Numbers WeekDateTopic 108 Dec10Numbers: An Introduction 215 Dec10Census and Organization: 1:1-4: Dec10Purity of the Camp: 5:1-6: Dec10Dedication of the Tabernacle: 7:1-9: Jan 11Failure of Israel: 10:1-12: Jan 11Pinnacle of Failure at Kadesh: 13:1-14: Jan 11Failure of Israel in the Wilderness: 15:1-19: Jan 11Failure of Israel on the way to Moab: 20:1-25: Feb 11Reorganization of Israel: 26:1-27: Feb 11Snow Day 1116 Feb 11Regulations of Offerings and Vows: 28:1-30: Feb 11Division of the Land: 31:1-33: Mar 11Further Division of the Land: 33:50-36:13

References Constable Notes - Primary Halley’s Bible Handbook JFB Bible Commentary ISBE (Encyclopedia)

Key Points for Today’s Lesson Review last weeks lesson about Moses’ final battle, Reuben and Gad’s desire to stay east of the Jordan, and a compilation of Israel’s journeys in Numbers Understanding Numbers is critical to understanding much of the history contained in the rest of the Old Testament God directs the people of Israel to drive out all inhabitants in Canaan as they prepared to cross the Jordan river. The land is divided among the remaining tribes including cities set aside for the Levites

Previous Lesson Learned about last battle led by Moses against the Midianites, which ended in a complete victory by the Israelites Learned that the Israelites divided the plunder of battle with priests and Levites Learned that Reuben and Gad wanted to remain on the east side of the Jordan river for several reasons; the other tribes thought they didn’t want to fight Traced the journey of Israel from Egypt to Moab

Historical Background The book opens as the Israelites were in the second month of the second year after they departed Egypt (1:1) Chapters 7:1-10:10 occurred before the timeline of the events of the book of Numbers – Events occurred as Moses finished setting up the tabernacle – Tabernacle was set up on the 1 st day of the 1 st month of the 2 nd year; Numbers started on the 1 st day, 2 nd month, 2 nd year – Read Numbers 7:1, then Numbers 7:84, then Exodus 40:17, then Numbers 1:1 to better understand the timeline

Historical Background Continued Scholars determined the book had been written close to Moses’ death, around 1406 BC – Exodus happened around 1446 BC (1 Ki 6:1) – Israelites were in the wilderness 40 years (Num 32:13) – Moses died shortly before they entered the Promised Land (Deut 34:5) Numbers closes out when the Israelites were in the 10 th month of the 40 th year (see Deut 1:3) – The book of Numbers covers about 39 years

Hebrew Calendar

Timeline EventYearHebrewDayMonth Departure from Egypt1446Nisan15April Quail and Manna provided1446Iyyar15May Ten Commandments in the Sinai1446Sivan?Jun Tabernacle Built1445Iyyar1April Depart from Sinai1445Iyyar20May At Kadesh-Barnea – second time1406Nisan1March At Mt. Hor – Aaron Dies1406Ab1Jul Moses Death1406Shebat1Jan Cross Jordan1405Nisan10Apr Keep Passover and Manna ceases1405Nisan14Apr

Geographical Background Israelites traveled from Mt. Sinai to the plains of Moab – East of Jericho and the Jordan River However, not a direct route – Proceeded from Sinai to Kadesh Barnea – On Canaan’s southern border Failed to proceed to the Promised Land from Kadesh Barnea because of unbelief – Wondered 38 more years in the wilderness God finally brings them back to Kadesh, then led them to the Plains of Moab on Canaan’s eastern border

Key Lessons Of Numbers Show how God dealt with the Israelites as they anticipate entrance into the Promised Land Events that led to the destruction of the older generations of Israelites in the wilderness Preparation of the new generation for entrance into the Promised Land Provided a warning to younger members of the community of Israel about the wrath of God on their parents because of their failure to obey the covenant

The Tribes of Israel

God instructs Moses to deliver one of the key historical messages of the Bible (vs. 50) – Drive out all the inhabitants and destroy their carved images, cast idols, and demolish high places (vs. 52) – Take possession of the land and settle in it (vs. 53) – Distribute the land by lot, according to clans (vs. 54) See Numbers 26:53 – Failure to drive out the inhabitants will lead to significant problems in the future (vs. 55) – But God will punish Israel through Israel’s enemies (vs. 56) God’s Directives (33:50-56)

God lays out the border of Israel through Moses – Four cardinal directions are laid out, defining the boundaries of the new land (vs. 3-12) – Divided among the remaining 9 ½ tribes, not including Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh (vs ) Men chosen to allocate and receive the land – Eleazar the priest and Joshua are to distribute the land – One leader from each of the 9 ½ tribes are to receive the land Boundaries (34:1-29)

Allocation of the Land

Cities of the Levites (vs. 1-5) – Again, God speaks to Moses and Moses delivers the message to the people (vs. 1) – Levites are to live in cities within the territories of the inherited lands of other tribes (vs. 2) – They are to also have pastureland for livestock (vs. 3) Extend 1500 feet from the town wall 3000 feet wide in all four cardinal directions Levite Cities (35:1-5)

Six cities given to the Levites will become cities of refuge (vs. 6-8) – A person who has killed someone accidently may flee to these cities – 42 other towns given to the Levites – Towns are given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe Further narrative of the cities of refuge (vs. 9-15) – Person may flee until he stands trial – Three west of the Jordan and three east of the Jordan Cities of Refuge (35:6-15)

Goelism – obligated vengence Defining murder when attempting to seek refuge – Striking someone on purpose (vs ) – Shoving or throwing something at someone and it leads to their death or striking with a fist (vs ) – Avenger of blood puts the murder to death (vs. 22) Defining unintentional death (vs ) – Assembly must protect the accused person – Accused must not leave the sanctuary of the city Bloodshed defiles the land, atonement can only be made by the one who shed it (vs. 34) Laws of Seeking Refuge (35:16-34)

Moses mediates a property dispute issue Family heads of Gilead clan of the Manasseh tribe – Reminds Moses that God had commanded him to give the inheritance of Zelophehad to his daughters – However, if they marry, the property could permanently end up in the hands of another tribe – Moses agreed The daughters must marry within the tribal clan of Manasseh – No inheritance will pass from tribe to tribe – They married within the Manasseh tribe Zelophehad’s Daughters (36:1-16)

Review Understanding Numbers is critical to understanding much of the history contained in the rest of the Old Testament God directed the people of Israel to drive out all inhabitants in Canaan as they prepared to cross the Jordan river. The land is divided among the remaining tribes including cities set aside for the Levites Next week: Deuteronomy 1-4, Covenant History