THE FOURTH BOOK OF MOSES

CALLED

NUMBERS
Introduction to Numbers: Though the Jews used other
names for this book, since the earliest days of the church, it has
been called Numbers because it records the two-fold enumer-
ation (i.e., census) of the newly born nation of Israel. The book
more or less picks up the narrative where Exodus left off ending
with Israel on the plains of Jordan about to enter the land. There
is no question by Bible-believing scholars that Moses was the
author.
Though recording the failure of Israel on their journey to
the promised land, the book also sets forth God’s clear order
and discipline for His people. The book is comprised of several
sections: (1) the ordering of Israel for the journey 1:1 - 10:10;
(2) the journey from Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea 10:11 - 12:16; (3)
Israel at Kadesh-Barnea 13:1 - 19:22; (4) the years of wander-
ings 20:1 - 33:49; and (5) final instruction prior to entering the
land 33:50 - 36:13.

Overview of Numbers 1: The Book of Numbers begins with

God instructing Moses to order and organize Israel for the
impending journey. His first task thereto was to take a census,

705
 706 Understanding Numbers
determining the adult male population. Then, he was to organ-
ize the encampment for order and structural discipline. The
subdivisions of the chapter are: (1) The enumeration of the
Israelites in verses1-43; (2) The total number of the people in
verses 44-46; (3) and the Levites are not counted with the rest
in verses 47-54.

1:1-4 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness

of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first
day of the second month, in the second year after they were
come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 Take ye the sum of
all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their
families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of
their names, every male by their polls;
3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to
go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number
them by their armies. 4 And with you there shall be a man of
every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.
The narrative resumes after the issuance of the Levitical
law in the Book of Leviticus. God spoke to Moses from the
newly-opened Tabernacle on the first day of the second month
of the second year. It was on the first day of the first month of the
second year that the Tabernacle had been erected. Perhaps
during the intervening month, the content of the book of Lev-
iticus had been presented. Now, one month later, God ordered
Moses to take a census of the nation.
Specifically, he was to number the adult male population
from twenty years old and upward. He was to keep precise
record of each male, family, and the tribe to which they be-
longed. In each tribe, he was commanded to record all able to go
to war. The nation of Israel then and today had an universal
army. All adult males able to fight were considered part of the
armed forces of the nation.
 Understanding Numbers 707
1:5-16 And these are the names of the men that shall
stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of
Shedeur. 6 Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 7
Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 8 Of Issachar;
Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 9 Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of
Helon.
10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the
son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of
Pedahzur. 11 Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni. 12 Of
Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 13 Of Asher; Pagiel
the son of Ocran. 14 Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 15 Of
Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.
16 These were the renowned of the congregation,
princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in
Israel.
God instructed Moses of the specific names of one man in
each of the twelve tribes of Israel “that shall stand with you.”
Each were princes and men of reputation in each of the tribes of
Israel.

1:17-19 And Moses and Aaron took these men which

are expressed by their names: 18 And they assembled all the
congregation together on the first day of the second month,
and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the
house of their fathers, according to the number of the
names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls. 19
As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in
the wilderness of Sinai.
Through these twelve princes, the entire nation was
assembled on the first day of the second month. The word trans-
lated as pedigree (dly yalad) has the sense of ‘genealogy.’ The
word translated as poll (tlglg gulgoleth) literally means
‘head’ and in this context has the sense of a census. Hence, each
man and family in each tribe was to declare their genealogy in
 708 Understanding Numbers
the census at hand. God therefore commanded Moses to thus
number by census every household and record the population
“in the wilderness of Sinai.”

1:20-45 The twelve tribes of Israel were enumerated. Each

male twenty years old and upward and able to go to war was
counted “by their polls” (i.e., by their heads). The following is
the summary and census of the various tribes of Israel.

Reuben 46,500
Simeon 59,300
Gad 45,650
Judah 74,600
Issachar 54,400
Zebulun 57,400
Ephraim 40,500
Manasseh 32,200
Benjamin 35,400
Dan 62,700
Asher 41,500
Naphtali 53,400

1:46 Even all they that were numbered were six

hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred
and fifty. The grand total of males age twenty and yet strong
enough to go to battle was 603,550. Not counting the 22,000
male Levites, it may be assumed the entire nation of Israel was
at least 4 times greater. Each man presumably had a wife and
they probably had at least an average of two children. That does
not include the elderly among them nor the tribe of Levi. It
therefore may safely be assumed a conservative estimate of the
nation of Israel was between 2.5 million and 3 million people.
 Understanding Numbers 709
1:47-51 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers
were not numbered among them. 48 For the LORD had
spoken unto Moses, saying, 49 Only thou shalt not number
the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the
children of Israel:
50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle
of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all
things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and
all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and
shall encamp round about the tabernacle. 51 And when the
tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down:
and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall
set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to
death.
Described here is that the tribe of Levi was not to be
numbered with the main body of Israel as such. Rather, their
primary responsibility was the care, oversight, transportation,
erection and dismantling of the Tabernacle. Moreover, any
interloper to the Tabernacle was to be put to death.

1:52-54 And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents,

every man by his own camp, and every man by his own
standard, throughout their hosts. 53 But the Levites shall
pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be
no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel:
and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of
testimony. 54 And the children of Israel did according to all
that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.
It is clear, God ordained an orderly, systematic organi-
zation of the camp of Israel. Each man and his family was to
pitch their tent “by his own camp, and every man by his own
standard, throughout the hosts.” Implied is that in each of the
four sub-camps, there were three further subdivisions for each
tribe and then standards (banners) for each family-clan within
 710 Understanding Numbers
the tribe. Therefore, the camp of Israel must have been highly
organized, orderly, and with a symmetrical neatness. The Tab-
ernacle was to be located in the center of the camp. The Levites
as a tribe were to encamp around the Tabernacle, surrounding it.
Not only were they close at hand for its needs, but they also
became a barrier lest some careless individual infringed upon it
to their peril. Israel to their credit did exactly as commanded by
God.

*****

Overview of Numbers 2: The orderly organization of

God’s layout of the camp of Israel is evident. God is a God of
order. In this chapter, the four major subdivisions of the camp
along with the tribes assigned to each subdivision are enum-
erated.

2:1-2 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron,
saying, 2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by
his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house:
far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they
pitch.
God through Moses further instructed Israel in the order
and organization of the camp. Not only was each family to
encamp in their family-clan, they were to do so in their own
tribe. The word ensign has the sense of a flag. Hence, each tribe
had its own distinctive flag. Within each tribe were the banners
(standards) of the various clans of that tribe.
Moreover, as will be noted momentarily, each tribe was
part of a three-tribe sub-camp organized at the four major points
of the compass. The comment how these encampments were to
be “far off about the tabernacle” has led some to think there may
have been open space as much as two thousand cubits (i.e.,
 Understanding Numbers 711
3,000 feet) from the tribes to the tabernacle based upon Joshua
3:4.

2:3-9 And on the east side toward the rising of the sun
shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch
throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Ammin-
adab shall be captain of the children of Judah. 4 And his
host, and those that were numbered of them, were
threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. 5 And
those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of
Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of
the children of Issachar.
6 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof,
were fifty and four thousand and four hundred. 7 Then the
tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain
of the children of Zebulun. 8 And his host, and those that
were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and
four hundred. 9 All that were numbered in the camp of
Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand
and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their
armies. These shall first set forth.
On the east side of the tabernacle was the camp of Judah.
Also in this encampment were the tribes of Issachar and
Zebulun. This camp therefore had a total of 186,400 men able
to go to war. When the Tabernacle was to be moved, the first
contingent preceding it was the greater camp of Judah.

2:10-17 On the south side shall be the standard of the

camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain
of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
11 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were
forty and six thousand and five hundred.
12 And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of
Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be
 712 Understanding Numbers
Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 13 And his host, and those
that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand
and three hundred. 14 Then the tribe of Gad: and the
captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.
15 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were
forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.
16 All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were
an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four
hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall
set forth in the second rank. 17 Then the tabernacle of the
congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites
in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set
forward, every man in his place by their standards.
On the south side of the Tabernacle was the greater camp
of Reuben. Also in this encampment were the tribes of Simeon
and Gad. This camp had a total of 151,450 men able to go to
war. When the Tabernacle was moved, the second contingent to
move out was the camp of Reuben. Thereafter, the Tabernacle
was to set forward with the tribe of Levi with it.

2:18-24 On the west side shall be the standard of the

camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the
captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of
Ammihud. 19 And his host, and those that were numbered
of them, were forty thousand and five hundred. 20 And by
him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the
children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of
Pedahzur. 21 And his host, and those that were numbered of
them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
22 Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the
sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. 23 And
his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty
and five thousand and four hundred. 24 All that were numb-
ered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand
 Understanding Numbers 713
and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their
armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.
On the west side of the Tabernacle was the greater camp of
Ephraim. Also in this encampment were the tribes of Manas-
seh and Benjamin. There were a total of 108,100 men able to
go to war in this camp. When the nation moved, the greater
camp of Ephraim followed third in rank of procession and
immediately behind the Tabernacle.

2:25-32 The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the

north side by their armies: and the captain of the children
of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And his
host, and those that were numbered of them, were
threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. 27 And
those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and
the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of
Ocran. 28 And his host, and those that were numbered of
them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.
29 Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the
children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. 30 And
his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty
and three thousand and four hundred. 31 All they that were
numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand
and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go
hindmost with their standards. 32 These are those which
were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of
their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps
throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and
three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
Finally, on the north side of the Tabernacle was the greater
camp of Dan. Included in this encampment were the tribes of
Asher and Naphtali. They had a total of 157,600 men fit for
war. They became the rear guard as the nation of Israel and the
Tabernacle would travel.
 714 Understanding Numbers
2:33-34 But the Levites were not numbered among the
children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses. 34 And
the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD
commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and
so they set forward, every one after their families,
according to the house of their fathers. The total number of
men of war of Israel is again noted as 603,550, excluding the
Levites. Thus Israel organized their encampment and their
movements according to God’s instructions.

*****

Overview of Numbers 3: The following chapter presents

the ordering and census of the sons of Aaron along with the
tribe of Levi. The subdivisions of the chapter are: (1) the sons
of Aaron with the Levites taken instead of the first-born in
verses 1-13; (2) the Levites numbered by their families with
their duties in verses 14-39;(3) and, the first-born are num-
bered in verses 40-51.

3:1-4 These also are the generations of Aaron and

Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount
Sinai. 2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab
the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are
the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were
anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s
office. 4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when
they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness
of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and
Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of
Aaron their father.
Aaron’s family is recorded. He had four sons, Nadab,
Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These, along with their father
 Understanding Numbers 715
Aaron, had been anointed into the priesthood of Israel. Un-
fortunately, Aaron’s two oldest sons, Nadab and Abihu
perished as God judged them in the matter of their strange fire.
They had no children. Aaron’s two younger sons however
continued to assist him in his priestly duties.

3:5-13 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 6 Bring

the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the
priest, that they may minister unto him. 7 And they shall
keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation
before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service
of the tabernacle. 8 And they shall keep all the instruments
of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the
children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 And
thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they
are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.
10And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they
shall wait on their priest’s office: and the stranger that
cometh nigh shall be put to death. 11 And the LORD spake
unto Moses, saying, 12 And I, behold, I have taken the
Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the
firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of
Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; 13 Because all the
firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the
firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the
firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be:
I am the LORD.
God instructed Moses to assemble the entire tribe of Levi
before Aaron. They were to be formally commissioned into the
service of the Tabernacle as Aaron’s assistants. It was their
charge to take care of all the instruments and all appurtenances
of the Tabernacle. Moreover, they were appointed to guard the
Tabernacle lest any stranger (i.e., anyone not duly authorized)
come near it. In such case, they were to be executed, evidently
 716 Understanding Numbers
at the hands of the Levites. They thus became the first
Tabernacle police, and later the Temple police in Jesus’ day.
God went on to remind that He had chosen the tribe of Levi
for service in lieu of the firstborn of the nation of Israel. He had
thus chosen them Himself for His divine service at the Tab-
ernacle. God further reminded them that all firstborn were His
as per the Passover in Egypt. However, and practically, He had
assigned the Levites to take the place of the nation’s firstborn in
serving Him.

3:14-21 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the

wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 Number the children of Levi
after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male
from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.
16 And Moses numbered them according to the word of
the LORD, as he was commanded. 17 And these were the sons
of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by
their families; Libni, and Shimei. 19 And the sons of Kohath
by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20 And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and
Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the
house of their fathers.
21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the
family of the Shimites: these are the families of the
Gershonites.
The descendants of Levi are recorded. Moses was to
number each male of the tribe from a month old and upward.
Levi had three sons: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. The
tribe would soon be organized along these three clans for spec-
ific duties regarding the Tabernacle. Of note is the family of
Kohath. One of his sons was Amram who became the father of
both Moses and Aaron.
 Understanding Numbers 717
3:22-26 Those that were numbered of them, according
to the number of all the males, from a month old and
upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven
thousand and five hundred. 23 The families of the
Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward. 24
And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites
shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
25 And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the
tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and
the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door
of the tabernacle of the congregation, 26 And the hangings of
the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is
by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the
cords of it for all the service thereof
Of the house of the Gershonites, there were numbered
7,500 males from a month old and upward. They were to pitch
their tents on the west side (the back) of the Tabernacle in the
greater encampment of Israel.
The primary task of the Gershonites was the care of the
actual tent material of the Tabernacle, the courtyard, the hang-
ing door of the Tabernacle as well as the door of the courtyard.
It was their job to assemble, disassemble, and transport this
portion of the Tabernacle when it journeyed.

3:27-32 And of Kohath was the family of the

Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family
of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are
the families of the Kohathites. 28 In the number of all the
males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand
and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary. 29
The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of
the tabernacle southward.
30 And the chief of the house of the father of the families
of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31
 718 Understanding Numbers
And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the
candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary
wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the
service thereof. 32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest
shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the
oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.
Of the house of Kohath, there were numbered 8,600 males
from a month old and upward. They were assigned the care of
the sacred furniture of the Tabernacle. “The hanging” is thought
to be the veil of the holy place. The Kohathites became re-
sponsible for the proper care, set up, take down, and trans-
portation of the sacred furniture as the Tabernacle was moved.
Moreover, Eleazar, a priest was assigned to supervise the Koh-
athites regarding their handling of the holy furniture. They were
to encamp on the south side of the Tabernacle.

3:33-37 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and

the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
34 And those that were numbered of them, according to the
number of all the males, from a month old and upward,
were six thousand and two hundred. 35 And the chief of the
house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the
son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle
northward.
36 And under the custody and charge of the sons of
Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars
thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and
all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto, 37 And
the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and
their pins, and their cords.
Of the house of Merari were 6,200 males from a month old
and upward. They were assigned the custody of the structural
framework and hardware of the Tabernacle and its courtyard.
They were responsible for this portion of the Tabernacle, its
 Understanding Numbers 719
transportation, set up, and take down. They were assigned to
encamp on the north side of the Tabernacle.

3:38-39 But those that encamp before the tabernacle

toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the
congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his
sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of
the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh
shall be put to death. 39 All that were numbered of the
Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the
commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all
the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and
two thousand.
Only Moses, Aaron and his sons, the priests, were allowed
to encamp on the east side of the Tabernacle. This of course was
before the entry thereto. Again, a stranger (i.e., an unauthorized
person) who otherwise approach the Tabernacle or perhaps
even encamped in an unauthorized place nearby was to be put
to death. The total number of Levites from one month old and
upward was 22,000.

3:40-43 And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the
firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month
old and upward, and take the number of their names. 41
And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD)
instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and
the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among
the cattle of the children of Israel.
42 And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded
him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel. 43 And all
the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month
old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were
twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and
thirteen.
 720 Understanding Numbers
God thereafter instructed Moses to number all of the first-
born males in the camp of Israel from one month old and
upward and to record their names. Again, He noted that the Le-
vites were to take their place. Upon counting, Moses came up
with 22,273 firstborn males.

3:44-51 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 45

Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the
children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of
their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD. 46
And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred
and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children
of Israel, which are more than the Levites; 47 Thou shalt
even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of
the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty
gerahs:) 48 And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the
odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to
his sons.
49 And Moses took the redemption money of them that
were over and above them that were redeemed by the
Levites: 50 Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he
the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and
five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: 51 And Moses
gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron
and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the
LORD commanded Moses.
Though the number of firstborn males was close to the
22,000 Levites, there was a differential of 273 males. God
therefore ordered that each of these would be redeemed by
paying a five shekel head tax. That money (1,365 shekels) was
given to Aaron and his sons as redemption money for the 273
odd firstborn males.

*****
 Understanding Numbers 721
Overview of Numbers 4: The organizational section of the
Book of Numbers continues. God through Moses ordered or
organized Israel for the journey ahead. In chapter 4, each of the
three families of Levi were assigned specific duties in the move-
ment of the Tabernacle.
The subdivisions of the chapter are: (1) the ministry of the
Kohathites in verses 1-3; (2) the duties of the Kohathites in
verses 4-20; (3) the duties of the Gershonites and Merarites in
verses 21-33; and (4) the numbers of the Levites available for
the ministry in verses 34-49.

4:1-3 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron,
saying, 2 Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among
the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their
fathers, 3 From thirty years old and upward even until fifty
years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the
tabernacle of the congregation. Moses was enjoined to enum-
erate the clan of Kohath. Specifically, he was to number the men
from twenty years through fifty years old.

4:4 This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the

tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things.
When God signaled for the movement of the camp, it would
become the duty of the Kohathites to prepare the sacred furn-
iture of the Tabernacle for movement.

4:5-12 And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron

shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the
covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it: 6 And
shall put thereon the covering of badgers’ skins, and shall
spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the
staves thereof.
7 And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a
cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons,
 722 Understanding Numbers
and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual
bread shall be thereon: 8 And they shall spread upon them
a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of bad-
gers’ skins, and shall put in the staves thereof. 9 And they
shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the
light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and
all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:
10 And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within
a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put it upon a bar. 11
And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue,
and cover it with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put
to the staves thereof: 12 And they shall take all the
instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the
sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them
with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put them on a
bar.
Specifically, when the time came to dismantle the Tab-
ernacle for transit, Aaron and his sons were to take down the vail
“and cover the ark of testimony with it.” They then would cover
it with a special badger-skin cover prepared especially for that
purpose. A cloth of blue would be placed atop that. Then, the
staves of the ark were to be inserted for transit.
In similar fashion, Aaron and his sons were to cover the
table of shewbread with a blue cloth. Included were all the
attendant utensils and even the “continual bread” (i.e., shew-
bread). Over that was to be placed a cloth of scarlet, with a
badger-skin cover stop that. Thence, the staves for movement
were to be inserted into the table of shewbread.
In similar fashion, the golden candelabra was wrapped in a
blue cloth along with its appurtenant utensils. It then was
wrapped in a badger skin and attached to a bar for transit. Like-
wise, the golden altar of incense was wrapped in a blue cloth and
then covered with a badger skin. Staves were then set in place
for transit.
 Understanding Numbers 723
All other miscellaneous “instruments of ministry” (i.e., the
sacred vessels and perhaps the vestments of the priests) were
likewise to be wrapped in blue cloth, covered with badger skin
and then attached to a bar for transit. (Apparently the bar would
be born upon the shoulders of two Levites.) The badger skin
frequently alluded to was evidently some type of leathern skin.
It most certainly was not the North American badger as we think
of it.

4:13-14 And they shall take away the ashes from the
altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon: 14 And they shall
put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister
about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels,
and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall
spread upon it a covering of badgers’ skins, and put to the
staves of it. Even the ashes of the brazen altar were carefully
disposed of when it was time to move. A purple cloth was then
placed upon the altar. The various utensils used for sacrifice at
the altar were then placed upon it. On top of that was placed a
badger skin. Its staves were inserted in their rings, readying it for
transit.

4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of
covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary,
as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath
shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing,
lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of
Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. Once Aaron
and his sons had completed the proper covering of all the sacred
furniture and utensils of the Tabernacle, then the sons of Kohath
were to come to bear it. However, what is clear is that the
Levites could not directly touch any of the holy things upon pain
of death by God Himself. Thus the duty of the Kohathites was
to carry the sacred furniture when the camp moved.
 724 Understanding Numbers
4:16 And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the
priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense,
and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the
oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in
the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof. The actual sacred
elements of the Tabernacle, the “oil for the light, and the sweet
incense, and the daily meat-offering, and the anointing oil”
were to be taken care of by Eleazar, especially when the time
came to move. Moreover, Eleazar was given the direct over-
sight of the sacred furniture and utensils of the Tabernacle.

