Bible Commentaries
Numbers 5

Verses 1-36

III

FROM SETTING UP OF THE TABERNACLE TO THE FIRST MARCH

In Numbers 2, I gave a historical introduction, cited a brief outline and then a very extensive one. I shall not observe either of these outlines because they lack chronological exactness, but I shall follow the chronological analysis given in Numbers 1.

In studying the book of Numbers the first item of our outline which we shall notice is Numbers 7 which gives the gifts of the princes of Israel. Those gifts are presented in twelve successive days) following right after the day in which the tabernacle was set up, as given in the fortieth chapter of Exodus; the first day of the first month of the second year. This Numbers 7 of Numbers immediately follows the passage in Exodus 40:35. Exodus, in that connection, states that when Moses had completed the tabernacle and had set it up, the cloud came down and filled it so that he was not able to enter it. Numbers 7 tells us how Moses was able to enter and the twelve days follow right after. When we get through with this chapter, we are at the thirteenth day of the first month. Therefore, in my outline I say, the twelve days of the gifts of princes follow Exodus 40:35, where Moses could not enter the tabernacle, which date was the first day of the first month of the second year, and these offerings bring us to the thirteenth day set apart to make a gift, and among their gifts were certain offerings. At the end of this chapter we find that these offerings for sacrifices were made and closes entered the tabernacle and listened to the voice of God speaking to him.

The next item of the outline Isaiah 9:1-14. The theme is, "The Second Passover, and the provision for a little passover a little later." This is on the fourteenth day of the first month. For those who through absence or ceremonial uncleanness were not permitted to eat the first Passover, a law provided for their eating a month later.

From the fourteenth to the end of the first month took place all that occurred in the book of Leviticus plus these chapters in Numbers, the Levitical legislation, as set forth in Numbers 5-6 and Numbers 8:1-4. If they were lunar months, we know how many days were covered – fourteen days; but if it was a month according to our calculation it would cover sixteen days. In order of time that should be inserted just after the close of Leviticus.

We come to the second month and first day where the census takes place. The census of the eleven tribes, Numbers 1:1-46, amounts to 603,550 males from twenty years old up. The next item is the order in which the tribes camped, second chapter. That order was expressed in the introduction. The next item is the first census of the Levites, from one month upward, and their order of camp Numbers 3:14-39, leaving the first part of the third chapter to be placed elsewhere, the census amounting to 22,000, elsewhere given as 22,300. And it is a difficult matter for commentators to explain that difference of 300. It may be done by supposing that 300 of the Levites were firstborn and, therefore, not included in the calculations afterwards made. I then showed how the Levites camped on the east.

The next item is the census of the firstborn of Israel, Numbers 3:40-43, amounting to 22,273. The next item is the exchange of the 22,273 of the firstborn of the eleven tribes for the 22,000 Levites. A commutation price was paid for the extra 273 of the firstborn, Numbers 3:1-13, and also from Numbers 44-51.

The next item is the second census of the Levites from thirty to fifty, and the chapter tells us exactly how each one had to act before going to march. I shall bring that out directly.

The next item is the cleansing of the Levites, Numbers 8.

The next item is the services to be performed by the pillar of cloud, Numbers 9:15-23.

The next item is the service of the trumpets, Numbers 10:1-10. That outline is absolutely accurate, chronologically and analytically, up to that point.

My next item of the outline is to give a digest of the order of the march. In order to understand this, we must conceive of Israel in camp, each tribe in its proper place, the tabernacle up and the cloud over the tabernacle, Moses, Aaron, and his sons, and the Levites in their places. Get that picture in your mind. Now the morning has come on which they are to march. It tells us which morning in Numbers 10: "And it came to pass in the second year, second month, twentieth day." The first thing that morning was the morning sacrifices which were never neglected. As soon as that sacrifice was over, Aaron steps out and says (Numbers 6:24-26): "Jehovah bless thee and keep thee; Jehovah make his face to shine upon thee, and give thee peace." In that way Aaron puts the name of Jehovah on the people. They don’t know when they are going to start. Suddenly that cloud that hovered down low over the tabernacle ascends into the air, the divine signal to get ready to march. Then there was a human signal, the trumpets blow. When those trumpets blew, the first people that had anything to do were Aaron and his sons. Aaron goes into the holy of holies and in the prescribed way covers the Ark of the Covenant so that it will be hidden from sight and puts the staves through the rings on the sides so that four men can carry it with those staves resting on their shoulders. Then Aaron and his sons cover up, in a prescribed way, every one of the holy things.

