Overview of Numbers

Num 1.1-16; Story; The LORD commands a census of all the congregation

Num 1.17-46; Story; The resulting numbers counted from the census

Num 1.47-54; Story; The Levites are exempted from the census so they could perform Priestly duties

Num 2.1-2; Story; Instructions for how to camp and how to move as a group

Num 2.3-9; Story; The group on the east side - Judah, Issachar, Zebulun. They set out first.

Num 2.10-16; Story; The group on the south side - Reuben, Simeon, Gad. They set out second.

Num 2.17; Story; The Tent of Meeting with the Levites in the midst of the camp. They set out next.

Num 2.18-24; Story; The group on the west side (the original 'Westies') - Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin. They set out third.

Num 2.25-31; Story; The group on the north - Dan, Asher, Naphtali. They set out last.

Num 2.32-34; Story; Summary statement mentioning the Levites in the group.

Num 3.1-4; Story; The generations of Aaron and Moses introduced

Num 3.5-39; Law; Instructions regarding the Priestly duties

Gershon - Guard duty for the tent of meeting

Kohath - Guard duty for the ark, table, lampstand, altars and vessels of the sanctuary

Merari - Guard duty for the frames of the tabernacle, the bars, the pillars, pegs and cords

Moses, Aaron and His sons - Guard duty for the sanctuary

Num 3.40-51; Story; Listing of all the firstborn for redemption and the monies used to finance the Tent of Meeting and Priestly service

Num 4.1-16; Story; Instructions for the Kohathites for carrying the sanctuary and its contents

Num 4.17-49; Story; Continued duties for Gershon, Kohath, Merari, Moses, Aaron and his sons.

Num 5.1-4; Law; Skin diseases, people with skin diseases are to be put out of the camp

Num 5.5-10; Law; Restitution after releasing guilt for wrong

Num 5.11-31; Law; Families, test to see if a woman has committed adultery

Num 6.1-21; Law; Nazirite vow

Num 7.1-11; Story; Setting up the tabernacle

Num 7.12-83; Story; Twelve days of offerings from the tribes of Israel

Num 7.84-88; Story; Summary of all the dedication offerings for the tabernacle

Num 7.89; Story; The LORD speaks to Moses from above the mercy seat

Num 8.1-4; Law; The seven lamps and the lampstand

Num 8.5-13; Law; Levites - cleansing of the levites

Num 8.14-22; Law; Levites - to serve the LORD, instead of the firstborn

Num 8.23-26; Law; Levites - work life is from 25 to 50

Num 9.1-5; Story; The Passover is celebrated

Num 9.6-14; Law; Repeated instructions for Passover, people who have touched dead bodies included

Num 9.15-23; Story; The cloud and the fire of the LORD directing the people

Num 10.1-10; Law; The Silver Trumpets (War and Worship)

Num 10.11-36; Story; Israel leaves Sinai

Num 11.1-6; Story-Sin; The people complain, are lament leaving Egypt, The LORD's wrath burns

Num 11.7-9; Story; The LORD provides manna like coriander seeds for the people

Num 11.10-15; Story; Moses complains to the LORD about being leader of the people

Num 11.16-17; Story; Elders appointed to help Moses lead the people, they are spiritually anointed

Num 11.18-23; Story-Sin; The LORD gives them more meat than what they want as a punishment

Num 11.24-30; Story; The spiritually anointed prophesy for a short time

Num 11.31-34; Story-Sin; The LORD sends quail and a plague

Num 12.1-16; Story-Sin; Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses and the LORD responds

Num 13.1-20; Story; Spies sent into the land of Canaan from among the tribes

Num 13.21-33; Story-Sin; The spies return and give a mixed report. They say good land and strong people. Caleb and Joshua say let's go, the remainder are afraid and won't go.

Num 14.1-12; Story-Sin; The people rebel against Moses and Aaron. The LORD rejects the people.

Num 14.13-19; Story; Moses intercedes with the LORD for the people

Num 14.20-38; Story; The LORD promises judgement. They will not enter his rest.