4:17-20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto

Aaron, saying, 18 Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of
the Kohathites from among the Levites: 19 But thus do unto
them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach
unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in,
and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden:
20 But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are
covered, lest they die.
The Kohathites were not to go into the Tabernacle whilst
Aaron and his sons were packing the sacred items, nor were
they even allowed to see the sacred furniture, particularly the
ark of the covenant. However, because of their duties pertaining
thereto and the possibility of inadvertently seeing the sacred,
they were not to be cut off in such an event. However, they were
to carefully organize themselves so that there was not confusion
or error causing inadvertent contact with the holy things.

4:21-28 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 22

Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the
houses of their fathers, by their families; 23 From thirty
years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou
number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do
the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. 24 This is the
 Understanding Numbers 725
service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for
burdens:
25 And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle,
and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and
the covering of the badgers’ skins that is above upon it, and
the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congre-
gation, 26 And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for
the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle
and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the
instruments of their service, and all that is made for them:
so shall they serve.
27 At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all
the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their
burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto
them in charge all their burdens. 28 This is the service of the
families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the
congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of
Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
The focus now shifts to the “sons of Gershon,” the oldest of
the sons of Levi. They likewise were to numbered from thirty
through fifty years old. They were assigned the task of bearing
the burden of the curtains of the Tabernacle. This also included
the heavy, badger-skin covering of the Tabernacle, the hanging
doors for both the Tabernacle itself as well as the gate of the
court. They additionally were responsible to carry the curtains
which made up the outer court of the Tabernacle along with all
the attendant cords. Ithamar, Aaron’s youngest son, was assign-
ed to oversee the Gershonites and their part in dismantling,
carrying, and reassembling the Tabernacle.

4:29-33 As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number

them after their families, by the house of their fathers; 30
From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old
shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the
 726 Understanding Numbers
service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congre-
gation. 31 And this is the charge of their burden, according
to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the
boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the
pillars thereof, and sockets thereof,
32 And the pillars of the court round about, and their
sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their
instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall
reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden. 33
This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari,
according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the con-
gregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the
priest
Finally, the “sons of Merari,” Levi’s youngest son, were to
be numbered as were their brethren from thirty to fifty years old.
They were assigned the task of dismantling, transporting, and
reassembling of the structural members of the Tabernacle: “the
boards of the tabernacles, and the bars thereof, and the pillars
thereof, and sockets thereof.” Also included were all the struct-
ural hardware of the courtyard. Ithamar, Aaron’s son, also was
given supervision of this aspect of the Tabernacle.

4:33-37 And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the

congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after
their families, and after the house of their fathers,35 From
thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every
one that entereth into the service, for the work in the
tabernacle of the congregation:
36 And those that were numbered of them by their
families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 37
These were they that were numbered of the families of the
Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the
congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number
according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of
 Understanding Numbers 727
Moses. The numbering of the males, thirty to fifty years old of
the Kohathites was 2,750.

4:38-41 And those that were numbered of the sons of

Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of
their fathers, 39 From thirty years old and upward even
unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service,
for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,
40 Even those that were numbered of them, throughout
their families, by the house of their fathers, were two
thousand and six hundred and thirty. 41 These are they that
were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all
that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation,
whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the com-
mandment of the LORD. The numbering of the Gershonites
was 2,630.

4:42-45 And those that were numbered of the families

of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the
house of their fathers, 43 From thirty years old and upward
even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the
service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,
44 Even those that were numbered of them after their
families, were three thousand and two hundred. 45 These be
those that were numbered of the families of the sons of
Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to
the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. The numbering
of the Meraraites was 3,200.

4:46-49 All those that were numbered of the Levites,

whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered,
after their families, and after the house of their fathers, 47
From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old,
every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the
 728 Understanding Numbers
service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation,
48 Even those that were numbered of them, were eight
thousand and five hundred and fourscore. 49 According to
the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the
hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and
according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him,
as the LORD commanded Moses. The grand total of the
prescribed men of the three families of the Levites was 8,580.
The careful order and organization of God’s work at the Tab-
ernacle should thus be apparent.

*****

Overview of Numbers 5: As the order and organization of

Israel is continued to be set forth by God, the matter of dealing
with defilement in the camp is prescribed. The subdivisions of
the chapter are: (1) procedures for dealing with ceremonial un-
cleanness and restitution for trespasses in verses 1-10; (2) the
procedure for dealing with suspected adultery in verses 11-31.

5:1-4 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2

Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the
camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and
whosoever is defiled by the dead: 3 Both male and female
shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that
they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell. 4
And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without
the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the
children of Israel.
God through Moses carefully instructed how that any in the
camp of Israel, male or female which (1) was a leper, (2) had an
issue (a discharge like gonorrhea), or (3) had come into contact
with a dead body was to be “put out, without the camp.” The
 Understanding Numbers 729
greater illustration was that impurity was not to be tolerated in
the camp. This putting away apparently was temporary until the
uncleanness was corrected. The physical separation illustrated
the spiritual principle of separating from spiritual impurity (i.e.,
sin).

5:5-10 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 6 Speak

unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall
commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against
the LORD, and that person be guilty; 7 Then they shall
confess their sin which they have done: and he shall re-
compense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add
unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against
whom he hath trespassed. 8 But if the man have no kinsman
to recompense the tres
pass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the
LORD, even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement,
whereby an atonement shall be made for him. 9 And every
offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which
they bring unto the priest, shall be his. 10 And every man’s
hallowed things shall be his: whatsoever any man giveth the
priest, it shall be his.
Further regulations were issued concerning transgression
against another. The guilty party was (1) to confess what they
had done, and (2) recompense the injured party in full with
twenty percent interest. If the injured party had died and had no
relatives, then the restitution payment went to the priest along
with the required offering of a ram for the trespass offering.
Moreover, every such offering or other hallowed things became
the property of the priest.

5:11-16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 12

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any
man’s wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him, 13
 730 Understanding Numbers
And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes
of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and
there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the
manner;
14 And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be
jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of
jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and
she be not defiled: 15 Then shall the man bring his wife unto
the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth
part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it,
nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jeal-
ousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to
remembrance. 16 And the priest shall bring her near, and
set her before the LORD.
If a married man became suspicious of the fidelity of his
wife, a course of action was prescribed to determine her guilt or
innocence. He was to bring her to the priest along with an
offering of meal (a jealousy offering).

5:17-22 And the priest shall take holy water in an

earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tab-
ernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water: 18 And
the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and un-
cover the woman’s head, and put the offering of memorial
in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest
shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the
curse:
19 And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say
unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou
hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of
thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that caus-
eth the curse: 20 But if thou hast gone aside to another
instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some
man have lain with thee beside thine husband:
 Understanding Numbers 731
21 Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath
of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The
LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people,
when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to
swell; 22 And this water that causeth the curse shall go into
thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot:
And the woman shall say, Amen, amen.
Upon suspicion of adultery of a married woman, the priest
was to take holy water of the Tabernacle and place dust from the
earthen floor of the Tabernacle in it. He then would confront the
woman, uncovering her head, placing the “jealousy offering” in
her hands. The priest would then hold the “bitter water” with the
dust of the Tabernacle in it as a curse. He then would solemnly
invoke upon the woman a trial of ordeal to demonstrate her guilt
or innocence by drinking of the water. If she was guilty, it would
be manifest by her thigh to rot.
The word thus translated (lpn naphal) has the literal sense
to ‘drop’ or ‘to fall.’ Her belly would also swell. The woman
was to assent to the solemnity of the curse by saying, “Amen,
amen.” The latter has the literal thought, “it is true, it is true.”

5:23-27 And the priest shall write these curses in a book,

and he shall blot them out with the bitter water: 24 And he
shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth
the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter
into her, and become bitter. 25 Then the priest shall take the
jealousy offering out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave
the offering before the LORD, and offer it upon the altar: 26
And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, even the
memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and
afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.
27 And when he hath made her to drink the water, then
it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done
trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth
 732 Understanding Numbers
the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her
belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman
shall be a curse among her people.
The woman was thus made to drink the water. The priest
would take the jealousy offering from her hand, offer it on the
altar. If upon drinking the bitter water, the curse came to pass,
the woman would become “a curse among her people.” She
thus became accursed. Though not directly mentioned, adultery
was otherwise punishable by death.

5:28-31 And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean;

then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed. 29 This is the
law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead
of her husband, and is defiled;
30 Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and
he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before
the LORD, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.
31 Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this
woman shall bear her iniquity.
If the suspected woman passed the trial by ordeal, then she
was declared undefiled, clean, free, and able to conceive child-
ren. Thus a husband was given the law of jealousy. Rather than
taking such a matter into one’s own hands, God prescribed a just
system to determine guilt. Implicit is that a guilty man would
also face death for adultery.

*****

Overview of Numbers 6: The Nazarite order is set forth.

The subdivisions of the chapter are: (1) the law regarding Naz-
arites in verses 1-21; and (2) the form of special blessing of the
people in verses 22-27.
 Understanding Numbers 733
6:1-8 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak
unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either
man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a
Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: 3 He shall
separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall
drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither
shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or
dried.
4 All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that
is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.
5 All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no
razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the
which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be
holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. 6 All
the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall
come at no dead body.
7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for
his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die:
because the consecration of his God is upon his head. 8 All
the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD.
The matter of the Nazarite vow is defined and described.
The greater thought is of one (man or woman) making a vow to
God to separate himself unto the Lord. It was a special time of
dedication to God and of absolute purity before Him. The word
translated as Nazarite (ryzn naziyr) essentially means ‘to be
separated’ and is thus further illustrated in the following com-
ments “to separate themselves unto the LORD.” The thought is
of special dedication for a specific period of time. Historically,
godly Jews would typically take such a vow for thirty days. An
illustration of this is of Paul in Acts 18:18 and again in 21:23-24.
There, in each case, Paul shaved his head prior to entering the
period of a vow.
During the period of the Nazarite vow, (1) the devotee was
not to drink any form of the fruit of the vine. The reason was
 734 Understanding Numbers
simple. Though godly Jews would normally avoid fermented
wine, at times it might become a bit fermented without their
knowledge. Hence, they abstained from the fruit of the vine in
any form during the period of their vow.
(2) During this time, the devotee would not cut his hair. It
should be remembered however, most Nazarite vows were typ-
ically thirty days and it became customary for Jews to shave
their heads prior to taking the vow. Hence, one with a Nazarite
vow was noticeable not for his long hair, but for his lack thereof
or the ‘buz’ look several weeks later.
(3) Finally, during the time of such a vow, the devotee was
to have no contact with a dead body under any circumstances.
This remained in force even if the death occurred in one’s
family.
The greater truth was separation from impurity to be holy to
the Lord for a specified time. The only known person to be a
Nazarite at length was Samson who was such from birth. Sadly,
he made a mockery of the very purpose of a Nazarite by his
unholy living. His long hair became more a symbol of his un-
holiness than of his godliness. The same remains true to this
day.

6:9-12 And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he

hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall
shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day
shall he shave it.
10 And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or
two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation: 11 And the priest shall offer
the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering,
and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the
dead, and shall hallow his head that same day.
12 And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his
separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a
 Understanding Numbers 735
trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost,
because his separation was defiled.
If one with a Nazarite vow did inadvertently come into con-
tact with a dead body during the time of his vow, the vow was
in fact terminated. He on the seventh day thereafter was to have
his head shaved and then the next day to bring two turtle doves
or young pigeons to the Tabernacle for a sin-offering and a
burnt-offering. He then also had to offer a lamb for a trespass-
offering. His separation had been defiled and those days were
therefore lost.

6:13-21 And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the

days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto
the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: 14 And he
shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the
first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe
lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and
one ram without blemish for peace offerings, 15 And a
basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled
with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil,
and their meat offering, and their drink offerings.
16 And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and
shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering: 17 And he
shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the
LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall
offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering. 18 And
the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take
the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire
which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings.
19 And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the
ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one un-
leavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the
Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven: 20 And
 736 Understanding Numbers
the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the
LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and
heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink
wine.
21 This is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of
his offering unto the LORD for his separation, beside that
that his hand shall get: according to the vow which he
vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation.
However, if one with a Nazarite vow was able to complete
the time of his vow of separation, he then was to come to the
Tabernacle for a series of special offerings. He was to offer the
appropriate “burnt-offering, sin-offering, and a peace-
offering.” He also was to offer a “meal-offering” and its assoc-
iated “drink-offerings.” (Of the five major types of Levitical
offerings, only the trespass-offering was omitted here.)
Then, the one having fulfilled his Nazarite vow was to
shave his head at the door of the Tabernacle and then offer the
cut hair as part of the peace-offering. Moreover, the priest was
to appropriately wave the shoulder of the ram of the peace-
offering before the Lord. Thereafter, the Nazarite could return
to a normal life and diet.

6:22-27 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 23

Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye
shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD
make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee
peace.
27 And they shall put my name upon the children of
Israel; and I will bless them.
This section of Numbers closes with the great benediction
prescribed for Aaron and his sons to bless the children of Israel.
It was three fold. (1) “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee.” In
 Understanding Numbers 737
as much as the phrase “the LORD” is used three times, some
have thought this might be another Old Testament allusion to
the Trinity. The benediction was not only for God to bless His
people, but to keep them from trouble.
(2) “The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be
gracious unto thee.” The benediction is further expanded with
the anthropomorphism of God’s face looking kindly upon
them. The idea is of God’s favor and approval being placed
upon His people. That is further stated in invoking God to be
gracious to His people. The word translated as gracious (Nnx
chanan) is also translated as ‘merciful.’
(3) “The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give
thee peace.” The benediction is further expanded with God
again being invoked to essentially smile upon His people. The
idea is of Him showing favor thereto. It concludes with them
invoking Him to give peace to His people.
What a wonderful invocation. Its elegance and beauty are
unsurpassed to this day. It moreover is of substance forever.
Finally, God through Moses instructed that Aaron and his
sons were to place God’s name upon Israel. He then would bless
them. To be called God’s people is a privilege indeed. To live up
to that appellation is to receive God’s blessing.

*****

Overview of Number 7: The final details of the dedication

of the Tabernacle ministry are presented, specifically the gifts
of the princes of the twelve tribes in this chapter. The sub-
divisions of the chapter are: (1) the offerings of the princes at
the dedication of the Tabernacle in verses 1-9; and (2) the
offerings of the princes at the dedication of the altar in verses
10-89.
 738 Understanding Numbers
7:1-3 And it came to pass on the day that Moses had
fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and
sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar
and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and
sanctified them; 2 That the princes of Israel, heads of the
house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes,
and were over them that were numbered, offered: 3 And
they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered
wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes,
and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the
tabernacle.
On the day the Tabernacle was officially dedicated into
service, the princes over each of the twelve tribes of Israel
brought special offerings thereto. Between the twelve tribes, six
covered wagons and twelve oxen were presented to the Taber-
nacle for its transportation when moved.

7:4-9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 5 Take it

of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle
of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the
Levites, to every man according to his service. 6 And Moses
took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the
Levites.
7 Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of
Gershon, according to their service: 8 And four wagons and
eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto
their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron
the priest. 9 But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none:
because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them
was that they should bear upon their shoulders.
Moses therefore assigned these wagons and oxen to the
Levites and their burden in transporting the Tabernacle when it
moved. Two wagons were dedicated for the use of the sons of
Gershon in transporting the various curtains of the Tabernacle.
 Understanding Numbers 739
Four wagons were dedicated to the use of the sons of Merari to
transport the timbers, lumber, and structural hardware of the
Tabernacle. However, the sons of Kohath were not allowed use
of any wagon. Their task was to bear the sacred furniture of the
Tabernacle upon their shoulders.

7:10-11 And the princes offered for dedicating of the

altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes
offered their offering before the altar. 11 And the LORD said
unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on
his day, for the dedicating of the altar.
Over the period of the next twelve days, each prince re-
presenting a tribe of Israel brought a special offering for the
dedication of the Tabernacle and the altar.

7:12-88 The order of offering was first the tribe of Judah,

then Issachar, then Zebulun, then Reuben, then Simeon, then
Gad, then Ephraim, then Manasseh, then Benjamin, then Dan,
then Asher, and finally, Naphtali on days one through twelve
respectively. Each prince of each of the twelve tribes of Israel
brought the following items as an offering for the dedication of
the Tabernacle and its altar: one silver charger (platter)
weighing 130 shekels, one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels,
“both full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering.”
They each brought one spoon of 10 shekels of gold, each
full of incense. Also, they each brought “one young bullock,
one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering.” Then,
each tribal prince brought “one kid of the goats for a sin offer-
ing.” Finally, each one brought “for sacrifice of peace-offer-
ings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first
year.”
Hence, each tribe provided the necessary animals for the
basic offerings of the Tabernacle: the meal-offering, the burnt-
offering, the sin-offering, and the peace-offering. Notably,
 740 Understanding Numbers
there was no tribal provision for the trespass offering. The very
nature thereof was personal transgression and would be done by
the individual transgressor. Moreover, each tribe had a part in
providing the day-to-day utensils for the ministry of the Taber-
nacle. Thus, the altar was officially dedicated after its anointing
for service.

7:89 And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of

the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice
of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was
upon the ark of testimony, from between the two
cherubims: and he spake unto him.
Upon the dedication of the Tabernacle, Moses entered
therein to “speak with him.” He thus went to seek further
counsel from God. There, “he heard the voice of one speaking
unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of
testimony, from between the two cherubims.” The Tabernacle
was now fully anointed, dedicated, and functional before God.
Therefore, God thereafter spoke to Moses from the mercy seat
in the holy of holies. Moses, apparently was in the antechamber,
the holy place, and not in the inner sanctum. Evidently, what
God had to say is recorded in the next chapter.

******

Overview of Numbers 8: Chapter 8 presents what God evi-

dently said to Moses in the Tabernacle. See 7:89. Two items
were dealt with: (1) the lamps of the holy place in verses 1-4;
and (2) the dedication of the Levites for service in verses 5-26.

8:1-4 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak

unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the
lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the
 Understanding Numbers 741
candlestick. 3 And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps
thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD com-
manded Moses. 4 And this work of the candlestick was of
beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof,
was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the
LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.
Apparently, the seven lamps of the candlestick had not as
yet been lighted. Therefore, God through Moses instructed
Aaron how that as he lit the lights, they were to provide the light
for the holy place. This evidently was the final step in the prep-
aration of the Tabernacle for service.

8:5-16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 6 Take

the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse
them. 7 And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them:
Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave
all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make
themselves clean.
8 Then let them take a young bullock with his meat
offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another
young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering. 9 And thou
shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the
congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of
the children of Israel together:
10 And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD:
and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the
Levites: 11 And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the
LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may
execute the service of the LORD.
12 And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads
of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin
offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD,
to make an atonement for the Levites. 13 And thou shalt set
the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer
 742 Understanding Numbers
them for an offering unto the LORD. 14 Thus shalt thou
separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and
the Levites shall be mine.
15 And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service
of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt
cleanse them, and offer them for an offering. 16 For they are
wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel;
instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the
firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto
me.
At this time God also through Moses instructed that the
Levites were to be officially cleansed, sanctified, and separated
unto the service of the Tabernacle. The leaders of Israel were to
place their hands upon the Levites “and Aaron shall offer the
Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel,
that they may execute the service of the LORD.” They were thus
to be separated “from among the children of Israel: and the
Levites shall be mine.”

8:17-19 For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are

mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every
firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.
18 And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the
children of Israel. 19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to
Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to
do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of
the congregation, and to make an atonement for the
children of Israel: that there be no plague among the child-
ren of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the
sanctuary.
God went on to note that the Levites as a tribe had been
dedicated to service in place of the first-born of Israel. They
served in lieu of the first-born of that nation. God thus reminded
them that He had spared their first-born of the nation in Egypt.
 Understanding Numbers 743
Hence, the Levites were set apart to the Lord for His service in
making atonement for the nation in the service of the
Tabernacle.

8:20-22 And Moses, and Aaron, and all the

congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites
according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses
concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto
them. 21 And the Levites were purified, and they washed
their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before
the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to
cleanse them. 22 And after that went the Levites in to do
their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before
Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded
Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.
The Levites were thus officially dedicated into the service
of the Tabernacle. They thereupon began their official duties at
the Tabernacle “as the LORD had commanded Moses concern-
ing the Levites, so did they unto them.”

