BIBLE STUDY --- THE BOOKS OF THE TORAH

THE BOOK OF NUMBERS – PART 2

CHAPTER 3

Aaron, the great-grandson of Levi through Kohath {Exodus 6:16-20}, and his descendants were designated to serve as priests at the tabernacle {Numbers 3:2-3}. The remaining descendants of Levi, from the families of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, were to serve the Aaronic line at the tabernacle {verses 5-10}. The Gershonites were responsible for the tabernacle coverings, hangings, and screens {verses 25-26}; the Kohathites were responsible for the “furniture” in the tabernacle {verse 31}; and the Merarites were responsible for the frames, bars, and foundations for the tabernacle {verses 36-37}. YHVH instructed Moses to number the three Levitical families. Gershon’s descendants, totalling 7,500 {verse 22}, were to camp on the west, between the western group of tribes and the tabernacle. Kohath’s descendants, totalling 8,600 {verse 28}, were to camp on the south, between the southern group of tribes and the tabernacle. Merari’s descendants, totalling 6,200 {verse 34}, were to camp on the north, between the northern group of tribes and the tabernacle. Moses and the Aaronic family were to camp on the east, between the eastern group of tribes and the tabernacle {verse 38}. Both in camp and on the march, then, the tabernacle was in the midst of Israel. The census of Israel’s firstborn males disclosed 273 more male babies than Levites {verses 40-46}, and since the Levites were a ransom for Israelite males on a one-to-one basis, the 273 additional male children had to be ransomed by atonement money {verses 46-51}.

CHAPTER 4

YHVH instructed Moses that only Levites between the ages of 30 and 50 were to serve at the tabernacle. A census disclosed that there were 2,750 Kohathites {verse 36}, 2,630 Gershonites {verse 40}, and 3,200 Merarites {verse 44}, making a total of 8,580 {verse 48} who were eligible to serve the Aaronic priests. YHVH further ordered the Aaronic priests, when the tabernacle was being dismantled for the march, to cover all the tabernacle “furniture” before the Kohathites even looked at them {verse 20} lest the Kohathites, either looking at or touching them {verse 15}, should die {verses 15, 20}.

CHAPTER 5

For ceremonial purposes, YHVH demanded that lepers, those with a bodily discharge, and those who had touched the dead, must be put outside the camp until they were purified {verses 1-4}. Furthermore, YHVH instructed those making restitution for a wrongdoing, if the wronged person was no longer alive, to give the restitution price to a priest {verses 5-10}. Finally, if a woman was suspected by her husband of infidelity but there was no evidence of such, the woman was to undergo a trial by water ordeal to relieve the man of his suspicions. The priest was to give her holy water with dust from the floor of the tabernacle in it to drink. If she was guilty, the water by divine direction would cause her pain, make her abdomen swell, and her thigh waste away {verses 11-31}.

CHAPTER 6

Laws pertaining to the Nazirite were given next. A Nazirite was a person who determined to take a vow to separate himself wholly to Adonai. To dramatize this separation, the Nazirite was to drink no intoxicating beverage, let the hair grow long, and touch no dead body {verses 3-6}. Should he defile himself, he was to follow prescribed rules for ceremonial cleansing {verses 9-12}. When his vow had run its course, he was to follow prescribed rules for terminating his vow {verses 13-21}. Finally, YHVH instructed the Aaronic priesthood concerning the blessing they were to pronounce upon the Israelite worshiper {verses 22-27}.

CHAPTER 7

The leaders in Israel brought six wagons and twelve oxen for use in the transfer of the tabernacle {7:3}. Moses gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonites {verse 7}, and four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarites {verse 8}. {The Kohathites were to carry the “furniture” of the tabernacle on their shoulders, verse 9.} For twelve consecutive days, to consecrate the altar after it was anointed {verses 10, 88}, the tribal leaders, in the order of march {cf. chapter 2}, brought similar offerings. YHVH demonstrated his pleasure with this gesture by speaking to Moses from the mercy seat {verse 89}.

