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The Book of Numbers “Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah”. Book of Numbers in the Old Testament. Time Period in OT History. Creation The Flood Patriarchs Bondage in Egypt 1445-1405 B.C. Wilderness Wanderings (Num. & Deut.) Conquest of Canaan Period of the Judges United Kingdom
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Time Period in OT History Creation The Flood Patriarchs Bondage in Egypt 1445-1405 B.C. Wilderness Wanderings (Num. & Deut.) Conquest of Canaan Period of the Judges United Kingdom Divided Kingdom Captivity and Exile Return and Restoration
Book Background Title: “Numbers” (1:2; LXX and Vulgate); “In the wilderness” (1:1; Hebrew Bible) Authorship: Moses (Num. 33:1-2; Jn. 5:46-47) Date: 1445 – 1405 B.C. Audience: Future generations of Israelites will be reminded not to follow the sins of their ancestors.
Outline of the Book • Israel at Mt. Sinai (Numbers 1-10) • The original generation is given laws • Israel in the Wilderness (Numbers 10-21) • The transitional generation is given punishment • Israel on the Plains of Moab (Numbers 22-36) • The new generation is given laws
Outline of the Book • Israel’s Direction from God (Numbers 1-10) • Preparation for the journey • Order of the old generation • Israel’s Disbelief in God (Numbers 10-21) • Trials of a journey • Disorder of the transitional generation • Israel’s Discipline from God(Numbers 22-36) • Reminders of a journey • Reorder of the new generation
Time Period of Events • Israel at Mt. Sinai (Numbers 1-10) • 20 days (1:1; 10:11) • Israel in the Wilderness (Numbers 10-21) • 38 years, 3 months, 10 days (10:11; 33:38) • Israel on the Plains of Moab(Numbers 22-36) • c. 6 months (33:38; Deut. 1:3)
Location of Events • Israel at Mt. Sinai (Numbers 1-10) • Lev. 27:34; Num. 1:1; 10:11 • Israel in the Wilderness (Numbers 10-21) • 10:11; 21:33 • Israel on the Plains of Moab (Numbers 22-36) • 22:1; 36:13
Geographical Location of Events Numbers 22-36 Numbers 10-21 Numbers 1-10
Order of Israel’s CampNumbers 2:2“God At the Center of Our Lives” Dan Asher Naphtali Levites Judah Levites Issachar Zebulun Ephraim Manasseh Levites Benjamin Tabernacle Levites Reuben Simeon Gad N W E S
Order of Israel’s MarchNumbers 2:17“God At the Center of Our Lives” Dan Asher Naphtali Reuben Simeon Gad Judah Issachar Zebulun Ephraim Manasseh Benjamin Tabernacle Order of March
Numbers 1-4Lessons for Today Be among those numbered who are “able to go forth to war” (1:3,26, etc.; 1 Tim. 1:18) Take the commandments of the Lord seriously (1:51; 3:10,38; 4:15; Heb. 12:28-29) Do “according to all that Jehovah commanded” (1:54; 2:34; Col. 3:17) God wants order – “by his own standard” - for our lives as we travel through life (2:2; 1 Cor. 14:33,40)
Numbers 1-4Lessons for Today Proceed forward with God – “the tent of meeting” - at the center of your lives (2:2,17; Heb. 10:24-25) Fulfill the “service” of every faithful follower of God (4:4; Rom. 12:1-2)
The ConnectionBetween Numbers 1-4 and Numbers 5-9 The physical ordering of God’s people before the march Canaan land(Numbers 1-4) The spiritual ordering of God’s people before the march to Canaan land (Numbers 5-9)
Numbers 5-6Lessons for Today When the Lord speaks, we must listen (5:1,5,11; 6:1,22; Heb. 1:1-2) We must “put out of the camp” all uncleanness from our lives (5:2-4; 2 Cor. 7:1) God will not allow uncleanness because he dwells “in the midst” of his people (5:3; 1 Cor. 6:16) Sin is “against” God and makes us “guilty” before God so we must “confess” it to God (5:6-7; 1 Jn. 1:7-9)
Numbers 5-6Lessons for Today We sin “against” our spouse when we commit adultery with another (5:12-13,27; Mk. 10:11-12) The one guilty of adultery is “defiled” before God and commits a “trespass” and “iniquity” (5:13-14,27,29,31; Heb. 13:4) A wife, “being under thy husband,” is bound by God’s law to her husband (5:19,20,29; Rom. 7:2-3)