8:23-26 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24

This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and
five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the
service of the tabernacle of the congregation: 25 And from
the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the
service thereof, and shall serve no more: 26 But shall
minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the
congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service.
Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.
Finally, God through Moses instructed that the time of
tenure for the Levites was to be from twenty-five through fifty
years of age. At fifty, they were to retire from the official duties
of the Tabernacle, but were to continue on in an ex officio,
advisory capacity.
 744 Understanding Numbers
Overview of Numbers 9: As the ordering of the young
nation of Israel continued, God therefore set forth additional
regulations pertaining to the Passover in verses 1-14; and (2)
the movement of Israel according to the guiding cloud of God in
verses 15-23.

9:1-5 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness

of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were
come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 Let the children of
Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. 3 In
the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in
his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and
according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
4 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they
should keep the passover. 5 And they kept the passover on
the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wild-
erness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded
Moses, so did the children of Israel.
The time frame remained at about the second year since
coming out of Egypt. Therefore, God through Moses reminded
Israel to observe the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first
month which was at hand. That they did.

9:6-12 And there were certain men, who were defiled

by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the
passover on that day: and they came before Moses and
before Aaron on that day: 7 And those men said unto him,
We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we
kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in
his appointed season among the children of Israel?
8 And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear
what the LORD will command concerning you. 9 And the
LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 10 Speak unto the children
of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall
 Understanding Numbers 745
be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar
off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.
11 The fourteenth day of the second month at even they
shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter
herbs. 12 They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor
break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the
passover they shall keep it.
Regarding the observance of the Passover, a matter arose,
however, that several men were defiled by a dead body and
were unable to thus observe the Passover. They therefore came
to Moses and Aaron for advice. Moses whereupon went dir-
ectly to the Lord to seek His counsel in the matter. God therefore
directed that these were to observe the Passover on the
fourteenth day of the second month of that year.

9:13-14 But the man that is clean, and is not in a

journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same
soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he
brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed
season, that man shall bear his sin. 14 And if a stranger shall
sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the
LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and
according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall
have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that
was born in the land.
God issued further miscellaneous regulations concerning
the Passover. If one was duly qualified to observe the Passover
and did not, he was to be cut off from Israel. Furthermore, if a
stranger (a gentile) wished to observe the Passover with Israel,
they were permitted to do so.

9:15-16 And on the day that the tabernacle was reared

up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the
testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it
 746 Understanding Numbers
were the appearance of fire, until the morning. 16 So it was
alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of
fire by night. On the day the Tabernacle was erected (the first
day of the first month of the second year—see Exodus 40:1,2,
17), the pillar of cloud appeared over it, covering it. At night, the
appearance of the cloud became that as of fire.

9:17-23 And when the cloud was taken up from the

tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed:
and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of
Israel pitched their tents. 18 At the commandment of the
LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the com-
mandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud
abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
19 And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle
many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the
LORD, and journeyed not. 20 And so it was, when the cloud
was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the com-
mandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and
according to the commandment of the LORD they
journeyed. 21 And so it was, when the cloud abode from
even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in
the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or
by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. 22 Or
whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the
cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the
children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not:
but when it was taken up, they journeyed.
23 At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the
tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they
journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the com-
mandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
God issued orders that when the cloud was taken up from
the Tabernacle, Israel was to move, following it. Where it
 Understanding Numbers 747
stopped, they were there to encamp. Of interest is that the word
translated as rested in verse 18 (hnx chanah) has the sense to
‘encamp,’ or to ‘pitch’ as with a tent. Therefore, as long as the
cloud rested over the Tabernacle, whether it was a day, a month,
or a year; they were to remain in that place. Thus “at the com-
mandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the com-
mandment of the LORD they journeyed.” They thus kept the
commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. Little did they
understand that that would become their practice for the next
thirty-eight years.

*****

Overview of Numbers 10: Additional details of the exodus

are added: (1) the silver trumpets in verses 1-10; (2) record of
the Israelites move from Sinai to Paran in verses 11-28; (3)
Hobab urged by Moses to assist them in verses 29-32; and, (4)
the actual departure from Sinai in verses 33-36.

10:1-10 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2

Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt
thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling
of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. 3 And
when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall
assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of
the congregation. 4 And if they blow but with one trumpet,
then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel,
shall gather themselves unto thee.
5 When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the
east parts shall go forward. 6 When ye blow an alarm the
second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall
take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their jour-
neys. 7 But when the congregation is to be gathered
 748 Understanding Numbers
together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. 8
And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the
trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever
throughout your generations. 9 And if ye go to war in your
land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall
blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remem-
bered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved
from your enemies.
10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn
days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow
with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the
sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you
for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.
God through Moses instructed that two silver trumpets
were to be made to be used as signaling devices for the encamp-
ment. They evidently were to be of two harmonious tones. God
accordingly established a system of standard signals to be used.
(1) A single solid tone (with both trumpets) was for the
assembly of the camp to the Tabernacle. (2) A single tone with
but one trumpet signaled for the assembly of the princes of
Israel.
(3) A warning of alarm was a broken, uneven, quavering
sound called by the Hebrews the ‘tara-tan-tara. A single such
tone signaled the camps to the East (Judah, Issachar, and
Zebulun) to march. (4) A second alarm signaled the camps to
the South (Reuben, Simeon, and Gad) to march. (5) Not noted
in the text were the signals for the western and northern camps.
Jewish writings indicate they were implied as a third and fourth
sounding of the alarm signal. (6) A unspecified signal was to
call the entire congregation together.
Only the sons of Aaron were to sound the various trumpet
signals. Upon arriving in the land, the signal for war was to be
with the alarm of the trumpets. They thus would be remembered
by God and delivered in the battle.
 Understanding Numbers 749
Moreover, the various holy days both of gladness and sol-
emnity, the beginnings of months, the offering of burnt and
peace-offerings, etc., were to be signaled by the blowing of the
said trumpets. They were to be to Israel as “a memorial before
your God.” Once again, God reminded them that “I am the
LORD your God.”

10:11-13 And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the

second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken
up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. 12 And the
children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness
of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. 13
And they first took their journey according to the
commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
On the twentieth day of the second month of the second
year, “the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the
testimony.” As prescribed, Israel journeyed, following the
cloud until it rested in the wilderness of Paran. This wilderness
was the essence of the greater Sinai peninsula. It is thought that
all 18 stops of the exodus were in this region. This first
movement was of three days. See Numbers 10:33. The name
Paran literally means, ‘the place of caverns.’

10:14-28 As described in Numbers 2, the camp began their

orderly march. First the encampment of Judah moved out.
Meanwhile, the Tabernacle was dismantled with the sons of
Gershon and Merari bearing the Tabernacle on the wagons
provided for them. Next, the camp of Reuben moved out fol-
lowed by the Kohathites bearing the sacred furniture of the
Tabernacle upon their shoulders.
This was followed by the camps of Ephraim and Dan
respectively. “Thus were the journeyings of the children of
Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.” The
orderliness and organization of the decamping, embarkment,
 750 Understanding Numbers
and travel of Israel is remarkable. It manifested the orderliness
and discipline God intends for His people.

10:29-32 And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel

the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying
unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you:
come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD
hath spoken good concerning Israel. 30 And he said unto
him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to
my kindred.
31 And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as
thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and
thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. 32 And it shall be, if thou
go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD
shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.
Meanwhile, Moses’ brother-in-law, Hobab, had arrived
and Moses invited him to journey along with them. He told him,
“Come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD
hath spoken good concerning Israel.” Hobab deferred,
indicating he would return home. However, Moses persisted
asking him to be essentially a guide for them, “and thou mayest
be to us instead of eyes.” Moses likely reverted to relying upon
the arm of the flesh rather than upon God who had so graciously
and miraculously helped them.
Though Psalm 32:8 had not as yet been penned, Moses
should have known better. God had thus far guided them with
His eye and would continue to do so. No comment is made
whether Hobab took Moses up on his offer. However, no ment-
ion is again made of him, indicating he in fact declined. (Some
think Hobab was in fact Moses father-in-law based upon the
statement to that effect in Judges 4:11.)

10:33-34 And they departed from the mount of the

LORD three days’ journey: and the ark of the covenant of
 Understanding Numbers 751
the LORD went before them in the three days’ journey, to
search out a resting place for them. 34 And the cloud of the
LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the
camp. Israel thus departed from Mount Sinai and journeyed
three days further into the wilderness of Paran, led by the ever-
present cloud of God.

10:35-36 And it came to pass, when the ark set forward,

that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be
scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. 36
And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the
many thousands of Israel. As they set forth, Moses stood and
cried out the invocation, “Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies
be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.” Upon
reaching the place of rest, he cried out, “Return, O LORD, unto
the many thousands of Israel.” It is thought that Moses thus
uttered this invocation and benediction each time the camp
moved and rested. His prayers of invocation as well of
benediction were of great faith and prophecy.

*****

Overview of Numbers 11: As the journey through the wild-

erness began in earnest, several significant events are recorded
in this chapter including: (1) the fire of Taberah in verses 1-3;
(2) the murmuring of Israel in verses 4-9; (3) the complaint of
Moses to God in verses 10-15; (4) the appointment of the
seventy elders in verses 16-25; (5) the incident of Eldad and
Medad in verses 26-30; and, (6) the arrival of the quails and the
plague thereof in verses 31-35.

11:1-3 And when the people complained, it displeased

the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was
 752 Understanding Numbers
kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and
consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the
camp. 2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses
prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched. 3 And he
called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the
LORD burnt among them.
Israel had been in the wilderness now for two full years.
God had provided their every need for food through the manna
sent from heaven. Notwithstanding, Israel complained. Such
complaining displeased God who sent some form of fire
“among them, and consumed them were in the uttermost parts
of the camp.”
The specific source of the fire is not noted. Some have
speculated that it may have come from the pillar of fire or
directly from heaven like lightening. Of significance is how it
consumed those on the fringes of the camp. Apparently, that is
where the complainers were. Those prone to griping in God’s
work usually are not at the center of the camp near where God’s
presence dwells. They reside at the fringes, near the world,
where they follow afar off. God reacted in judgment against
these. The people cried to Moses who in turn prayed to God.
Thereupon God stopped the fire of judgment. The place was
thus named Taberah which means ‘burning.’

11:4-9 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell
a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and
said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5 We remember the fish,
which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the
melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: 6 But
now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this
manna, before our eyes.
7 And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour
thereof as the colour of bdellium. 8 And the people went
about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a
 Understanding Numbers 753
mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the
taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. 9 And when the dew fell
upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
The mixed multitude which left Egypt with Israel now
began to show their true colors. They began lusting or whining
that they wished they had meat to eat. Their influence caused
Israel to join their chorus to the point of weeping. In unison the
cry became, “Who shall give us flesh to eat?” They whined and
complained about missing their diet in Egypt: fish and all man-
ner of tasty fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, melons,
leeks (greens), onions, and garlic. Furthermore, they complain-
ed that their soul was dried with nothing to eat but “this manna.”
Moses in parenthetical thought noted the character of
manna. It was “as coriander seed” and pleasant in color—pearl
white. As they gathered it each day, it could be prepared in
various ways: ground, beaten, baked, or fried. Moreover, “the
taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.” That is, it was tasty. God
sent it regularly and in sufficient quantity. The greater point is
that God had provided for His people not only in the quantity of
food, but also in the quality thereof. Notwithstanding, Israel
whined and complained about it through the influence of the
mixed multitude in their midst.

11:10-15 Then Moses heard the people weep through-

out their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the
anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was
displeased. 11 And Moses said unto the LORD, Where-fore
hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not
found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all
this people upon me?
12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten
them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy
bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto
the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? 13 Whence
 754 Understanding Numbers
should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep
unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. 14 I am not
able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for
me. 15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out
of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not
see my wretchedness.
The whining and complaining multiplied to the point
where many were weeping over their presumed misfortune.
Indeed, a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. The whining
and complaining of a few infected the entire camp. God was
angered by it and Moses was displeased to the point that he
began to complain to God about the burden he carried in leading
the people. His complaint to God ranged from asking
rhetorically if he had fathered them to where would he ever find
enough meat to satisfy the people. His self-pity turned to despair
as it usually does.
Feeling sorry for one’s self only leads to depression. He
complained, “I am not able to bear all this people alone, because
it is too heavy for me.” His complaining led to even worse. He
told God to kill him lest he continued in his wretchedness.
Notice the downward progression of wanting more,
complaining about not having it, self pity which turns into
depression, and even suicidal thoughts.

11:16-20 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto

me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest
to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and
bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that
they may stand there with thee. 17 And I will come down and
talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is
upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the
burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself
alone. 18 And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves
against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept
 Understanding Numbers 755
in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to
eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will
give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
19 Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days,
neither ten days, nor twenty days; 20 But even a whole
month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome
unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is
among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came
we forth out of Egypt?
God responded to his mortal servant Moses in several
ways. First, He instructed Moses to gather seventy elders of
Israel to assist him in the leadership and oversight of the nation.
This undoubtedly is where the later tradition of a ruling council
of seventy over Israel originated. It would be called the San-
hedrin in New Testament times.
Second, God announced that He would provide flesh for
the entire nation to eat the next day. God moreover announced
that they would not eat flesh for just a day or two, but for an
entire month “until it come out your nostrils, and it be loathsome
unto you.” God in effect said, “You want meat? I will give you
meat until it comes out your noses.” Some have understood that
to mean the got so sick of the meat that they vomited it up and
some vomit passed up through their nostrils.

11:21-23 And Moses said, The people, among whom I

am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said,
I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. 22
Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice
them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for
them, to suffice them? 23 And the LORD said unto Moses, Is
the LORD’S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether
my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.
Even Moses was incredulous. He protested to God that
there were over 600,000 men in the camp, not counting women
 756 Understanding Numbers
and children. Even if they killed all their flocks and herds, he
doubted if there would be enough meat to eat for a month. God
replied eloquently, “Is the LORD’S hand waxed short?” Just
wait and see.

11:24-25 And Moses went out, and told the people the
words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the
elders of the people, and set them round about the taber-
nacle. 25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake
unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave
it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the
spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
Moses whereupon gathered the prescribed seventy men and
“set them round about the tabernacle.” God thus “came
down in a cloud and spake unto him.” God then took of His
Spirit and gave to each of the seventy elders. When God’s Spirit
rested upon them, “they prophesied, and did not cease.” The
setting was not dissimilar to the Day of Pentecost fifteen cen-
turies later.

11:26-30 But there remained two of the men in the

camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the
other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they
were of them that were written, but went not out unto the
tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. 27 And there
ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and
Medad do prophesy in the camp.
28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one
of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses,
forbid them. 29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for
my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were
prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon
them! 30 And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders
of Israel.
 Understanding Numbers 757
Meanwhile two other men in the camp by the names of
Eldad and Medad likewise prophesied as the Spirit rested upon
them. Joshua, Moses’ young assistant, upon learning of it,
urged Moses to forbid them. Moses simply replied, “Would
God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and the LORD
would put his spirit upon them!” Like Jesus would later tell His
disciples, “He that is not against us is for us” (Luke 9:50).

11:31-35 And there went forth a wind from the LORD,

and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the
camp, as it were a day’s journey on this side, and as it were
a day’s journey on the other side, round about the camp,
and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. 32
And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and
all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that
gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them
all abroad for themselves round about the camp.
33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it
was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the
people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great
plague. 34 And he called the name of that place
Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people
that lusted. 35 And the people journeyed from Kibroth-
hattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth.
That next day God brought hoards of quail upon a wind
from the sea, allowing them to fall by the camp a day’s journey
on each side thereof. The thought likely is how the birds were
flying at an height of no more than three feet which made them
easy to catch. The people therefore spent that entire day and
night gathering quails. The one who gathered least had ten ho-
mers. A homer was equivalent to about seventy gallons.
Thus, Israel to a man had large amounts of quails. They
accordingly went about taking steps to store their catch. Some
may have made cages. Others, may have killed the birds and
 758 Understanding Numbers
salted the meat. However, no sooner had they begun to indulge
themselves of their windfall (even while the meat was between
their teeth) that “the LORD smote the people with a very great
plague.” The word translated as plague (hkm mawkah) can
have the sense of a slaughter. God gave them their request, but
sent leanness into their souls. See Psalm 106:15.
The place thus became known as Kibroth-hattaavah
which being translated means ‘the graves of lust.’ From there,
they journeyed on to Hazeroth after the events of the next
chapter. See Numbers 12:15-16.

*****

Overview of Numbers 12: Numbers 12 deals with the

matter of Aaron and Miriam murmuring over Moses’ wife. The
subdivisions of the chapter are: (1) God rebukes their com-
plaining in verses 1-9; then (2) Miriam’s chastening and Moses
intercession in verses 10-16.

12:1-2 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses

because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for
he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 And they said, Hath
the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken
also by us? And the LORD heard it.
While at this place, “Miriam and Aaron spake against
Moses because of the Ethiopian woman who he had married.”
Several issues loom into view. Moses quite clearly had
remarried. Nothing is said concerning his wife Zipporah. Some
have presumed she was dead though there certainly is no record
of that. Others have assumed Moses may have effectively
divorced her. The text does indicate they had a stormy relat-
ionship and that he had sent here back to her father. (See Exodus
4:25-26 and Exodus 18:2.) Moreover, nothing is ever
 Understanding Numbers 759
mentioned about her thereafter. At the least, Moses married
again.
His new wife was an Ethiopian woman which means she
was of African extraction. Whether she was black is not alto-
gether clear. In any event, both Miriam and Aaron were upset
about it. Whether they were disturbed about him marrying
again or over the woman he had married is not clear. In any
event, both Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses. More
ominously, they questioned his leadership: “Hath the LORD
indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us?”
God had ordained one leader of His people, not a committee, or
a board. God took note of their criticism and undermining.

12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the
men which were upon the face of the earth.) As a paren-
thetical thought, the Holy Spirit evidently inspired Moses to
insert the personal comment how he was “meek, above all the
men which were upon the face of the earth.” The Hebrew word
translated as meek (wne awnawv) has the sense of ‘lowly’ or
‘humble.’ The greater thought is that Moses in his humility
would not retaliate against his brother and sister for their im-
propriety.

12:4-9 And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and

unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the
tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 5
And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and
stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and
Miriam: and they both came forth. 6 And he said, Hear now
my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will
make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak
unto him in a dream.
7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine
house. 8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even
 760 Understanding Numbers
apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of
the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not
afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 9 And the anger
of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
God however did retaliate against Aaron and Miriam. He
immediately intervened in sternness ordering the three to
appear at the Tabernacle. God whereupon “came down in the
pillar of cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle.” That in
itself must have been an awesome and fear-inspiring sight. He
then straitly ordered Aaron and Miriam to come forward to
which God sternly lectured them. He in effect told them that He
at times would speak through prophets in dreams and visions.
However, “My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all
mine house.” The idea is that God did not speak to Moses in
dreams and visions as He would to ordinary prophets (implying
the office of prophet already existed). Rather, God spoke to
Moses “mouth to mouth” (i.e., face to face). Moses was in a dif-
ferent league. God did not speak to him in dark visions. He had
proved himself faithful in all of God’s house—the things
pertaining to God.
Therefore, God questioned how they dared not be afraid to
speak against His chosen servant? “And the anger of the LORD
was kindled against them; and he departed.” What a frightful
position in which Aaron and Miriam found themselves. God
Himself had directly chastised them for undercutting and
criticizing His chosen leader.

12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle;

and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and
Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
To make clear His displeasure, God did two obvious things. (1)
“The cloud departed from off the tabernacle.” That in itself
should have given pause for concern. (2) “Miriam became
leprous, white as snow.” Why Aaron was not so dealt with, we
 Understanding Numbers 761
can only speculate. It may be that Miriam was the ringleader of
the criticism. It may be also that she as a woman should have
been in submission to her brother, who was clearly in leader-
ship. It may be God did not so defile His high priest. In any
event, Aaron undoubtedly got the message and suffered vicar-
iously in seeing his sister thus afflicted.

12:11-16 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I

beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done
foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. 12 Let her not be as
one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he
cometh out of his mother’s womb.
13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her
now, O God, I beseech thee. 14 And the LORD said unto
Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not
be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp
seven days, and after that let her be received in again. 15 And
Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the
people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. 16
And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and
pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
The greatness of Moses is revealed in how he immediately
interceded on behalf of his guilty sister. He in fact included
himself in the first person plural with the sin of his brother and
sister. He pled for God to not leave her as half dead or as a still-
born child. He besought the Lord to heal her. God replied that if
her father had spat upon her, would she not be ashamed seven
days?
How much greater was His offence in her. He therefore
ordered her shut out of the camp for seven days. Thus Miriam
was chastened by God and the camp of Israel did not move until
she was brought back in. Thereafter, the camp of Israel moved
further into the wilderness of Paran.
 762 Understanding Numbers
Overview of Chapter 13: As the narrative of Numbers con-
tinues, the matter of Kadesh-barnea and the twelve spies is
presented. (1) Details of their mission are found in verses 1-25;
and (2) the report of the spies is recorded in verses 26-33.

