NUMBERS:
From Sinai to Canaan
An Introduction to OT – The Pentateuch
Arturo Pérez
Arthur_pink@hotmail.com
Possible Chronology of the Pentateuch
1706
1491
40 years in the wilderness
Ex.16:35; Dt.1:3
Israel arrives in Egypt
EXODUS
1 year: Exit & Law
(215 years living in Egypt)
Ex. 12:37 - 40
* Ex.12:41
1451 BC
Ready to enter Canaan
40 years in the wilderness
EXODUS
1-12:36
12
40
NUMBERS
Marching to Canaan
Leviticus
Priesthood System
Deuteronomy
Repetition of Law
Chronology in the book of NUMBERS
1706
1491
Israel moved
to Egypt
1451 BC
EXODUS
Ready to enter Canaan
40 years in the wilderness
(215 years living in Egypt)
Ex.16:35; Dt.1:3
38 years, 8 months, 10 days
EXODUS
1 – 12:36
Num.33:3
Out of Egypt
April
Ex.19:1 Sinai
Ex.40:17
Tabernacle
NUMBERS
Ex.
12-40
15th
June
1st
April 1st Y-2
Marching to Canaan
May1st Y-2
Feb 1st Y-40
Num.1:1
May
Deut. 1:3
20th Y-2
Num. 10:11-12
Israel calendar
Current Calendar
Israel calendar
Current Calendar
01-15 (Apr)
May 5; 1491 BC
02-01 (May)
May 21; 1490 BC
03-01 (Jun)
June 19; 1491 BC
02-20 (May)
June 9; 1490 BC
01-01 (Apr)
Apr 21; 1490 BC
11-01 (Feb)
Feb 20; 1451 BC
Canaan
Moab
Beersheba
Feb 1st Y-40
April 15
Rameses
N
Pithon
Succoth
Lake Bitter
Lake SIRBONIS
Cairo
EGYPT
Suez
Canal
KadeshEdom
Barnea
Makheloth
Wilderness of PARAN
Marah
Elim
May 20th Y-2
Peninsula
Of SINAI
May 1st Y-2
April 1st Y-2
Tabernacle
Exodus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
June 1
Rephidim
Mount
SINAI
Wilderness
Of ARAB
Basic Outline of Numbers
I. Preparation to departure from Sinai
(1:1 – 10:10)
 II. From Sinai to the plains of Moab
(10:11 – 25:18)
 III. New Preparation to inherit the Land
(22 – 36)

“Israel’s pilgrimage in the wilderness,
from Sinai to Canaan.”
Israel’s Preparation (Num.1-10)

1st CENSUS.

Who were counted?



All male able to go to war from 20 years old and upward,
excluding women, children and Levites.(Nm.1:2-3, 47)
Total Listed: 603,550 (Nm.1:46).
Purpose: To know the military capability.
The phrase “able to go to war” is repeated
in 15 verses.
Israel’s Preparation (Num.1-10)

The Order of the Camp.

Camping.





The Tabernacle was the center of life.
The Levites surrounding the Tabernacle, including
Aaron and his children.
3 Tribes each side of the rectangle of the Tabernacle.
Breaking the Camp. The Tabernacle was taken
down, and the Ark of the Covenant went before
them with Aaron and his children rotating with
each 3 tribes of Israel.
Duties of the Levites.

To take care and to transport the Tabernacle.
Preparation to go to Promised Land
02 - 1st Y-2





1:1–2:34 Israel numbered and ordered (first
census)
3:1–4:49 Priests numbered and ordered
5:1–6:27 Consecration of Israel’s camp
7:1–8:26 Consecration of the tabernacle and
priesthood
9:1–10:36 Setting out for the land, led by the
02 - 20th Y-2
Lord’s presence (see Num 10:11)
Personal Applications:
1- We must be purified and dedicated before we try to do God’s work.
2- God’s Spirit is our pillar of cloud. (The centrality of the Tabernacle)
Basic Outline of Numbers
I. Preparation to departure from Sinai
(1:1 – 10:10)
 II. From Sinai to the plains of Moab
(10:11 – 25:18)
 III. New Preparation to inherit the Land
(22 – 36)

“Israel’s pilgrimage in the wilderness,
from Sinai to Canaan.”
Journeying to the Promised Land 11-25

11:1–12:16 Crisis of Authority



Rebellion and Murmuring at Taberah (11:1-3)
Kibroth-hattavah (graves of craving) (11:31-35)
The case of Miriam vs Moses. (12:1-16)

13:1– 14:45 Sending out the 12 spies to Canaan
 Joshua & Caleb’s good report
 10 spies’ bad report
 Israel rejects the promised land

15:1–41 Laws for the land: offerings & forgiveness
Personal Applications:
1- Serve God cheerfully in whatever place He gives you, aware that the
opportunity to serve is a wonderful gift.
2- It’s not the facts, but how we interpret them that counts.
Journeying to the Promised Land 11-25
38 Years in the Wilderness

