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Old Testament · The Law · Book 4 of 66

Numbers

Forty years in the wilderness: the unbelief of one generation and God’s faithfulness to the next.

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36 Chapters

Numbers 1–36

Author

Moses

Written

c. 1446 – 1406 B.C.

Written For

Israel on the plains of Moab

Summary
Title
Author
Date
Outline
The Old Generation
The New Generation

Overview

Numbers Summary

Numbers picks up where Leviticus leaves off. Israel is still camped at Mount Sinai, and God tells Moses to count the fighting men and arrange the tribes around the tabernacle (1:1–2:34). The book follows the people from Sinai to the plains of Moab, on the east side of the Jordan River across from Jericho, and covers almost forty years in the wilderness.

The first part of the book is the story of the generation that came out of Egypt. After careful preparation they set out, guided by the cloud over the tabernacle (9:15–23), but soon complain about the hardships and the manna. At Kadesh twelve spies explore Canaan, and ten report that the people there are too strong. The nation refuses to enter, and God declares that this generation will wander forty years and die in the wilderness, except for Caleb and Joshua (14:26–38). Rebellions follow, including Korah’s challenge to Moses and Aaron, and even Moses and Aaron fail at Meribah (20:12). On the plains of Moab, King Balak hires the prophet Balaam to curse Israel, but Balaam can speak only blessing. The second part begins with a new census (chapter 26). The new generation receives laws on inheritance, offerings and vows, a new leader in Joshua, and instructions for dividing the land.

Several themes run through the book. God’s presence and guidance: the LORD lives at the center of the camp and leads His people by the cloud and the fire (9:15–23). Faith and unbelief: “How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?” (14:11). God’s holiness and judgment: rebellion against God and His appointed leaders brings serious consequences (16:1–50). God’s faithfulness to His promises: “God is not human, that he should lie” (23:19), and the new generation is brought to the edge of the land. The book also contains the priestly blessing, “The LORD bless you and keep you” (6:24–26).

Readers understand parts of Numbers in different ways. Jewish tradition reads it as the story of Israel’s formation in the wilderness. The New Testament presents the wilderness generation as an example and a warning (1 Corinthians 10:1–11; Hebrews 3:7–4:11), and Jesus compared the bronze snake to His own lifting up (John 3:14–15). Interpreters also differ on the large census figures (603,550 men in 1:46): many take them as written, while others think the Hebrew word for “thousand” can mean a clan or military unit, which would give smaller totals. This outline simply follows the text.

About the Name

Title

The Hebrew title is Bemidbar, “In the wilderness,” taken from the book’s first verse (1:1). That title fits the setting, since almost the whole book takes place in the wilderness between Mount Sinai and the Jordan River. The English name comes through the Latin Vulgate (Numeri) from the Greek Septuagint title Arithmoi, “Numbers,” because the book records two counts of the Israelites, one at Sinai (chapter 1) and one on the plains of Moab (chapter 26).

Numbers is the fourth book of the Bible and the fourth of the five books of Moses, called the Pentateuch in English Bibles and the Torah (Law) in the Hebrew Bible.

Who Wrote It

Author Details

Jewish and Christian tradition identifies Moses as the author. The book says that “at the LORD’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey” (33:2), and it closes with “the commands and regulations the LORD gave through Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab” (36:13). Jesus referred to the bronze snake that “Moses lifted up” in the wilderness (John 3:14).

The book speaks of Moses in the third person, and some lines, such as the note that Moses was “more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth” (12:3), are often seen as later additions. Many scholars think Numbers was compiled later from several sources and priestly material. Others hold to Mosaic authorship with minor editorial updates. This page follows the traditional view.

When It Was Written

Date of Writing

Numbers covers about 39 years, from the second month of the second year after the exodus (1:1) to the fortieth year, when Israel camped on the plains of Moab (33:38; Deuteronomy 1:3). Those who date the exodus to about 1446 B.C. place the writing during the wilderness years, about 1446–1406 B.C., completed near the end of Moses’ life. Others date the exodus to the 13th century B.C., and scholars who see a later final form place it in the 6th or 5th century B.C.

Numbers was addressed to the new generation of Israelites camped across the Jordan from Jericho (22:1), who were about to enter the land their parents had refused to take.

Study Guide

Numbers Outline

36 chapters in two parts. Tap any section to expand it, and tap a verse reference to read it at BibleGateway.

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Part I

The Old Generation: From Sinai to Moab

1:1–25:18 · The camp is ordered, the people rebel, and a generation dies in the wilderness