13:1-2 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Send

thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which
I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their
fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.
God therefore ordered Moses to send men to reconnoiter the
land of Canaan. Each tribe was to send one man.

13:3-16 The twelve spies are thus noted. Special note is

made how Oshea the son of Nun was called Jehoshua by
Moses. The latter name means ‘savior’ or ‘deliverer’ and is the
Old Testament equivalent of the New Testament name Jesus.

13:17-20 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of

Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way
southward, and go up into the mountain: 18 And see the
land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein,
whether they be strong or weak, few or many;
19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be
good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in,
whether in tents, or in strong holds; 20 And what the land is,
whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or
not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the
land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.
Moses therefore directed this band of twelve to enter
Canaan land from the Negev. The word translated as south-
ward (bgn) is ‘negev’ and refers to the southern portion of Can-
aan land. Southern Israel to this day is called by the same name,
the Negev. Moses therefore instructed them to size up the land,
 Understanding Numbers 763
its inhabitants, the character of the cities, and the nature of the
countryside. Moreover, Moses instructed them to “be ye of
good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land for it was the
time of firstripe grapes.”

13:21-25 So they went up, and searched the land from

the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.
22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron;
where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak,
were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in
Egypt.)
23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut
down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and
they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of
the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24 The place was called
the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the
children of Israel cut down from thence. 25 And they
returned from searching of the land after forty days.
The twelve spies thus entered the Negev and came unto
Hebron which is south of what later would be Jerusalem. The
city remains in the news to this day in current events. Their
journeys took them all the way to “Rehob, as men come to
Hamath.” The latter refers to Syria. Thus they traversed the land
from Zin which is the vicinity of Beersheba in the far south to
the northern extremity of Canaan where it bordered Syria.
In the vicinity of Hebron, they saw the sons of Anak who
evidently was the progenitor of a line of giants. Noted also is the
antiquity of Hebron dating back even before Zoan in Egypt.
While in the vicinity of Hebron, they cut a cluster of grapes of
such size it had to be carried on a staff between two men. They
also brought back pomegranates and figs of the land. (The
valley of Eschol literally meant the valley of clusters) Their
journeys through the land took forty days whereupon they re-
turned to the camp of Israel.
 764 Understanding Numbers
13:26-29 And they went and came to Moses, and to
Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel,
unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back
word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed
them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, and said, We
came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it
floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the
land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and
moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The
Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites,
and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the
mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the
coast of Jordan.
Upon returning, the twelve reported to Moses, Aaron, and
the entire congregation, showing them the fruit of the land.
Their report was a mixture of praise for the land, yet doubt and
fear of their ability to overcome the inhabitants. They admitted
that the land indeed flowed with “milk and honey”—it over-
flowed with natural prosperity.
Nevertheless, they doubted they could conquer it. They
warned that the people therein were strong and dwelt in fortified
cities. Moreover, some of them were giants. They further noted
the various peoples who populated the land: the Amalekites in
the south, the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites in the
mountains, and the Canaanites along the sea and along the
Jordan Valley. Their report was overall one of gloom and doubt.

13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and

said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able
to overcome it. However, Caleb presented the minority report.
He in faith stilled the murmuring of the people which had been
aroused. His counsel was simple. “Let us go up at once, and
possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” He through faith
 Understanding Numbers 765
in God saw the victory. The others in doubt only saw the
obstacles.

13:31-33 But the men that went up with him said, We be

not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger
than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land
which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying,
The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land
that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people
that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33 And there we
saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants:
and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we
were in their sight.
However, the majority of the spies countered that they
could not prevail against the giants of land which made them
seem like grasshoppers in contrast. They thus in doubt brought
up “an evil report of the land.”

*****

Overview of Numbers 14: The focus turns to the minority

report and its rejection. A fascinating report of Moses’ inter-
cession is recorded followed by God’s judgment against the un-
believing spies and the announcement of the forty years of wan-
dering. The aftermath of the mission of the spies is one of
unbelief and God’s pronouncement of forty years of wandering.

14:1-4 And all the congregation lifted up their voice,

and cried; and the people wept that night. 2 And all the
children of Israel murmured against Moses and against
Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would
God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we
had died in this wilderness! 3 And wherefore hath the LORD
 766 Understanding Numbers
brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our
wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better
for us to return into Egypt? 4 And they said one to another,
Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
After hearing the report of the doubting ten spies, “all the
congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people
wept that night.” Public opinion had been swayed by a
relatively small group. Therefore, Israel at large “murmured
against Moses and against Aaron.” The word translated as
murmured (Nwl luwn) has the idea of complaining. They com-
plained, “Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or
would God we had died in this wilderness!”
Despite the promises of God and in spite of His miraculous
deliverance and provision thus far, Israel claimed they would
rather have died in slavery in Egypt. They went so far as to
accuse God of bringing them thither to die. Therefore, they
floated the idea of selecting another leader to take them back to
Egypt. They were willing to return to the bondage from which
God had graciously delivered them. What an affront to God’s
Spirit of Grace! When times got tough, Israel did not look to
their God. In the main, they never would be accused of living by
faith.

14:5-6 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before

all the assembly of the congregation of the children of
Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of
Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent
their clothes. Upon hearing this foolishness, “Moses and
Aaron fell on their faces” and Joshua and Caleb “rent their
clothes.” (The latter being a longstanding oriental custom of
expressing grief or outrage.)

14:7-9 And they spake unto all the company of the

children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed
 Understanding Numbers 767
through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8 If the LORD
delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it
us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel
not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the
land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed
from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.
Joshua and Caleb therefore spoke to the gathered congre-
gation of Israel. They first noted that the land indeed was “an
exceeding good land.” They, moreover, pointed out that “if the
LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give
it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.” They, more-
over, admonished their people to “rebel not ye against the
LORD, neither fear ye the people the land; for they are bread for
us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with
us: fear them not.”
There clearly was not only faith on the part of Caleb and
Joshua, but a willingness to obey. The God who had promised
them the land certainly was able to give them the land. In urging
their own people, they admonished them to neither rebel against
the Lord nor fear the people of the land. Their metaphor of the
Canaanites being bread has the sense, we will eat them alive.
“They’ll be a piece of cake.” The reason? “The LORD is with
us!” Therefore, they forgot about being afraid. Their implicit
faith is apparent.

14:10 But all the congregation bade stone them with

stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the
tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of
Israel.
Unfortunately, the congregation of Israel rather threatened
to stone Caleb and Joshua. At that same time “the glory of the
LORD appeared in the tabernacle.” It was no coincidence. God
not only appeared to utter His displeasure in the matter, He did
so at the moment He did to divert the attention of Israel from
 768 Understanding Numbers
stoning the only two who had the faith and integrity to obey God
in this matter.

14:11-12 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will
this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they
believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among
them? 12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit
them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier
than they.
He therefore asked Moses how long He would have to put
up with this unbelieving people. God rather announced how He
would “smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and
will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.” For
God’s part, He was ready to start over and make a new nation
through Moses. He had had enough with Israel’s rebellion,
unbelief, and disobedience.

14:13-19 And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the

Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people
in thy might from among them;) 14 And they will tell it to the
inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD
art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face,
and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest
before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar
of fire by night.
15 Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then
the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak,
saying, 16 Because the LORD was not able to bring this
people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he
hath slain them in the wilderness. 17 And now, I beseech
thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou
hast spoken, saying,
18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, for-
giving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing
 Understanding Numbers 769
the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children unto the third and fourth generation. 19 Pardon, I
beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the
greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this
people, from Egypt even until now.
What follows is one of the great examples of intercessory
prayer recorded in the Bible. Moses in this instance is a type of
Christ in how he interceded on behalf of his people. He became
an advocate before the Father in heaven. It is further remarkable
how Moses proceeded to ‘argue’ against God’s stated will in the
matter. As the record will show, Moses in fact succeeded in
changing God’s will and mind through intercessory prayer.
Indeed, the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availed
much. Let us note the elements of this great intercessory prayer.
(1) He first reminded God: what will the Egyptians think?
(2) He warned God of what the other nations of the region
would think: God brought this people out of Egypt and was not
able to bring them to the land He had promised them. Therefore,
He killed them. (It is noteworthy that Moses observed that the
nations of the region were aware of God’s plan to give Israel
Canaan land.)
(3) Moses proceeded to praise God’s power. (4) To that end
he quoted from Exodus 34:6-7 reminding God of His great
longsuffering, mercy, and forgiveness as well as judgment. (5)
Moses therefore pled with God to “Pardon, I beseech thee, the
iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy
mercy, and as thou has forgiven this people, from Egypt even
until now.”
In this entire episode, remarkable insight into the person of
God is found. (1) He was offended and angered by the affront of
disbelief of the people He had redeemed. (2) He was willing to
listen to the argument and intercession of Moses. (3) He was
persuaded to change His mind through Moses’ intercessory
prayer.
 770 Understanding Numbers
14:20-23 And the LORD said, I have pardoned accord-
ing to thy word: 21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be
filled with the glory of the LORD. 22 Because all those men
which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in
Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now
these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 23
Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their
fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it.
God responded to Moses’ plea. “I have pardoned according
to thy word.” The word translated as pardoned (xlo sawlach)
also has the idea of ‘forgiveness.’ However, God went on to
warn, first swearing by His own self-existence, “all the earth
shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.” The verb tense is
imperfect which can (and in this case probably does) have the
sense of past action. Therefore, the idea is, ‘all the earth has
been filled with the glory of the Lord, etc.’ That idea continues
as God briefly reminded Moses how Israel had seen His glory
and miracles from Egypt to that hour.
Moreover, God went on to note that Israel had “tempted me
now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice.”
Those ten temptations against God likely were twice at the sea,
Exodus 14:11,12; twice concerning water, Exodus 15:23,24,
17:2; twice about manna, Exodus 16:2,20,27 Numbers 11:4;
twice about quails, Exodus 16:12, Numbers 11:4; once by the
calf, Exodus 32:1-7; and once in the wilderness of Paran,
Numbers 14:1-4, which last and tenth was the present tempt-
ation.
Therefore, God gave His sentence: “Surely they shall not
see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of
them that provoked me see it.”

14:24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another

spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring
into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess
 Understanding Numbers 771
it. However, God referred to His servant Caleb, because he had
another spirit with him and had followed Him fully. Caleb, in
distinction, had a spirit of obedience and a willingness to go
forth, trusting God. He more than any one else had followed the
Lord fully. God therefore promised, “him will I bring into the
land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.”

14:25 (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in

the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wild-
erness by the way of the Red sea. God gave further pro-
cedural instructions to Moses. He warned that the Amalekites
and Canaanites were in the valley nearby. Therefore, He
instructed Moses to direct Israel to turn back into the wilderness
toward the Red Sea the next day.

14:26-35 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto

Aaron, saying, 27 How long shall I bear with this evil
congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the
murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur
against me. 28 Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the
LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all
that were numbered of you, according to your whole
number, from twenty years old and upward, which have
murmured against me, 30 Doubtless ye shall not come into
the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell
therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the
son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, which ye said should be
a prey, them
will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye
have despised. 32 But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall
in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall wander in the
wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until
your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. 34 After the
 772 Understanding Numbers
number of the days in which ye searched the land, even
forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities,
even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
35 I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil
congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this
wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
God continued to express His displeasure with Israel.
Therefore, the carcasses of that generation of rebels twenty
years and older would fall in the wilderness. They would not be
allowed to see the promised land. Three exceptions to that
judgment are noted: (1) Caleb, (2) Joshua, (3) and their little
ones.
God went on to confront them with the irony that they had
claimed their little ones would have fallen prey if they had
attempted to enter the land. Rather, they were the ones who
would be allowed to enter. However, their children would first
wander for forty years in that wilderness. They number of years
of wandering would be the same as the number of the days the
spies had searched the land.
For the first time, God charged Israel with whoredoms. It
was a reference to spiritual infidelity against their God. The
latter phrase of verse 34 has the sense ‘and ye shall know my
opposition against you.’ He concluded with the warning that He
would surely do it. “They shall be consumed, and there they
shall die.”

14:36-38 And the men, which Moses sent to search the

land, who returned, and made all the congregation to
murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the
land, 37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report
upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD. 38 But
Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh,
which were of the men that went to search the land, lived
still.
 Understanding Numbers 773
God was not finished. The ten spies who had instigated
such rebellion and unbelief in Israel died then and there “by the
plague before the LORD.” However, Caleb and Joshua were
spared.

14:39-40 And Moses told these sayings unto all the

children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly. 40 And
they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the
top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up
unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have
sinned. Moses therefore announced God’s sentence to the en-
tire nation. Their reaction was brief sorrow. However, their
main response was in character of their previous behavior.
Notwithstanding the fact that God through Moses had warned
them to turn back toward the Red Sea, they rather immediately
made plans to invade the land. They made brief and perfunctory
acknowledgment, “we have sinned.”

14:41-45 And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye

transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not
prosper. 42 Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that
ye be not smitten before your enemies. 43 For the
Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye
shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the
LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you.
44 But they presumed to go up unto the hill top:
nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and
Moses, departed not out of the camp. 45 Then the Amal-
ekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that
hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto
Hormah.
Moses straitly warned them to not further disobey God’s
command with the additional warning that they would not pros-
per. Nevertheless, “they presumed to go up unto the hilltop.”
 774 Understanding Numbers
However, the ark of the covenant along with Moses stayed put.
The following battle with the Amalekites and Canaanites was a
debacle. These gentile nations “smote them, and discomfited
them.” The word translated as discomfited (ttk kawthath)
has the idea ‘to be beaten,’ ‘crushed,’ or ‘shattered.’

*****

Overview of Numbers 15: In this next chapter, (1) further

details of the law of the meat-offering and the drink-offering are
given in verses 1-12. (2) Regulations regarding foreigners are
presented in verses 1-21. (3) Further details for the sacrifice for
the sin of ignorance are given in verses 22-29. (4) The punish-
ment of presumption and a Sabbath-breaker is stoned in verses
30-36. And, (5) The law for fringes required on garments is
discussed in verses 37-41.

15:1-29 It perhaps is not coincidence that God issued the

following instructions to Moses at this time. They had just been
beaten back from attempting to enter the land in their own
strength. They had just heard God’s sentence of forty years of
wandering and that the older generation would die, never enter-
ing the land. In that context, God issued lengthy instructions
how upon entering the land they were to sacrifice accordingly in
burnt-offerings, meal-offerings, heave-offerings etc. Specifi-
cally, God also gave instructions for sins “committed by
ignorance” in the land and their forgiveness.
Two thoughts are at hand. (1) Though Israel would face the
next forty years in the wilderness, God nevertheless provided
hope of eventual entrance of the promised land in the sacrifices
to be offered there. (2) The sins to which God would be particu-
larly gracious were those of ignorance. The idea is of inadver-
 Understanding Numbers 775
tent sin or perhaps even spontaneous sin committed on the spur
of the moment. This principle would be the same for Israel as
well as any gentiles living in the land.

15:30-31 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously,

whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same
reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from
among his people. 31 Because he hath despised the word of
the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul
shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
The phrase “doeth ought presumptuously” has the literal
sense of ‘doing with a high hand.’ The idea is of forthright
rebellion or of premeditated sin. Whereas God would be merci-
ful with the appropriate sacrifice for inadvertent or spur-of-the-
moment sin, He had no tolerance for first-degree, premeditated,
rebellious sin. This likely is to what Hebrews 10:26 thus refers.
There would be no mercy for such sin.

15:32-36 And while the children of Israel were in the

wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the
sabbath day. 33 And they that found him gathering sticks
brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the
congregation. 34 And they put him in ward, because it was
not declared what should be done to him.
35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be
surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him
with stones without the camp. 36 And all the congregation
brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones,
and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.
A case in point is presented. The time is not noted, though
it might be inferred it was not long after God had set forth the
policy just defined above. A man was found in direct violation
of the Sabbath day. He was out gathering sticks perhaps for fire-
wood. He was thus detained to obtain the mind of the Lord. God
 776 Understanding Numbers
directed that he should be put to death. Whereupon Israel stoned
the man to death for his flagrant disregard for God’s law. Prece-
dent had been established. One had presumptuously and in
direct rebellion violated God’s law. His punishment was swift
and severe.

15:37-40 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 38

Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they
make them fringes in the borders of their garments
throughout their generations, and that they put upon the
fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:
39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look
upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD,
and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and
your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: 40 That
ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be
holy unto your God.
God through Moses instructed Israel to thereafter make
fringes (tassels) of blue thread or cords upon the hems and
seams of their garments. (Some have suggested the color blue
was symbolic of heaven and the God of heaven.) In any event,
God informed them that His purpose for this was to remind
them of all the commandments He had given them lest they
pursue their own hearts’ desires.

15:41 I am the LORD your God, which brought you out

of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your
God. The chapter concludes with God reminding them once
again that it was He who had brought them out of Egypt to be
their God. Again, He was Jehovah their God.

*****
 Understanding Numbers 777
Overview of Numbers 16: Chapters 16-17 present the re-
bellion of Korah and its results. In chapter 16, the subdivisions
are: (1) the rebellion of Korah in verses 1-11; (2) the dis-
obedience of Dathan and Abiram in verses 12-15; (3) the glory
of God appears followed by the intercession of Moses and
Aaron in verses16-22; (4) the earth swallows up Dathan and
Abiram in verses 23-34; (5) the company of Korah is consumed
in verses 35-40; (6) the people murmur and a plague is sent in
verses 41-50.

16:1-3 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath,

the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab,
and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 2 And
they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of
Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly,
famous in the congregation, men of renown: 3 And they
gathered themselves together against Moses and against
Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you,
seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and
the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up
yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
Record is made how Korah, a Kohathite along with Reu-
benites led a rebellion along with two-hundred-fifty princes of
the nation against Moses and Aaron. They, in essence, accused
them of being a dictators. They claimed they and the entire
congregation were holy. Therefore, they wanted more say in
how things were run.

16:4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face.
Moses’ first reaction was to fall on his face before the Lord.
When trouble came from within, Moses cast his burden on the
Lord. Though not so stated, implied is that God gave him the
following instructions.
 778 Understanding Numbers
16:5-7 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his
company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who
are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near
unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to
come near unto him. 5 This do; Take you censers, Korah,
and all his company; 7 And put fire therein, and put incense
in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the
man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take
too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.
Moses then arose and spoke to Korah and his committee
informing them that tomorrow the Lord would show whom He
had chosen to lead. He therefore instructed them to take censers,
putting fire therein, placing them before the Lord (in the
Tabernacle).

16:8-11 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you,

ye sons of Levi: 9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that
the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation
of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the
tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congre-
gation to minister unto them?
10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy
brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the
priesthood also? 11 For which cause both thou and all thy
company are gathered together against the LORD: and
what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?
Moses continued rebuking Korah. He asked if it were a
small thing before them to serve God as Levites. Now did they
seek the priesthood also?

16:12-14 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram,

the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up: 13 Is it a
small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that
floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness,
 Understanding Numbers 779
except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? 14
Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth
with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and
vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will
not come up.
Moses also ordered the other leaders of the rebellion to
appear to which they refused. They accused Moses of not bring-
ing them into the land promised them and rather having just
made himself a prince over them. They therefore refused to
obey his instructions.

16:15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the
LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one
ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them. Moses there-
fore protested to God that he had not taken even one donkey
from the people nor harmed them in any way. He therefore
invoked God to not respect the offering of the rebels.

16:16-19 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all

thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron,
to morrow: 17 And take every man his censer, and put
incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man
his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and
Aaron, each of you his censer.
18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in
them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron. 19
And Korah gathered all the congregation against them
unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the
glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
Moses therefore ordered Korah and his company to appear
before the Lord the next day, bringing their censers with fire,
placing them at the door of the Tabernacle. To that they
complied. God’s glory thereupon appeared before them.
 780 Understanding Numbers
16:20-22 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto
Aaron, saying, 21 Separate yourselves from among this con-
gregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 22 And
they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the
spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth
with all the congregation?
God’s response was for Moses and Aaron to leave and He
would destroy Israel for their rebellion. To that Moses inter-
ceded before God imploring Him not to be angry with the entire
congregation for the sin of one.