16:1–17:13 Rebelion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram

18:1–19:22 The priests’ duties

20:1–21:35 Journeying towards Canaan again
 Crisis and sin of Moses in Meribah (20:1)
 Edom denies Israel to Pass through their land (20:14,18) Am.1:9; Mal.1:4
 Death of Aaron in the Mount of Hor (20:22)
 Fiery serpents and the bronze serpent (21:4-9) comp. Josh.3:14; 2K.18:4
 Around Moab y Ammon (21:10)
 Arriving to the cities of the Amorites (21:21)

22:1–24:25 Balaam’s oracles

25:1–18 Israel seduced by Moab
Balaam’s oracles (Num. 22 – 25)
Being used by God is not proof of personal holiness.






Balak king of Moab feared looking at what Israel has done to
the Amorites.
Balak hired a non-Israelite prophet, Balaam, to curse Israel.
Balaam was in a dilemma: he wanted the money, but he knew
he was in danger if he dares to curse the people of God.
Balaam’s donkey saw an angel and talked to him in a
miraculous event. The angel said “ go with the men, but speak
only the word that I tell you” .
Balaam blessed the people of Israel 3 times (instead of
cursing them).
BUT, Balaam told Balak the secret to defeat them: the
daughters of Moab to defile their hearts to idollatry (31:16)
Personal Applications (11 – 25)
1- Remember what God has done for you in the past,
and you will not shrink from future challenges.
2- Don’t let your prayers deteriorate into asking God for
permission to do something you already know is not His
will.(22) (Balaam asking to God what to do when he knew)
3- God is fully capable of protecting His own from those
who are eager to do us harm. (23-24)
4- We remain vulnerable to sin, even as we near the end
of life’s journey. (25)
Basic Outline of Numbers
I. Preparation to departure from Sinai
(1:1 – 10:10)
 II. From Sinai to the plains of Moab
(10:11 – 25:18)
 III. New Preparation to inherit the Land
(26 – 36)

“Israel’s pilgrimage in the wilderness,
from Sinai to Canaan.”
New preparation to inherit the Land

26:1–27:23 Israel numbered (2nd census); the land to be
allotted

Joshua is installed as Moses’ successor

28:1–30:16 Offerings and vows

31:1–32:42 Vengeance on the Midianites and settlement

in Transjordan
33:1–49 Summary of the journey

33:50–36:13 Commandments for the inheritance
Personal Applications:
1- Worship is to be regular and special! (28:2)
2- God helps those He calls, and vengeance is His. (Num.31:8)
3- We should not sit back comfortably while brothers and sisters fight spiritual
battles alone.
4- Don’t miss God’s blessings by failing to reach out, and by faith, take what
He promises to you.
Summary of the Book of Numbers


The book relates Israel’s difficulty obeying God and the
consequences.
3 main sections:







Encampment at Mt Sinai
38 years in the desert
Encampment on the plains of Moab
General theme is preparation to enter Canaan
Israelites continually complained about their
circumstances, forgetting they were free.
Their grater failure was refusing to enter the promised
Land when God offered it.
The message of disobedience in Numbers is used in NT
in 1 Corinthians 10 and Hebrew 3:7 – 4:13
Appendix
Regarding “personal applications” we want to give
credit to: Richards, L. O. (1991). The Bible readers
companion (electronic ed.) (112). Wheaton: Victor Books.
Camp Order
DAN
62,700
ASHER
41,500
NAPHTALI
53,400
Merarites
6,200
BENJAMIN
35,400
MANASSEH Gershon
7,500
32,200
TABERNACLE
JUDAH
74,600
Moses ISSACHAR
54,400
Aaron
ZEBULUN
57,400
Kohathites
8,600
EPHRAIM
40,500
GAD
45,650
WEST
N
SIMEON
59,300
REUBEN
46,500
EAST
Spies in Canaan (Num. 13)
Comparison between 1st and 2nd Census
Tribe
Reuben
Simeon
Gad
Judah
Issachar
Zebulun
Ephraim
Manasseh
Benjamin
Dan
Asher
Naphtali
Levi
First
Census
46,500
59,300
45,650
74,600
54,400
57,400
40,500
32,200
35,400
62,700
41,500
53,400
22,000
Second
Census
43,730
22,200
40,500
76,500
64,300
60,500
32,500
52,700
45,600
64,400
53,400
45,400
23,000
Delta
(2,770) 
(37,100)
(5,150)
3,100
(8,000)


1,900
9,900
1st Census:

2nd Census:

20,500

10,200

1,700
11,900
(8,000)
1,000
603,550 (w/o Levites)
625,550 (including Levi)

601,730 (w/o Levites)
624,730 (including Levi)
W/Levi 1,820 less people
(0.30% less)
Excluding Levi – 820 less
(0.13% less)