Num 14.39-45; Story; Israel mourns, presumes to enter the promised land and is defeated in battle.

Num 15.1-21; Law; Worship and sacrifice, Repeated instructions on various offerings

Num 15.22-31; Law; Laws about unintentional sins and deliberate sins

Num 15.32-36; Story-Law; Festivals and holidays, Sabbath breakers to be executed

Num 15.37-41; Law; Clothing, Tassels on garments to remind them of the commands

Num 16.1-15; Story-Sin; Korah and his sons rebel against Moses and Aaron

Num 16.16-35; Story-Sin; The LORD wiped out Korah and his family

Num 16.36-40; Story; Aaron's sons appointed to serve the LORD

Num 16.41-50; Story-Sin; The remaining congregation rebel. Aaron hastily atones for them.

Num 17.1-13; Story; Aarons staff budded indicating the LORD's approval of him.

Num 18.1-32; Law; Priesthood, Duties and contributions for the priests and levites

Num 19.1-22; Law; Cleanliness, Laws for purification and for the unclean

Num 20.1 Story; Moses' wife Miriam does

Num 20.2-13; Story-Sin; Moses strikes the rock at Meribah rather than tell it as instructed

Num 20.14-21; Story; Israel asks to pass through Edoms territory but the refuse

Num 20.22-29; Story; Aaron dies because they rebelled against the LORD’s command

Num 21.1-3; Story; Israel is defeated by Arad, makes a vow to the LORD and then destroys the Canaanites

Num 21.4-9; Story-Sin; Israel grumbled against the LORD and Moses, the LORD sends serpents, the LORD commands Moses to raise up a serpent, so looking at it Israel will be healed

Num 21.10-20; Story; Israel moved around various places. The LORD gives them water.

Num 21.21-30; Story; The Amorites fight against Israel and lose. Israel sings about it.

Num 21.31-35; Story; The king of Bashan attacks Israel and loses.

Num 22.1-6; Story; Balak king of Moab Summons Balaam to curse Israel

Num 22.7-14; Story; Balaks first attempt, Balaam consults the LORD with Balaks request

Num 22.15-21; Story; Balaks second attempt, offers Balaam gold, the LORD forbids Balaam to curse

Num 22.22-35; Story; Balaam follows Balak without the LORD's direction pursuing gold and has a conversation with his donkey who is protecting him from an angel.

Num 22.36-41; Story; Balaam meets with Balak saying he can only speak the LORD's words.

Num 23.1-12; Story; Balaam's first oracle blessing Israel. Balak spits the dummy at Balaam.

Num 23.13-26; Story; Balaam's second oracle blessing Israel. Balak tells Balaam to shut up.

Num 23.27-24.13; Story; Balaam tries to run away, but the Spirit of the LORD comes on him giving the third oracle blessing Israel. Balak threatens Balaam.

Num 24.14-25; Story; Balaam gives the final oracle blessing Israel and predicting the defeat of her enemies.

Num 25.1-9; Story-Sin; Israel hooks up with foreign women and worships their gods. The LORD sends a plague in punishment. Phinehas kills a couple having sex in the tent of meeting with one strike, thus atoning for Israel’s sin. The plague stopped.

Num 25.10-18; Story; Phinehas is commended as righteous with a covenant of peace. The offending couple are named and shamed.