16:23-27 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24

Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from
about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25 And
Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the
elders of Israel followed him.
26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart,
I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch
nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. 27 So
they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and
Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out,
and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and
their sons, and their little children.
God therefore ordered Moses to remove himself from the
tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, the leaders of the rebellion.
He, moreover, instructed the rest of the nation to do the same,
warning them not to even touch that which belonged to the
rebels.

16:28-30 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that

the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not
done them of mine own mind. 29 If these men die the com-
mon death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation
of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. 30 But if the
 Understanding Numbers 781
LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and
swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and
they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand
that these men have provoked the LORD.
Moses therefore announced that they would soon know
whether God had sent him or not. He declared if these rebels
died ordinary deaths in due season, they would know that God
had not sent Moses. However, if God did something new with
the earth opening up and swallowing them such that they “go
down quick into the pit,” they would know that these had pro-
voked the Lord. The word translated as pit (lwav) is sheol
which is an Old Testament name for hell.

16:31-35 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of

speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that
was under them: 32 And the earth opened her mouth, and
swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that
appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33 They, and all
that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and
the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among
the congregation.
34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the
cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed
the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
Moses had no sooner finished speaking than the ground did
indeed open and swallow the leaders of the rebellion, their
households, and all that pertained to them. Also fire came out
from the Lord and consumed the two-hundred-fifty other rebels
who had joined with Korah.

16:36-40 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 37

Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take
up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire
 782 Understanding Numbers
yonder; for they are hallowed. 38 The censers of these
sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad
plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them
before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they
shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.
39 And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers,
wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were
made broad plates for a covering of the altar: 40 To be a
memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger,
which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense
before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his com-
pany: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.
God therefore ordered Eleazar, Aaron’s son, to take the
censers from the burning and remove the fire therefrom for they
were holy. He then ordered that the metal from these censers be
made into plates. They were to be fastened to the brazen altar as
a sign to Israel against further rebellion, and that no one other
than Aaron’s sons should ever approach the altar of God.

16:41-45 But on the morrow all the congregation of the

children of Israel murmured against Moses and against
Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD. 42
And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered
against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward
the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud
covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.
43 And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of
the congregation. 44 And the LORD spake unto Moses,
saying, 45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I
may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their
faces.
The rebellion unfortunately was not over. The next day,
many in the congregation of Israel “murmured against Moses
and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the
 Understanding Numbers 783
LORD.” The congregation therefore gathered against Moses
and Aaron. However, at that same time, “the glory of the LORD”
appeared at the Tabernacle. Moses and Aaron therefore came
before the Lord. God instructed them to depart because He was
about to destroy the entire congregation. Moses and Aaron
whereupon fell on their faces before God.

16:46-48 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer,

and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense,
and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atone-
ment for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD;
the plague is begun. 47 And Aaron took as Moses com-
manded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and,
behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put
on incense, and made an atonement for the people. 48 And
he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague
was stayed.
Moses therefore ordered Aaron to take a censer with fire
from off the altar and to go quickly and make an atonement for
the people: “for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the
plague has begun.” Aaron did as instructed, running into the
midst of the congregation as the plague began. He put incense
therein and made atonement for the people. The offering is not
specified other than the offering was of sweet incense which
was a form of atonement for their sin before God. Aaron
therefore ‘stood between the dead and the living; and the plague
was stayed.”

16:49-50 Now they that died in the plague were

fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that
died about the matter of Korah. 50 And Aaron returned
unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congre-
gation: and the plague was stayed. Those that died in God’s
plague of judgment were 14,700 not counting those who died
 784 Understanding Numbers
who were involved with Korah and his rebels. Aaron returned
to Moses and God’s plague of judgment was abated. Thus re-
bellion was purged from the camp of Israel.

*****

Overview of Numbers 17: The conclusion of the rebellion

of Korah is presented. The subdivisions of the chapter are: (1)
the twelve rods of the princes of Israel laid up before the Lord
in verses 1-7; and (2) the budding of Aaron’s rod which is kept
for a memorial in verses 8-13.

17:1-5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak

unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a
rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their
princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods:
write thou every man’s name upon his rod. 3 And thou shalt
write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall
be for the head of the house of their fathers.
4 And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the
congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with
you. 5 And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I
shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from
me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they
murmur against you.
Following the judgment of the preceding chapter, God pro-
ceeded to place His approval upon Moses and Aaron. He
through Moses ordered the leaders of each the tribes of Israel to
write their name upon a rod. For the tribe of Levi, Aaron’s name
was to be written on that rod. All of those rods were to be there-
fore placed in the Tabernacle before the testimony (i.e., the ark
of the covenant). God told them that the “man’s rod, whom I
shall choose, shall blossom.” Thus, all their murmurings about
leadership were to cease.
 Understanding Numbers 785
17:6-8 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and
every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each
prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve
rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. 7 And
Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of
witness. 8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses
went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of
Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth
buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.
Each of the princes of the respective tribes of Israel there-
fore did as instructed including the rod of Aaron. Moses placed
them in the Tabernacle as instructed. The next morning when
Moses went into the Tabernacle, “behold, the rod of Aaron for
the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and
bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.”

17:9-11 And Moses brought out all the rods from before
the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked,
and took every man his rod. 10 And the LORD said unto
Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be
kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take
away their murmurings from me, that they die not. 11 And
Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.
Moses therefore brought the twelve rods out and gave them
to their owners. However, God instructed Moses to place Aar-
on’s rod “before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the
rebels.” God further ordered Moses in so doing to thus silence
all the murmuring lest they die.

17:12-13 And the children of Israel spake unto Moses,

saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish. 13
Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of
the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying? Israel
got the message. They cried out, “Behold, we die, we perish, we
 786 Understanding Numbers
all perish.” They finally came to fear God and have respect for
the Tabernacle.

*****

Overview of Numbers 18: As the narrative of the exodus

continues, Aaron and the Levites were given responsibilities
and privileges pertaining to the Tabernacle. The subdivisions
of the chapter are: (1) the charge to the priests and Levites in
verses 1-7; (2) the priests’ portion of offerings in verses 8-19;
and (3) the Levites’ portion of offerings in verses 20-32.

18:1-6 And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy
sons and thy father’s house with thee shall bear the iniquity
of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear
the iniquity of your priesthood. 2 And thy brethren also of
the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with
thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto
thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before
the tabernacle of witness. 3 And they shall keep thy charge,
and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not
come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that
neither they, nor ye also, die.
4 And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the
charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the
service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh
unto you. 5 And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary,
and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more
upon the children of Israel.
6 And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites
from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as
a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the
congregation.
 Understanding Numbers 787
In light of the recent uprising of Korah, God once again reit-
erated the special place of leadership He had given to the tribe
of Levi. The Levites would be answerable for all infractions
against the Tabernacle and Aaron and his sons would likewise
be held accountable for any iniquity of the priesthood. God
made clear that the Levites had been chosen by Him to assist
Aaron in the duties of the Tabernacle. They were to further
carefully fulfill their duties regarding the Tabernacle.

18:7 Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep
your priest’s office for every thing of the altar, and within
the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest’s office
unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh
nigh shall be put to death. God also reiterated to Aaron and his
sons that He had given them the privilege of service at the altar.
They therefore were enjoined to carefully fulfill that office, pro-
tecting the sacred things from the intrusion of all others.

18:8-19 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also

have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the
hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I
given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an
ordinance for ever. 9 This shall be thine of the most holy
things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every
meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and
every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render
unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.
10 In the most holy place shalt thou eat it; every male
shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee. 11 And this is thine; the
heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the
children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy
sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever:
every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it. 12 All the
best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat,
 788 Understanding Numbers
the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD,
them have I given thee.
13 And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they
shall bring unto the LORD, shall be thine; every one that is
clean in thine house shall eat of it. 14 Every thing devoted in
Israel shall be thine. 15 Every thing that openeth the matrix
in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of
men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of
man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean
beasts shalt thou redeem. 16 And those that are to be re-
deemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to
thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the
shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.
17 But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or
the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy:
thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt
burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet sav-
our unto the LORD.
18 And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave
breast and as the right shoulder are thine. 19 All the heave
offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel
offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy
daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of
salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with
thee.
Therefore, God again noted the various offerings which
were to be dedicated to Aaron and his sons for their livelihood:
the heave-offerings, the remainder of the various offerings such
as the meal-offering, the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering
as well as the first-fruits, all devoted things, and the first-born of
all animals. This was to become a “covenant of salt for ever
before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.” The latter
is a figure for an inviolable, everlasting covenant. Salt was a
symbol of preservation. The various matters brought to the
 Understanding Numbers 789
Tabernacle for offering ultimately became the possession of the
priests.

18:20-24 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt

have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have
any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance
among the children of Israel. 21 And, behold, I have given
the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance,
for their service which they serve, even the service of the
tab-ernacle of the congregation. 22 Neither must the
children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of
the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.
23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle
of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it
shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that
among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. 24
But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an
heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to
inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the
children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
God further gave notice that the Levites would have no
inheritance in the land. Rather, God promised, “I am thy part
and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.” The thought
is that God would provide for those engaged in the ministry. He
therefore also instructed that the tithes brought to the Taber-
nacle were to be distributed to the Levites as they did their
service at the Tabernacle.

18:25-32 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 26

Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye
take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given
you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up
an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the
tithe. 27 And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto
 790 Understanding Numbers
you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as
the fulness of the winepress.
28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the
LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of
Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD’S heave offering
to Aaron the priest. 29 Out of all your gifts ye shall offer
every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof,
even the hallowed part thereof out of it.
30 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have
heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto
the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the
increase of the winepress. 31 And ye shall eat it in every
place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your
service in the tabernacle of the congregation. 32 And ye shall
bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the
best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the
children of Israel, lest ye die.
God further instructed that the Levites were to tithe upon
the tithe from the people which they received. Specifically, this
was to be in the form of a heave-offering. They thus were to give
their heave-offering as a tithe to Aaron to offer. Moreover, any
gifts from Israel to the Levites were to be tithed upon in the form
of a heave-offering. They were to give the best as the tithe to the
Lord. The Levites were given this privilege for their service at
the Tabernacle. However, they were warned not to pollute the
holy things presented to them by not tithing thereon upon pain
of death.

*****

Overview of Numbers 19: In chapter 19 is the ordinance of

the red heifer. The subdivisions of the chapter are: (1) the ashes
of a red heifer were to be prepared for a purification ceremony
 Understanding Numbers 791
in verses 1-9; and (2) the ceremony used for purification of the
unclean in verses 10-22.

19:1-9 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto

Aaron, saying, 2 This is the ordinance of the law which the
LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of
Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, where-
in is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke: 3 And ye
shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her
forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his
face:
4 And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his
finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tab-
ernacle of the congregation seven times: 5 And one shall
burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her
blood, with her dung, shall he burn: 6 And the priest shall
take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the
midst of the burning of the heifer. 7 Then the priest shall
wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and
afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall
be unclean until the even.
8 And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in
water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean
until the even. 9 And a man that is clean shall gather up the
ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a
clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the
children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a
purification for sin.
The ordinance of the red heifer is defined. Required was a
completely red heifer without spot or blemish, nor having born
a yoke. It was to be slain, its blood sprinkled before the Taber-
nacle seven times, and then completely burned. As it burned,
the priest was to take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet, throwing
these in with the burning heifer. Its ashes then were to be mixed
 792 Understanding Numbers
with water which became “a water of separation: it is a
purification for sin.”

19:10-16 Further regulations were instated concerning

ceremonial uncleanness.

19:17-19 And for an unclean person they shall take of

the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and
running water shall be put thereto in a vessel: 18 And a clean
person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprin-
kle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the
persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone,
or one slain, or one dead, or a grave: 19 And the clean person
shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the
seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself,
and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall
be clean at even.
When an individual was deemed ceremonially unclean
from contact with death or other impurity, a clean person was to
take the ashes of the red heifer placed in freshwater (i.e.,
running water) and sprinkle the unclean person and all that per-
tained to him. This was to be repeated on the third and seventh
day thereafter whereupon the unclean person was to wash his
clothes and bathe himself in water. Thereafter, he would be
deemed clean.

19:20-22 But the man that shall be unclean, and shall

not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the
congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the
LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled
upon him; he is unclean. 21 And it shall be a perpetual
statute unto them, that he that sprinkleth the water of
separation shall wash his clothes; and he that toucheth the
water of separation shall be unclean until even. 22 And
 Understanding Numbers 793
whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean;
and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.
Other miscellaneous regulations concerning this water of
separation are noted including the cutting off of any who would
not obey this ordinance. Also, anyone sprinkling the water of
separation was to wash his clothes and be considered ceremon-
ially unclean until sundown.
Significant in all of this is that orthodox Jews in Israel today
take the position that a perfect red heifer must be found and
sacrificed according to Numbers 19 to provide a water of purifi-
cation for the purification of the next Jewish temple. Reports
indicate such a red heifer has been obtained in Israel. Now there
only awaits the construction of the temple.

*****

Overview of Numbers 20: The narrative of the end of the

exodus is at hand. In this chapter: (1) Israel murmurs for water
and Moses is directed to smite the rock in verses 1-13; (2) Israel
is refused passage through Edom in verses 14-21; and (3) and
the death of Aaron in verses 22-29.

20:1 Then came the children of Israel, even the whole

congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and
the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and
was buried there. Record is made of the entrance of Israel into
the “desert of Zin” which is in the region of the Dead Sea. The
beginning of chapter 20 is thirty-eight years after the failure of
the spies. From hence onward, Israel is in the home stretch of
nearing the promised land. The first month likely is reference to
the fortieth year upon coming out of Egypt. Israel then abode in
Kadesh which is the extreme south of Judah. There, Miriam,
Moses’ sister, died and was buried.
 794 Understanding Numbers
20:2-6 And there was no water for the congregation:
and they gathered themselves together against Moses and
against Aaron. 3 And the people chode with Moses, and
spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our
brethren died before the LORD! 4 And why have ye brought
up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that
we and our cattle should die there?
5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of
Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of
seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is
there any water to drink. 6 And Moses and Aaron went
from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their
faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
Upon entrance to this desert, “there was no water for the
congregation.” The same thing had happened forty years earlier
in the first year of the Exodus. That generation had died. Now
God likely put the new generation to the same test to see how
they would react. They sadly reacted essentially the same way.
Though God had miraculously met their every need over
the past forty years, they again “chode with Moses, and spake
saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died
before the LORD!” They complained to Moses and Aaron.
Their complaint was bitter as may be seen in verse 5. Moses and
Aaron therefore made the right decision. They went to the
Tabernacle and fell on their faces before the Lord. They took the
problem to God: “and the glory of the LORD appeared unto
them.”

20:7-8 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 8 Take

the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and
Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their
eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring
forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the
 Understanding Numbers 795
congregation and their beasts drink. The picture undoubt-
edly is of Christ and how the water of life emanates from that
Rock. See John 6:35. Moses was straitly admonished to speak
unto the rock.

20:9-11 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD,
as he commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered
the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto
them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of
this rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod
he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abund-
antly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
Rather than speak to the rock, Moses in exasperation took
his rod and first upbraided Israel saying, “Hear now, ye rebels;
must we fetch you water out of this rock?” He then “lifted up his
hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water
came out abundantly.” However, it is significant that Moses
disregarded God’s instructions. He had been instructed to
“speak ye unto the rock.” To the contrary, Moses, in anger and
frustration against Israel, struck the rock twice with his rod.
Some have suggested he marred the picture of Christ by smiting
the rock twice. That may be. However, the more obvious
problem is that he disregarded God’s instructions, doing it his
way.

20:12-13 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron,

Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the
children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this
congregation into the land which I have given them. 13 This
is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel
strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them. God
was displeased by Moses’ disregard. Therefore, He informed
Moses and Aaron, “Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me
in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring
 796 Understanding Numbers
this congregation into the land which I have given them.”
Casual regard for God’s Word is a serious matter. Moses had ig-
nored what God had instructed in unbelief. Implied is that he did
not believe merely speaking to the rock would suffice. There-
fore, he struck it like he had in Exodus 17. That unbelief on his
part prompted him to disobey and thus not sanctify God before
His people. The latter thought is that Moses did not ‘glorify’
God in the eyes of the people.
It may be, the congregation of Israel heard the instructions
given by God as well as did Moses and Aaron. That would pro-
vide even greater reason for God’s wrath. They had openly
disregarded His commandment. To whom much is given, much
is required. Moses failed to do exactly as God had commanded.
Therefore, he was banned from entering the land. Thus the
place became known also as “the water of Meribah” because
there Israel strove with their God. (The word Meribah literally
means ‘strife.’) Upon providing water and chastening, God was
“sanctified in them.” That is, He was glorified.

20:14-22 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh

unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou
knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: 15 How our
fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt
a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers: 16
And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and
sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and,
behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy
border:
17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will
not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards,
neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by
the king’s high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor
to the left, until we have passed thy borders. 18 And Edom
said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out
 Understanding Numbers 797
against thee with the sword. 19 And the children of Israel
said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my
cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only,
without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.
20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom
came out against him with much people, and with a strong
hand. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through
his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him. 22 And
the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journ-
eyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.
Israel was now in the region south and east of the Dead Sea
known as Edom. Moses therefore sent messengers to the king of
Edom (descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother) requesting per-
mission to travel through his land. Moses promised to not dam-
age their land in any way, traveling only along what was known
as the “king’s high way.” That is, they promised to travel only
on the public roads, not encroaching upon their fields or crops.
Moses even offered to pay for any water they would consume.
The king of Edom refused and came out against them in a show
of military force. It would have been much shorter for Israel to
travel through Edom, but now they were forced to find an
alternate route.

20:23-29 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in

mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, 24
Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not
enter into the land which I have given unto the children of
Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of
Meribah.
25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up
unto mount Hor: 26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and
put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered
unto his people, and shall die there. 27 And Moses did as the
LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the
 798 Understanding Numbers
sight of all the congregation. 28 And Moses stripped Aaron
of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and
Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and
Eleazar came down from the mount. 29 And when all the
congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for
Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
Israel therefore was forced to circumnavigate around
Edom, traveling first far south and then northeastward in the
wilderness of Edom. There at the border (i.e., coast) of Edom at
a place called “mount Hor,” God informed Moses and Aaron
that “Aaron shall be gathered unto his people.” This beautiful
metaphor for death had been used for the patriarchs of Israel as
well.
Because Aaron had been a party to Moses’ rebellion at the
recent water of Meribah, he too would be denied entrance into
the promised land. God therefore instructed Moses to remove
Aaron’s priestly vestments and place them upon Eleazar his
son. They went up onto Mount Hor and Moses obeyed God’s
instructions. There, Aaron died. Moses and Eleazar returned
with Eleazar, the latter who was now wearing his father’s
priestly garments. Israel thus mourned for Aaron for thirty days.

*****

Overview of Numbers 21: Further events in the final

months of the exodus are herein recorded. The subdivisions of
the chapter are: (1) the Canaanites of Arad are destroyed in
verses 1-3; (2) the people again murmur and are plagued with
fiery serpents in verses 4-9; (3) further travel details of Israel
are presented in verses 10-20; and, (4) Sihon and Og are over-
come and their land is possessed in verses 21-35.
 Understanding Numbers 799
21:1-3 And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt
in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the
spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them
prisoners. 2 And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and
said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand,
then I will utterly destroy their cities. 3 And the LORD
hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the
Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their
cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.
Meanwhile, a local Canaanite king named Arad heard of
Israel’s proximity and attacked them, taking some Israelites as
prisoners. Israel therefore vowed unto the Lord that if God
would deliver their prisoners of war back to them, they would
utterly destroy the cities of this Canaanite king. God complied
and Israel destroyed those cities naming it Hormah which
literally means ‘utter destruction.’

21:4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of

the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of
the people was much discouraged because of the way. The
summary of their recent forced detour is noted going around
Edom. Because of the difficulty of the terrain, “the soul of the
people was much discouraged because of the way.” God thus
allowed another time of testing.

