Key Themes in Numbers

Outline

Preparation

1:1-54              The census of Israel

2:1-34              The arrangement of the camp of Israel

3:1-51              The numbering of the Levites and the redemption of the Israelites

4:1-49              The census of clans

5:1–6:21          Laws relating to the unclean, restitution, wives and Nazirites

6:22-27            The priestly blessing

7:1-89              Offerings for the consecration of the tabernacle

8:1-4                The tabernacle lamps

8:5-26              The consecration of the Levites

9:1-14              The celebration of the second Passover

9:15-23            The cloud of God’s presence

10:1-10            The two silver trumpets

Setting out from Sinai

10:11–11:3     The departure of Israel from Sinai

11:4-3              Israel fed on quail

12:1-16            Aaron and Miriam complain against Moses

Fear, grumbling and turning back from Canaan

13:1-33            The spies in Canaan

14:1-45            Israel turns back from Canaan

The wilderness years

15:1-41            Laws relating to offerings, sins and dress

16:1-50            The rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram

17:1-13            Aaron’s staff buds

18:1–19:22     Priestly duties and rites

20:1-13            The death of Miriam; water from the rock at Meribah

20:14-21         Edom refuses to allow Israel through its territory

20:22-29         The death of Aaron

21:1-3              The defeat of Arad

21:4-9              The bronze snake

21:10-35         Journeying to Moab

22:1–24:25     Balaam summoned by the Moabites

25:1-18            Immorality with the Moabites

The new generation

26:1-65            The second census of Israel

27:1-11            Zelophehad’s daughters

27:12-23         Joshua appointed as Moses’ successor

28:1–30:16     Regulations concerning sacrifices, offerings and vows

31:1–32:42     The defeat of Midian and division of the spoils

33:1-49            A summary of the journey

33:50–35:5     Plans for the conquest and division of Canaan

35:6-34            Cities of refuge

36:1-13            The inheritance of daughters

Background and setting

The book of Numbers is intimately connected with those books that surround it – with the events described in Exodus, the sacrificial and priestly detail of Leviticus and the message of Deuteronomy. Exodus moves from Egypt to the first year at Sinai; Numbers covers the next forty years, moving from Sinai to Moab (cf. Dt 1:6–3:29); Deuteronomy deals with the renewal of the covenant on the plains of Moab. Exodus takes us from slavery in Egypt to Sinai and the glory of God’s presence in the tabernacle (Exodus 40), but Numbers goes beyond that point to a new focus of interest, the inheritance in the land of Canaan.

The story in Numbers can be divided into five unequal sections: ‘Getting ready’ (1:1–10:10), set during their one-year stay at Sinai; ‘Setting out’ (10:11–12:16), the initial stages of their journey; ‘Drawing back’ (13:1–14:45), the people refuse to enter the land; ‘Marking time’ (15:1–25:18), during their enforced delay in the wilderness; ‘Pressing on’ (26:1–36:13), the new generation. The book covers a period of about forty years. However, there is a thirty-eight-year gap between chapters 19 and 20 (Dt 2:14; Nu 21:12). The record concentrates on a few months of the second year and the fortieth year at the end; the silence about the desert years is eloquent testimony that these were wasted years.

One of the distinctive characteristics of Numbers is its astonishing variety of literature. It includes a diverse collection of prose and poetry, tribal lists, camping instructions, priestly regulations, worship calendars, detailed travelogues, military records, stories, speeches and songs. Recent work on the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) suggests that, although some of its written sources might have belonged to a later period, these written sources would have depended on old traditions, some dating from the time of Moses or earlier. Numbers was undoubtedly assembled by people who were not indifferent to literary structure, and should be read in the form we have it. A Hebrew title for this book is taken from its opening words: ‘[and] he [the Lord] spoke’ (1:1), and what the Lord said to his people constitutes the main substance of the book.

Themes and relevance

The narrative in Numbers alternates between God’s word and human words and a stark contrast is drawn between the two. God gives his word, and obedience brings great progress. When Israel speaks, however, we hear grumbling, complaining and rebellion, and this provokes the judgment of God. But fundamental to the theology of Numbers is that God remains true to his covenantal purpose despite Israel’s repeated failure. Although his love was not always reciprocated by the generation that left Egypt, he lovingly provided for their children, guiding them to the threshold of the Promised Land. For underlying the whole book is that great theme of the Pentateuch – the covenant, in which God placed on indelible record his eternal love for his people, contracting to care for them and protect them. They, in turn, covenanted to love him exclusively, not switching their allegiance to other gods. In this book we see that God’s love is practical, rooted in history, demonstrating the reality and quality of its compassion by attending to the care of his people in meticulous detail.

Numbers tells the story of a people faithfully led by God, even when they least deserve it. Throughout the narrative, reference is made to the overshadowing cloud, symbolic of God’s unchanging presence with his people (9:15-23; 10:11-12, 33-36; 11:25; 12:5, 10; 14:10, 14; 16:42). Its readers are reminded that God’s grace is a demonstration of divine generosity, not a reward for moral perfection. But the cloud is a reminder of his holiness, not solely a token of his nearness. Because he is with us he has every right to expect us to be different. The dramatic stories, serious warnings and legal provisions related in Numbers concerning human sin and its remedy continue to be relevant in a society where many appear unconcerned about the tragic consequences of deviant behaviour. Paul maintained that these stories ‘were written down as warnings for us ... So ... be careful that you don’t fall’ (1Co 10:11-12).

Yet the book’s unfolding drama explores the story of a forgiven past. Some of its best characters made mistakes, but were cleansed. Aaron’s confession was genuine (12:11-12), Moses’ prayer answered (12:13) and Miriam brought back (12:15) to a restored life. Despite their transgressions, they belonged to a forgiving God who made provision for his children’s cleansing and pardon. Appropriate sacrifices were to give visible expression to their penitence and gratitude (15:1-29; 28:1-15). Sinful people need the miracle of atonement, and in this book it is vividly portrayed.

For all their mistakes, God’s people know they are loved, and that true freedom is to be found only in obedience to the God who made them. Even when they fail he will restore them, and though there are hardships on the way, he is leading them on to an indescribably better future. Life is an accompanied pilgrimage, not a meaningless maze. The country ahead is the pilgrims’ goal; everything in the book moves, albeit gradually, towards that end. The land has been promised and God never breaks his word; that is their strong anchor on the darkest days. It is ours too.

This blog post is extracted from the study notes of the NIV BST Study Bible, ahead of the publication of The Message of Numbers, in the newly refreshed Bible Speaks Today Old Testament Series. Below you'll find some resources for digging in to Numbers!