1. Forty years wandering

2.  This book marks the transition of Yahweh’s revelation at Mount Sinai with Israel’s journey to Canaan  Numbers looks ahead to Israel’s future military victories over the Canaanites

3.  Part narrative  Part legal directives

4.  Reports the census of the Twelve Tribes of Israel  Numbers takes its title from the Greek arithmoi, referring to the census or the “numbering of the people.”

5.  Chapters 10 through 36 of Numbers reports Israel’s itinerary, camp to desert camp

7.  Although blessed with the divine presence, the Israelites seem unable to recognize or honor Yahweh living in their midst.  Yahweh visibly guides them  Columnar cloud by day  Towering flame by night  Despite these phenomena that confirm Yahweh’s guiding presence, the people incessantly complain, including outright rebellions against Moses

8.  The cowardly dread of the Canaanites causes Yahweh to delay the Israelites trek to Canaan  Joshua and Caleb indicate they could beat Canaanites and the people threaten to kill them  No Israelite over age twenty will live to see Canaan  Older generation lapses into idolatry  Younger generation indoctrinated in Mosaic religion

9.  Moses’ family members claim their conversations with Yahweh were as good as his  Miriam is struck with leprosy, but then cured

10.  Yahweh allocates specific territory to tribal leaders

12.  The people question whether Yahweh can drive out the Canaanites for them

13.  Moses, Aaron, Miriam, condemned to die in the wilderness before reaching the Promised Land