1. Lesson 6: Numbers

2. Title, Author And Date
Title: Hebrew: “And He spoke;” “In the Wilderness;”
LXX: “Numbers”
Author
Moses
Date
Written
After 1406 B.C. (Eve of Conquest)
Events
1445 (Sinai) – 1406 (Plains Of Moab)
Title is misleading!!! Should be israeliticus!!
Events: note the slowing of time – genesis = ~8,200 Exodus = ~430 years, Leviticus is just 30 days!
numbers will be 80 years and Deut will be about a month again.

3. Chronology of Numbers
2nd Year 1st Month The Offering at the Tabernacle (7:1-9); The Cloud and Trumpets (9:15-10:10) The Offerings of Each Tribal Leader (7:10-89) The Dedication of the Levites (8:1-26) The Second Passover (9:1-8) 2nd M Numberings Begin and Further Laws Given (1:1-6:27) The Passover for the Defiled (9:9-14) The Departure from Sinai (10:11-32) 3rd M Journey from Sinai to Kadesh (10:33-12:16) 4th M Spies Sent Out (13:1-20) Spying the Land (13:21-24) 6th M Spies Return and the People Rebel (13:25-14:38) The Futile Invasion Attempt (14:39-45) 7-12 M Death in the Wilderness (15:1-19:22) 3rd Year through 39th Year NOTHING!!! 40th Year 1 M Miriam Dies (20:1) The Rebellion of Moses at Meribah (20:2-13) 2nd M Edom Denies Israel Passage (20:14-21) 3rd M Journey to Mount Hor (20:22) 4th M Aaron Dies (20:23-28; 33:38) 5th M Aaron Mourned (20:29) 6th M Travel to and Victories in Transjordan (21:1-22:1) 8th M Balaam (22:2-25:18) 9th M Final Preparations for Canaan (26:1-36:13) 11th M Moses Exhorts Israel (Deut. 1:5) Moses Dies (Deut. 34:5) 12th M Moses Mourned (Deut. 34:8)

4. Purpose of Numbers
To chronicle the failure of Israel to obey the Lord by faith and enter the Promised Land, the consequent discipline of the Lord bringing about the death of that entire generation of Israel, and the preparation of the next generation of Israel to enter the Land

5. Outline The Experience of the First Generation of Israel (1-25)
Obedience at Sinai (1-6)
Disobedience in the Wilderness (7-22)
Rebellion on the Plains of Moab (23-25)
The Experience of the Second Generation of Israel (26-36)
Preparation for Conquest (26:1-33:49)
Anticipation of Conquest (33:50-35:13)

6. Theme: Organization of the Nation

7. Problem: How should we understand the Numbers?
Literal and Precise
Gematria
Different meaning of “thousand”
Symbolic
Deliberate Hyperbole
Lost Ancient System
Textual Corruption
Archaeology of the Wilderness
Climate of the Wilderness
Demographics of the ANE

8. The wilderness of Paran
Total Population 1937: ,000
Total Rainfall:
1-2 inches

9. The wilderness of Zin
How could anyone survive here let alone 3,000,000 people?
Deut 8:3-4

10. Route out of Egypt

11. Wilderness wanderings

12. Theme: The Rebellions of Israel
11 – Grumbling about food
12 – Miriam and Aaron Rebel
14 – Rebellion of Spies and Conquest
15 – Sabbath Breaking
16 – Korah
20 – Moses Strikes the Rock
21– Impatience with Journey
25 – Whoring with the Edomites

13. Theme: the wrath of god 11 – Plague through Quail
12 – Miriam Leprous, Aaron Scolded
14 – Cursed to Die in Wilderness, Defeat in Battle
15 – Offender Stoned
16 – Earth Swallows them Up
20 – Moses Denied Entry to Promised Land
21– Poisonous Serpents
25 – Public Execution, Defeat of Edom

14. Balaam (22-24) Problem: How does Balaam fit with the other prophets?
A True Prophet of Yahweh
A False Prophet
A Neutral Prophet – his character unimportant

15. Theme: the Patience and promise of god
40 Years!!!!
Heb 3:14-4:2