21:5 And the people spake against God, and against

Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die
in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any
water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. Israel unfort-
unately failed the test. Again, Israel murmured against Moses
complaining “there is no bread, neither is there any water; and
our soul loatheth this light bread.” Israel now even complained
about God’s provision. They were tired of the manna.
 800 Understanding Numbers
21:6-9 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the
people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel
died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We
have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and
against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the
serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery ser-
pent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that
every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole,
and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man,
when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Whereupon, God sent venomous snakes into the camp of
Israel whereupon much people of Israel died. That got their at-
tention and they came repentant to Moses, imploring him to
pray to God to take the serpents away. Moses thus prayed.
God’s answer became a beautiful picture of Christ to this day as
noted in John 3:14-15.
Moses was to fashion a serpent of brass and place it upon a
pole. When any who was bitten would look thereon, he would
live. The picture of Christ being lifted upon the cross, being
judging as He who became sin for us, and who knew no sin is
evident. As those stricken by sin will in simple faith look to Him
as smitten for them, God to this day has promised everlasting
life.

21:10-16 And the children of Israel set forward, and

pitched in Oboth. 11 And they journeyed from Oboth, and
pitched at Ijeabarim, in the wilderness which is before
Moab, toward the sunrising. 12 From thence they removed,
and pitched in the valley of Zared. 13 From thence they
removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in
the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amor-
ites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and
 Understanding Numbers 801
the Amorites. 14 Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars
of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks
of Arnon,
15 And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to
the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab. 16
And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof
the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together,
and I will give them water.
Moses thus records each step of the journey though the
wilderness of Edom (on the east side of the Dead Sea) as they
headed north toward final entrance to the land. Noted are places
such as Oboth, Ije-abarim, Zared, Arnon—the latter being the
border of Moab. Then they continued north to Beer which
literally means ‘a well.’ There, the Lord promised Moses that
He would given them water.

21:17-20 Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well;

sing ye unto it: 18 The princes digged the well, the nobles of
the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with
their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mat-
tanah: 19 And from Mattanah to Nahaliel: and from
Nahaliel to Bamoth: 20 And from Bamoth in the valley, that
is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, whichlooketh
toward Jeshimon.
Israel thus sang praise to God in a song noting God’s
provision of water. The song went on to foretell their coming
conquests all the way to Pisgah.

21:21-26 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of

the Amorites, saying, 22 Let me pass through thy land: we
will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not
drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the
king’s high way, until we be past thy borders. 23 And Sihon
would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but
 802 Understanding Numbers
Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against
Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought
against Israel.
24 And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and
possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the
children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Am-
mon was strong. 25 And Israel took all these cities: and Israel
dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all
the villages thereof. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the
king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former
king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even
unto Arnon.
Israel again made request, this time, to pass through the
region of Moab. Again, they promised to only travel along the
public roads, molesting neither their crops or their water. Sihon,
king of the Amorites, refused and in turn attacked Israel.
However, God gave Israel a great victory over Sihon all the way
to the border of Ammon. Israel thus took possession of
Heshbon, a chief city of Moab which Sihon had heretofore
captured.

21:27-30 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say,

Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and
prepared: 28 For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame
from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and
the lords of the high places of Arnon.
29 Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of
Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his
daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites. 30
We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto
Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah,
which reacheth unto Medeba
Moses thus records a proverb (a historical poem) concern-
ing Heshbon and Moab and their victory over them.
 Understanding Numbers 803
21:31-35 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.
32 And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the
villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.
33 And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and
Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his
people, to the battle at Edrei.
34 And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I
have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his
land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king
of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. 35 So they smote
him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none
left him alive: and they possessed his land.
As Israel continued to subdue the land east of the Dead Sea,
“Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his
people, to the battle at Edrei.” Bashan was further to the north.
However, the king thereof, Og, determined to make a pre-
emptive strike against Israel before they got to his land. How-
ever, God informed Moses that He would give them a total
victory over Og, even as He had given victory over Sihon king
of the Amorites. Whereupon, Israel defeated Og to such a
degree “there was none left him alive: and they possessed his
land.”

*****

Overview of Numbers 22: The matter of Balaam and Balak

is at hand. The subdivisions of the chapter are: (1) Balak’s fear
of Israel, thus sending for Balaam in verses 1-14; (2) Balaam
communicating with Balak in verses 15-21; (3) God’s oppo-
sition to Balaam along the way in verses 22-35; and (4) Bal-
aam’s meeting with Balak in verses 36-41.

22:1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched

in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. The
 804 Understanding Numbers
setting is established: Israel was pitched in their tents in the
plains of Moab across the Jordan River from Jericho.

22:2-4 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel
had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was sore afraid of the
people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed
because of the children of Israel. 4 And Moab said unto the
elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are
round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field.
And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at
that time.
The local ruler of Moab, Balak, saw what Israel had done to
the Amorites kings, Og and Sihon. Fear produces strange
bedfellows. Moab and Midian had been enemies, but now be-
cause of a mutual fear of Israel they joined alliance togther. God
indeed had placed a fear of Israel in their enemies.

22:5-7 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the

son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the
children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a
people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of
the earth, and they abide over against me:
6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people;
for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail,
that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the
land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he
whom thou cursest is cursed. 7 And the elders of Moab and
the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divin-
ation in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake
unto him the words of Balak.
Balak therefore sent messengers to one Balaam who lived
in Aram (see 23:7) which is modern Syria. Balak interestingly
knew all about who Israel was and where they came from. Of
further interest is how he described them as covering the face of
 Understanding Numbers 805
the earth. Though certainly hyperbole, nevertheless, some
measure of the size of the camp of Israel is apparent. Balak
therefore invited Balaam to come and “curse me this people; for
they are too mighty for me.” He further asked Balaam to so
divine that he, Balak, might prevail against Israel.
Not a great deal is known otherwise about Balaam. But it is
noteworthy that Balak acknowledged that “he whom thou
blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.”
Balaam is thus commonly thought of as a prophet of some
otherwise unknown stripe. Because he was from Syria, it is
conceivable he might have had some distant connection to
Abraham’s family at Haran.

22:8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and
I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto
me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. Balaam
therefore piously informed the committee to wait while he
sought what the Lord would say in the matter.

22:9-12 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What

men are these with thee? 10 And Balaam said unto God,
Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me,
saying, 11 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which
covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them;
peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive
them out. 12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go
with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are
blessed.
That night, God spoke to Balaam saying, “Thou shalt not go
with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.”
Thus, God’s perfect will in the matter was revealed.

22:13-19 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said

unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the
 806 Understanding Numbers
LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you. 14 And the
princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and
said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. 15 And Balak sent yet
again princes, more, and more honourable than they. 16
And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith
Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder
thee from coming unto me:
17 For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and
I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I
pray thee, curse me this people. 18 And Balaam answered
and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me
his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word
of the LORD my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore,
I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know
what the LORD will say unto me more.
The next morning, Balaam informed the committee that
God had vetoed the plan. They returned to Balak with that word.
Balak therefore “sent yet again princes, more, and more
honourable” than the first committee. They told Balaam that if
he would come and curse Israel, that Balak would promote him
unto very great honor. To that Balaam again piously answered,
“If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I
cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or
more.” Of significance is that Balaam referred to Jehovah God
as the Lord his God. Though apparently not of the seed of
Abraham, nevertheless, in Balaam it is apparent there were
others of that day who worshiped Jehovah God and served Him.
He, however, was an example of a complete compromiser will-
ing to preach for gain.
God had already clearly revealed His will to Balaam in this
matter. However, the offer of great wealth and honor from
Balak began to entice him. He therefore piously told this more
impressive committee to wait and he would see what else God
would say to him.
 Understanding Numbers 807
22:20-30 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said
unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with
them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt
thou do. 21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled
his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 And God’s
anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the
LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now
he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with
him.
23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the
way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned
aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam
smote the ass, to turn her into the way. 24 But the angel of the
LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this
side, and a wall on that side. 25 And when the ass saw the
angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and
crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her
again. 26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood
in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the
right hand or to the left.
27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell
down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and
he smote the ass with a staff. 28 And the LORD opened the
mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I
done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked
me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now
would I kill thee. 30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I
thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine
unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he
said, Nay.
God therefore told Balaam to go ahead and go, saying only
what he told him to say. The next morning, Balaam went. How-
ever, notice that “God’s anger wad kindled because he went.”
 808 Understanding Numbers
The key to this seeming contradiction is that God had revealed
His clear, perfect will. Yet in His permissive will He allowed
Balaam to proceed, though as will be seen, not without trouble.
God’s perfect will is always superior to His permissive will.
God made sure Balaam got the message. He sent an angel
which stood before Balaam. The donkey he was riding upon
saw the angel with sword drawn, but the backslidden prophet
did not. The poor donkey tried to turn away. Balaam whereupon
beat the poor animal. Again, the angel blocked the path this time
between the stone walls of a vineyard. The frightened donkey
therefore balked against the stone wall, smashing Balaam’s
foot. He beat the donkey again. Again, the angel blocked the
road a little further at a narrow place and there was no where for
the donkey to go, so it simply collapsed on the road. Again, Bal-
aam beat the animal.
God therefore at that instant miraculously gave the donkey
the ability to speak. It turned and asked, “What have I done unto
thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” That should
have shaken Balaam, yet in his backslidden condition, even his
own donkey talking to him did not give him pause. Without
missing a beat, he replied in anger to the animal, threatening to
kill it if he had a sword. The donkey continued the dialogue
asking Balaam if she had ever done anything like this before?
He admitted, “no.”

22:31-35 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam,

and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and
his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head,
and fell flat on his face. 32 And the angel of the LORD said
unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three
times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way
is perverse before me:
33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three
times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had
 Understanding Numbers 809
slain thee, and saved her alive. 34 And Balaam said unto the
angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou
stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease
thee, I will get me back again. 35 And the angel of the LORD
said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that
I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam
went with the princes of Balak.

Then God “opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the

angel of the LORD” with sword drawn. Balaam fell on his face.
The angel then informed Balaam that he was sent out “to
withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me.” Again,
God’s perfect will was revealed in the matter. Balaam piously
offered to return. Yet, the angel issued orders, again revealing
God’s permissive will in the matter. He was to continue, but
speaking only what he was told to say. God through this back-
slidden, carnal prophet intended to further glorify Himself even
before the pagan king, Balak.

22:36-41 And when Balak heard that Balaam was

come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which
is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. 37
And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto
thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I
not able indeed to promote thee to honour? 38 And Balaam
said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any
power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in
my mouth, that shall I speak.
39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto
Kirjathhuzoth. 40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and
sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. 41
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took
Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal,
that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
 810 Understanding Numbers
Upon arriving in Moab, Balak met Balaam and chided him
for his reluctance to come, reminding him that he could promote
him to great honor. Balaam lamely replied he would only speak
what God put in his mouth. Balak whereupon brought Balaam
to Kirjath-huzoth which literally means a city of streets. Some
have thought this was to influence Balaam if Israel were allow-
ed to displace the many people living therein.
The next day, Balak took him up “into the high places of
Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.”
Balaam should have known right then he was in the wrong,
being brought to the high places of Baal. But from there, he
could see the entire camp of Israel spread out below.
The moral of the story of Balaam is how he was willing to
com-promise conviction for advancement. To this day, no one
names their children Balaam.

*****

Overview of Numbers 23: The story of Balaam continues.

The subdivisions of the chapter are: (1) Balaam’s prophecy
from the high places of Baal in verses 1-12; (2) Balaam’s
prophecy from Mount Pisgah in verses 13-26; and (3) Bal-
aam’s prophecy regarding the beauty and order of Israel in
verses 27-30.

23:1-6 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here

seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven
rams. 2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak
and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3
And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering,
and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me:
and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went
to an high place.
 Understanding Numbers 811
4 And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have
prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a
bullock and a ram. 5 And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s
mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt
speak. 6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his
burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.
Balaam again piously proceeded to build seven altars to Je-
hovah and offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. He told
Balak he would inform him whatever God told him.

23:7-10 And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the

king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the
mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and
come, defy Israel. 8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not
cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not
defied?
9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the
hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall
not be reckoned among the nations. 10 Who can count the
dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel?
Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be
like his!
Balaam whereupon uttered the parable (message) which
God had told him recounting the background leading up to this
point. “How shall I curse, who God hath not cursed? Or how
shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?” He went on to
describe the seeming numberlessness of Israel as he saw them
from the heights of Moab. He further prophetically noted that
Israel would never be “reckoned among the nations.” Like the
New Testament church, Israel never has been part of the world
nor recognized by it.
Balaam went on eloquently blessing Israel, “Who can
count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of
Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end
 812 Understanding Numbers
be like his!” He declared that Israel would someday be numb-
erless. Moreover, he wished to himself the blessing which
would come to Israel hoping to have an end like unto Israel.

23:11-12 And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou

done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and,
behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. 12 And he
answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which
the LORD hath put in my mouth?
Balak did not miss that Balaam had in fact blessed Israel.
He complained that he had brought Balaam there to curse his
enemies and he had in fact blessed them. Balaam simply re-
minded him that he could only speak what Jehovah put in his
mouth.

23:13-17 And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee,

with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see
them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt
not see them all: and curse me them from thence. 14 And he
brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah,
and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on
every altar. 15 And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy
burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder.
16 And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his
mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. 17 And
when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering,
and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto
him, What hath the LORD spoken?
Balak thereafter took Balaam to the top of Mount Pisgah
where he could see only a small part of the camp of Israel.
(Perhaps he thought in viewing only a fraction of the camp he
would not be impressed with or intimidated in cursing Israel.
Balaam again offered seven bullocks and rams on seven altars
he built there. He told Balak to wait while he met the Lord
 Understanding Numbers 813
yonder. God thus sent Balaam back with a new message for
Balak.

23:18-24 And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up,

Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: 19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man,
that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or
hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 20 Behold, I
have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed;
and I cannot reverse it.
21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he
seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him,
and the shout of a king is among them. 22 God brought them
out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither
is there any divination against Israel: according to this time
it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God
wrought! Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and
lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he
eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.

This time Balaam pronounced an even greater blessing

upon Israel. In so doing, he began by describing God’s right-
eous character: “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the
son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not
do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” The
compromising prophet went on to inform Balak that he had
been instructed to bless and not curse, therefore there was
nothing he could do about it.
Balaam thus went on to announce how he beheld no
iniquity or perverseness in Jacob. God was with Israel, having
miraculously brought them out of Egypt with the “strength of an
unicorn.” The latter mentioned creature likely refers to the
aurochs which were great wild bulls, now extinct. The idea is
 814 Understanding Numbers
that God brought Israel out of Egypt with great power and
strength.
Balaam went on to declare that there was “no enchantment
against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel.” No
curse against Israel would work. “According to this time it shall
be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought.” The
simple truth is that Israel was God’s work. Their deliverance out
of Egypt and their exodus journey had been through the mighty
work of God. Thus, there was nothing which could hinder them.
Balaam went on eloquently, allegorically referring to Israel as a
great lion who would not rest until he had devoured his enemies.

23:25-26 And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse

them at all, nor bless them at all. 26 But Balaam answered
and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the
LORD speaketh, that I must do? Balak missed none of what
Balaam had uttered. He therefore in frustration and exasper-
ation ordered him to “neither curse them at all nor bless them at
all.” In other words, don’t say anymore. All Balaam could do
was remind Balak that he only could speak what God said.

23:27-30 And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray

thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it
will please God that thou mayest curse me them from
thence. 28 And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor,
that looketh toward Jeshimon.
29 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven
altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.
30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock
and a ram on every altar.
Balak therefore took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor one
more time to try and get him to curse Israel. Balaam knew this
and yet went along nevertheless. It is thought that on top of
Mount Peor was the main temple of Baal and was the center of
 Understanding Numbers 815
Baal worship in Moab. Again, seven altars to Jehovah were
built there which was an affront in itself. Again, seven bullocks
and rams were offered.

*****

Overview of Numbers 24: The story of Balaam concludes.

The subdivisions of the chapter are: (1) Balaam describes the
goodness of Israel in verses 1-9; (2) Balak releases Balaam in
anger in verses 10-14; and (3) Balaam’s long-range proph-
ecies of Israel in verses 15-25.

24:1-9 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD

to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for
enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in
his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God
came upon him. 3 And he took up his parable, and said,
Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes
are open hath said:
4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which
saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but
having his eyes open: 5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob,
and thy tabernacles, O Israel! 6 As the valleys are they
spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of
lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees
beside the waters. 7 He shall pour the water out of his
buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king
shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were
the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his
enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them
through with his arrows. 9 He couched, he lay down as a
 816 Understanding Numbers
lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he
that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
Implied in the text is that Balaam had attempted to use
occult enchantments in the prior two attempts to curse Israel.
This time, he tried something different. He removed himself
from the altars he had built and turned himself toward the wild-
erness where Israel was encamped. Implied is that he turned his
back on the altars of Jehovah, thinking he could curse of his own
accord.
However, as he saw the order and beauty of the encamp-
ment of Israel below, “the spirit of God came upon him,”
placing him into a trance yet at the same time having his eyes
open. Balaam thus proceeded to pronounce even greater bless-
ing upon Israel. “How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy
tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as
gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the
LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.”
Balaam began noting the beauty, organization, and impress-
iveness of even the camp of Israel. Clearly implied is the pros-
perity and attractiveness of the camp. The mention of trees of
lign aloes refers to fragrant trees from which perfume was
made. Cedar trees were considered of great value and beauty. In
essence, Balaam noted the grandeur and blessing of God’s
people.
He went on to further bless Israel declaring that God would
give them goodly rain. They would have great posterity. They
would be even more powerful than Agag, king of the Amalek-
ites, which at that time was thought to be one of the most
powerful nations in the world. Israel in its kingdom would be
exalted. God had thus far delivered them and would give him
even greater victories, devouring their enemies. He likened
Israel to a great lion which only a fool would dare stir up.
Balaam then concluded by noting, “Blessed is he that blesseth
thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.” Even as God had made
 Understanding Numbers 817
that promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:3) and Jacob (Genesis
27:29), now even Balaam repeats it.

24:10-14 And Balak’s anger was kindled against

Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said
unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and,
behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to
promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath
kept thee back from honour.
12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy
messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, 13 If Balak
would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go
beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or
bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I
speak? 14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come
therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do
to thy people in the latter days.
Balak was infuriated. He rehearsed how that he had
brought Balaam there to curse Israel, whereas he had in fact
blessed them three times. He then piously told Balaam that he
had “thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the
LORD hath kept thee back from honour.” Who was Balak, as a
pagan, to second guess God? God had not kept Balaam from
honor. Balaam’s own compromise had sealed his fate.
Balaam could only lamely remind Balak that he had warn-
ed him he could only say what God said notwithstanding if
Balak had offered him his house full of gold and silver. But, he
continued, he would now finally advertise (advise) them “what
this people shall do to thy people in the latter days” (i.e., what
Israel would do to Moab someday).

24:15-22 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam

the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open
 818 Understanding Numbers
hath said: 16 He hath said, which heard the words of God,
and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the
vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his
eyes open:
17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but
not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre
shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab,
and destroy all the children of Sheth. 18 And Edom shall be
a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies;
and Israel shall do valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob shall come he
that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that re-
maineth of the city.
20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his
parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but
his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. 21 And he
looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said,
Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a
rock. 22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until
Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
Balaam again fell into a trance with his eyes open, seeing a
vision of the Almighty. He whereupon uttered a prophecy of the
coming Messiah which is remembered annually to this day. He
foretold the star of Bethlehem. “I shall see him, but not now: I
shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of
Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the
corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.”
With the benefit of hindsight, we know this is clear
prophecy of the coming of Christ and His kingdom announced
by a star out of Israel and Bethlehem. Though only the first
portion of that prophecy was altogether fulfilled at Christ’s first
coming, it will be totally fulfilled at His second coming. Then,
the hostile Arab neighbors of Israel (Moab and Sheth) will be
utterly defeated when Jesus returns. Jordan and Saudi Arabia
are the modern names for Moab and Sheth.
 Understanding Numbers 819
In the continuing parables, other arabic, middle-eastern
nations are mentioned (Edom and Seir). They would be dom-
inated by One out of Jacob. Though this found limited
fulfillment in David, the greater and final fulfillment will be in
Christ at His second coming. Balaam continued to prophesy the
judgment of additional nations of the region: the Amalekites
who were the first to attack Israel and the Kenites from whence
came Moses’ first wife.

