|
Bible Survey 04-Numbers The first portion of the book of Numbers (1:1 - 10:10) finishes the record of Israel’s year at Mt. Sinai, which began in Exodus 19. Included is the first census (1) and further instructions for the Levites (2-4), the “Jealousy Ordeal” (5), and the Nazirite Vow (6). The remainder of the book (10:11 on) records the period of Israel’s wilderness wanderings: beginning with Israel’s complaints about the food (11), Moses’ trouble with Miriam (12), reconnaissance of the land (13-14), Korah’s rebellion (16), Aaron’s rod (17), Moses’ rebellion at the waters of Meribah (20), food complaints and the bronze serpent (21), trouble with Balaam (22-25), the 2nd census (26), female inheritance and Joshua anointed (27), war with Midian (31); tribal unity issue (32), journey recounted (33), division of the land and cities of Refuge (34-35).
I. The Year at Sinai (ch. 1-10) 1/ a military census (1:2-45) of the tribes is taken prior to the 40-year wilderness wandering and the number was 603,550 fighting men (1:46). This census was of all the tribes but Levi, for the Levites were assigned to guard the tabernacle (1:47-54) and camped closest to it. 2/ Camping arrangement of tribes – three tribes were assigned a camping spot on each side of the Tabernacle, outside of the Levites. The detailed instruction - every tribe has their divinely-assigned spot - would prevent tribal rivalry similar to what occurred when individuals selected seats at a banquet (Luke 14:7-11; Matthew 23:6) 3/ Levite families (v. 17) were assigned different roles of Tabernacle service (A) Gershon was to camp on the west side (v. 23) and was responsible for the Tabernacle hangings/curtains (vv. 25-26), (B) Kohath was to camp on the south side (v. 29) and care for the ark, table, lampstand, altars (v. 31), and (C) Merari was to camp on the north side (v. 35) and care for the tabernacle frame (vv. 36-37). Moses, Aaron & his sons camp to the east of the tabernacle (v. 38) 4/ Tabernacle Service was explained in greater detail. The transporters served from the age of 30-50 (v. 3), with the priests wrapping the Tabernacle furniture in blue cloth before the Kohathites transported it so that no one could accidentally touch it improperly (v. 4-20). Gershon carried the curtains (vv.21-28) and Merari carried the frame (vv. 29-33) 5/ Various ordinances: quarantine the sick (vv. 1-4), making restitution for sins (vv. 5-10), and the “Jealousy Ordeal” (vv. 11-31), intended to force a jealous husband to deal with his jealous suspicions, whether the wife is guilty or not (v. 14) - this is not a “hand in hot oil” type Medieval “ordeal,” but an opportunity by which an unfaithful wife could be identified or a faithful wife could force an irritating jealous husband to “put up or shut up” about his suspicions. 6/ The Nazirite Vow (vv. 1-21) was a voluntary vow for men or women, requiring them to remain separate from the fruit of the vine, cutting their hair, and contact with the dead. Note Aaron’s Benediction (vv. 22-27) 7/ Consecration of the Tabernacle: Moses anointed it (v. 1), there was an offering of carts for transporting the curtains & frame (vv. 2-9), and other offerings (vv. 10-88). God spoke to Moses above the Ark’s Mercy Seat (v. 89), as He had promised (Exodus 25:22). 8/ Levites cleansed for service (vv. 1-22) - Age for Levitical service: 25-50 (vv. 24-26) 9/ Passover & the Presence: Passover (vv. 1-14) may be kept a month later if unclean or gone on a long journey (vv. 6-13). The Presence guided Israel’s movement (vv. 15-23) 10/ The Silver Trumpets (vv. 1-10) II. Wilderness Wanderings (10-36) Israel didn’t like the conditions in Egypt, but at least they were familiar with that system. The time of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness was a period of continuing complaints and examples of how distorted history becomes when nostalgia kicks in! They accused Moses of leading them out into the wilderness “to die” (Exodus 17:3/Numbers 14:3 although their children were in more real danger in Egypt - Exodus 1:15-22). They griped about the food God provided in the wilderness, but came to associate Egypt with “great food” (Numbers 11:5), while seemingly forgetting about the hard labor (Exodus 1:11-13). Essentially, Israel did not consistently believe in God and preferred Egypt/slavery over the Promised Land/freedom. 