Book of Numbers

Books of the Hebrew Bible

Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1–2 Samuel 1–2 Kings 1–2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel other Minor Prophets

The Book of Numbers is the fourth of the books of the Pentateuch, called in the Hebrew ba-midbar במדבר, i.e., "in the desert." In the Septuagint version it is called Arithmoi ("Numbers"), and this name is now the usual title of the book. It is so called because it contains a record of the numbering of the people in the wilderness of Sinai (1-4), and of their numbering afterwards on the plain of Moab (26).

This book is of special historical interest as furnishing us with details as to the route of the Israelites in the wilderness and their principal encampments. It may be divided into three parts:

1. The numbering of the people at Sinai, and preparations for resuming their march (1-10:10). The sixth chapter gives an account of the vow of a Nazirite.
2. An account of the journey from Sinai to Moab, the sending out of the spies and the report they brought back, and the murmurings (eight times) of the people at the hardships by the way (10:11-21:20).
3. The transactions in the plain of Moab before crossing the Jordan River (21:21-ch. 36).

The period comprehended in the history extends from the second month of the second year after the Exodus to the beginning of the eleventh month of the fortieth year, in all about thirty-eight years and ten months; a dreary period of wanderings. They were fewer in number at the end of their wanderings than when they left the land of Egypt.

The reference to a "book of the wars of the Lord," occurring in 21:14, has given rise to much discussion. But, after all, "what this book was is uncertain, whether some writing of Israel not now extant, or some writing of the Amorites which contained songs and triumphs of their king Sihon's victories, out of which Moses may cite this testimony, as Paul sometimes does out of heathen poets (Acts 17:28; Titus 1:12)."

The modern documentary hypothesis asserts that the book of Numbers was created as part of the combination by a redactor of the Torah from two competing parallel works known as JE and the Priestly source.

Summary

God orders Moses, in the wilderness of Sinai, to take the number of those able to bear arms among the men "from twenty years old and upward"—the tribe of Levi being excepted—and to appoint chiefs over each tribe. The result of the numbering is that 603,550 Israelites are found to be fit for military service. The Levites are assigned exclusively the service of the Tabernacle (Ch. 1). The Levites are to camp immediate outside of the Tabernacle, with the other tribes encamped around the Levites, each tribe being distinguished by its chosen banner. Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun encamp to the east of the Tabernacle; Reuben, Simeon, and Gad to the south; Ephraim and Manasseh to the west; and Dan, Asher, and Naphtali to the north. The same order is to be preserved for the march. (Ch. 2)

Priests and Levites

Because of the death of Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu, only his reamining sons Eleazar and Ithamar serve as priests during his lifetime. The Levites are ordained for the service of the Tabernacle, taking the place of the first-born sons of the Israelites, who hitherto be claimed by God as his.

The Levites are also divided into three families, the Gershonites, the Kohathites, and the Merarites, each under a chief, and all headed by one prince, Eleazar, son of Aaron. The death penalty is stipulated for any unauthorized person approaching the sanctuary, and a redemption fee is instituted for first-born Israelites who would otherwise have to serve at the Tabernacle (Ch. 3.). Each of the three branches of Levites from 30 to 50 years of age is numbered, and their special duties defined, the total number coming to 8,580 (Ch. 4).

Laws and customs

"Lepers" and other ritually unclean persons are excluded from the camp. Restitution must be made for wrongs committed against another person. "Each man's sacred gifts are his own, but what he gives to the priest will belong to the priest."

If a man suspects his wife of infidelity, he is to bring her to the priest with an offering. A ritual is to be performed in which the woman swears and oath and drinks "bitter water." She will suffer a horrible curse if her oath is false (Ch. 5).

