NUMBERS CHAPTER 20 21 END OF THE 40

NUMBERS

CHAPTER 20 -21 END OF THE 40 YEARS NUMBER S The Bronze Serpent (21: 4 -9) • People become impatient because of the circuitous journey and complain about the conditions and the manna • God sends “fiery serpents” (saraph) among the people and many die • At Moses’ intercession, God instructs him to make a bronze serpent and lift it on a pole, to be looked at by anyone desiring to be healed • Despite later corruption (2 Kg. 18: 4), this is not an idol! • Faithful obedience is the catalyst for healing (cf Jn. 3: 14) Oboth

CHAPTER 20 -21 END OF THE 40 YEARS NUMBER S From Oboth to the plains of Moab (21: 10 -35) • Israel journeys around Moab, arriving at the Arnon River, the southern border of the Amorite kingdom • Moses requests passage from Sihon, king of the Amorites • Sihon refuses and brings troops to Jahaz to turn Israel away, but is defeated instead • Israel now has a foothold on the plains across the Jordan from Canaan proper and they continue northward through Heshbon • Og, king of Bashan hears of Sihon’s defeat and tries to forestall Israel at Edrei, but is also defeated • At this point, Israel holds the east bank of the Jordan from the Dead Sea to the foothills of Mt. Hermon Jahaz Oboth

CHAPTER 22 -24 BALAK’S FEAR AND BALAAM’S ORACLES NUMBER S Deut. 2: 25 - “Today I will begin to put the fear and dread of you on the peoples everywhere under heaven. They will hear the report about you and tremble and be in anguish because of you. ” Balak, king of Moab, has heard of Israel’s victories and enlists the aid of Midian • They request the help of Balaam, a diviner/soothsayer from Pethor (Mesopotamia, Ammon, Moab? ) • • To “manipulate” God into cursing Israel • ref. Josh. 13: 22; 2 Pet. 2: 15; Jude 11 Apparently has some knowledge of Jehovah, speaking of Him as his God (22: 18) Shittim

CHAPTER 22 -24 BALAK’S FEAR AND BALAAM’S ORACLES NUMBER S ORACLE 1 ORACLE 2 ORACLE 4 Man can’t alter or negate God’s blessing, which is upon Israel. The Lord’s mind is set concerning His people – His promise is sure. The Lord will make Israel flourish and prosper. They are the beneficiary of God’s favor, making them distinct among the nations and vast in number. Israel’s God reigns among His people, making them strong against their foes. In the future, a ruler will come from Israel who will smite Moab and Edom and triumph over even stronger kingdoms yet to come. 23: 7 -10 Each man should strive to live out the full measure of his life in similar fashion. 23: 18 -24 They won’t rest until their foes are defeated. 24: 3 -9 Their king will be exalted by even the strongest of kingdoms. Those who bless Israel are blessed by God and those who curse Israel are cursed by God. 24: 15 -24

CHAPTER 25 SIN & ATONEMENT AT SHITTIM NUMBER S An alternate tactic - 25: 1 -5; 31: 16 • Since the plan to curse Israel failed, Balaam suggests that Midianite women be sent into the camp to entice the men into fornication and idolatry • • Instead of asking God to forsake Israel, they will tempt Israel into forsaking God’s anger is kindled, and He orders the deaths of Israel’s leaders and anyone who participated in unfaithfulness • As leaders, they are held responsible for allowing, sanctioning and/or participating in sin • A plague has also broken out within the camp (25: 8 b) Shittim

CHAPTER 25 SIN & ATONEMENT AT SHITTIM NUMBER S Phinehas’ zeal – 25: 6 -15 • While Israel mourns, a Simeonite prince brazenly brings a Midianite woman into the camp right in front of the community in order to fornicate with her • Phinehas, son of Eleazar, is outraged, grabs a spear and runs them both through as they lay together • As a result, the plague is lifted, and Phinehas is granted the lineage of the High Priest • “I grant him My covenant of peace… because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites. ” – 25: 12 -13 • cf Isa. 54: 10; Ezek. 34: 25; Mal. 2: 4 -7 Shittim

