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A Study of Numbers


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Numbers 1

 

The book of Moses called Numbers is so named because it tells of the numbering and marshalling of the Israelites in their wilderness journey. It also reveals some other historic events that occurred during the wilderness wanderings, as well as other parts of the Law. Numbers was written by Moses in approximately 1490 BC.

 

Numbers 1: 1 - 16

On the first day of the second month in the second year that they Israelites had come out of Egypt, God spoke to Moses and told him to take a census of the males of the Israelites by clans and by their father’s houses. Everyone from 20 years old up was to be counted and listed. Twenty was the age that they were able to go to war. God then named a man from each tribe who would be with Moses and Aaron and assist them in taking the census.

 

Numbers 1: 17 - 19

Moses and Aaron gathered these men together along with the congregation and did as God told them to do.

 

Numbers 1: 22 - 46

Here are the census numbers. The tribe of Reuben had 46,500. Simeon had 59, 300. Gad had 45, 650. Judah had 74, 600. Issachar had 54, 400. Zebulin had 57,400. Ephraim had 40, 500. Manasseh had 32, 200. Benjamin had 35,400. Dan had 62,700. Asher had 41, 500. Naphtali had 53, 400. The total number of males from 20 years old up, able to go to war, was 603,550.

 

Numbers 1: 47 - 54

The Levites were not counted or listed. The Levites were entrusted with care of the Tabernacle and everything associated with it. They were to camp around the Tabernacle. They were to put it up and take it down. Any outsider who came near would be put to death. The rest of the Israelites were to pitch their camps according to their own companies and set their own standards above them. The Levites, however, were to stand guard at the Tabernacle. The people obeyed God.

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Numbers 2

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 2: 1 - 9

God told Moses how the camp was to be arranged. All would camp facing the Tabernacle. Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun would camp on the east side of the Tabernacle. They would be the first group to set out on the march. There were 186,400 in this grouping.

 

Numbers 2: 10 - 16

Reuben, Simeon, and Gad would camp on the south side of the Tabernacle. They would be the second group to set out on the march. This group numbered 151,450.

 

Numbers 2: 17

The Tabernacle would set out after the second group when they began to march. This would be with the Levites.

 

Numbers 2: 18 - 24

Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin would camp on the west. This group would set out third on the march, following the Levites with the Tabernacle. There were 108,100 in this group.




 

Numbers 2: 25 - 31

Dan, Asher, and Naphtali would camp on the north. This group would set out last when they began to march. There were 157,600 in this group.

 

Numbers 2: 32 - 33

This covered all 603,550 with the exception of the Levites, who were not numbered.

 

Numbers 2: 34

Once again, we are told that the Israelites obeyed God’s command and camped as He revealed, setting out on the march in the order He had commanded.

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Numbers 3

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 3: 1 - 4

The sons of Aaron are listed here, including Nadab and Abihu, who were killed for using unauthorized fire before God. Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during Aaron’s lifetime.

 

Numbers 3: 5 - 10

The Levites were to minister to Aaron and to the whole congregation as they kept watch over the Tabernacle. They were entrusted to guard all of the items in the Tabernacle.

 

Numbers 3: 11  - 13

God told Moses that He had taken all the Levites as His, in place of the firstborn of every Israelite.

 

Numbers 3: 14 - 20

Moses was then told to list all the Levites by their fathers house and by their clans. Moses did as God commanded Him.

 

Numbers 3: 21 - 26

The clan of Gershon is now listed. There were 7500 males in this clan. They were to camp behind the Tabernacle to the west. They  were to guard the Tabernacles outer things such as the tent, the screens, the chords, and all the services connected to these items.

 

Numbers 3: 27 - 32

The clans of Kohath are now listed. There were 8600 males in this clan. They were to camp to the south of the Tabernacle. They were to guard the ark, the table, the lampstands, the altar, the vessels of the sanctuary, and the screens. They were to minister all the services connected with these items.

 

Numbers 3: 33 - 37

The clan of Merari is now listed. There were 6200 males in this clan. They were to camp to the north of the Tabernacle. They were to guard the frames, the bars, the pillars, the bases, and all the accessories that went with these, and to minister the services involving these items.

 

Numbers 3: 38 - 39

Moses, Aaron, and his sons were to camp to the east of the Tabernacle. They were to guard the Tabernacle as a whole, and to guard the congregation. There were 22,000 Levites in total.

 

Numbers 3: 40 - 43

All the firstborn males were to be listed from a month old and upward. There were 22,273. God took the Levites instead of the firstborn of the people.

 

Numbers 3: 44 - 51

The Levites were taken as redemption for all the other firstborn of the congregation. Five shekels per head was taken as redemption for the 273 extra firstborn in the congregation. This money was given to Aaron and his sons. Again, we see the concept of redemption being taught.

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Numbers 4

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 4: 1 - 15

A census of all members of the Kohath clan of Levites was to be taken, counting all able bodied men age 30 to 50 who could do the work in the Tabernacle. They were to be in charge of the most holy items. God details for them how they are to care for the ark and all the most holy items when preparing to travel. They would also carry these items as the congregation travelled.

