Thursday, June 16, 2022

Overview of the Bible: Numbers

 Book of Numbers

Title: Numbers – numbering the people in the wilderness,

Hebrew: B’midbar – in the wilderness (cp. Is. 40:3, Mt. 3:3, 4:1-11).

Date of writing: around 1406 BC

Date of Narrative: 1446 – 1406 BC

Structure:

A. 1 – 10:10, Census and Arrangement of the Camp 

  B. 10:11-36, Israel leaves Sinai

    C. 11 – 14, Bad leadership at the entrance into the land

      D. 15:1-36, Rules of proper conduct

        E. 15:37-41, A sign of royal priesthood

          F. 16, Rebellion of Korah (attempted power grab)

          F’. 17, Aaron’s rod blossoms (God’s answer to the attempt)

        E’. 18, Duties of Priests and Levites

      D’. 19, Rules of proper purification      

    C’. 20 – 21, Old leaders die

  B’. 22 – 25, Unfaithfulness at Moab

A’. 26 – 36, New census and arrangements in the Land

Main themes:

The presence of God in the midst of the structured and numbered encampment turned the people of God into His army (cp. Is.6:3). This will develop into the theology of Church Militant (cp. Mt. 16:18; Rev. 7).

Faithfulness and unfaithfulness of the leaders and the people (cp. Deut).

Centrality of God’s provision and redemptive grace regardless of the unfaithfulness of men.

Important role of women in the Israeli society.   

Main Characters: Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Joshua and Kaleb, Korah, Balak and Balaam, Eleazar and Phinehas, Daughters of Zelophehad, Tribes of Reuben, Gad and a half of Manasseh (trans-Jordan settlement).  

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

Numbering the tribes has celestial meaning (f.ex. 1:36-37) as Gen. 5 (:23-24), the theme of people as lights.

God has given power and authority to the people in the ministry – Korah’s rebellion vs. Psalms of the sons Korah; John 20:19-23 and Acts 6.

The unity of “distant” tribes – Joshua 22 (:10-34).

Supremacy of the Word over the feelings/inclinations of the heart (15:37-31) – Jer. 17:9; Rom. 7:13-25; Heb. 5:11-14.

Lutheran teaching:

The proper relationship between the Nazirites and monastic vows – Ap. XXVII (XIII):58.

An example of typology of Christ-centered worship is found in the three-folded rite of daily offering, Num. 28:4-8 – Ap. XXIV (XII):36-37.

Christian oath as a proper use of God’s name: Num 30:2 – LC, I:64.

Lutheran hymnody:   

The Aaronic blessing is found in Num. 6:22-27

LSB 837 – Lift High the Cross (Num. 21:4-9 to John 3:14)

Relevancy of the Book:

The Book of Numbers shows that God takes the sin of disobedience very seriously, especially done by the leaders (priests and/or princes). Yet, regardless of people’s disobedience God will execute/complete His plans.  

Memory verses:

15:15, For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the LORD

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