CHAPTER 8

YHVH granted the prerogative to light the seven-branched lampstand to the Aaronic priests {verses 1-4}. Following divine instructions, Moses and Aaron consecrated the Levites to the service of the tabernacle by means of a purification ceremony {verses 5-22}.

CHAPTERS 9:1 -- 10:10

For the benefit of the worshiper who was ceremonially unclean or away on a journey at the time of the Passover, YHVH granted permission to observe the Passover a month later {6-12; see also chapter 27}. YHVH gave final instructions to the people before their departure from Sinai. They were to prepare for marching when they saw the cloud ascending from the tabernacle, and they were to stop at the place where the cloud settled down {9:15-23}. The people were to assemble at the tabernacle if two silver trumpets were blown; only the leaders were to come if one was blown; and at the blast of a military alarm, the several groups of tribes were to prepare for an immediate march {10:1-10}.

CHAPTERS 10:11–14:45

The next section recounts the march from Sinai to Kadesh-barnea, a period of time approximately one and a half to two months in length {cf. 10:11; 13:20}. Almost immediately the people began to complain as they passed through the terrible wilderness of Paran {Deuteronomy 1:19}, angering Adonai at Taberah {Numbers 11:1-3} and at Kibroth-hattaavah {Numbers 11:4-35; Psalms 78:26-31; 106:13-15}. Miriam and Aaron challenged Moses’ sole right to speak for YHVH to the people, which resulted in temporary leprosy as punishment for Miriam {doubtless the leader in the provocation}. Through Moses’ intercession, the two were forgiven {Numbers 12}. Out of this event however, came the remarkable description of Moses’ relationship to YHVH as a unique means of revelation {verses 6-8}. From Paran {Kadesh-barnea} Moses dispatched the spies to survey the land {chapter 13}. Deuteronomy 1:22 suggests that the plan to spy out the land originated with the people, with Moses {at YHVH’s behest} acquiescing. At the end of 40 days, they returned. Only Caleb and Joshua urged the people to advance to the conquest; the other 10 spies spoke of foes too formidable for them to defeat. The people, greatly discouraged, attempted to stone Caleb and Joshua {Numbers 14:10}, and were prevented from doing so only by the sudden appearance of the glory cloud at the tabernacle. YHVH swore in his wrath {Numbers 14:21; cf. Hebrews 3:7–4:10} that, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua, none of that generation would enter the land of promise {Numbers 14:21-35}. He then struck down the 10 unbelieving spies {verse 37}. Presumptuously, and in spite of YHVH’s express command to the contrary {Deuteronomy 1:42}, Israel attempted to advance on the land, leaving Moses and the Ark of the Covenant in the camp. They were challenged by the Amalekites and Canaanites. Israel remained in this general area with tribal families fanning out over the wilderness and settling around springs and oases {Deuteronomy 1:46}. Numbers 15:1–21:20 relates the account of the 38 years of wilderness wandering. Much of this time was probably spent around Kadesh- barnea {Deuteronomy 1:46}.

CHAPTER 15

Further priestly legislation was given {Numbers 15:1-21}. Also, the procedure to be followed when an Israelite committed a sin deliberately and defiantly was spelled out in terms of excommunication: there was no atonement for such an attitude {verses 22-31}. A Shabbat violator was executed {verses 32-36}, perhaps as an illustration of the foregoing legislation. Finally, to assist them in obeying YHVH’s Laws, the Israelites were instructed to tie blue tassels to their outer garments as reminders {verses 37-41}.

