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:
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