CHAPTER 31 WAR AGAINST MIDIAN NUMBER S God demands justice against Midian for their treachery – 25: 1618; 31: 1 -18 • 1000 men from each tribe are sent to execute vengeance • Initially, only the Midianite kings and armies are killed • Moses commands that the male children and any woman who has lain with a man is also to be killed • Israel’s army and any spoils of war are to be purified by water or fire • Israel suffers zero casualties in the conflict (31: 49) Tribute is made to the Lord from the spoils and the rest is divided among the priests and the community – 31: 25 -54 Shittim

CHAPTER 26 -30, 32 -36 PREPARING TO ENTER CANAAN Ch 26 NUMBER S 2 nd Census Ch 27, 36 A Case of Inheritance, Joshua’s Appointment Ch 28 -30 Offerings and Vows Ch 32 Settling Transjordan Ch 33 Review of Travel, Instruction for Conquest Ch 34 Boundaries and Leaders of the Conquest Ch 35 Cities for Levites, Cities of Refuge With the possible exception of ch 31, much of the latter part of Numbers is dedicated to Israel’s preparations to conquer Canaan. We will focus on these chapters together as the text leads us toward Moses’ last words in the book of Deuteronomy, just across the Jordan from Jericho.

CHAPTER 26 -30, 32 -36 PREPARING TO ENTER CANAAN Ch 26 Ch 27, 36 2 nd NUMBER S Census A Case of Inheritance, Joshua’s Appointment Ch 28 -30 Offerings and Vows Ch 32 Settling Transjordan Ch 33 Review of Travel, Instruction for Conquest Ch 34 Boundaries and Leaders of the Conquest Ch 35 Cities for Levites, Cities of Refuge REUBEN 46, 500 43, 730 SIMEON 59, 300 22, 200 GAD 45, 650 40, 500 JUDAH 74, 600 76, 500 ISSACHAR 54, 400 64, 300 ZEBULUN 57, 400 60, 500 EPHRAIM 40, 500 32, 500 MANASSEH 32, 200 52, 700 BENJAMIN 35, 400 45, 600 DAN 62, 700 64, 400 ASHER 41, 500 53, 400 NAPHTALI 53, 400 45, 400 TOTAL 603, 550 601, 730 “The land is to be divided among them as an inheritance based on the number of names. ”

CHAPTER 26 -30, 32 -36 PREPARING TO ENTER CANAAN NUMBER S 2 nd Census 27: 1 -11; 36: 1 -13 Ch 27, 36 A Case of Inheritance, Joshua’s Appointment Ch 28 -30 Daughters of Zelophehad, a Manassehite, are concerned that their late father’s family line will cease since he had no sons Offerings and Vows • Ch 32 Settling Transjordan Ch 33 Review of Travel, Instruction for Conquest • If the daughters marry outside of Manasseh, the land they inherit will be passed to another tribe Ch 34 Boundaries and Leaders of the Conquest • Ch 35 Cities for Levites, Cities of Refuge Solution: Zelophehad’s daughters are not to marry outside of their own tribe so that Manasseh’s allotment isn’t decreased Ch 26 The Lord agrees that they should receive their father’s land inheritance The Manassehite leaders later see a logical problem:

CHAPTER 26 -30, 32 -36 PREPARING TO ENTER CANAAN Ch 26 Ch 27, 36 Ch 28 -30 Ch 32 NUMBER S 2 nd Census 27: 12 -23 A Case of Inheritance, Joshua’s Appointment Moses knows he will not lead the people into Canaan, but to this point, it hasn’t been revealed who will Offerings and Vows Settling Transjordan Ch 33 Review of Travel, Instruction for Conquest Ch 34 Boundaries and Leaders of the Conquest Ch 35 Cities for Levites, Cities of Refuge • Fear is that Israel will be “like sheep without a shepherd” Moses prays about the matter and the Lord reveals that Joshua will be Israel’s next leader • Described as having “the Spirit in him” • His role will be more so that of a military commander, rather than a prophet who confers regularly with God as Moses has done • But he will have the same type of authority granted to Moses

