REPUBLIC OF BENIN

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UNION OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES OF BENIN (UEEB)
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DEPARTMENT OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION (DEC)
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SOUDE/SINENDE BIBLE INSTITUTE (IBS)
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COURSE: Introduction to the Old Testament

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EXPOSE

THE NUMBERS

Names of exhibitors: Professor's name:

SIDI I. M. Zorobabel Past. BAPARAPE Issiaka

DJALIMOU W. Mathias

FEBRUARY 2022
SUMMARY

Introduction

I- Date of writing
II- Writing circumstances
III- Theological themes
IV- Other information
V- News

Conclusion
 INTRODUCTION

The Book of the Names from Greek of the Septuagint Numbers

in Hebrew‫ במדבר‬Numbers, "in the desert") is the fourth book of the Bible. This book
group all the events that took place between the Exodus from Egypt and the arrival in the land
promise. It owes its title to the numerous counts or censuses of the Israelites that it
behaves, but this does not represent the essence of the work.

Author

Moses is attributed to the Book of Numbers throughout Scripture (Joshua 8:31; Mark)
1226) just like the previous books. The Book of Numbers itself refers to the activity
editorial of Moses in 33:2; 36:13. Tradition attributes its writing to Moses.

I. Date and place of writing

The Book of Numbers was written during the last year of Moses' life.
Chapter 20:1, we are in the fortieth year after the exodus and, at the end of the narrative, Israel
is located on the East bank of the Jordan, opposite Jericho (36:13), where the conquest of Canaan
will begin (Joshua 3-6). The book can be dated to around 1405 B.C.

II. Context

Speaking of the context, it is worth noting that generally, the events of this book take place
take place in the desert. This word is used 48 times in the book. This word here refers to a
barren land. This book focuses on the events that occurred in the second and the
the fortieth year after the exodus. All the events from 1:1 to 14:45 take place in
1444 B.C., one year after the Exodus. Everything that follows 20:1 takes place around 1406/1405 B.C.
C., the fortieth year after the exodus. The laws and events of 15:1-19:22 are not
dated but likely correspond to the period of 1443 to 1407 BC when compared
the small number of information given about this period of about 37 years with all those
what we have regarding the other years of the journey from Egypt to the land of Canaan,
this gives an overview of the sterility of these years, a direct consequence of the rebellion of Israel
against the Lord.

III. Content

The Book of Numbers provides information about the first generation of the children.
of Israel in the desert where their obedience, organization, and attitude towards the tabernacle are
mentioned. Then, this book teaches us how these children of Israel disobeyed God.
by their complaints during the journey. Finally, we see the second generation of Israelites.
in the Moab plains where their obedience has been renewed. This phase presents the
preparations for the conquest of the promised land, the reminder of the journey in the desert and

the anticipation of the conquest of this promised land. Chapters 1 to 10 discuss the preparations
from Israel for the departure from Sinai. Chapters 11 to 14 describe the actual march,
the sending of the spies into Canaan and Israel's refusal to enter the promised land. The chapters
15 to 19 note various laws and various historical events. Chapters 20 to 36 are
the story of the last year of the people in the desert.

As a sign of His love, God told Moses to count the twelve tribes of Israel, with
the help of a representative from each tribe. The total number of male Israelite warriors (to
the exclusion of the Levites) is 603,550.1God then said to Moses that the Levites must
campers around the Tabernacle, surrounded by the rest of Israel. The Israelite camp is organized into
four groups, one on each side of the Tabernacle.2

The Levites are then counted (and assigned to the duties of the Tabernacle), and their
The number is slightly lower than that of all the Israelite firstborns, which they
replace as priests because of the sin of the Golden Calf. The remaining firstborns
purchase back their obligation through a monetary donation.3

The laws of the sotah (the unfaithful woman) and of the nazir (who leads an austere life)

abstaining from wine and other pleasures) we are taught, as well as the blessing
priestly, which Aaron and his descendants must pronounce over Israel.

Once the Tabernacle was completed and after the princes had brought sacrifices there.
inaugural6We are taught more about how the Tabernacle is erected and dismantled.
We also learn in what configuration Israel should cross the desert in
following the ark.

IV. Theological themes

Regarding the theological themes of the book, we can identify three.

like the main ones. It is primarily about: divine authority (1:1, 7:89); obedience and
disobedience then, sin and judgment and finally God's promise and His faithfulness.
This text addresses various themes and contains narratives, legal texts, and prophecies.
and genealogical lists. It recounts the history of Israel's journey from the mountain
Sinai to the plains of Moab at the border of Canaan. One of its most important teachings
The important thing is that the people of God must act according to faith, trusting in his promises.
if he wants to continue successfully. He tells of the punishment inflicted by God on Israel for its
disobedience and provides information about the Israelite laws.

V. Other information

It is little commented on by tradition and little studied by modern researchers, if

although it is seen as the poor relative in the exegesis of the Old Testament2Origen, father of
the biblical exegesis that easily attributes an allegorical meaning to the Scriptures, believes that the

the reading of this book is rejected 'like heavy and indigestible foods' (Homilies on
the Numbers, around 239-242)3.

Exegetes like Dennis T. Olson, R. K. Harrison, or Dennis R. Cole structure the

book in two to seven parts4According to the Korean biblical scholar Won Lee, the bipartite structure is based on
on chapters 1 to 10 which conclude the stay of the people at Sinai which started in
the Book of Exodus (chap. 19). Chapters 11 to 36 form a great migration narrative that
would integrate elements of conquest and pilgrimage narratives.

According to Thomas Römer, he presents himself as a "complement" to the revealed Law.

Sinai and it is the last book of the Pentateuch to have taken shape.7.

Book of Numbers, on Wikisource Researchers struggle to grasp a common thread in this

a mixture of religious prescriptions, lists, and narratives (accounts of rebellions, of
rebellions, of divine punishments)2.

The tensions and contradictions in the book of Numbers lead exegetes to think that
the text consists of several writing layers. The presence of texts of the type
priestly, most likely written during the Persian period, is widely accepted. These texts that
found among others in chapters 15, 18-19, 26-31, and 34-36, reflect tensions and
power struggles and reveal the different theological or ideological perspectives of
midst of this era.

Different non-cult texts, which do not necessarily come from the same environment,
are also present in the book. These include chapters 11-25 (except for a few
exceptions) and from chapter 33. The accounts of these chapters may come from more sources.
ancient and have been transmitted independently. For example, the account of Balaam which is
content in chapters 22-24 seems to come from sources that may date back
atVIIIecentury BC and having been transmitted independently of the rest of the book6.
The Book of Numbers (Numeri: "numbers", "counting") describes the history of Israel.
during the forty years of the desert crossing between Egypt and Canaan. It is the sad story
of continuous shortcomings. The long period of forty years was the punishment inflicted by
God to the people due to their disobedience; she was not part of the divine council.
News
Rationalists rejected the 600,000 static troops for military services.
Names as an invention of the priestly school. It has been argued that it would have taken a day.
entirely two and a half million people to line up for action, and that this
the crowd would not have been able to move a kilometer before nightfall. Israel would therefore not have been able to

carry out the journeys assigned to him in Numbers 33 and elsewhere; therefore accuracy
the figures of firstborns in 3:43 is rejected. The other thing is that the quantity of
quails sent to the Israelites according to Numbers 11:31 is absolutely incredible. Moreover,
if Moses was a similarly humble man, how could he have written about himself a
praise as well?

CONCLUSION
From all that precedes, the book of Numbers, which means in the desert, tells a
history of the children of Israel. This book is rich in teachings through the theological themes
that he has.