Ordinances are instituting concerning the taking of the vow of a Nazarite. The famous priestly blessing is formally pronounced:

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Num. 6:24-27)

The Tabernacle

The Tabernacle is finished, and each of the chiefs of the 12 tribes brings a rich offering. The golden Menorah is lit, and the Levites are formally consecrated to begin their duties. The retirement age for Levites is set at 50 years. The Passover holiday is instituted and celebrated. The penalty for not celebrating Passover is to be cut off from membership in the people of Israel. Aliens are permitted to celebrate Passover under the same regulations as Israelites. The Israelites continued on the journey, settling when the holy cloud of God settled over the Tabernacle, and moving on when the cloud lifted (Ch. 7-9)

Moses makes two silver trumpets for convoking the congregation and announcing the recommencement of a journey, and the various occasions for the use of the trumpets are stipulated.

Leaving Sinai

The Israelites begin their first journey afte the construction of the Tabernacle, stopping at the Desert of Paran. Moses invites his brother-in-law, Hobab the Midianite to join them. He declines at first but agrees after Moses implores them to act as their guide through the desert (Ch. 10). At Taberah, God become angry upon hearing the complaints of the people and sends fire to consume some of those on the outskirts of the camp. Moses, hearing continued grumbling from the people over the monotony of having to eat only manna, loses patience and complains to God that his burden of leadership is too heavy. God tells him to choose 70 elders to assist him in the government of the people. God also provides quail for the people to eat. The 70 elders are brought close to the sacred tent. The elders are touched by the Spirit that was formerly only on Moses and immediately prophesy. At Kibroth Hattaavah, Yahweh provides abundant quail as promised, but smites the people with a plague for having complained about his earlier gift of manna (Ch. 11).

At Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticize Moses for having married a Chushite woman, claiming that they, too, are prophets. God calls them to the sacred tent and explains that, while Moses siblings indeed are prophets, Moses' authority is not to be challenged because he speaks with God "face to face." Miriam is punished with a skin disease and is shut out of camp for seven days, at the end of which the Israelites proceed again to the wilderness of Paran (Ch. 12).

Spying in Canaan

God commands Moses to send spies into Canaan, one leader from each of the tribes. After 40 days, the spies return and report to Moses, Aaron, and to the whole assembly at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They report the land to be rich, "flowing with milk and honey." However, they also report the towns to be walled and heavily fortigied. Caleb urges an aggressive course, confident that the land can be taken. The other spies, however, conusel caution, spreading a "ban report" about giant Nephilim inhabiting the land (Ch. 13). That the treason against Moses and Aaron spreads in the camp as there is talk of elected a new leader who will lead the Israelites back to Egypt. Joshua and Caleb remain loyal, imploring the people to have faith that God will deliver victory to them. Their speeches, however, are to no avail. God again becomes angry and tells Moses he plans kill all of the Israelites and begin a new nation from Moses and his descendants. Moses convinces God to relent by arguing that the Egyptians and Canannites will think that God is powerless to fulfill his promises and will think badly of God for leading his people to the wilderness and killing them there. Urging God to forgive, Moses even quotes scripture to its Author: "The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion." God is apparently moved by Moses, and agrees to forgive. However, he tells Moses and Aaron, that he will cause all of the generation who witnessed the early miracles of the Exodus to die in the wilderness, the two exception being Joshua and Caleb alone. God sentences the Israelites to 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, one year for each day of spying. The fickle Israelites immediately repent and determine to march immediately into Canaan. Moses forbids this and refuses both the join them or to allow the Ark of the Covenant to serve as their standard. Without divine support, the army is badly beaten by a coalition force of Canaanites and Amalekites, and the Israelites are forced to retreat to Hormah (Ch. 14).

Chapters 15-17

Ordinances to be observed in Canaan; different kinds of offerings; "hallah," or the priest's share of the dough; the atonement for involuntary sins; concerning the man found gathering sticks on the Sabbath-day; the law of fringes; the rebellion and punishment of Korah and his 250 adherents.

Moses ordered to make plates to cover the altar with the two hundred and fifty censers left after the destruction of Korah's band. The children of Israel murmur against Moses and Aaron on account of the death of Korah's men, and are stricken with the plague, 14,700 perishing; Aaron's rod.

