crush through the forehead of Moab,
And tear down all the sons of Sheth.

This prophecy of “a star” that would “come forth from Jacob,” like the New Testament verses below, have all been associated with the Messiah.

Matt 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
Matt 2:2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

***

2 Pet 1:19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

***

Rev 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

Of course, Jesus was the start so much brighter than all these others that He was also called the sun.

Mal 4:2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.

We know that it is possible for true prophecy to come from the mouth of an evil man like Balaam, for the apostle John records this:

John 11:49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all,
John 11:50 nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”
John 11:51 Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,
John 11:52 and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.

And, of course, we know from Num 22 that God can speak even through the mouth of a donkey – so why not a man who makes a jackass of himself?

***

Numbers 25

The Sin of Peor

Num 25:1-6 – The Israelites’ sins began with idolatry (#2 of 10) which led to adultery (#7 of 10).

The Zeal of Phinehas

Num 25:7-13 – It is likely that the zeal of Saul of Tarsus was reinforced, if not originally inspired, by Phinehas. Although Saul initially expressed his zeal in a violent manner quite similar to that of Phinehas, as an apostle, Paul learned to convert his zeal to spiritual ends. In other words, Paul learned to wield a spiritual sword – the word of God (Eph 6:17) instead of a physical sword. For more on the subject of zeal, see the BSN notes on Acts 9:1-2, 15-16 and 22:1-3.

The Lord Warns the Israelites about the Midianites

Num 25:14-18 – Given that the Midianites have demonstrated a deceitful nature, the Lord advises the Israelites to maintain an adversarial relationship with them. That is, we are not to give known liars additional opportunities to deceive us.

Rom 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
Rom 16:18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

***

Numbers 26

Recall what I wrote in the Introduction to this book about how numbers get their meaning from being compared to other numbers. Then compare this chapter to Num 1. The census that was recorded in Num 1 was taken about 40 years before this one. The comparison of Num 1 and Num 26 reveals that this generation was not “fruitful” and did not “multiply.” That is, this generation of Israelites did not fulfill the creation mandate.

Gen 1:27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Gen 1:28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Neither did this generation of Israelites experience the blessings of obedience promised through God’s covenant with Abraham as being administered through Moses.

Lev 26:9 ‘So I will turn toward you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will confirm My covenant with you.

Therefore, the numbers recorded in Num 26, when compared to the numbers recorded in Num 1, reinforce the judgment of God imposed in Num 14 when the people refused to believe listen to Caleb and Joshua, instead choosing to side with the ten spies who thought taking the promised land even with God’s help was impossible. (The comparison of 10 to 2 reminds us that even when the majority is large siding with it is no guarantee of being right.) That Israel was not fruitful and did not multiply during these 38 years tells us that God indeed withdrew a measure of His blessing because of the Israelites unbelief.

Num 26:5-11 – The tribe of Reuben decreased from 46,500 fighting men to 43,730.

Num 26:12-14 – The tribe of Simeon decreased from 59,300 fighting men to 22,200.

Num 26:15-18 – The tribe of Gad decreased from 45,650 fighting men to 40,500.

Num 26:19-22 – The tribe of Judah increased from 74,600 fighting men to 76,500. Judah is still the largest single tribe as it was in the first census, though the combined total of the sons of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) is now 85,200.

Num 26:23-25 – The tribe of Issachar increased from 54,400 fighting men to 64,300.

Num 26:26-27 – The tribe of Zebulun increased from 57,400 fighting men to 60,500.

Num 26:28-34 – The tribe of Manasseh increased from 32,200 fighting men to 52,700.

Num 26:35-37 – The tribe of Ephraim decreased from 40,500 fighting men to 32,500.

Num 26:38-41 – The tribe of Benjamin increased from 35,400 fighting men to 45,600.

Num 26:42-43 – The tribe of Dan increased from 62,700 fighting men to 64,400.

Num 26:44-47 – The tribe of Asher increased from 41,500 fighting men to 53,400.

Num 26:48-50 – The tribe of Naphtali decreased from 53,400 fighting men to 45,400.