Numbers 5-6Lessons for Today Let us “separate” ourselves unto the service of the Lord (6:1; Rom. 6:13; 14:8; 1 Cor. 6:19) When you make a vow consider it carefully and execute if faithfully (6:21; Eccl. 5:1-7; Jas. 5:12) The Lord will “bless” his people who fear him and faithfully follow him (6:22-27; Psa. 115:13)
What Was the Levitical Age of Service?20, 25, or 30? • Scripture References: Num. 4:3,23,30,35,39,43,47 (age 30); Num. 8:24-25 (age 25); 1 Chron. 23:3,24,27 (age 30 and age 20); 2 Chron. 31:17 (age 20); Ezra 3:8 (age 20) • Suggested Possibilities: • One age (30) was for transportation (4:3,23); the other (25) for the service (8:24-25); different ages were used for different levels of work • One age was for the wilderness (Num. 4; 8); the other for settlement in the land (1 Chron. 23:26)
What Was the Levitical Age of Service?20, 25, or 30? • Suggested Possibilities – continued: • The lowest age (20) was for a time when the Levite numbers were in short supply (Ezra 2:40; 3:8) • One age was for apprenticeship (25); the other for full service (30) • A textual variant in the ancient mss. accounts for the different numbers; the LXX has “25” in both Numbers 4:3 and 8:24
Numbers 7-10Lessons for Today Let us bring our free-will “offerings” to the Lord (7:2; 2 Cor. 8:5; 9:6-7) We must always follow the pattern laid out by God (8:4; 2 Tim. 1:13) We must remove sin from our lives before we can serve God acceptably and effectively (8:21-22; Rom. 12:1-2)
Numbers 7-10Lessons for Today We must wait to get God’s answer before we act (9:8; Col. 3:17) Let us always follow God lead, guidance, and direction as we travel through life (9:18,23; Jn. 16:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17) God’s people are to assemble together, move together, war together and feast together (10:1-10; Heb. 10:25)
Outline of the Book • Israel at Mt. Sinai (Numbers 1-10) • The original generation is given laws • Israel in the Wilderness (Numbers 10-21) • The transitional generation is given punishment • Israel on the Plains of Moab (Numbers 22-36) • The new generation is given laws
Outline of the Book • Israel’s Direction from God (Numbers 1-10) • Preparation for the journey • Order of the old generation • Israel’s Disbelief in God (Numbers 10-21) • Trials of a journey • Disorder of the transitional generation • Israel’s Discipline from God(Numbers 22-36) • Reminders of a journey • Reorder of the new generation
Time Period of Events • Israel at Mt. Sinai (Numbers 1-10) • 20 days (1:1; 10:11) • Israel in the Wilderness (Numbers 10-21) • 38 years, 3 months, 10 days (10:11; 33:38) • Israel on the Plains of Moab(Numbers 22-36) • c. 6 months (33:38; Deut. 1:3)
Outline of Numbers 1-9 • Physical Ordering of Israel (Numbers 1-4) • The numbering of men of war (Num. 1) • The ordering of the camp and march (Num. 2) • The duties of the Levites (Num. 3-4) • Spiritual Ordering of Israel (Numbers 5-9) • The removal of sin from the camp (Num. 5) • The separation of Nazarites (Num. 6) • The offerings of the tribes (Num. 7) • The purification of the Levites (Num. 8) • The Passover and the Lord’s direction (Num. 9)
Geographical Location of Events Numbers 22-36 Numbers 10-21 Numbers 1-10
Geographical Location of Events( Numbers 10-12 ) Wilderness of Paran Num. 10:12; 12:16 Hazeroth Kibrothhattaavah Mt. Sinai
Israel’s Trials and Punishments“the anger of Jehovah was kindled”
Numbers 10Lessons for Today God’s people are to assemble together, move together, war together and feast together (10:1-10; Heb. 10:25) Let us journey to our rest-land “according to the commandment of Jehovah” (10:13; Col. 3:17) Let us journey to our rest-land while inviting others to go with us – “come with us” (10:29; 1 Cor. 9:24-26) Let us journey while praying to the Lord and praising him (10:35-36; Heb. 4:16)
