The Book of Numbers:
Numbers in Numbers:
- Are the Numbers literal?
- Do the numbers represent a misplaced census?
- Does the term “thousands” mean something else?
o Thousand could mean 500 fighting men. Thus, 46,000 would
be understood as 46 groups of 500 men.
- Are the numbers symbolic or metaphorical? The metaphorical
argument suggests that only the elites are the ones who write history.
- Are the numbers Gematriya?
- Land Themes:
o Both Numbers and Deuteronomy provide transitional
connective elements between Patriarchal and Exodus narratives
and the Joshua entry in the land of promise.
 Promise or rejection: The people rejected the land
promised to Abraham, mainly the Exodus generation.
o The wilderness presented 2 sharply antithetical views: A route
of promise on the way of the Promised Land, or the unbearable
abandonment to be avoided by slavery.
- Who was Balaam?
o Prophet-Proclaims something is coming and comes to fruition
within his lifetime.
o Diviner-Spiritual intermediary.
o Sorcerer-Brought in to change the will of the gods. Try to
change the outcome of the spiritual realm.
o What is the difference between these titles?
- Numbers 9:
o 19 months removed from Egypt
o They celebrate the Passover. They do not celebrate Passover
again until Joshua 5-6. 38 years after the last one.
o The Israelites forget the purpose of the Passover
- Numbers 11:
o The Israelites begin their rapid sin. They begin to complain.
Judah was supposed to walk before the tabernacle, the
punishment was fire among the outside of the tribes (#1). They
go to Moses.
o They ask for meat to eat (#2). Ask Moses again to intercede.
Moses complains and God decides to lighten the load for
Moses. So God anoints 70 elders from the tribes. But they
unfortunately die in their sin.
o Why did we come out of Egypt? Why is this question is
important? How is Moses going to handle this when he gets the
answer?
o Moses struggles with how God is going to give them meat.
God’s punishment is a great plague among the people.
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Numbers 12:
o The people complain about Moses (#3). Why did Moses get
called? This happens today. We complain about not being used
by God when others are called by God.
o Punishment: Miriam gets leprosy. God says, “Don’t question
my authority or the people I use?”
Numbers 13:
o The spies are sent out. 12 of them. They go from Tell-Arad
north to Jericho and look on the land (#4).
o The spies present conflicting views in verse 27. Caleb and
Joshua trust in the sufficiency and power of God.
o There is direct reference in Joshua 5, where it says that those
over 23 years of age will not enter the Promised Land.
Numbers 14:
o The other spies convince the other people that they can’t take
on the people and they want a new leader (i.e. Jeroboam and
Rehoboam).
o The people were unwilling to listen to obedience (#5).
o Punishment: v. 28, no one over 20 years of age will see the
promise land, except for Joshua and Caleb. What is Moses
feeling at this point? How do you tell these people?
o Just like the Israelites, God punishes us for our disobedience.
Numbers 15:
o The Israelites would take garments and die 5 knots signifying
the Law. And they are to put it on their tassels.
o What reminds you of being holy?
o Comes in after 5 instances of disobedience.
Numbers 16:
o The people make themselves to be holy and there is no need for
holiness. Another screw up (#6).
o Punishment: God is going to destroy these cities. But Moses
intervenes for these people, but to no avail. God sent an
earthquake and swallowed up the people.
Numbers 20:
o Moses is told to speak to the rock and out would flow water.
Moses strikes the rock and disobeys God. God still gave the
people water in spite of Moses’ sin (#7).
Numbers 21:
o People complaining about the food. They are punished by
snakes (#8).
Numbers 22-24:
o Balaam’s donkey. Balaam was a real oracle and the angel of
the LORD is seen by the donkey.
o The donkey begins to talk. They carry on a conversation.
o Balaam is called to come and curse Israel. But he is unable to
do it, because of the Word of the LORD.
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o Why is it significant in the book of Numbers? There is the
element of Balak calling on someone to curse the Israelites.
But because of the obedience and faithfulness of Joshua and
Caleb, God will keep His promise which he made to Abraham.
Numbers 25:
o The Israelites begin to worship Baal, the fertility god (#10).
This is their response to God’s blessing. We do this a lot. We
forget what God has done for us.
Numbers 27:
o Moses commissions Joshua.