CHAPTER 16

Korah challenged Aaron’s high priesthood, and Dathan, Abiram, and On challenged Moses’ leadership {verses 1-14}. YHVH, at Moses’ word, opened up the earth and swallowed the offenders {Numbers 16:32; cf. Deuteronomy 9:6; Psalm 106:16-18}. Korah is regarded in the New Testament {Jude 1:11} as a classic example of a rebellious malcontent. Numbers 26:11 states that Korah’s young children did not perish with him. Perhaps they became the ancestors of the “sons of Korah,” the sacred musicians of the temple who composed 12 Korahite psalms {Psalms 42–49, 84–85, 87–88}.

CHAPTER 17

YHVH then instructed the leaders of each tribe to bring rods, 12 in all, to write the names of the tribes upon them {with Aaron’s name on Levi’s rod}, and to deposit them in the tabernacle. The following day, Aaron’s rod had sprouted with blossoms and ripe almonds, thus vindicating Aaron’s special high-priestly status.

CHAPTERS 18 -- 19

Further priestly legislation was given. In 18:1-7, the full responsibility for the priestly service was given to the Aaronic priests -- a very natural consequence of the preceding chapter. The Levites were to assist the Aaronic order {verse 6}. Since the tribe of Levi received no land inheritance, they were to be supported from the offerings of the people {verses 8-20}. In 19:1-22 instructions concerning ceremonial impurity were given. When an Israelite became ceremonially unclean through contact with death {verses 11-16}, YHVH required that he be purified from his sin {verses 9, 17} by the sprinkling of specially prepared water upon him.

CHAPTER 20

With Israel once again at Kadesh on the southern border of the wilderness of Zin in the first month of the 40th year of wandering, Miriam died and was buried {verse 1}. According to the encampment list in chapter 33, 18 encampments may have occurred for Israel since the nation had last been at this site {cf. 33:18-36}. At this time the nation complained once again because there was little water {20:2}. Moses, at YHVH’s instruction, brought forth water from a rock {verses 8-11}, but because of a gross infraction by Moses and Aaron on this occasion, YHVH announced that they would not be permitted to lead Israel in the conquest of the land {verses 12, 23-24}. The chapter closes with Edom refusing Israel passage across its territory {verses 14-21} and Aaron dying on Mount Hor on the border of Edom {verses 22-29} in the fifth month of the 40th year {33:38}. Eleazar, Aaron’s son, assumed the office of high priest.

CHAPTER 21

After a quick victory over Arad {verses 1-3}, Israel started south to encircle Edom. Becoming impatient with YHVH and with Moses, the people expressed their disgust with YHVH’s provision of manna. Adonai sent poisonous snakes to the camp, causing many to die. But at YHVH’s Command Moses fashioned a snake out of bronze and placed it atop a standard. All who looked to the bronze snake survived {verses 4-10}. The bronze snake was preserved and later was destroyed by Hezekiah; the symbol having become by his time an idol {2 Kings 18:4}. Later still, Yeshua drew an analogy between these wicked sinners looking to the bronze snake and being delivered and men looking to him by faith and being saved {John 3:14-15}. Leaving that fateful place, Israel journeyed into and up the Arabah, crossed the Wadi Zered in an eastern swing around Moab, finally crossing the Arnon into Amorite territory. Journeying north, they camped at Pisgah {Numbers 21:10-20}. At this point the conquest of the Transjordan begins. In quick succession Israel defeated Sihon of Heshbon {verses 21-31} and Og of Bashan {verses 33-35} and settled in the plains of Moab {22:1}. This encampment was the scene for the remainder of the activities of Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua 1–3. In a real sense, one can say the wilderness wanderings were now over. Here is the place, then, to summarize the spiritual condition of Israel on the eve of the conquest of Canaan. Numbers makes it quite evident that the entire generation that left Egypt, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, was to die in the wilderness because of its apostasy {cf. Amos 5:25}, unbelief, and general failure to keep Covenant with YHVH. None of the generation of male children born in the wilderness had been circumcised {Joshua 5:2-9}. Psalm 90 underscores Israel as the recipient of YHVH’s wrath in the wilderness. It is in this pitiable spiritual condition that Israel arrived on the plains of Moab.