Num 26.1-51; Story; Second Census of Israel, previous generation died out

Num 26.52-65; Story; Division of the land, numbering the levites, none of past generation entered with exceptions

Num 27.1-11; Law; Amendment to inheritance laws concerning a lack of immediate male descendant

Num 27.12-23; Story; Moses sees the promised land, Joshua is commissioned a next leader

Num 28.1-8; Law; Worship and sacrifice; Daily food (burnt) and drink offerings

Num 28.9-10; Law; Worship and sacrifice; Sabbath offerings

Num 28.11-15; Law; Worship and sacrifice; Monthly offerings

Num 28.16-25; Law; Worship and sacrifice; Passover (feast of unleavened bread) offerings

Num 28.26-31; Law; Worship and sacrifice; Feast of weeks offerings

Num 29.1-6; Law; Worship and sacrifice; Feast of trumpets offerings

Num 29.7-11; Law; Worship and sacrifice; Day of Atonement offerings

Num 29.12-38; Law; Worship and sacrifice; Feast of booths offerings

Num 29.39-40; Law; Worship and sacrifice; Summary statement, Moses exhorts

Num 30.1-16; Law; Vows,

Men (30.1-2),

Women under fathers care (30.3-5),

Women under husbands care (30.6-15),

Summary statement (30.16)

Num 31.1-12; Story; The LORD commands Moses to send Israel’s armed men and destroy the Midianites

Num 31.13-20; Story; The warriors bring back the women and children. Because of Peor, Moses commands they kill all the women and children except the virgin girls. The warriors are to remain outside the camp and purify themselves.

Num 31.21-47; Story; Dividing up the plunder from the battle

Num 31.48-54; Story; None of the warriors were killed in the battle. They all presented contributions to the LORD.

Num 32.1-5; Story; The tribe of Reuben asks that the land before the Jordan be given them as their possession.

Num 32.6-15; Story; Moses recounts what happened when Israel initially refused to enter the promised land

Num 32.16-42; Story; The tribe of Reuben agree they will go into the promised land to fight with the rest of Israel.

Num 33.1-2; Story; Moses recounting Israel’s journey and the places they have been to

Num 33.3-4; Story; Recounting - Deliverance from Egyptian slavery

Num 33.5-10; Story; Recounting - Rameses to the Red Sea

Num 33.11; Story; Recounting - Red Sea to the Wilderness of Sin

Num 33.12-15; Story; Recounting - Wilderness of Sin to the Wilderness of Sinai

Num 33.16-37; Story; Recounting - Wilderness of Sinai to Mount Hor

Num 33.38-40; Story; Recounting - The Death of Aaron

Num 33.41-49; Story; Recounting - Mount Hor to the Jordan river near Jericho

Num 33.50-56; Story; The LORD gives instructions for Moses concerning taking the promised land

Num 34.1-15; Story; The LORD sets the boundaries for the promised land

Num 34.16-29; Story; The LORD names the leaders of the tribes who will further divide up the inheritance

Num 35.1-8; Story; The LORD allocates cities for the levites including cities of refuge

Num 35.9-15; Law; Cities of refuge (places where offenders may find refuge for having their case judged)

Num 35.16-21; Law; Definitions for murder and the punishment (death)

Num 35.22-29; Law; Definition for manslayer and avenger of blood, term of punishment specified

Num 35.30-34; Law; Punishments and for murder and manslaughter

Num 36.1-12; Law; Property, Instructions prohibiting the transfer of property into other families

Num 36.13; Story; Summary statement concerning the rules the LORD commanded through Moses

Numbers 35-36 Murder and Manslaughter

From Numbers 35-36

Q. How would you go about executing justice for those who have killed others?

Overview

Num 35.1-8 Story; The LORD allocates cities for the levites including cities of refuge

Num 35.9-15 Law; Cities of refuge (places where offenders may find refuge for having their case judged)

Num 35.16-21 Law; Definitions for murder and the punishment (death)

Num 35.22-29 Law; Definition for manslayer and avenger of blood, term of punishment specified

Num 35.30-34 Law; Punishments and for murder and manslaughter

Num 36.1-12 Law; Property, Instructions prohibiting the transfer of property into other families

Num 36.13 Story; Summary statement concerning the rules the LORD commanded through Moses

Passage and Comments

As we near to the promised land it becomes necessary to define rules by which people will live by when in the land. Here the reading goes into greater detail concerning the cities of refuge. Then it discusses the detail of the punishments for murder and manslaughter.