24:23-25 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas,

who shall live when God doeth this! 24 And ships shall come
from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall
afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. 25 And Balaam
rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also
went his way.
Verses 23-24 may refer to future events not related to the
coming of the Messiah. There apparently is prophecy of
Alexander the Great’s invasion and conquest of Assyria (ships
from Chittim—the Mediterranean). Some think Eber ment-
ioned here refers to the Hebrews and the treatment of them by
Alexander’s posterity, Antiochus Epiphanes. However, he, too,
would also perish for ever.
Thus having finished utterly blessing Israel, Balaam went
home as did Balak. No doubt, Balak was utterly disgusted with
Balaam. However, Revelation 2:14 seems to indicate that
Balaam prior to leaving gave Balak damaging advice on how to
bring God’s wrath upon Israel. That doctrine was for Balak to
send loose women into the camp of Israel to seduce and entice
them into adultery, fornication, and idolatry. That would bring
God’s wrath which it did. It might be inferred that Balaam made
one last attempt to receive the honor and wealth promised by
Balak thus revealing his utter compromise.
As an epilogue, it seems that Israel was oblivious to the mo-
mentous spiritual events taking place in the heights above them.
 820 Understanding Numbers
To that degree, there is a hint of the great spiritual battles which
take place in the heavens of which we, as God’s people, are
usually altogether oblivious.

*****

Overview of Numbers 25: In this chapter is the culmin-

ation of the doctrine of Balaam with the incident of Phinehas.
The subdivisions of the chapter are: (1) the spiritual and
physical whoredom of Israel when enticed by the daughters of
Moab in verses 1-5; (2) Phinehas’ execution of Zimri and Cozbi
in verses 6-15; and, (3) the God’s charge to deal with Midian in
verses 16-18.

25:1-3 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people

began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2
And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods:
and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3 And
Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the
LORD was kindled against Israel.
The “doctrine of Balaam” became the issue. Apparently
thwarted in his attempt to curse Israel by God’s direct inter-
vention, Balaam, willing to receive gain, took Balak aside and
gave him advice. In Revelation 2:14, Jesus spoke of the doctrine
of Balaam. Specifically, it was enticing Israel to eat things
sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication. In Numbers
31:16, referring to the fornication which developed between
Israel and Moab, reference is made that “these caused the
children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam to commit
trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor.”
Moses recorded how that in encamping at Shittim (Moab)
that “the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters
of Moab.” Moreover, the Moabites “called the people unto the
 Understanding Numbers 821
sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down
to their gods.” Israel thus “joined himself unto Baal-peor.”
Apparently, what took place is this. Having failed to
directly curse Israel, Balaam took Balak aside and advised him
to send loose women from Moab down to befriend and sexually
seduce Israelite men. What is implied is that “the daughters of
Moab” were not disagreeable to such a plan. There evidently
must have been a significant number of them so engaged. Bal-
aam knew that sin thus introduced into the camp of Israel would
bring the wrath of God against them. He therefore so counseled
Balak who was more than willing to compromise the morals of
the young women of his realm.
Additionally, Balaam evidently also counseled Balak to
have his people entice Israel to partake of the offerings sacri-
ficed to Baal their god. They thus drew Israel into actually
bowing down to these gods. No doubt the foods offered were
the finest. Moreover, the willing women of Moab no doubt were
attractive and seductively attired.
There thus is a clear allegory how Satan works. He knows
God is angered by sexual immorality. Therefore, he tirelessly
seeks to entice Christian people to this day toward that base end.
He knows he thus can neutralize God’s work, bring chastening
to God’s people, and effectually thwart God’s will. He like-
wise will entice through the fineries of the world to draw God’s
people into deeper sin. He did so with Israel then. He does so
today. What Balaam was not able to do in directly cursing
Israel, he was able to accomplish through the back door as will
soon be seen. The doctrine of Balaam was and is spiritually de-
structive for God’s people. “And the anger of the LORD was
kindled against Israel.”

25:5-6 And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye

every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor. 6 And,
behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto
 822 Understanding Numbers
his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and
in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel,
who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation. God directed Moses to not only kill those
involved with the harlots of Moab or Baal, but to behead them
and hang their heads out in the sun “that the fierce anger of the
LORD may be turned away from Israel.”

25:7-9 And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son

of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the
congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; 8 And he went
after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them
through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her
belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
9 And those that died in the plague were twenty and four
thousand.
Meanwhile, a Hebrew man brazenly entered into public
fornication with a loose woman of Moab (apparently in the
doorway of his tent). This was even within sight of the door of
the Tabernacle where many righteous Israelites were weeping
in repentance over of the sin of their people. Aaron’s grandson,
Phinehas, saw their wantonness. He therefore took a javelin and
ran the two through not only pinning them to the ground, but
evidently killing both of them. (See 25:14-15.) “So the plague
was stayed from the children of Israel.” God’s wrath was ap-
peased by the righteous intervention of Phinehas. Nevertheless,
twenty-four thousand Israelites were killed at God’s direction
for their fornication and their idolatry with Moab. See also com-
ments for I Corinthians 10:8.

25:10-13 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 11

Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest,
hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel,
while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I
 Understanding Numbers 823
consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. 12
Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of
peace: 13 And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even
the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was
zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the
children of Israel.
God was pleased with the actions of Phinehas who was
zealous for His sake. Therefore, God announced, “Behold, I
give unto him my covenant of peace: and he shall have it, and his
seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood;
because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for
the children of Israel.” In Psalm 106:29-31, David, by inspir-
ation, wrote that God’s covenant with Phinehas was an
accounting “unto him for righteousness.” Evidently, it was faith
on Phinehas part which moved him to so intervene. God seeing
that faith imputed righteousness to him.

25:14-18 Now the name of the Israelite that was slain,

even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri,
the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the
Simeonites. 15 And the name of the Midianitish woman that
was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over
a people, and of a chief house in Midian. 16 And the LORD
spake unto Moses, saying, 17 Vex the Midianites, and smite
them: 18 For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they
have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter
of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister,
which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor’s sake.
The names of the culprits are noted, Zimri, the Israelite, of
the tribe of Simeon; and Cozbi, a daughter of a prince of Midian.
God thus warned Israel to smite the Midianites for this matter
and be wary of their wiles. The Midianites were apparently in
league with Moab in the entire sordid affair. They thus bore
God’s wrath in the matter as well.
 824 Understanding Numbers
Overview of Numbers 26: The renumbering of Israel prior
to entering the land is recorded. The subdivisions of the chapter
are: (1) the numbering of Israel in the plains of Moab in verses
1-51; (2) regulations regarding the coming division of the land
in verses 52-56; (3) the renumbering of the Levites in verses 57-
62; and, (4) none remaining of the original generation in verses
63-65.

26:1-4 And it came to pass after the plague, that the

LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron
the priest, saying, 2 Take the sum of all the congregation of
the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward,
throughout their fathers’ house, all that are able to go to
war in Israel.
3 And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in
the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 4 Take
the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as
the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel,
which went forth out of the land of Egypt.
As the impending entrance to the promised land drew near,
God instructed Moses and Eleazar (Aaron’s son) to again “take
the sum” of all the congregation of Israel. They were to number
only the men twenty years old and upward who were able to go
to war.

26:5-51 The ordered census of Israel was thus taken and the
results were as follows.
Of the tribe of Reuben there were 43,730 men.
Of the tribe of Simeon there were 22,200 men.
Of the tribe of Gad there were 40,500 men.
Of the tribe of Judah there were 76,500 men.
Of the tribe of Issachar there were 64,300 men.
Of the tribe of Zebulun there were 60,500 men.
Of the tribe of Manasseh there were 52,700 men.
 Understanding Numbers 825
Of the tribe of Ephraim there were 32,500 men.
Of the tribe Benjamin there were 45,600 men.
Of the tribe of Dan there were 64,400 men.
Of the tribe of Asher there were 53,400 men.
Of the tribe of Naphtali there were 45,400 men.

The grand total of men twenty years old an upward,

able to go to war, was 601,730.

26:52-56 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 53

Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance
according to the number of names. 54 To many thou shalt
give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less
inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given
according to those that were numbered of him.
55 Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot:
according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they
shall inherit. 56 According to the lot shall the possession
thereof be divided between many and few.
Mention is made that the land was to be divided by lot for
an inheritance to these according to their names.

26:57-62 And these are they that were numbered of the

Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the
Gershonites: of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites: of
Merari, the family of the Merarites. 58 These are the famil-
ies of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the
Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the
Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat
Amram.
59 And the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the
daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt:
and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam
their sister. 60 And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu,
 826 Understanding Numbers
Eleazar, and Ithamar. 61 And Nadab and Abihu died, when
they offered strange fire before the LORD.
62 And those that were numbered of them were twenty
and three thousand, all males from a month old and
upward: for they were not numbered among the children of
Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among
the children of Israel.
The numbering of the tribe of Levi is thus noted according
to their three divisions along with a brief review of the recent
history of the tribe of Levi. Their number for males from one
month of age and upward totaled 23,000.

26:63-65 These are they that were numbered by Moses

and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel
in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. 64 But among
these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron
the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of
Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.
65 For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die
in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save
Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
Every prescribed male was accounted for in Israel in the
plains of Moab across from Jericho. Specifically noted is that
there was not a single man of that original generation which had
been numbered at Sinai. The only two exceptions were Caleb
and Joshua.

*****

Overview of Numbers 27: As the years of wandering near

their end, several issues are addressed. (1) The law of inheri-
tances is described in verses 1-11. (2) Moses is instructed to
prepare for his death in verses 12-14. And, (3) Joshua is ap-
pointed to succeed Moses in verses 15-23.
 Understanding Numbers 827
27:1-5 Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son
of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of
Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph:
and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah,
and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood
before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the
princes and all the congregation, by the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
3 Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in
the company of them that gathered themselves together
against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his
own sin, and had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our
father be done away from among his family, because he
hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the
brethren of our father. 5 And Moses brought their cause
before the LORD.
A man of the tribe of Manasseh, Zelophehad, had had five
daughters and no sons. This man had died in the wilderness.
Moreover, he had had no part in the rebellion of Korah and had
died an otherwise ordinary death. These five daughters of Zelo-
phehad therefore came to Moses and petitioned him to allow
them to have an inheritance of the land in their fathers name,
notwithstanding the fact he had not sons. Moses thus “brought
their cause before the LORD.” In a matter of which he was not
sure, Moses sought God’s counsel. God accordingly directed
his decision.

27:6-11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 7 The

daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give
them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s
brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their
father to pass unto them. 8 And thou shalt speak unto the
children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then
ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. 9
 828 Understanding Numbers
And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his
inheritance unto his brethren. 10 And if he have no bre-
thren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father’s
brethren. 11 And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall
give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of
his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the
children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD com-
manded Moses.
God granted the daughters Zelophehad their petition
allowing them to have an inheritance in their father’s name
upon entering the land. Moreover, God thus issued a general
policy to the effect that if a man died, or had no sons or even no
daughters, his inheritance was to thence be given to his brethren
or next of kin as the case might be. This was to be established as
a statute from thence onward.
The greater lesson was that these women did that which
was right in properly seeking redress through petition for their
cause. Moses not knowing God’s will in the question took it
directly to the Lord who made clear His will in the matter. Those
basic principles remain in force to this day.

27:12-14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up

into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given
unto the children of Israel. 13 And when thou hast seen it,
thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy
brother was gathered. 14 For ye rebelled against my
commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the
congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes:
that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of
Zin.
God thence directed Moses to go up onto Mount Abarim. It
is thought that Abarim was the range of mountains in Moab one
of which was Nebo and Pisgah. Many think that God directed
Moses to the latter because of its height and ability to see the
 Understanding Numbers 829
land therefrom. Moses was thus to be gathered unto his people
even as had been the case with Aaron.
God thus reminded Moses that he had rebelled at the waters
of Meribah in the wilderness of Zin as noted in Numbers 20.
Our actions and sin do have consequences. Moreover, unto
whom much is given, much is required. As God’s leader, God
required much of Moses. Sadly, he failed his test.

27:15-17 And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, 16

Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man
over the congregation, 17 Which may go out before them,
and which may go in before them, and which may lead them
out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of
the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.
Moses thus urged the Lord to ordain a new leader for His
people. (It is of interest how Moses ascribed the Lord as “the
God of the spirits of all flesh.”)

27:18-23 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee

Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay
thine hand upon him; 19 And set him before Eleazar the
priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a
charge in their sight. 20 And thou shalt put some of thine
honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children
of Israel may be obedient.
21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who
shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before
the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they
shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with
him, even all the congregation. 22 And Moses did as the
LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him
before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: 23
And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as
the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
 830 Understanding Numbers
God thus directed for Moses to “take thee Joshua the son of
Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him.”
The reference to Joshua having ‘the spirit’ may be a reference
to how God had placed His Spirit upon him for leadership. It
should not be confused with the New Testament sense of the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer. Moses was to ‘lay
hands’ upon Joshua thus designating God’s choice of leader-
ship in the matter. It may also have signified a public transferal
of the mantle of leadership from Moses to Joshua.
The charge mentioned likely has the sense of a ‘commis-
sioning’ to Joshua. This was to be done in the sight of the con-
gregation as Moses thus formally, visibly, and officially trans-
ferred some of his honor to Joshua. This public ceremony was
to make clear to Israel God’s choice that they might thus be
obedient even to him when the time came.
Joshua was further directed in due season to come to
Eleazar “who shall ask counsel after the judgment of Urim
before the LORD.” That is, in difficult decisions in which God’s
counsel was needed, Joshua was to go to Eleazar the new high
priest to receive direction from the Lord through the Urim and
Thumim stones in Eleazar’s ephod. Joshua was further given
absolute authority over Israel. “At his word shall they go out,
and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children
of Israel with him.”
Moses thus did as instructed concerning Joshua. He
publicly laid hands upon him, giving him a charge (commis-
sion) before the assembled nation of Israel, and setting him be-
fore both Eleazar the priest and the entire congregation.

*****

Overview of Numbers 28: In this chapters begins a sum-

mary overview of the major holy days of Israel. The subdivis-
ions of the chapter are: (1) the daily sacrifices in verses 1-8; (2)
 Understanding Numbers 831
the sacrifices on the Sabbath and new moons in verses 9-15; (3)
the sacrifices for Passover in verses 16-25; and, (4) the
sacrifices for the day of first-fruits in verses 16-31.

28:1-8 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2

Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My
offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a
sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in
their due season. 3 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the
offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD;
two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a
continual burnt offering. 4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in
the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even; 5
And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering,
mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil. 6 It is a
continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount
Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the
LORD.
7 And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part
of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause
the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink
offering. 8 And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as
the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering
thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a
sweet savour unto the LORD.
God through Moses set forth a schedule of the regular
offerings of the Tabernacle. Each day, the priests were to offer
two lambs of the first year, without blemish. One was to be of-
fered in the morning as a burnt-offering along with a meal-
offering and drink-offering. The other was to offered each
evening as the same. This was to be done in perpetuity.

28:9-10 And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first

year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat
 832 Understanding Numbers
offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: 10
This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the
continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. Each
Sabbath day, the morning and evening offerings were to be
doubled—two lambs at in the morning and evening and a
double portion of the meal and drink-offerings.

28:11-15 And in the beginnings of your months ye shall

offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks,
and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot; 12
And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled
with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a
meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram; 13 And a sev-
eral tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering
unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a
sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.
14 And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine
unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and
a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering
of every month throughout the months of the year. 15 And
one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be
offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink
offering.
The monthly Hebrew calendar was defined by the new
moon as the first of the month. On each new moon, special
offerings were to be made consisting of two young bullocks,
one ram, and seven lambs of the first year, all without spot. This
was accompanied by the prescribed meal-offerings and drink-
offerings. In addition, one kid-goat was to be offered as a sin-
offering then. This was to be repeated each month on the first
day thereof in perpetuity.

28:16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the

passover of the LORD. The Passover is briefly addressed as
 Understanding Numbers 833
being on the fourteenth day of the first month each year. It is the
first of the feasts of Jehovah on the Hebrew calendar each year.

28:17-25 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the

feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. 18 In the
first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner
of servile work therein: 19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made
by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young
bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year:
they shall be unto you without blemish: 20 And their meat
offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals
shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram; 21
A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb,
throughout the seven lambs:
22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement
for you. 23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in
the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. 24
After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven
days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet sav-
our unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual
burnt offering, and his drink offering. 25 And on the seventh
day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile
work.
Over the succeeding seven days immediately after Pass-
over, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was to be observed. A
burnt-offering of two young bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs
of the first year without spot, along with the prescribed meal and
drink-offerings, were to be offered on the first day of Unleav-
ened Bread. No physical work was to be done on that day. These
offerings were to be performed each day throughout the seven-
day feast in addition to the regular morning and evening sacri-
fices. On the seventh day, Israel was to observe a holy con-
vocation again, doing no physical work. A convocation was an
assembling of the entire nation at the Tabernacle.
 834 Understanding Numbers
28:26-31 Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring
a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out,
ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile
work: 27 But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet
savour unto the LORD; two young bullocks, one ram, seven
lambs of the first year; 28 And their meat offering of flour
mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two
tenth deals unto one ram,
29 A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the
seven lambs; 30 And one kid of the goats, to make an
atonement for you. 31 Ye shall offer them beside the
continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall
be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.
The next feast was that of first-fruits wherein they were to
bring a meal-offering of new grain. This was also known as
Pentecost and was basically fifty days after Passover. As in the
other feasts, there was to be a convocation, no physical work
was to be done, and the same type of sacrifices was to be of-
fered: two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first
year along with prescribed meal-offerings and the one kid goat
for a sin-offering “to make an atonement for you.” These three
feasts took place in the spring and early summer.

*****

Overview of Numbers 29: The declaration of the various

holy days of Israel continues. The subdivisions of this chapter
are: (1) the sacrifices at the Feast of Trumpets in verses 1-6; (2)
the sacrifices on the Day of Atonement in verses 7-11; (3) the
sacrifices at the Feast of Tabernacles in verses 12-40.

29:1-6 And in the seventh month, on the first day of the

month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no
 Understanding Numbers 835
servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you. 2
And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto
the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of
the first year without blemish: 3 And their meat offering
shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a
bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram,
4 And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the
seven lambs: 5 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to
make an atonement for you: 6 Beside the burnt offering of
the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt
offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings,
according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice
made by fire unto the LORD.
In the seventh month, which would be in the fall of the year
near the autumnal equinox, Israel was to observe the Feast of
Trumpets. Again it was to be a holy convocation with no
physical work performed along with the same general schedule
of offerings as described for the other feast days in the previous
chapter: two young bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs of the
first year, all without spot. This was accompanied by the pre-
scribed meal-offerings and drink-offerings. In addition, one
kid-goat was to be offered as a sin-offering then. It all was to be
a sweet savour unto the Lord.

29:7-11 And ye shall have on the tenth day of this

seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict
your souls: ye shall not do any work therein: 8 But ye shall
offer a burnt offering unto the LORD for a sweet savour; one
young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year;
they shall be unto you without blemish: 9 And their meat
offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals
to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram, 10 A several
tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 11 One
kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of
 836 Understanding Numbers
atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat
offering of it, and their drink offerings.
On the tenth day of the seventh month, the Day of
Atonement was to be observed as a holy convocation. Again, a
similar schedule of burnt-offerings, sin offerings, meal and
drink-offerings were to be offered thereon along with the norm-
al daily sacrifices and the special sin-offering made on that day.

29:12-38 The final feast day of the Jewish calendar year

was the Feast of Tabernacles beginning on the fifteenth day of
the seventh month. There again was to be a convocation and no
unnecessary physical work performed thereon. Similar to the
Feast of Unleavened Bread in the Spring, this feast continued
for another seven days for a total of eight. On each successive
day of the feast, a significant number of animals were to be
sacrificed.
On the first day, thirteen bullocks were to be offered
declining in number by one each day until the seventh day when
six were offered. On each day, fourteen lambs were to be offer-
ed. A prescribed meal and drink-offering were to be offered
each day as well. On each day, a kid goat was to be offered for
a sin-offering.
On the eighth day, a solemn assembly was to be held again
with no servile work being performed. On that day, one bullock,
one ram, and seven lambs were to be offered along with the
incumbent meal, drink, and sin-offering of a kid goat (along
with normal daily morning and evening sacrifices).

29:39-40 These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your

set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for
your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for
your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings. 40 And
Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the
LORD commanded Moses. God thus instructed Israel to
 Understanding Numbers 837
observe these various feast days at their appointed times each
year in addition to their own personal vows, free-will, burnt,
meal, drink, and peace offerings. Moses in turn passed these in-
structions on to Israel.

*****

Overview of Numbers 30: Regulations regarding making

vows to the Lord are herein set forth. The subdivisions of the
chapter are: (1) vows are to be kept in verses 1-2; and, (2) the
special situations wherein a vow might be released in verses 3-
16.

30:1 And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes

concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing
which the LORD hath commanded. The following chapter
sets forth the regulations through which Israel was to make a
vow to God.