Num 26:51 – Over the 38 years since the census taken in Num 1, the total number of Israelites (men of fighting age: 20 years old and above) has decreased from 603,500 to 601,730. Thus Israel was not “fruitful” and did not “multiply” during their wandering in the wilderness. Nevertheless, consider how far God has brought this people from where they started. (Keep in mind that these counts are only of the adult males.)

At present – 601,730
When coming out of Egypt 38 years earlier – 603,500
When entering Egypt from Canaan 430 years before that – 12
When it was just Jacob and Esau – 2
When it was just Isaac – 1
When it was just Abram – 0

What fruit God can give and multiply from a single seed!

Levites Counted Separately

Num 26:57-62 – Remember that the Levites were chaplains, not weapon-carrying soldiers. Also, they did not inherit a territory as the other tribes, but were rather given cities and pasture lands throughout all the territories of the other tribes. For these reasons, the Levites were counted separately from the main census. There were 22,000 Levites at the time of the first census (Num 3:39). That count has increased to 23,000 at this time.

***

Numbers 27

The Daughters of Zelophehad Receive an Inheritance

Num 27:1-5 – Five daughters of a man named Zelophehad of the tribe of Joseph make a petition before Moses. (They had been briefly mentioned in the accounting of the second census – Num 26:33.) These women made their request at the entrance to the tabernacle, with Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the entire congregation present. In other words, they weren’t afraid to come forward on the big stage.

Num 27:6-11 – The Lord gives His answer, recognizing the the righteousness of what the five women had requested and granting them what they asked. He also gave additional instructions that would answer related questions that might come up. This reminds me of what many teachers have said: “The only stupid question is the question that is never asked.” While I think that’s going too far, there is some merit to the point. We should not be afraid to ask the Lord questions about His commandments when we’re not sure how they are to be applied. ***** This incident, like many in the Bible, refutes feminist caricatures of the biblical view of women’s role. It would, of course, be going too far to say that the Bible teaches feminism; but it’s not going too far to say that the biblical view of women is very respectful. Feminism, honestly analyzed, is more about putting down men than it is about lifting up women. The Bible is about building up both men and women.

The Lord Grants Moses a Glimpse of the Promised Land

Num 27:12-14 – Even though Moses will not be allowed to enter the promised land with the Israelites, God graciously lets him see it from a mountaintop before he has to descend to Sheol/Hades. Moses would have to sleep there for a millennium and a half before the Second Coming would bring him and all the other residents of the underworld to heaven.

The Lord Appoints Joshua to Take Moses’ Place

Num 27:15-23 – #FJOT Seeing the promised land and contemplating his departure from this world, Moses asks the Lord to appoint a leader to replace him. Joshua was the logical choice if for no other reason than that he and Caleb would have seniority over all other Israelites and, between the two of them, Joshua was the one who had apprenticed under Moses for four decades. Yet Moses was wise enough in the ways of God to not assume that he knew best; therefore, he gave the decision fully to the Lord to see what He would say. All this foreshadows what the apostle John and other New Testament authors would one day write, such as:

John 1:17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

See also the BSN note on Num 13:16 above about Joshua’s name because it will deepen your appreciation of this #FJOT.

***

Num 28 and 29 go together – Num 28 dealing the feasts that come in the first part of the year (spring), and Num 28 dealing with the feast that come in the last part of the year (fall). Lev 23 also provides a list of feasts. For more on the feasts, see BSN Feasts.

***

Numbers 28

Laws for Offerings

Num 28:1-8 – Daily Offerings

Num 28:9-10 – Sabbath Offerings

Num 28:11-15 – Monthly Offerings

Num 28:16-25 – Passover Offerings

Num 28:26-31 – Feast of Weeks Offerings

***

Numbers 29

Laws for Offerings of the Seventh Month

Num 29:1-6 – The Feast of Trumpets Offerings

Num 29:7-11 – The Day of Atonement Offerings

Num 29:12-38 – The Feast of Booths Offerings

Num 29:39-40 – Conclusion

***

Numbers 30

The Law of Vows

Num 30:1-16

***

Numbers 31

Israel Defeats Midian and Kills Balaam

Num 31:1-12 – One of the many things that fascinate me about Jesus is that He could read the Old Testament – which includes passages like this – and then present God the way He did in the Sermon on the Mount! To put a point on it, Jesus saw through all the wars of the Old Testament and was able to see that what God really wanted was peace.