  1. The census of the fighting men; the tribal leaders named · 1:1–16
  2. The count of each tribe: 603,550 in all · 1:17–46
  3. The Levites are set apart to care for the tabernacle · 1:47–54
  4. Camps on the east and south, with the tent of meeting in the middle · 2:1–17
  5. Camps on the west and north; the totals · 2:18–34
  6. The sons of Aaron · 3:1–4
  7. The Levites given to serve in place of the firstborn · 3:5–13
  8. The census of the Levite clans and their duties · 3:14–39
  9. The redemption of the firstborn · 3:40–51
  10. The Kohathites and the most holy things · 4:1–20
  11. The Gershonites · 4:21–28
  12. The Merarites · 4:29–33
  13. The count of the Levites who served · 4:34–49
  1. The unclean sent outside the camp · 5:1–4
  2. Confession and restitution for wrongs · 5:5–10
  3. The test for a wife suspected of unfaithfulness · 5:11–31
  4. The Nazirite vow · 6:1–21
  5. The priestly blessing: “The LORD bless you and keep you” · 6:22–27
  1. Carts and oxen for the Levites · 7:1–9
  2. The tribal leaders’ offerings over twelve days · 7:10–83
  3. The totals; the LORD speaks to Moses from above the atonement cover · 7:84–89
  4. Setting up the lamps · 8:1–4
  5. The Levites are purified and dedicated · 8:5–22
  6. The age of service for the Levites · 8:23–26
  7. The Passover at Sinai and a second Passover · 9:1–14
  8. The cloud above the tabernacle guides the camp · 9:15–23
  9. The two silver trumpets · 10:1–10
  1. Israel sets out from Sinai in order · 10:11–28
  2. Moses invites Hobab to guide them · 10:29–32
  3. The ark goes before them · 10:33–36
  4. Fire at Taberah · 11:1–3
  5. Complaints about manna; Moses feels the burden · 11:4–15
  6. Seventy elders receive the Spirit; Eldad and Medad · 11:16–30
  7. Quail and a plague · 11:31–35
  8. Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses · 12:1–8
  9. Miriam is struck with a skin disease and healed · 12:9–16
  1. Twelve spies explore Canaan · 13:1–25
  2. The report: a good land, but strong people · 13:26–33
  3. The people rebel and want to return to Egypt · 14:1–10
  4. Moses intercedes and the LORD forgives · 14:11–25
  5. Forty years in the wilderness for the unbelieving generation · 14:26–38
  6. A failed attack and defeat at Hormah · 14:39–45
  1. Grain and drink offerings with sacrifices · 15:1–16
  2. An offering from the first of the dough · 15:17–21
  3. Unintentional and defiant sins · 15:22–31
  4. A Sabbath-breaker is judged · 15:32–36
  5. Tassels to remember the commands · 15:37–41
  1. Korah, Dathan and Abiram rebel against Moses and Aaron · 16:1–15
  2. The earth opens and fire consumes the rebels · 16:16–35
  3. The censers become a covering for the altar · 16:36–40
  4. The people grumble; Aaron stops the plague · 16:41–50
  5. Aaron’s staff buds · 17:1–13
  6. Duties of the priests and Levites · 18:1–7
  7. Offerings for the priests · 18:8–20
  8. Tithes for the Levites · 18:21–32
  9. The ashes of the red heifer · 19:1–10
  10. Cleansing after contact with a dead body · 19:11–22
  1. Miriam dies; water from the rock at Meribah · 20:1–13
  2. Edom refuses passage · 20:14–21
  3. The death of Aaron · 20:22–29
  4. Victory over Arad · 21:1–3
  5. The bronze snake · 21:4–9
  6. The journey to Moab · 21:10–20
  7. Sihon and Og defeated · 21:21–35
  8. Israel camps on the plains of Moab · 22:1
  1. Balak summons Balaam to curse Israel · 22:2–20
  2. Balaam’s donkey and the angel of the LORD · 22:21–35
  3. Balaam meets Balak · 22:36–41
  4. Balaam’s first message: Israel cannot be cursed · 23:1–12
  5. Balaam’s second message: “God is not human, that he should lie” · 23:13–26
  6. Balaam’s third message and Balak’s anger · 23:27–24:14
  7. Balaam’s fourth message: “A star will come out of Jacob” · 24:15–19
  8. Final messages about the nations · 24:20–25
  1. Israel joins in Moabite worship; Phinehas acts · 25:1–9
  2. The covenant of peace with Phinehas; Midian judged · 25:10–18

Part II

The New Generation: Ready to Enter the Land

26:1–36:13 · A new census, new leadership and instructions for life in Canaan

  1. The count of the new generation by tribe · 26:1–51
  2. Dividing the land by lot · 26:52–56
  3. The count of the Levites · 26:57–62
  4. Only Caleb and Joshua remain of the first generation · 26:63–65
  1. The daughters of Zelophehad receive an inheritance · 27:1–11
  2. Joshua appointed to succeed Moses · 27:12–23
  1. Daily offerings · 28:1–8
  2. Sabbath offerings · 28:9–10
  3. Monthly offerings · 28:11–15
  4. Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread · 28:16–25
  5. The Festival of Weeks · 28:26–31
  6. The Festival of Trumpets · 29:1–6
  7. The Day of Atonement · 29:7–11
  8. The Festival of Tabernacles · 29:12–40
  1. A man’s vow must be kept · 30:1–2
  2. Vows made by women, and when they may be canceled · 30:3–16
  1. Battle against Midian; Balaam is killed · 31:1–12
  2. Moses’ anger and the purification of the soldiers · 31:13–24
  3. Dividing the plunder · 31:25–47
  4. The officers’ offering to the LORD · 31:48–54
  1. Reuben and Gad ask for land east of the Jordan · 32:1–15
  2. They agree to fight first; “your sin will find you out” · 32:16–32
  3. Land given to Gad, Reuben and half of Manasseh · 32:33–42
  1. From Egypt to the Desert of Sinai · 33:1–15
  2. From Sinai to Kadesh · 33:16–36
  3. From Kadesh to the plains of Moab; Aaron’s death · 33:37–49
  1. Drive out the inhabitants and destroy their idols · 33:50–56
  2. The boundaries of Canaan · 34:1–15
  3. Leaders who will divide the land · 34:16–29
  4. Towns for the Levites · 35:1–8
  5. Cities of refuge established · 35:9–15
  6. Murder and accidental killing · 35:16–34
  1. Zelophehad’s daughters marry within their tribe · 36:1–12
  2. Closing: the commands given on the plains of Moab · 36:13

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