 

Numbers 4: 16

Eleazar, the son of Aaron, was to have charge of the oil, the incense, grain offering, and anointing oil. He was also to have oversight of the entire Tabernacle’s working.

 

Numbers 4: 17 - 20

Each member of the Kohathites was appointed a duty by Aaron, and they were to carry out that duty strictly. They were never to look on the holy items out of curiosity, but only as part of their job. If they took a curious look, they would be struck dead.






 

Numbers 4: 21 - 28

The sons of Gershon from age 30 to 50 who were able bodied were to be counted. Their job was to carry the curtains and chords and screens and other things that were a part of the structure of the Tabernacle. They were to be under Ithamar, Aaron’s son.

 

Numbers 4: 29 - 33

The clan of Merari was to be counted, all men who were able bodied from age 30 to 50. They were charged with carrying the actual Tabernacle and its building structures. They were also under the direction of Ithamar.

 

Numbers 4: 34 - 37

There were 2750 Kohathites who fit the description God wanted counted.

 

Numbers 4: 38 - 41

There were 2630 Gershonites.

 

Numbers 4: 42 - 45

There were 3200 from the clan of Merari.




 

Numbers 4: 46 - 49

In total, from all three clans called to serve the Tabernacle, there were 8580. Each was listed along with the task he was to perform in service to God and in carrying and moving the Tabernacle.  

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Numbers 5

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 5: 1 - 4

Those who were deemed unclean, such as lepers, those with a bodily discharge, and those who had become unclean by touching something dead, were to be put outside the camp. This was so that they would not defile the camp. In our local congregations we are to do the same to those who are spiritually unclean.

I Corinthians 5: 9 - 13

 

Numbers 5: 5 - 10

When the Israelites committed a sin and realized it, they were to confess that sin and make restitution. If there were no next of kin and the man sinned against was dead, the restitution was to be paid to the priest. Every contribution that came to the priest belonged to the priest.

 

Numbers 5: 11 - 15

If adultery were committed, or one of the marriage partners thought it had been committed, and there are no witnesses to corroborate it either way, and the husband or wife gets jealous, they were to bring an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. This was a jealousy offering, and was to be given with no oil or frankincense. This was to bring the sin to remembrance.


 

Numbers 5: 16 - 28

The priest is then given a test to see whether or not adultery was committed. The woman accused was to drink of the water of bitterness and take an oath. If she had committed adultery, she would suffer much pain in the process of this ritual. If she had not, she would not suffer anything and then be free.

 

Numbers 5: 29 - 31

This was to be done if a wife committed adultery, or when a husband got jealous and thought she had. This test would show whether she had or had not been unfaithful.

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Numbers 6

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 6: 1 - 4

Here God details a special vow that could be made to Him by any one of the Israelites. This is the Nazarite vow. Those who took this vow were to separate themselves from wine and strong drink. They were not to even eat vinegar made from wine or strong drink. They were not to eat grapes or even to drink grape juice.

 

Numbers 6: 5

During the days of this vow, they were not to cut their hair at all.

 

Numbers 6: 6 - 8

During the duration of this vow, they were not to even go near a dead body, whether that dead person was a close relative or not. Their separation during this vow was holy to God.

 

Numbers 6: 9 - 12

If anyone was to die near the Nazarite, he was to shave his head on the day of his cleansing, which was the seventh day. He was also to make an offering of two pigeons or two turtledoves to the priest to atone for his sin of being near the dead body during his vow tenure. He was also to bring a year old male lamb as a guilt offering and begin his vow period from the beginning since the previous period had been defiled and made void.

Numbers 6: 13 - 20

When the period of his vow was over, the Nazarite was to bring a sin offering, a burnt offering, a peace offering, and a drink offering to the priest. The Nazarite was then to shave his head at the entrance of the Tabernacle and burn the hair under the peace offering sacrifice. The priest would then make a wave offering on the Nazarite. After this, the Nazarite could drink wine.

 

Numbers 6: 21

This was the law of the Nazarite. If that person made a vow that was above the Nazarite vow, he was to follow both vows.

 

Numbers 6: 22 - 27

God then told Aaron and his sons to bless the people.

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Numbers 7

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 7: 1 - 11

When Moses had finished setting up and consecrating the Tabernacle, the chiefs of Israel brought their offerings before God. They brought them on six wagons with twelve oxen, a wagon for every two chiefs and and ox for each. Moses took this and gave it to the Levites. These wagons and oxen were to be used to transport the Tabernacle. The sons of Kohath got none, because the things they carried had to be carried on their shoulders. The chiefs then offered offerings, one chief each day. They each offered the exact same thing, as we’ll see at the end of the chapter.

 

Numbers 7: 12 - 17

On the first day, Nashon of the tribe of Judah offered his offering.

 

Numbers 7: 18 - 23

On the second day, Nethanel of Issachar made his offering.

 

Numbers 7: 24 - 29

On the third day, Eliab of Zebulun made his offering.