Num 31:13-20 – When Moses speaks of “the matter of Peor” in verse 16 he’s talking about the incident recorded in Num 25. Because the Midianites were idolaters, adulterers, and deceivers, the Lord had warned Israel about any further engagement with them. (See also BSN notes on Num 25 above.) Since Midianite women were complicit in these sins, their lives should not have been preserved. Whether the Israelite soldiers had spared these women out of pity or lust, the sparing was inappropriate because God had passed judgment…and it needed to be executed.

Num 31:21-24 – Some things are cleansed by water, and other things are cleansed by fire. For example, clothes are cleansed with water but gold is purified – that is, cleansed – by fire. The more valuable something is, the more likely it must be cleansed by fire and not water. It is also the case that water cleanses the exterior of something but fire cleanses the interior as well as the exterior. Jesus taught the apostles to recognize this distinction and thus in both the Gospels and Epistles that comprise the New Testament, we see references to fire and burning put to this use. Note that these terms are usually being applied spiritually rather than physically.

Heb 6:7 For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;
Heb 6:8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
Heb 6:9 But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.

***

1 Cor 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
1 Cor 3:13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
1 Cor 3:14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
1 Cor 3:15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

***

1 Pet 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
1 Pet 1:7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Pet 1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
1 Pet 1:9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

That “fire” and related terms are being used spiritually does not mean that there are no physical effects. On the contrary, spiritual things have physical effects – but those effects can vary. The main point is that in passages such as those above and those that follow, the term should be applied spiritually. When it is applied physically, people tend to postpone all judgment to the afterlife and make it all physical. That’s how you get doctrines like “eternal torment in hell.” Instead, judgment has already begun on earth. (See Judgment Is upon Us.)

Luke 3:16 John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

It’s obvious that “the Holy Spirit” is spiritual; why then would we say that the “fire” mentioned in the same breath must be physical? Consider also this statement by Jesus:

Luke 12:49 “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!
Luke 12:50 “But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

Jesus had already been baptized in water by John the Baptist so the future baptism He was talking about was His suffering that culminated in crucifixion. That suffering was physical but it was not physical fire. Rather, Jesus’ baptism of fire was figurative. Even unbelievers use the expression “baptism of fire” to mean a crucible, trial, or test that someone goes through in life – so this way of speaking of fire is not unique to the Bible.

The point of all this is that Eleazar was speaking of physical realities, but it gives us occasion to recognize that there are some things we can learn in life by merely listening to the word of God (thus being baptized in the water of the word, as is spoken of in Eph 5:26 below), but there are other things we can only learn by the experience of clinging to the word of God through opposition (that is, being baptized by fire, as is seen when we view Heb 5:8 below in the light of Luke 12:49-50 above).

Eph 5:26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

***

Heb 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.

To sum up, sometimes we suffer in this earth because of our unrighteousness; other times we suffer because of our righteousness (as was the case with Job, the prophets, and Jesus most of all). Either way, may the “fire” of suffering purify us rather than consume us.

Job 23:10 “But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

***

Ps 66:10 For You have tried us, O God;
You have refined us as silver is refined.

***

Mal 3:2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.
Mal 3:3 “He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.

We’ll let the prophet Isaiah have the last word here about how fire can consume one while it purifies another.

Is 33:14 Sinners in Zion are terrified;
Trembling has seized the godless.
“Who among us can live with the consuming fire?
Who among us can live with continual burning?”
Is 33:15 He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity,
He who rejects unjust gain
And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe;
He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed
And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil;
Is 33:16 He will dwell on the heights,
His refuge will be the impregnable rock;
His bread will be given him,
His water will be sure.

(For a little more on this subject of fire as a metaphor, see the BSN note on Deut 9:1-3.)

Dividing the Spoil

Num 31:25-54 – This is the accounting of how the leaders of Israel divvied up all that was captured from the Midianites and distributed it to the Israelites.