Numbers 11Lessons for Today The Lord can get angry with his people (11:1,10,33; 12:9; Rom. 1:18) The Lord is angry with his people when they murmur (11:1; 1 Cor. 10:10; Phil. 2:14; 1 Pet. 4:9) Be careful not to return in your heart to the old way of life after following the Lord (11:4-5; Acts 7:39; 2 Pet. 2:20-22)
Numbers 11Lessons for Today The burden of leadership is not placed in the hands of just one man (11:17; 1 Cor. 12-14; Phil. 1:1) There is nothing too hard for the Lord (11:23; Mt. 19:26)
Numbers 12Lessons for Today God’s people must be content to follow God’s leadership arrangement (12:2; 1 Thess. 5:12-13) Speaking against God’s leaders is foolish and sinful (12:11; Heb. 13:7,17) God hears the prayer of intercession for others (12:13; 1 Tim. 2:1-2)
Geographical Location of Events( Numbers 13-14 ) Hormah Kadesh-barnea Wilderness of Paran Num. 13:3,26 The Red Sea
The 12 Spies Sent Out Numbers 13
Israel’s Trials and Punishments“the anger of Jehovah was kindled”
Numbers 13Lessons for Today We must never forget that God’s rest-land is a “good” land given by God (13:2,19,27; 14:7; Rev. 21-22) Following God’s plan takes a strong courage and faith (13:20; 2 Tim. 1:7-8) Following the “evil report” of the majority will make us evil and will keep us out of our rest-land (13:32; 14:27,35; 1 Cor. 15:33) Encourage God’s people to do what is right (13:30)
Numbers 14Lessons for Today The Lord is angry with his people when they murmur (14:2; 1 Cor. 10:10; Phil. 2:14; 1 Pet. 4:9) Be careful not to return in your heart to the old way of life after following the Lord (14:2-4; Acts 7:39; 2 Pet. 2:20-22) Those who murmur will make for themselves leaders who will lead them in the direction they want to go (14:4,10; 2 Tim. 4:3-4)
Numbers 14Lessons for Today Fear God and obey him, not the people of the land (14:8-9) Be willing to stand with the faithful minority than with the faithless majority (14:10) Disbelief and disobedience will keep God’s people out of God’s rest-land (14:11; Heb. 4:1-11) God hears the prayer of intercession for others (14:13-19; 1 Tim. 2:1-2) God may forgive a sin, but the consequences or punishment for that sin may still follow (14:20-23,34)
Numbers 14Lessons for Today God is gracious and forgiving (14:18; Eph. 2:4-8) God may forgive a sin but allow the consequences of that sin to remain (14:20-35) Failure to believe is man’s fault, not God’s fault (14:11,22; Jn. 20:30-31) We must have “another spirit” – the spirit of Caleb who fully followed the Lord (14:24; Mt. 22:36-37)
Numbers 14Lessons for Today Don’t reject the good rest-land that God has provided for you (14:31; Acts 13:46) Those who bring and “evil report” against God and his people will be punished (14:36-37) The sin of presumption (thinking God is on our side when he is not) will lead to failure (14:39-45)
Outline of the Book • Israel’s Direction from God (Numbers 1-10) • Israel’s Disbelief in God (Numbers 10-21) • Journey begun (10) • Murmuring (11) • Questioning (12) • Disbelief (13-14) • Laws concerning offerings (15) • Rebellion (16-17)
Israel’s Trials and Punishments“the anger of Jehovah was kindled”
Numbers 15Lessons for Today Our sacrifices are a “sweet savor unto Jehovah” (15:10,13; 2 Cor. 2:14-15) We have “one law” for everyone today – the Law of Christ (15:16,29; Gal. 6:2; Jas. 1:25) Sins of ignorance are still sin and can be forgiven (15:22-29; 1 Jn. 3:4; 5:17; Jas. 4:17) Some sins are “high-handed” and willful (15:30-31; Heb. 10:26)
Numbers 15Lessons for Today Find out what God wants for us before we act (15:24; Col. 3:17) Keep God’s word at the forefront of your mind and do not follow your heart or your eyes (15:37-41; 1 Jn. 5:2) Remember the true meaning of God’s commands (15:38; Mt. 23:5)
Numbers 16Lessons for Today Do not rebel, murmur or sin against God’s leadership (16:1-11,30; Heb. 13:7,20) Those who disobey God in one matter will often disobey in other matters (16:12-14) Do not join hands with those who rebel against God’s leadership The sin of rebellion is punished by God and remembered (16:31-39)