Numbers is also called the book of the march and the roll call numbers 33. Numbers in the picture study bible the book of numbers. The name of the book refers to a prominent feature of the story, that is, the census which moses took of the israelites at mount sinai before their departure, and again in moab, east of the. The thrust of the book is the wilderness wonderings becuase of unbelief. It continues the story of that journey begun in exodus, and describes briefly the experiences of the israelites for a.
The message of the nonchronological opening of numbers. The offerings illustrate the abiding preciousness of christ, what god thinks of. The book s theology revolves around the outworking of the covenant between god and israel. Moses witnessed most of the events recorded in the book of numbers. Daughters of zelophehad claim possession of their father. The law includes the books of genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy. The book of numbers tells the story of the israelites during the nearly forty years from the time they left mount sinai until they reached the eastern border of the land that god had promised to give them. The book of numbers is the fourth book of the law of moses, also known as the torah or pentateuch. An o verview of the key events and bible people found in numbers together with the famous bible stories and brief summary of the book of numbers from the bible. He may have relied on other witnesses, written sources, or revelation for information. It is called numbers because it contains the census of the people who wandered in the wilderness. The second month generally equates to our aprilmay and the eleventh month to januaryfebruary.
It might, too, be called the book of murmurings because from beginning to end it is filled with the spirit of rebellion against god. Book of numbers overview insight for living ministries. Most of the events of the book of numbers take place in the wilderness, primarily between the second and fortieth years of the wandering of the israelites. The israelites rebel against god and moses several times in the book of. Jul 08, 2002 the complete book of numbers by steven scott pither gives wonderful background information as far as understanding how we relate ways of knowing through symbols in language, science, art, myth, religion, and culture lots of interesting information about how we interpret physical reality and physics discussion that ties into buddhist and. Then the remaining 23,000 died in result of numbers 25. The apostle paul made abundant use of the book of numbers in one of his greatest teachings, as found in the 1cor. Highlights from the book of numbers watchtower online library. Brett helquists celebrated art has graced books from the charming bedtime for bear, which he also wrote, to the new york timesbestselling a series of unfortunate events by lemony snicket to the glorious picture book adaptation of charles dickenss a christmas carol. Famous people and important events detailed in the numbers summary. The events of numbers are often mentioned elsewhere in scripture. Only a person who was contemporaneous with the events recorded in numbers could have been the author of this book.
Because israel were counted twice in chapter 1 and 26. Paul stated and fell in one day three and twenty thousand iii. After spending one year and 1 month at mount sinai they traveled to kadesh at the southern border of the promised land but they did not trust god we should choose a leader and go back to egypt. Apart from moses himself, other key figures in this book also feature aaron, joshua, caleb, miriam, balaam, and korah. The english title is a translation of the septuagint greek title referring to the numbering of the tribes of israel in chapters 14. Many people believe that moses wrote the first 5 books in the bible the torah, which means law. The main divisions in the book of numbers are as follows. The book draws its name from the census made of the people, a necessary step toward their organization and future government. The first census was completed while the israelites were still at mount sinai chapters 12, and the second one came 38 years later when they arrived at the borders of canaan at the end of their wanderings in the wilderness chapter 26. Not counting the faith of moses throughout the book, the most notable event regarding faith is that of joshua and caleb in numbers 14. The passover occurred on the fourteenth day of the first month of the year and the nation departed from egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month num 33. It relates events that took place in the region of mount sinai, in the wilderness during the course of israels wandering, and on the plains of moab. It derives its english name from the two numberings of the sons of israel mentioned therein. Numbers is a historical book, whose name refers to the two censuses which were taken to number the people.
Best commentaries and books on numbers logos bible software. Strongs exhaustive concordance of the bible, numbered to the hebrew, chaldee, and greek, and english, coded to the strongs concordance numbers. A pagan prophet is hired to curse israel, but he only hears words of blessing from god. The book of numbers is the fourth book of the hebrew bible, and the fourth of five books of the jewish torah. The book of numbers becomes a warning and encouragement for us to follow god and trust his good plan for his people. The book of leviticus gives us the sacrificial laws. The order of the opening passages in the book of numbers. Why then are the events of the second month positioned before the events of the.
The book is basically the sacred history of the israelites as they wandered in the wilderness following the departure from s. Numbers is the fourth of five books commonly called the pentateuch genesis through deuteronomy. Most of the events of the book are set in the wilderness. It is a selective history, with theological truth constituting the criterion for selection. Nevertheless, the book of numbers tends to be generally. The theme of descendants marks the first event in numbers, the census of israels fighting men. The books of reference used for this study of the book of exodus were the bible, king james version, called the companion bible, publisher kregel.
The book has a long and complex history, but its final form is probably due to a priestly redaction i. Most of the events of the book of numbers take place in the wilderness, primarily between the second and fortieth years of the. The book of numbers is not divided by characters, events, or subjects, but by places. The book of numbers was named after the first key word bemidbar in hebrew scripture, which appropriately means in the desert, the place where the israelites. The book of numbers concentrates on events that take place in the second and fortieth years after the exodus. Numbers were desired, exciting and thoroughly studied and discussed. This may be attributed to the authorship of a man who has recently experienced the events herein found and has more to write about than he has time to write.