30 “If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. (Num 35:30)

The command assumes the offender is caught or has escaped to the local city of refuge and then subjected to a trial. The offense must have been witnessed by two or more witnesses. See also Heb 10.28.

31 Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. (Num 35:31)

All murderers must be put to death. Eye for an eye. Tooth for a tooth.

32 And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest. (Num 35:32)

For those who have fled to a city of refuge and are not condemned of murder, but rather manslaughter. They must still be punished and they cannot pay their way out of it. They must remain in the city of refuge for the life of the high priest. Only then can they leave. This is kind of like prison. They must serve their time in the city.

Now Moses describes the relationship between the people and the land living on it.

33 You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. 34 You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the LORD dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.” (Num 35:33–34)

Moses says, blood pollutes the land. Which is a strange notion for us today, that people’s sins can make the land unclean. More so, no atonement can be made for the land, except for the person who has polluted it. The land can only be made clean again if the murderer dies and sheds his own blood on it.

The LORD commands the people not to defile the land in which they live because he dwells in its midst. Which is strange considering they are commanded to devote the inhabitants to destruction when they enter.

The LORD reinforces his point that he dwells in the land among his people. Therefore they must remain clean and holy.

Story of Israel

A similar point is made with David. David will be restricted from building the temple of the LORD because of all the wars he has fought. Instead after his death his son will build the temple in a time of peace.

Story of Jesus

Following the death and resurrection of Jesus. Peter encouraged his audience with words of the passing away of this world.

3 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Pet 3:1–13)

We live in a fallen world. The land is polluted. The LORD’s plan is to see it dissolved and bring in new heavens and earth.

Numbers 33-34 The LORD gives his people an inheritance

From Numbers 33-34

Q. What kinds of things would you like to inherit?

Overview

Num 33.1-2 Story; Moses recounting Israel’s journey and the places they have been to

Num 33.3-4 Story; Recounting - Deliverance from Egyptian slavery

Num 33.5-10 Story; Recounting - Rameses to the Red Sea

Num 33.11 Story; Recounting - Red Sea to the Wilderness of Sin

Num 33.12-15 Story; Recounting - Wilderness of Sin to the Wilderness of Sinai

Num 33.16-37 Story; Recounting - Wilderness of Sinai to Mount Hor

Num 33.38-40 Story; Recounting - The Death of Aaron

Num 33.41-49 Story; Recounting - Mount Hor to the Jordan river near Jericho

Num 33.50-56 Story; The LORD gives instructions for Moses concerning taking the promised land

Num 34.1-15 Story; The LORD sets the boundaries for the promised land

Num 34.16-29 Story; The LORD names the leaders of the tribes who will further divide up the inheritance

Passage and Comments

I found a few things of interest. The first I suspect some readers will pass over without really noting.

[3] They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the day after the Passover, the people of Israel went out triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians, 4 while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them. On their gods also the LORD executed judgments. (Num 33.3-4)

That last statement about the LORD executing judgements on the foreign gods. As the LORD was sending the plagues we kinda assume the only battle going on was between God-Israel and Pharaoh-Egypt. Well no, behind the scenes, the people of the day also viewed the confrontation between their gods. In delivering Israel from Egypt, the LORD won.

50 And the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, 51 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. (Num 33:50–52)

The existing residents worship foreign gods in the land. So when Israel invades the land and takes it over., they are to eradicate all opportunities for idolatry and apostasy.

53 And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it. 54 You shall inherit the land by lot according to your clans. To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance. Wherever the lot falls for anyone, that shall be his. According to the tribes of your fathers you shall inherit. (Num 33:53–54)

Simple enough. They are to divide up the land. But then there is a warning.

55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. 56 And I will do to you as I thought to do to them.”  (Num 33:55–56)

Interesting imagery, ‘barbs in your eyes’, ‘thorns in your sides’. A bit like the parable of the sower (Mk 4). Barbs and thorns.

