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Bible Commentaries
Bridgeway Bible Commentary Bridgeway Bible Commentary
Census of Israel's Warriors Conducted.Chapter 2
Israelites' Camp Arrangement Around the Tabernacle.Chapter 3
Levites' Duties and Census Described.Chapter 4
Duties of the Kohathites, Gershonites, Merarites.Chapter 5
Laws on Purity, Restitution, and Jealousy.Chapter 6
Nazirite Vow and Aaronic Blessing Established.Chapter 7
Offerings of the Tribal Leaders Presented.Chapter 8
Consecration of the Levites; Lampstand Instructions.Chapter 9
Passover Observed; Cloud Guides Israelites.Chapter 10
Silver Trumpets Used; Israel Departs Sinai.Chapter 11
Israelites Complain; Quail Provided, Plague Strikes.Chapter 12
Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses; Miriam Punished.Chapter 13
Spies Sent to Canaan; Report Given.Chapter 14
Israelites Rebel; Punishment of Wilderness Wandering.Chapter 15
Laws on Offerings and Sabbath Breakers.Chapter 16
Korah's Rebellion; God's Judgment and Plague.Chapter 17
Aaron's Rod Buds, Affirming Priestly Authority.Chapter 18
Duties and Provisions for Priests and Levites.Chapter 19
Purification Laws Using the Red Heifer.Chapter 20
Miriam's Death, Moses' Sin, Aaron's Death.Chapter 21
Victories Over Canaanites; Bronze Serpent.Chapter 22
Balaam's Donkey Speaks; Balaam Blesses Israel.Chapter 23
Balaam's Blessings Over Israel Pronounced.Chapter 24
Balaam's Final Prophecy and Blessing.Chapter 25
Israel's Sin with Moabites; Phinehas' Zeal.Chapter 26
Second Census of Israel's New Generation.Chapter 27
Daughters of Zelophehad; Joshua Appointed Successor.Chapter 28
Daily, Sabbath, and Festival Offerings Listed.Chapter 29
Offerings for Additional Festivals Detailed.Chapter 30
Laws on Vows and Commitments Given.Chapter 31
Vengeance on Midian; Spoils Distributed.Chapter 32
Reuben and Gad Settle East of Jordan.Chapter 33
Israel's Journey Stages from Egypt Reviewed.Chapter 34
Boundaries of Canaan Described; Leaders Appointed.Chapter 35
Cities of Refuge and Levite Towns Assigned.Chapter 36
Inheritance Laws for Daughters Clarified.
- Numbers
by Donald C. Fleming
Numbers
BACKGROUND
At the point where the book of Numbers opens, the people of Israel had been camped at Mount Sinai almost one year. During that time God had been preparing them for the life ahead by instructing them in the kind of religious, moral and social order he required of them as his covenant people. (For details see introductory notes to Leviticus.) The time had now come for the people to leave Sinai and head for the promised land, Canaan. The book of Numbers details the preparations for the journey, outlines certain regulations that the people had to follow, and describes significant events that occurred along the way.
A nation in the wilderness
On two occasions between the people of Israel’s departure from Egypt and entrance into Canaan, Moses conducted an official counting, or census, of the nation. These two census are recorded in the book of Numbers, and from them the book takes its name.
The first census, at the beginning of the book, helped Israel prepare an army for the conquest of Canaan. Although the journey to Canaan should have taken only a few weeks, it actually took about forty years. The reason for this was that the people rebelled against God by refusing to trust him for victory, whereupon God left them in the wilderness till that generation died off and a new generation grew up. The second census, which is towards the end of the book, was therefore forty years after the first, its purpose being to organize the new generation for the conquest of Canaan.
Since the two census represent only a small portion of the book, the English title ‘Numbers’ does not give a true indication of the book’s contents. The Hebrew title ‘In the Wilderness’ is probably more suitable, as the book covers the journey from Sinai to the borders of Canaan, and much of this journey was through wilderness country. Most of the stories recorded in Numbers are concerned with this journey. The book gives very little information concerning the forty wasted years when Israel was not journeying, but ‘wandering’, in the wilderness (Numbers 32:13).
OUTLINE
1:1-10:10
Preparations for the journey
10:11-14:45
From Sinai to Kadesh
15:1-19:22
Lessons at Kadesh
20:1-22:1
From Kadesh to the plains of Moab
22:2-32:42
Events on the plains of Moab
33:1-36:13
Preparation for entrance into Canaan