10-12/ Travel resumed and they headed for the Promised Land (10:29); God provided manna (man-hu, lit. “what is it,” 11:1-9). Moses complained about the work load and was given helpers (11:10-30). God provided meat (11:31-35). 13-14/ Missed opportunity to enter Canaan. Twelve spies investigated Canaan for 40 days, but when they returned ten of the spies offered a bad report of the land that discouraged the people. God determined that Israel would wander for 40 years until every unbelieving Israelite above the age of 20 (at the Exodus) died in the wilderness. Once God’s “window of opportunity” closed, the door into Canaan for that generation was over (14:40-45). 15/ Offerings and Atonement in the Land - an act of Sabbath-breaking punished (15:32-36) 16-17/ Korah’s Rebellion (16-17) - Some Levites (family of Kohath) and Reubenites wanted the priestly role (16:1-3), but they were destroyed (16:4-50) and there appears to have been some anger and hard feelings towards Moses and Aaron over it. Thus, to further verify Aaron’s special call to the priesthood, a rod was laid before the Ark of the Covenant from each tribe, but God caused Aaron’s to “come to life” (17). 18-19/ Assorted information: The Levite’s portion of the offerings (18:8-19), Israel’s tithe supported the Levites (18:21-32), the Ordinance of the Red Heifer (19:1-13) to cleanse Israel from impurities, and ordinances concerning the dead (19:14-22) 20/ The Waters of Meribah (20) (first water problem was in Exodus 17). Moses’ failure to obey God’s instructions on bringing water brought a heavy punishment - barred from leading Israel into Canaan (vv. 1-13), with probable typological significance. Edom refused Israel passage (vv. 14-23). God then declared that Aaron also would not enter the Promised Land due to his participation in Moses’ sin at Meribah and then Aaron died (vv. 24-29). 21/ Travels: War with Arad (vv. 1-3), the Bronze Serpent (vv. 4-9) was a type of Christ cursed upon a tree rescuing those who look to Him (John 3:14-15). What happened to that bronze serpent they made? They kept it around and eventually worshipped it as an idol (2Kings 18:4). The conquest of the TransJordan area is recounted (vv. 10-35). 22-25/ Balaam was hired by Balak, king of Moab, to bring curses upon Israel. While not allowed to verbally curse Israel, Balaam was able to counsel the Moabites on how to lure Israel into idolatry (Numbers 31:16) and for this he was later killed (Deuteronomy 23:4). 26/ The second census revealed what happened during the 40 years of rebellion - At Sinai, Israel’s time as servants under grace brought them to 603,550 fighting men (1:46), but after 40 years of rebellion under Law, the number had declined to 601,730 (26:51). Thus, servanthood under grace is better than rebellion under Law! 27/ Joshua Succeeds Moses. Female inheritance (1-7; also chapter 36). The death of Moses and Aaron outside the Promised Land is typologically significant, for neither Moses (the Law) nor Aaron (the Priesthood) could lead Israel into the Promised Land. Only “Joshua/Yeshua/Iasous/Jesus” can lead God’s people into the Promised Land. 28/ Passover Ordinances 29/ Atonement Day 30/ Vows 31/ Revenge against Midian for their part in the sin at Baal-Peor (first commanded in Numbers 25:16-18). 32/ A Threat to Unity - Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh were planning to settle in Gilead – right then - and considered not going over to aid the other 10 tribes in the conquest of Canaan on the western side of the Jordan River! However, all twelve tribes had conquered the Trans-Jordan and Moses insisted that all tribes must fight together to capture the other portion of land, then all rest - If you don’t help your brothers - “Be sure your sin will find you out” (32:23) 33-34/ Travels Recounted & Dividing the Land of Promise 35/ Cities of Refuge - Rather than a “tribal land,” the Levites were to settle in 48 Levite cities scattered amongst the other tribes. Six of these were “cities of refuge,” provided as a “safe haven” for those committing unintentional manslaughter. 36/ Inter-tribal and female inheritance issues revisited from chapter 27 - daughters can inherit property, but they must marry within their own tribe so that all of the land originally assigned to each tribe remains within the permanent control of that tribe. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Charles E. McCoy 5/8/2006
|