16 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 17 “These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun. 18 You shall take one chief from every tribe to divide the land for inheritance. (Num 34:16–18)

Note how they describe the land, as their ‘inheritance’. The passage looks back to their deliverance from Egypt and forward to their acquiring the promised land.

Story of Jesus

We should to be aware of Old Testament terms such as inheritance as we read the New Testament. Consider Ephesians 1;

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.  (Eph 1:13–14)

Paul is using the same language. So does Peter;

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, (1 Pet 1:3–4)

Both look backward to the story of Jesus and him proclaimed king ushering in his kingdom. And both look forward to the future acquiring of the inheritance. God has been amazingly generous to us through Christ and there is more still to come.

Numbers 31-32 Zealous for purity

From Numbers 31-32

Q. How far would you go to protect your people from defilement and destruction?

Overview

Num 31.1-12 Story; The LORD commands Moses to send Israel’s armed men and destroy the Midianites

Num 31.13-20 Story; The warriors bring back the women and children. Because of Peor, Moses commands they kill all the women and children except the virgin girls. The warriors are to remain outside the camp and purify themselves.

Num 31.21-47 Story; Dividing up the plunder from the battle

Num 31.48-54 Story; None of the warriors were killed in the battle. They all presented contributions to the LORD.

Num 32.1-5 Story; The tribe of Reuben asks that the land before the Jordan be given them as their possession.

Num 32.6-15 Story; Moses recounts what happened when Israel initially refused to enter the promised land

Num 32.16-42 Story; The tribe of Reuben agree they will go into the promised land to fight with the rest of Israel.

Passage and Comments

This is probably one of the more difficult chapters to digest. Numbers 31, the aftermath of the battle with the Midianites.

[31:1] The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.” [3] So Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute the LORD's vengeance on Midian. (Nu 31:1-3)

So they went to war against the Midianites. They kill all the males including Balaam son of Beor.

9 And the people of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones, and they took as plunder all their cattle, their flocks, and all their goods. 10 All their cities in the places where they lived, and all their encampments, they burned with fire, 11 and took all the spoil and all the plunder, both of man and of beast. 12 Then they brought the captives and the plunder and the spoil to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the people of Israel, at the camp on the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. 13 Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the chiefs of the congregation went to meet them outside the camp. 14 And Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war. 15 Moses said to them, “Have you let all the women live? (Num 31:9–15)

We might be excused to question Moses actions here, but we need to consider the wider context. Numbers 22 describes the elders of Midian approaching Balaam in order to get him to curse Israel. Presumably if he did, they would attack and wipe out Israel. Numbers 25 describes the incident at Peor where a Midianite woman coaxed a Israelite into defiling the sanctuary. The Midianites have had an ongoing agenda to either destroy or defile Israel. Moses recalls this saying;

[16] Behold, these, on Balaam's advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the LORD. (Nu 31:16)

Twenty four thousand people died in the plague the LORD sent as a result of the Peor defilement. Moses is very anxious to avoid this again.

[17] Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him. [18] But all the young girls who have not known man by lying with him keep alive for yourselves. [19] Encamp outside the camp seven days. Whoever of you has killed any person and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves and your captives on the third day and on the seventh day. (Nu 31:17-19)

Moses is very protective over Israel and zealous for the holiness of the camp. He doesn’t want anymore to die as a result of the defilement foreigners can bring. To help understand Moses’ actions we need to consider the attempt of Midian to wipe out Israel, their defilement and the terrible consequences at Peor.

Story of Israel

Unfortunately there are not many in Israel's history who are as zealous to keep Israel undefiled.

Story of Jesus

This kind of zeal is perhaps still evident in the New Testament times. There were some in Israel who fought against the foreign powers who ruled them. Others were fiercely committed to the purity of Judaism. Jesus exhibits a kind of zeal as well, but his had a different twist, he said;

[43] And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. [45] And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. [47] And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, [48] ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ [49] For everyone will be salted with fire. (Mk 9:43-49)

Jesus is likewise very serious about sin and so should we be. Do what you can to cut it out of your life.