Life in the Desert – Numbers 1-10a – Preparing to Enter
the Land
Numbers: Facts
Named for two
censuses (Num 1; 26). But …
Time frame: almost
39 years (c. 1444–1405 BC). From the last twenty days at Mt. Sinai, the
wanderings round Kadesh Barnea, and finally the arrival in the plains of Moab
in the 40th year.
Two generations
(1-14, 21-36), two journeys (10-14, 21-27), two instructions (5-9, 28-36).
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These are lesson
notes, not written in a polished or finished manuscript form.
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Numbers: Three
Stages
1:1-10:10
Sinai: Preparation
to Enter Land
Time: 20 days (Cf.
1:1; 10:11)
10:11-21:35
From Sinai to Moab:
Failure to Enter Land
Time: 38 years, 3
months, 10 days
22:1-36:13
Plains of Moab:
Preparation #2 to Enter Land
Time: c. 5 months
Numbers: Highlights
6 Nazirite vow; “The
LORD bless and keep you.”
11 Complaint; manna;
70 elders; quail; plague.
12 Miriam and Aaron;
Moses’ uniqueness.
13 Spies’ surveillance
and report. Joshua, Caleb.
16-17 Korah’s
rebellion; Aaron’s staff buds.
20 Meribah; Moses
strikes the rock.
21 The bronze
serpent.
22-25 Balak and
Balaam; the talking donkey.
27 Joshua as Moses’
successor.
30 Men, women, and
vows.
33 Review of
Israel’s journey.
35 Cities of refuge.
Numbers was written
for us. 1 Cor 10:1-14
Numbers 1
1:1-46 First Census
– Age 20+ Warriors
1:47-54 Levites’
Exemption and Responsibilities
The Levites were to
set up, take down, carry, and guard the tabernacle rather than go to war.
Numbers 2
2:1-34 Israel’s Camp
and Marching Arrangement
Tabernacle center,
surrounded by Levites
East (lead): Judah,
with Issachar and Zebulun
South: Reuben, with
Gad and Simeon
West: Ephraim, with
Benjamin and Manasseh
North: Dan, with
Asher and Naphtali
Numbers 3
3:1-13 Levites Set
Apart for Sanctuary Service
“Give the Levites
wholly to Aaron and his sons.”
Levites taken
instead of Israel’s firstborn.
God had spared and
consecrated the firstborn.
3:14-39 Levites’
Census, Duties
This first census –
males, ages 1 month and up.
Various duties re:
care tabernacle items.
3:40-51 Redemption
of Israel’s Firstborn
Levites and their
cattle. Payment for overage.
Numbers 4
Levites’ Census,
Duties (ages
30-50)
4:1–20 The
Kohathites’ Responsibilities
4:21–28 The
Gershonites’ Responsibilities
4:29-33 The
Merarites’ Responsibilities
4:34-49 The Results
of the Second Census
Numbers 5
Purification Laws
5:1-4 Removal of the
Ritually Unclean
5:5-10 Confession
and 120% Restitution
5:11–31 Test of
Suspected Adultery
If the husband
suspects, but no witnesses.
Elaborate, public
trial. Offer sacrifice. Take oath. Drink water with dust from tabernacle floor
and ink used for the curse. Agree that her womb will swell and her thigh fall
away if she is guilty.
Numbers 6
6:1-21 Rules for
Nazirites
Heb. nezer to
separate. Male, female. Voluntary. Temporary. Not cut hair, eat grape products,
or contact a dead body.
If defiled: present
sin, burnt, and guilt offerings. Start the period of the vow all over again.
6:22-27 The Priestly
Blessing
“The LORD bless you
and keep you …”
Numbers 7
7:1–89 Offerings for
the Tabernacle
The 12 tribal chiefs
brought 6 wagons, 12 oxen.
Then each tribe gave
identically day by day: one silver plate and one silver basin, each filled with
flour mixed with oil. They also offered one golden dish full of incense. Then
various animals to keep the regular sacrifices going.
Numbers 8
8:1–4 The Lampstand
Shining on the Table
of the Presence (bread).
8:5–22 The Cleansing
of the Levites
Being sprinkled with
the water of purification, shaving the whole body, and washing clothes.
8:23–26 The Age
Limits of the Levites
Levites were to
retire at age 50 from the duty of the service (i.e., transporting the
tabernacle) because of the difficulty of the task.
Numbers 9
9:1–5 The Second
Passover
Second year, first
month, 14th day.
9:6–14 The Delayed
Passover
For those ritually
unclean on the appointed day.
Second year, second
month, 14th day.
9:15–23 The Cloud of
God’s Presence
When it remained or
moved, so did the people.
The Glory Cloud: Ex
24:16; 40:34–38; 1 Kg 8:11; Ezek 10:4; Lk 9:34-35; 21:27.
Numbers 10
10:1–10 The Silver
Trumpets
Slender straight
clarions with flared mouth.
To gather the
leaders or all the people.
To break camp and
set out.
To sound when going
to war.
To celebrate
appointed feasts.
Depicted in the Arch
of Titus in Rome.
Numbers: Two Stages
to Go
1:1-10:10
Sinai: Preparation
to Enter Land
Time: 20 days (Cf.
1:1; 10:11)
10:11-21:35
From Sinai to Moab:
Failure to Enter Land
Time: 38 years, 3
months, 10 days
22:1-36:13
Plains of Moab:
Preparation #2 to Enter Land
Time: c. 5 months
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