Silent years only 4 incidents recorded no connected history. The journey begins the people are sorted according to tribe with the tabernacle at the center. Numbers were awesome, welcome, and at times fearsome. From the law applicable to a particular event told in the book, the torah. Most of the events of the book of numbers take place in the wilderness, between the second and fortieth years of the wandering of the israelites.
Its narrative begins at the point where exodus leaves off. It then records their triumphal setting out, before a series of events in which. Numbers 1 to 10 free bible commentary in easy english. The book of numbers is so named because it contains two numberings of the children of israel. The english title is a translation of the septuagint greek title referring to the numbering of the tribes of. The new testament records that moses was the author of the torah, the first 5 books of the bible for example. Moses wrote the record of the events in the wilderness as he wrote the instructions jehovah gave concerning the worship of his people. Written by moses in the wilderness and on the plains of moab, the book of numbers covers a period of 38 years and 9 months from 1512 b. Numbers is the fourth book of the law or pentateuch. Its episodes are taken as showcase examples of israels sinfulness and gods reaction to it. Moses is the source and primary author of the book of numbers, which is the fourth. Moses was the author of the book of numbers, which he wrote between 14501410 bc.
The purpose of the book of numbers is to tell about how israel prepared to enter the promise land, but sinned and was punished. Most of the events of the book of numbers take place in the wilderness, between the second. Learn about faith and rebellion in the book of numbers. Heres an overview of the book of numbers, featuring the main idea and its explanation, the purpose and main themes of the book, and a section on what it means to us, along with some study questions main idea. Chapters 14, 26 the narrative is divided into three sections. Numbers records events that take place during the first month of the second year after coming out of egypt. Key personalities include moses, aaron, miriam, joshua, caleb, eleazar, korah, and balaam. If you have finished your reading of the book of numbers as a part of challenge 2021, read the bible through this activity will remind you of some of the people you met and some of the key events, moses recorded. In this time a census was taken of all men who were over twenty and who could serve in military efforts 14. The majority of modern biblical scholars believe that the torah the books of genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy reached its present form in the postexilic period i. The book of numbers derives its name from the account of the two censuses taken of the hebrew people, one near the beginning and the other toward the end of the journey in the wilderness chaps. God gives additional laws to help his people live by gods holiness. Even in their rebellion, god continues to show his incredible love and provision for them.
Introduction to the book of numbers learn religions. But numbers and the rest of the pentateuch were cast in the form of a unified, fivevolume book sometime between the days of joshua and the elders of israel josh. Numbers records the years of wanderings and deuteronomy records the last year. The book of numbers draws its name from the fact that at both the beginning and near the end, god directs moses to count the people.
The events described here took place in nineteen days. Numbers follows moses and israels journey from the foot of mount sinai which is where leviticus ends to the edge of the promised land of canaan. The book of numbers is the fourth book of the hebrew bible, and the fourth of five books of the. The original hebrew title which means in the wilderness, is much more accurate, because the book of numbers is its really an accurate history of the events. Dale brueggemann examines the history of israels wilderness wanderings from egypt to the promised land, as recounted in the book of numbers. This summary of the book of numbers will help with many different forms of bible study. In chapters 12, we have the first numbering of those 20 years and older able to go to war, a total of 603,550.
In fact, the book of numbers is organized around seven stories of grumbling and complaining. Book of numbers encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. What is different is that numbers does not record all events, but only those that best convey the truths the book is seeking to teach. Numbers is closely linked with leviticus, though it differs greatly from it.
Summary of the book of numbers the story of the bible. Time line for old testament book of numbers including places and events. He covers iconic events such as the spies report of canaan, moses striking the rock, balaams blessing israel, and the bronze serpent in detail and also reflects on. Moses is the central figure within the book, and in at least two instances numbers mentions him recording events by the lords commands numbers 33. If this were a regular road trip of the time, the journey would only take about two weeks. The title is probably derived from the two occasions in the book where a census is taken num. The biblical stories, plot, characters and events detailed in this summary of numbers. Leviticus, which interrupts the flow of narration, consists almost entirely of legislation independent of historic precedentwith the exception of lev. Book of numbers explained discover books of the bible.
On their way to the promised land, the people of israel grumble, complain, and rebel num. Numbers is so named because a census of israel is taken twice in the book. The book of numbers is composed of narrative, legislation, and archival records. Deuteronomy relates the story of the spies numbers 14 to remind the new generation not to repeat the unbelief of their parents, who, having reached the border of canaan. The name of the book comes from the two censuses taken of the israelites. The israelites disobedience and lack of faith caused god to make them wander in the desert until all the people of that generation had diedwith a few important exceptions. Numbers in the picture study bible the book of numbers with. Unbelief hinders what god wants to do in our lives it was because of unbelief that the children of israel could not enter into the promised land. Numbers summary numbers is the 4th book of the pentateuch. The name numbers is a translation of arithmoi, from the septuagint, titled thus because the book contains many statistics, population counts, tribal and priestly figures, and. The time during which the book of numbers was written is dependent upon the time of the exodus. Because the book is dominated by scenes of failure and defeat, these expressions of belief in the lord shine a bit brighter then they would otherwise. Numbers 4 book moses is book number 4 in the old testament of the bible.
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