CHAPTER 26 -30, 32 -36 PREPARING TO ENTER CANAAN Ch 26 Ch 27, 36 NUMBER S 2 nd Census Offerings Associated with devotion, holiness and remembrance A Case of Inheritance, Joshua’s Appointment Ch 28 -30 Offerings and Vows Ch 32 Settling Transjordan Ch 33 Review of Travel, Instruction for Conquest Ch 34 Boundaries and Leaders of the Conquest Ch 35 Cities for Levites, Cities of Refuge • Regular offerings (28: 1 -15) • Offerings for special days (28: 16 -29: 40) Vows Because His people are supposed to reflect Him, God takes the making of vows very seriously • A man “must do whatever he has promised” (30: 1) • As the head of the family, a man has jurisdiction over – and responsibility for – the vows of his wife and children, with the ability to annul them if deemed necessary • In a theocratic society, vows taken by family members can affect the whole family

CHAPTER 26 -30, 32 -36 PREPARING TO ENTER CANAAN NUMBER S 2 nd Census Settling Gilead and Bashan Ch 27, 36 A Case of Inheritance, Joshua’s Appointment Ch 28 -30 Offerings and Vows Reuben, Gad and part of Manasseh ask for their allotment to be the fertile pastureland on the east side of the Jordan (Gilead and Bashan, recently taken from the Amorites) Ch 32 Settling Transjordan Ch 33 Review of Travel, Instruction for Conquest Ch 34 Boundaries and Leaders of the Conquest Ch 35 Cities for Levites, Cities of Refuge Ch 26 • Moses initially fears that this is another ploy out of distrust for God’s care while settling Canaan • However, with assurances that they will assist in the military campaigns, Moses agrees to let them settle there

CHAPTER 26 -30, 32 -36 PREPARING TO ENTER CANAAN Ch 26 Ch 27, 36 Ch 28 -30 NUMBER S 2 nd Census Moses’ travel journal (33: 1 -49) A Case of Inheritance, Joshua’s Appointment “At the Lord’s command, Moses wrote down the starting points for the stages of their journey” Offerings and Vows • The journey is a testament to God’s faithfulness to - and providence for - His people • Each stop on the journey is an opportunity to reflect on successes due to faithful service and failures due to disobedience and unfaithfulness Ch 32 Settling Transjordan Ch 33 Review of Travel, Instruction for Conquest (33: 50 -56) Ch 34 Boundaries and Leaders of the Conquest • Ch 35 Cities for Levites, Cities of Refuge This new generation must be committed to fully completing the conquest according to God’s commands • “…you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you…”

CHAPTER 26 -30, 32 -36 PREPARING TO ENTER CANAAN Ch 26 Ch 27, 36 Ch 28 -30 NUMBER S 2 nd Census Boundaries of the inheritance (34: 1 -15) A Case of Inheritance, Joshua’s Appointment Moses gave the borders of the land to be conquered and determined that the allotments would be given by lot Offerings and Vows Ch 32 Settling Transjordan Ch 33 Review of Travel, Instruction for Conquest Ch 34 Boundaries and Leaders of the Conquest Ch 35 Cities for Levites, Cities of Refuge • This method shows God’s participation in the selection and prevents infighting for the best portions of land • The land is given by God’s grace and should be received with gratitude. Leaders to distribute the Land (34: 16 -29) Leaders within each tribe will help to settle each family within each tribal allotment • These men are also presumably to be the leaders among the people as they dwell in the land

CHAPTER 26 -30, 32 -36 PREPARING TO ENTER CANAAN Ch 26 Ch 27, 36 NUMBER S 2 nd Census Levi’s allotment (35: 1 -8) A Case of Inheritance, Joshua’s Appointment Levi won’t have an allotment, but rather will be given cities in each of the other tribes • Ch 28 -30 Offerings and Vows Ch 32 Settling Transjordan Ch 33 Review of Travel, Instruction for Conquest Ch 34 Boundaries and Leaders of the Conquest Ch 35 Cities for Levites, Cities of Refuge They already knew that their place would be within their brothers’ lands (18: 20) Cities of refuge (34: 16 -29) Six cities are set apart for refuge for someone who accidentally killed another • Allows time for the defendant to present a case for innocence to the community • Intentional murder, however, is punishable on the testimony of two or three witnesses by the “avenger of blood” (gaal, “to redeem”)

CLOSING THOUGHTS ON NUMBERS NUMBER S Psalm 106 “Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all his praise? Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people; help me when you save them, that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance. ”