NUMBERS - LESSON 4
It should be no surprise that the Book of Numbers is about numbers. And there are a lot of numbers.
While in the wilderness, God orders Moses to number the men from twenty years old and up who are able to bear arms and to appoint princes over each tribe. A total of 603,550 Israelites are found to be fit for military service. This number does not include the Levitical priests in this census because they are exempted from military service.
The priestly tribe of the Levites is divided into three families and each has a chief. Various ordinances and laws are decreed.
The Israelites set out from Sinai, but along the way, the people murmur against God and are punished by fire. Moses complains of their stubbornness and is ordered to choose seventy elders to assist him in the government of the people.
Moses' siblings Miriam and Aaron insult Moses, and that angers God. Miriam is punished with leprosy and is shut out of camp for seven days. Because Aaron is a priest, he was not punished. While Miriam is outside the camp, the group had to stay where they were and not leave her behind.
When the finally leave, twelve spies are sent out into Canaan and come back to report to Moses. Only two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, report that the land is abundant and is "flowing with milk and honey." The other spies say the land is inhabited by giants. The Israelites refused to enter the land. God promises that the Israelites will be punished for their loss of faith by having to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.
The children of Israel murmur against Moses and Aaron. The plague kills 14,700. Miriam and Aaron die before reaching the promised land.
The Israelites arrive on the plains of Moab. A new census gives the total number of males from twenty years and upward as 601,730, and the number of the Levites from the age of one month and upward as 23,000.
The land shall be divided by lot. Zelophehad had no sons and his daughters were to share in the allotment. Moses is ordered to appoint Joshua as his successor.
Prescriptions for the observance of the feasts and the offerings for different occasions are enumerated. The 12 tribes make their request for the allotment of the land. The boundaries of the land are spelled out and the land is to be divided.
|
|