30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an

oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his
word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his
mouth. The basic principle is set forth that “if a man vow a vow
unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he
shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that pro-
ceedeth out of his mouth.” The essence is simple. If a man made
a vow (a promise) to the Lord, he was thus enjoined to keep his
word, period. He had bound himself to do what he said he would
do.

30:3-5 If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and

bind herself by a bond, being in her father’s house in her
youth; 4 And her father hear her vow, and her bond
 838 Understanding Numbers
wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall
hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and
every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.
5 But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth;
not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath
bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her,
because her father disallowed her.
The exception to the law of vows was if the one making a
vow was a woman still living at home. Her vow was thus con-
tingent upon her father’s approval. If he by his silence gave tacit
approval, the woman was thus bound to keep her vow. How-
ever, if he countermanded her vow, she was thus released there-
from.

30:6-8 And if she had at all an husband, when she

vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she
bound her soul; 7 And her husband heard it, and held his
peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall
stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall
stand.
8 But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he
heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and
that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound
her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her.
In similar fashion, if the one making a vow was a married
woman, her husband had the prerogative to approve or dis-
approve her vow. If the latter were the case, her vow became
null and void before God.

30:9 But every vow of a widow, and of her that is

divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall
stand against her. In the case of a widow or divorced woman,
there was no exception to her vow. It would stand according to
what she vowed regardless.
 Understanding Numbers 839
30:10-15 And if she vowed in her husband’s house, or
bound her soul by a bond with an oath; 11 And her husband
heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not:
then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she
bound her soul shall stand. 12 But if her husband hath
utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then
whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows,
or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her
husband hath made them void; and the LORD shall forgive
her.
13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul,
her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it
void. 14 But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her
from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her
bonds, which are upon her: he confirmeth them, because he
held his peace at her in the day that he heard them. 15 But if
he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard
them; then he shall bear her iniquity.
If however a woman made vow in the presence of her hus-
band prior to a divorce or becoming widowed, the husband’s
decision prior to death or divorce would prevail even after his
departure. If a husband reversed the oath of his wife after initial-
ly approving it, then he would bear the penalty for her iniquity.

30:16 These are the statutes, which the LORD

commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between
the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her
father’s house. Thus the law of vows was summarized.
Though simple on its face, the underlying theme was the pre-
vailing authority of a father or husband as long as a woman was
under that authority.

*****
 840 Understanding Numbers
Overview of Numbers 31: The narrative of Numbers re-
sumes. The subdivisions of this chapter are: (1) war with Mid-
ian is described in verses 1-6; (2) Balaam is slain in verses 7-
12; (3) those who caused Israel to sin through the counsel of
Balaam are slain in verses 13-18; (4) the ceremonial puri-
fication of warriors in verses 19-24; (5) the division of the
spoils of war in 25-47; and (6) the special offerings of war
spoils in verses 48-54.

31:1-6 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2

Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward
shalt thou be gathered unto thy people. 3 And Moses spake
unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the
war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the
LORD of Midian. 4 Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all
the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.
5 So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel,
a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
6 And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe,
them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war,
with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his
hand.
The historical narrative resumes. After the matter of
Balaam and Balak, with Israel still in the plains of Moab, God
instructed them to wreak vengeance against Midian. Recall that
the Midianites had been allied with the Moabites in their hos-
tility against Israel. Their women had participated in the con-
spiracy to curse Israel by committing fornication and adultery
with them.
God also informed Moses that after this battle, he would be
gathered unto his people (i.e., die). Israel was therefore in-
structed to select one thousand men from each tribe. They were
led into battle by Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest. Appar-
ently, the ark of the covenant was taken into battle as noted by
 Understanding Numbers 841
the “holy instruments.” Eleazar also was given the chosen silver
trumpets for signaling in the battle.

31:7-12 And they warred against the Midianites, as the

LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males. 8
And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them
that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur,
and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor
they slew with the sword. 9 And the children of Israel took
all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and
took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all
their goods.
10 And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt,
and all their goodly castles, with fire. 11 And they took all the
spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts. 12 And they
brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto
Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of
the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab,
which are by Jordan near Jericho.
In the ensuing battle, God gave them a total victory in
killing all the males of Midian. Not only were five kings of the
Midianites slain in the battle, but “Balaam also the son of Beor
they slew with the sword.” He had compromised with the
world. Now, he suffered the ultimate consequence.
Israel thus took the women of Midian captive along with
their children. Moreover, they took as loot all the possessions of
the Midianites, burning their cities upon departure. They thus
returned with booty of war including the woman of Midian they
had taken captive.

31:13-16 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the
princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them
without the camp. 14 And Moses was wroth with the officers
of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains
 842 Understanding Numbers
over hundreds, which came from the battle. 15 And Moses
said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? 16
Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the
counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in
the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the con-
gregation of the LORD.
Upon learning what had happened, both Moses and Eleazar
were outraged. Moses promptly reminded them that these
women “caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of
Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of
Peor.” These were the women who had prostituted themselves
to the men of Israel so as to bring God’s judgment against Israel.
Moreover, that evil scheme had been hatched by none other
than Balaam. He understood such sin would bring a curse of
God against Israel.

31:17-18 Now therefore kill every male among the little

ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying
with him. 18 But all the women children, that have not
known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
Moses therefore ordered that all women of Midian which
were not virgins, especially those who had prostituted them-
selves to Israel, be killed along with all their male children. Only
those virgin females of Midian were to be spared. Israel was al-
lowed to take these as maid servants.

31:19-24 And do ye abide without the camp seven days:

whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath
touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives
on the third day, and on the seventh day. 20 And purify all
your raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of
goats’ hair, and all things made of wood.
21 And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war
which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law
 Understanding Numbers 843
which the LORD commanded Moses; 22 Only the gold, and
the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead, 23 Every
thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the
fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified
with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the
fire ye shall make go through the water. 24 And ye shall
wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean,
and afterward ye shall come into the camp.
Further instructions for the returning warriors were given.
All who had killed or had touched a dead body in the war were
to stay without the camp for seven days. They were to appro-
priately purify themselves including their clothing on the third
and seventh day.
Moreover, only the metals brought back from the war, that
which could go through fire, were to be kept. They were to put
it through fire for purification and then be sprinkled with the
water of separation (see Numbers 19). Upon the seventh day,
the warriors were to wash their clothes and they thence would
be determined clean to return to the camp.

31:25-30 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 26

Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of
beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of
the congregation: 27 And divide the prey into two parts;
between them that took the war upon them, who went out
to battle, and between all the congregation: 28 And levy a
tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to
battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of
the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep: 29 Take it of
their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for an heave
offering of the LORD.
30 And of the children of Israel’s half, thou shalt take
one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses,
and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto
 844 Understanding Numbers
the Levites, which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the
LORD.
God thus ordered Moses and Eleazar to make an
accounting of all the spoils of the war. It was to be divided into
two parts: one for the soldiers and the other for the rest of the
nation. Then, Moses and Eleazar were to levy a tribute (tax)
which was to be given to the Lord in gratitude. For the soldiers,
they were levied one part in five hundred both of the remaining
maidens for servitude as well as the livestock. (The word beeves
refers to herds.) This two tenths of one per cent tribute from the
soldiers was thus given to Eleazar and offered as a heave-
offering to the Lord. The maidens obviously were given to the
Tabernacle as servants for the priests. However, of the other
half of the spoils given to the congregation at large, one part in
fifty was to be given to the Lord. They were to be given to the
Levites for use at the Tabernacle. Obviously, the soldiers who
had risked their lives and limbs in the battle were given the
lion’s share of the spoils not only in actual booty, but also in the
reduced tribute to the Tabernacle.

31:31-47 An accounting of the spoil of the war was made

accordingly: 675,000 sheep; 72,000 beeves or oxen; 61,000
asses; and 32,000 females who had never known man. The half
of these, which were the share of the soldiers, were 337,500
sheep; 36,000 beeves or oxen; 30,500 asses; and 16,000
females. Out of these were given as an heave offering to the
Lord 675 sheep, 72 beeves or oxen, 61 asses, and 32 women.
The half divided unto the children of Israel consisted of 337,500
sheep; 36,000 beeves or oxen; 30,500 asses; and 16,000
women. Of these, one in fifty, both of women and cattle, were
given to the Levites.

31:48-54 And the officers which were over thousands of

the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hun-
 Understanding Numbers 845
dreds, came near unto Moses: 49 And they said unto Moses,
Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which
are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us.
50 We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD,
what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and
bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an
atonement for our souls before the LORD.
51 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of
them, even all wrought jewels. 52 And all the gold of the
offering that they offered up to the LORD, of the captains of
thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen
thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels. 53 (For the men
of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.) 54 And
Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of
thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the
tabernacle of the congregation, for a memorial for the
children of Israel before the LORD.
Thereafter the officers of the soldiers met with Moses
noting they had not lost one man in the battle. That in itself was
a miracle of God. The soldiers had thus taken a free-will
offering (oblation) among themselves to offer to the Lord over
and above the mandated tribute in gratitude. Their offering was
of the gold and jewels which they had taken and it amounted to
16,500 shekels. Moses and Eleazar thus took the offering into
the Tabernacle as a memorial that God had given them such a
great victory.

*****

Overview of Numbers 32: The final five chapters of Num-

bers present the final preparations prior to the entrance and
conquest of the land. Recorded here is the matter of Reuben and
Gad and their choice of the lands east of the Jordan River. The
 846 Understanding Numbers
subdivisions of the chapter are: (1) the tribes of Reuben and
Gad request an inheritance on the eastside of Jordan River in
verses 1-5; (2) Moses warns the Reubenites and Gadites thereto
in verses 6-15; (3) the tribes of Reuben and Gad explain their
intentions in verses 16-27; and, (4) these two tribes take pos-
session of the land to the east of Jordan River in verses 28-42.

32:1-5 Now the children of Reuben and the children of

Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they
saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold,
the place was a place for cattle; 2 The children of Gad and
the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to
Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation,
saying, 3 Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and
Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,
4 Even the country which the LORD smote before the
congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants
have cattle: 5 Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace
in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a
possession, and bring us not over Jordan.
As the assembled nation of Israel encamped on the east side
of the Jordan River, the tribes of Reuben and Gad took note of
the country side and its appropriateness for cattle. Their leaders
therefore approached Moses requesting that land for their tribal
possessions.

32:6-15 Moses was suspicious and expressed his reser-

vations about the idea. “Shall your brethren go to war, and shall
ye sit here?” Furthermore, Moses feared in so doing they would
discourage “the heart of the children of Israel” from going over
into the land God had promised them. He rehearsed their recent
history how the ten spies discouraged the rest of the nation from
doing what God had ordained for them. He also warned them of
further angering the Lord.
 Understanding Numbers 847
32:16-19 And they came near unto him, and said, We
will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our
little ones: 17 But we ourselves will go ready armed before
the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their
place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities
because of the inhabitants of the land.
18 We will not return unto our houses, until the children
of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance. 19 For we
will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or
forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side
Jordan eastward.
The leaders of Reuben and Gad promised Moses that they
would only build necessary shelter for their livestock and pro-
vide temporary shelter for their families. They then would join
with the rest of the nation for the conquest of the land.

32:20-24 And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this

thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war, 21 And
will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until
he hath driven out his enemies from before him, 22 And the
land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall
return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before
Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the
LORD.
23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against
the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. 24 Build
you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and
do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.
Moses therefore acceded to their request. However, he
straitly warned them that “if ye will not do so, behold, ye have
sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”
In so doing, God issued a principle which is true to this day, sin
will find itself out. Moses therefore allowed them to build the
temporary shelter requested.
 848 Understanding Numbers
32:25-32 The leadership of the tribe of Reuben and Gad
therefore confirmed the agreement. Moses directed Eleazar to
hold them to their word. If they broke their agreement, they
would not be allowed the land on the east side of the Jordan
River.

32:33-42 Moses thus assigned to the tribe of Gad and

Reuben the former kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, Og
king of Bashan, and all the appurtenant cities thereof. Also,
Moses allowed half of the tribe of Manasseh to possess the
region of Gilead.

*****

Overview of Numbers 33: This chapter contains two

matters: (1) the encampments of the Israelites throughout their
forty years of wandering in verses 1-49; and, (2) the order that
the Canaanites be destroyed in verses 50-56.

33:1-49 This chapter is a remarkable journal of the journey

of Israel from the time they departed from the Egypt on the first
Passover to their arrival in the plains of Moab across the Jordan
River from Jericho. Note is made in verse 39 that Aaron was 123
years old when he died on Mount Hor. The entire forty years of
their journey is thus recorded, place by place, as God led them
each step of the way.

33:50-53 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains

of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 51 Speak unto the
children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed
over Jordan into the land of Canaan; 52 Then ye shall drive
out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and
destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten
 Understanding Numbers 849
images, and quite pluck down all their high places: 53 And
ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell
therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.
God instructed through Moses that upon entering the land,
Israel was to drive out the inhabitants of the land, destroying all
their pagan pictures and idols along with all which pertained
thereto.

33:54 And ye shall divide the land by lot for an

inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall
give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the
less inheritance: every man’s inheritance shall be in the
place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your
fathers ye shall inherit. Israel was to proportionately divide
the land amongst their tribes and families. Larger families were
to be allotted larger tracts whereas smaller families were to
receive smaller portions. Assignment of land was to be by lot.

33:55-56 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of

the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that
those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your
eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land
wherein ye dwell. 56 Moreover it shall come to pass, that I
shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.
Nevertheless God straitly warned Israel that if they failed to
drive out the inhabitants of the land that those which remained
would become “pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides,
and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.” God further
warned, “Moreover it shall come to pass that I shall do unto you,
as I thought to do unto them.”

*****
 850 Understanding Numbers
Overview of Numbers 34: Instructions are given regard-
ing preparations for entering the land. The subdivisions of the
chapter are: (1) the boundaries of the promised land are
described in verses 1-15; and (2) those who were appointed to
divide the land are noted in verses 16-29.

34:1-15 The first half of the 34th chapter of Numbers sets

forth God’s assignment of the borders of the land for the
impending conquest. The southern border of Israel was to be
from Kadesh-Barnea (the wilderness of Zin) to the Dead Sea
and on to the Mediterranean Sea which became their western
border. Their northern border would stretch along what is today
called Lebanon into what today is called Syria. The border
would then extend southward forming its eastern side. It
encompassed Gilead and other areas east of the Jordan River.
The land God gave to Israel then would roughly approximate
their modern borders with the exception they also occupied the
land east of the Jordan River which is in the State of Jordan
today.

34:16-29 God further instructed the leadership of the

nation upon entrance of the land. Its two primary leaders were
to be Eleazar as priest and Joshua the son of Nun. Furthermore,
a prince was to be appointed from each of the tribes for the
conquest. Notably, Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, was made
prince over the tribe of Judah.

*****

Overview of Numbers 35: Cities for the Levites and cities

of refuge are herein designated. The subdivisions of the chapter
are: (1) the cities of the Levites in verses1-8; (2) the de-signated
cities of refuge in verses 9-15; and, (3) civil laws con-cerning
murder in verses 16-34.
 Understanding Numbers 851
35:1-8 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of
Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 2 Command the
children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the
inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall
give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about
them. 3 And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the
suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods,
and for all their beasts.
4 And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto
the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and
outward a thousand cubits round about. 5 And ye shall
measure from without the city on the east side two thousand
cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the
west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two
thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall
be to them the suburbs of the cities.
6 And among the cities which ye shall give unto the
Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall
appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to
them ye shall add forty and two cities. 7 So all the cities
which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight
cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs. 8 And the cities
which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children
of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but
from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall
give of his cities unto the Levites according to his
inheritance which he inheriteth.
Upon entrance and conquest of the promised land, God
through Moses instructed that each tribe was to provide cities
for the dwelling of the Levites. They also were to provide land
around each city as a ‘suburb,’ that is grazing land for their
cattle. That ‘suburb’ was to extend out from the city one thou-
sand cubits (1,500 feet). A total radius of 2,000 cubits was to
extend from these cities (3,000 feet). Some think the additional
 852 Understanding Numbers
distance was for gardens, orchards, and vineyards the Levites
might plant.
A total of 48 cities with adjoining suburban land was thus
to be given to the Levites. Of these, six were to be designated as
cities of refuge whence those guilty of manslaughter might flee
for refuge. The assignment of these cities for the Levites was to
be proportional to the size of the tribes. Larger tribes were to
provide for more, smaller tribes for less.

35:9-15 Specifically, of the six cities designated as cities of

refuge, three were to be on the ‘Canaan side’ of the Jordan River
and three were to be on the other side.

35:16-21 The civil law concerning murder versus man-

slaughter is further specified. One striking another with “an
instrument of iron, so that he die” was to be deemed a murderer
and summarily executed. If one used a stone or a weapon of
wood and caused another’s death, he likewise was to executed
as a murderer. Moreover, the “revenger of blood himself shall
slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.”
Also included in the definition of murder was using one’s hand
to kill another.

35:22-25 However, if one died inadvertently at the hand of

another, the leadership of the congregation would judge. If they
deemed it manslaughter, the one thus guilty was to be delivered
to a city of refuge. He thus would be required to live there until
the death of the sitting high priest.

35:26-28 If however, the manslayer did not remain in the

city of refuge and the avenger found him and killed him, the
avenger would not be held guilty. However after the death of the
high priest, the manslayer could return to his former home as a
free man.
 Understanding Numbers 853
35:29-34 Justice was thus to be preserved in the land.
Murder was to be a capital offence. One who fled to a city of
refuge could not be ransomed therefrom. The word
translated as satisfaction (rpk kofer) has the sense of a
payment of ransom. The unjust shedding of blood would
pollute their land. Israel was thus straitly enjoined to not
defile their land by unjust vengeance or casual regard for
justice. God reminded them again how “I the LORD dwell
among the children of Israel.”

*****

Overview of Numbers 36: The final chapter of Numbers

deals with further regulations concerning inheritances. The
subdivisions of the chapter are: (1) the issue of the inheritance
of the daughters of Zelophehad in verses1-4; (2) the ruling that
the daughters of Zelophehad were to marry in their own tribe in
verses 5-12; and the conclusion of the book in verse 13.

36:1-4 And the chief fathers of the families of the

children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh,
of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spake
before Moses, and before the princes, the chief fathers of
the children of Israel: 2 And they said, The LORD
commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by
lot to the children of Israel: and my lord was commanded
by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our
brother unto his daughters.
3 And if they be married to any of the sons of the other
tribes of the children of Israel, then shall their inheritance
be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and shall be
put to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are
received: so shall it be taken from the lot of our inheritance.
 854 Understanding Numbers
4 And when the jubile of the children of Israel shall be, then
shall their inheritance be put unto the inheritance of the
tribe whereunto they are received: so shall their inheritance
be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our
fathers.
The leadership of the tribe of Manasseh brought up again
the matter of the daughters of Zelophehad. Their father, who
was of the tribe of Manasseh, had died. They had come to
Moses in Numbers 27:1-11 and Moses had ruled they could re-
ceive of their father’s inheritance. The leaders of Manasseh
were concerned that if these women married outside of their
tribe, the tribe would thus lose the land which otherwise was
part of their tribal inheritance.

36:5-9 And Moses commanded the children of Israel

according to the word of the LORD, saying, The tribe of the
sons of Joseph hath said well. 6 This is the thing which the
LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelo-
phehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best;
only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they
marry. 7 So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel
remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of
Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his
fathers.
8 And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in
any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of
the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of
Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers. 9
Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to
another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of
Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance.
Moses evidently took this issue to the Lord as noted in verse
5. He returned with the answer that the daughters of Zelophehad
were to only marry within the tribe of Manasseh if they were to
 Understanding Numbers 855
keep their inheritance. Furthermore, this ruling was to apply to
all of the tribes. Any woman who had an inheritance (because of
the death of her father or husband) was to only marry in that
tribe.

36:10-12 Even as the LORD commanded Moses, so did

the daughters of Zelophehad: 11 For Mahlah, Tirzah, and
Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelo-
phehad, were married unto their father’s brothers’ sons: 12
And they were married into the families of the sons of
Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance
remained in the tribe of the family of their father Therefore,
the daughters of Zelophehad married men of the tribe of Man-
asseh and specifically men who were directly related to their
father.

36:13 These are the commandments and the judg-

ments, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses
unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan
near Jericho. Thus the Book of Numbers ends. It encompassed
the “commandments and judgments, which the LORD com-
manded by Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of
Moab by Jordan near Jericho.” The Book of Deuteronomy will
include some additional details and a second rendering of the
Law. Then, the conquest would commence as noted in the Book
of Joshua.