Prov 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

***

Numbers 32

Reuben and Gad Propose a Change in Plan

Num 32:1-5 – The eastern boundary of the promised land was the Jordan River which ran north/south. The tribes of Reuben and Gad really liked the pasture land they saw on the eastern side of the river and asked if they could take that as their inheritance rather than cross the Jordan with the rest of the tribes.

Moses Takes Offense at the Proposal

Num 32:6-15 – Moses thinks Reuben and Gad are repeating the mistake made in Num 13-14 when ten of the spies and practically all of the people gave up on entering the promised land once they found out it wasn’t going to be a cake walk.

Reuben and Gad Take Responsibility to Fight

Num 32:16-19 – Reuben and Gad say that while they want to settle east of the Jordan River, they intend to cross the river and fight for their kinsmen until all the promised land is conquered. Then they will return to their families on the land claimed east of the Jordan.

Moses Holds Reuben and Gad to Their Promise

Num 32:20-24 – Moses says the Lord will accept their proposal only if they keep their promise.

Reuben and Gad Insist That They Will Keep Their Promise

Num 32:25-27 – The tribes of Reuben and Gad agree to leave their wives, children, and livestock in the land east of the Jordan – called Gilead – while they join the other tribes in driving out the Canaanites.

Moses Assigns the Matter to His Successors

Num 32:28-30 – Moses, knowing that he will soon die, instructs Joshua, Eleazar, and the heads of the other ten tribes to accept the proposal as long as the promise is kept.

Reuben and Gad Assure the Successors

Num 32:31-32 – The tribes of Reuben and Gad assure Moses’ successors that the promise will be kept.

Half of Manasseh Joins Reuben and Gad

Num 32:33-42 – Half of the tribe of Manasseh – one of Joseph’s sons, Ephraim being the other – decides to join the full tribes of Reuben and Gad in this proposal-promise. Hereafter, talk will be of the land of Canaan being divided among nine and a half tribes instead of twelve (such as in Num 34:13-15).

***

Numbers 33

Review of the Journey from Egypt to the Jordan

Num 33:1-49 – Most of this section is tedious reading because it records 40 years of moving over and over from this obscure place to that one. There are, however, nuggets of description in a few places that are edifying to read because they put certain events in a broader perspective. For example, consider this very brief reference to the parting of the Red Sea:

Num 33:8 They journeyed from before Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness; and they went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.

Law of Possessing the Land

Num 33:50-56 – Directions like these help modern minds like ours appreciate why the Canaanites and their ways had to be completely driven out of the land. Otherwise, the Israelites would adopt their practices and thereby fail to be the holy nation God had formed them to be. And that’s exactly what happened. We’ll read in the book of Joshua how Israel was not thorough about cleansing the land of the Canaanites and their ways. As a result, the Israelites had the Canaanites as “pricks in their eyes” and “thorns in their sides” all through the years of the Judges. Later, Samuel and David, by establishing the kingdom, would strengthen Israel for a while, but eventually Canaanite corruption overcame the nation until its northern land was conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC and its southern land by the Babylonians in 586 BC.

When people in America today try to destroy statues, re-write history, and deemphasize traditional holidays in favor of new ones that emphasize different ideas, such people are acting very shrewdly. This is how you replace one culture with another. It’s a tactic that can be used to replace a God-fearing culture with an ungodly one (as is being done in America today), or it can be used to replace an ungodly culture with a God-fearing one (as the Lord was urging in the time of Moses and Joshua). In either case, whole-heartedness achieves the desired result; half-heartedness produces mixed results…at best.

***

Numbers 34

Instruction for Apportioning Canaan

Num 34:1-12 – If only Moses had drawn maps instead…

Num 34:11 – “Sea of Chinnereth” is the body of water called the Sea of Galilee in New Testament times.

Num 34:13-15 – Moses makes clear that the promised land will be divided up among only nine and a half tribes given that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh were going to settle east of the Jordan River.