Note: the story of Korah is also told in the Qur'an, wherein Korah is named Qarun (see: Similarities between the Bible and the Qur'an).

Chapters 18-19

Aaron and his family are declared by God to be responsible for any iniquity committed in connection with the sanctuary. The Levites are again appointed to help him in the keeping of the Tabernacle. Concerning the priestly portions and the tithes given the Levites. The Levites are ordered to surrender to the priests a part of the tithes taken by them. The law of the red heifer.

Chapters 20-21

After Miriam's death at Kadesh, the Israelites blame Moses for the lack of water. Moses, ordered by God to speak to the rock, disobeys by striking it, and is punished by the announcement that he shall not enter Canaan. The King of Edom refuses permission to the Israelites to pass through his land. Aaron's death on Mount Hor.

Defeat of King Arad the Canaanite by the Israelites. The Israelites bitten by fiery serpents for speaking against God and Moses. A brazen serpent is made to ward off these serpents. The wanderings of the Israelites prior to reaching the valley of Moab. Battles with and defeat of Sihon and Og.

Chapters 22-24

The episode of Balak and Balaam.

Chapters 25-27

The Israelites encamped at Shittim commit abominations with the daughters of Moab and join Baal-peor. A plague carries off 24,000 Israelites. Phinehas slays Zimri. The new census, taken just before the entry into the land of Canaan, gives the total number of males from twenty years and upward as 601,730, the number of the Levites from a month old and upward as 23,000. The land shall be divided by lot. The daughters of Zelophehad, their father having no sons, share in the allotment. Moses is ordered to appoint Joshua as his successor.

Chapters 28-29

Prescriptions for the observance of the feasts, and the offerings for different occasions: every day; the Sabbath; the first day of the month; the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread; the day of first-fruits; the day of the trumpets; the Day of Atonement; the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles; the day of solemn assembly.

Chapters 30-32

Laws concerning vows of men and of married and unmarried women. The conquest of Midian by the Israelites and the massacre of the Midian population. The Reubenites and the Gadites request Moses to assign them the land east of the Jordan. After their promise to go before the army to help in the conquest of the land west of the Jordan, Moses grants their request. The land east of the Jordan is divided among the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The cities built by these tribes.

Chapter 33-36

Enumeration of the stations at which the Israelites halted during their forty years' wanderings in the wilderness. While in the plains of Moab the Israelites are told that, after crossing the Jordan, they should expel the Canaanites and destroy their idols.

The boundaries of the land of which the Israelites are about to take possession. The land is to be divided among the tribes under the superintendence of Eleazar, Joshua, and twelve princes, one of each tribe.

The forty-eight cities assigned to the Levites, and the six cities of refuge. Laws concerning murder and the cities of refuge, and female inheritance.

See also

• Torah
• Balaam
• Priestly Blessing
• Wilderness of Sin
• Torah portions in Numbers: Bamidbar, Naso, Behaalotecha, Shlach, Korach, Chukat, Balak, Pinchas, Matot, and Masei

External links

Online versions and translations of the Book of Numbers:

• Original text:
  • במדבר Bamidbar - Numbers (Hebrew - English at Mechon-Mamre.org)

• Jewish translations:
  • Numbers at Mechon-Mamre (Jewish Publication Society translation)
  • Numbers (The Living Torah) Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's translation and commentary at Ort.org
  • Bamidbar - Numbers (Judaica Press) translation with Rashi's commentary at Chabad.org

• Christian translations:
  • Online Bible at GospelHall.org
  • Numbers at bible.oremus.org (New Revised Standard Version)
  • Numbers at Wikisource (Authorised King James Version)

• Translations identifying sources according to the documentary hypothesis:
  • Numbers with sources highlighted, at Wikisource

Related articles:

• Book of Numbers article (Jewish Encyclopedia)

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