Next the Gershonites, part of the tribe of Levi, come up and take charge of all curtains of every kind, always their business. They have wagons with two oxen each to help carry this vast amount of baggage. Then Eleazar and Ithamar take charge of the sacred oils and special things of that kind. Then the Merarites come and take down the heavy parts of the tent and carry them off on four wagons, each having two oxen. Then the Kohathites come and take every part that Aaron has covered except the ark. Four take charge of the ark and the rest take the other things.

Now comes another sight. That cloud that had gone up in the air and was standing there, just as soon as the Levites have taken down all those things and loaded them on the wagons, begins to move slowly in the direction they want to go. As soon as Moses sees that, the four men that have charge of the ark pick it up and keep right under that cloud. Read that in Numbers 10:33: "And they set forward from the mount of Jehovah three days’ journey; and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them." So the front things at the head of the column are the cloud above and the ark below. As that ark moves, Moses says, "Rise up, O Jehovah, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee." One of the most thrilling psalms written upon that is the psalm that Cromwell adopted as his psalm, and every time he went into battle, he made his army kneel and pray, and when the marching order was given, they marched singing the psalm that paraphrased these words of Moses. Then Moses and Aaron follow the ark, and the trumpets blow an alarm, and Judah, the vanguard, set forth with that part encamped on the east, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun with an army of 186,400 men. As soon as that vast body was in motion, the Gershonites follow with the curtains of the tent and the Merarites with the heavy fixtures. Then the trumpets blow a second alarm and those encamped on the south side, Reuben, Simeon, and Gad, move forward with an army of 151,450 men. Right after them the Kohathites follow with the holy things, and Eleazar, lthamar, the sons of Aaron, led. Then follows the third trumpet alarm and the crowd on the west moves off, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, with a total of 108,600 men. Now, isn’t that organization? Did anybody ever see better organization?

Now I shall tell you how they stop. They never knew when or where they would stop. They moved as long as the ark moved. God is the captain of this expedition. Whenever that cloud stops, instantly those men carrying the ark put it down under the cloud) but the cloud is away up in the air and the ark is covered. Moses and Aaron stop. Then Judah takes his position to the east and the Gershonites and Meraritea come up with their curtains and heavy parts of the tent and immediately lay off the court, put up the poles and hang the curtains and veil and nobody has ever seen the sacred things. Then there marches up Reuben’s corps and he camps on the south, and with him come the Kohathites and they walk up and put down the altar of burnt offerings, then the laver, and going into the holy place put down the altar of incense, the table of shewbread and the candlestick. Now everything is in its place. Aaron alone goes into the holy of holies to uncover the ark. Then Dan comes up and goes into camp on the north, and the tribes descended from Rachel come up and take their position on the west. Then the cloud comes down and as it settles Moses says these words: "Return, O Jehovah, come into the ten thousands of thousands of Israel." Now, what follows? The evening sacrifice. That order applies to every day’s march. They are now going to set out on a three days’ journey, stopping only at night. They are going north over a most terrible country, which Moses calls the great and horrible wilderness.

QUESTIONS

1. Where do you find the itinerary from Egypt to Sinai?

2. What are the date and event of the closing of the book of Exodus?

3. What are the events of the next twelve days?

4. What, then, on the fourteenth day?

5. What are the next sixteen days?

6. Give the law of restitution in the case of trespass.

7. In general terms describe the trial with jealousy.

8. Give the law of the Nazarite.

9. Give the high priest’s benediction.

10. To what were the first nineteen days of the second month devoted?

11. What are the terminal dates of this section?

12. Give particulars and result of first numbering.

13. Give again the order of their encampment.

14. Why were the Levites exempted from secular and war service and tribal inheritance and appointed to religious service?

15. Explain the difference of 300 found in the census of Levi.

16. Explain fully the exchange of the male Levites for the firstborn of Israel.

17. What is the special charge of all Levites, by families in marching and camping and their order of encampment?

18. Why a second census of male Levites? Give particulars.

19. What were the signals for marching and camping? Describe each.

20. Give a digest of the order of marching,

21. What General adopted the psalm based upon Moses’ words in Numbers 10:35, as his psalm and what is the psalm?

22. Give in detail how they stopped.

23. Hobab, who? His service? The promised blessing?

24. What great pulpit theme in this connection? Note.– Keep your chronological analysis before you and read all references.