Num 34:16-29 – In terms of deciding how the land would be apportioned among the nine and a half tribes, Eleazar would stand in the place of Aaron and Joshua would stand in the place of Moses. Each tribe would have a leader who would likewise be involved in the division of the land. Most notable among these tribal leaders was Caleb, who had distinguished himself when the vast majority of Israelites turned chicken after spying out the land (Num 13-14).

***

To recap (from the Introduction to this book):

Num 21-34 – took place during the 39th year after the exodus from Egypt.
Num 35-36 – took place during the 40th year after the exodus, as the Israelites were finally on the verge of entering the promised land.

***

Numbers 35

Cities for the Levites

Num 35:1-5 – Unlike the nine and a half tribes, the tribe of Levi would not be assigned a specific region of the promised land. Rather, they would be assigned cities within the regions assigned the other tribes. In this way, all of Israel’s citizens would have local access to a Levite. Levites were assigned the duties of administering the Law of Moses.

Since the Levites were the servants of all the tribes, and because the Lord – not the land – was their inheritance (Deut 18:1-2), it made sense that they should be dispersed throughout the land. Their dispersion throughout Israel was analogous to the Diaspora, which was the Lord’s means of using evil for God to bring a Jew near every Gentile in preparation to hear the news about Messiah when the time came.

Cities of Refuge

Num 35:6-34 – A total of 48 cities were to be given to the Levites, six of which were designated “cities of refuge.” These six cities were not like the “sanctuary cities” we see today in the US where safe haven is granted by municipal authorities to those who break national laws despised by said municipal authorities – most commonly having to do with immigration law. Rather, the cities of refuge in view here are places that a “manslayer” who had unintentionally killed someone could go in order to safely await a trial. The lengthy instructions in this chapter indicate that these six cities of refuge were of specialized use, and part of a broader judicial system designed to meet out justice and not allow mob justice or any other kind of injustice to prevail. These elaborate regulations also indicate that God did not expect His nation to be without murder – but only that when a murder did occur, it would be dealt with justly. The land had been defiled by the many sins of the Canaanites; Israel’s purpose in taking over the land was to cleanse it of defilement and keep cleansing it as it became necessary. This was the only way God would be able to continue dwelling in their midst. Moses revisits this concept in Deut 19:1-3 and Joshua addresses it in Josh 20:1-6. The specific six cities chosen for this designation are named in Deut 4:41-43 (three of them) and Josh 20:7-9 (all six of them).

Parents likewise need a system of justice to operate in the household not in the hope that children will never sin, but rather that sin, when it occurs, can be dealt with appropriately and that the parents’ administration of justice would make things better – not worse.

***

Numbers 36

Amending the Provision Made for the Daughters of Zelophehad

Num 36:1-13 – The five daughters of Zelophehad had made a request of Moses with regard to their share of their father’s inheritance in Num 27. Moses had granted their request, but an unforeseen problem with the solution had now come into view. The problem was that if any of the woman married outside their tribe (Manasseh), then their inheritance might transfer to another tribe when the year of jubilee came around. (For more on “the year of jubilee,” see BSN Israel’s Feasts.) The solution – which was that marriage of Israelites should be within one’s tribe – not only solved the problem for the Zelophehad daughters, it also solved the problem for all other tribes.

We might think that God’s law through Moses “thought of everything,” but it did leave room for human questions and new developments.

***

BSN home page

also known as The Fourth Book of Moses

***

Introduction

***

Numbers 1

***

Numbers 2

***

Numbers 3

***

Numbers 4

***

Numbers 5

***

Numbers 6

***

Numbers 7

***

Numbers 8

***

Numbers 9

***

Numbers 10

***

Numbers 11

***

Numbers 12

***

Numbers 13

***

Numbers 14

***

***

Numbers 15

***

***

Numbers 16

***

Numbers 17

***

Numbers 18

***

Numbers 19

***

***

Numbers 20

***

Numbers 21

***

***

Numbers 22

***

Numbers 23

***

Numbers 24

***

Numbers 25

***

Numbers 26

***

Numbers 27

***

***

Numbers 28

***

Numbers 29

***

Numbers 30

***

Numbers 31

***

Numbers 32

***

Numbers 33

***

Numbers 34

***

***

Numbers 35

***

also known as
The Fourth Book of Moses