 

Numbers 7: 30 - 35

On the fourth day, Elizur of Reuben made his offering.


 

Numbers 7: 36 - 41

On the fifth day, Shelumiel of Simeon made his offering.

 

Numbers 7: 42 - 47

On the sixth day, Eliasaph of Gad made his offering.

 

Numbers 7: 48 - 53

On the seventh day, Elishama of Ephraim made his offering.

 

Numbers 7: 54 - 59

On the eighth day, Gamaliel of Manasseh made his offering.

 

Numbers 7: 60 - 65

On the ninth day, Abidan of Benjamin made his offering.

 

Numbers 7: 66 - 71

On the tenth day, Ahiezer of Dan made his offering.

 

Numbers 7: 72 - 77

On the eleventh day, Pagiel of Asher made his offering.

 

Numbers 7: 78 - 83

On the twelfth day, Ahira of Naphtali made his offering.

 

Numbers 7: 84 - 88

In total, there were 12 silver plates, 12 silver basins, and 12 golden dishes full of incense. Each plate was 130 shekels and each basin was 70 shekels for a total of 2400 shekels of silver. The golden dishes were 120 shekels. They offered 12 bulls, 12 rams, 12 male lambs a year old, with their grain offering. 12 male goats were offered for a sin offering. All the cattle for the sacrifice of the peace offering added up to 24 bulls, 60 rams, 60 male goats, and 60 male lambs a year old. This was the dedication offering at the anointing of the altar.

 

Numbers 7: 89

When Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak to God, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant between the two cherubim. God spoke to Moses.

 

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Numbers 8

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 8: 1 - 4

God told Moses to tell Aaron to set up the seven lamps so that they would give light in front of the lampstand. Moses did do, and Aaron obeyed. The lampstands were made following the pattern revealed by God exactly. God revealed a pattern for worship in the New Testament which He expects us to follow exactly. God revealed the plan of salvation in the New Testament, which must be followed exactly.

 

Numbers 8: 5 - 13

The Levites were to be separated from the people and cleansed. They were to have the water of purification sprinkled on them, and they were to shave their entire body. They were to wash their clothes and cleanse themselves. Then they were to take a bull and it’s grain offering, as well as another bull for a sin offering. The Levites were then to be brought to the Tabernacle in front of the entire assembly. The people would touch the Levites and they would be offered by Aaron as a wave offering from the people, so that they would be able to serve God. The bulls would atone for the Levites.




 

Numbers 8: 14 - 19

This is how the Levites would be separated from the rest of the people and would belong to God. After the Levites had been cleansed and offered as a wave offering, they were to begin their service in the Tabernacle. The Levites served as atonement for all the firstborn who were to be given to God from the tribes. This once again shows the example of atonement. Jesus was the sacrifice and He atoned for our sins. He paid the ransom to free us from our sins. We must simply believe and obey.

 

Numbers 8: 20 - 22

Moses and Aaron did everything that God commanded in the way God had commanded it to be done. They didn’t add to or take away anything. They didn’t change a single thing. The Levites then began their service to God.

 

Numbers 8: 23 - 26

Levites from 25 years old upward were to do the service in the Tabernacle. When they reached the age of 50, they were retired from service. They could minister to their brethren and keep guard in the Tabernacle, but they could no longer do the Tabernacle services.

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Numbers 9

 

Numbers 9: 1 - 8

In the first month of the second year after they had left Egypt, God told Moses that they were to begin celebrating the Passover at the time He had commanded in Egypt. Moses told the people, and they kept the Passover at the time and in the manner God had commanded. There were a few men who were unclean because they had touched a dead body, and were being kept from celebrating the Passover. They brought this to Moses, who asked God what to do in this case.

 

Numbers 9: 9 - 14

God told Moses to tell them that anyone who was unclean from touching a dead body, or anyone on a long journey away from Israel was to keep the Passover as He had commanded. Anyone who is clean or is not on a journey who failed to keep the Passover as God had commanded and in the manner God had commanded, was to be cut off from the people. Those individuals would bear their sins. Strangers and sojourners who were with them at the Passover and wanted to participate were allowed to do this.

 

Numbers 9: 15 - 23

On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it. In the night it was like fire. This was how the Tabernacle appeared. It was covered by a cloud in the day and fire at night. When the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, that was the signal that God wanted them to move. When the cloud returned, that was their signal to stop and camp. They remained in camp as long as the cloud remained on the Tabernacle.

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Numbers 10

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 10: 1 - 10

Moses was told to make two silver trumpets. He was given the specifications for the two trumpets. These would be used to summon the congregation and to let them know when it was time to break camp. When both were blown, all the congregation was to assemble at the Tabernacle. When only one was blown, only the chiefs were to meet with Moses. There were other specified times and manners to blow the trumpets given to Moses by God. The sons of Aaron would blow the trumpets. The trumpets were to remain with them throughout their generations and to remind them that God would save them from their enemies.

 

Numbers 10: 11 - 16

On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle and the congregation left Sinai. The cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran. They set out exactly as God had commanded earlier.

 

Numbers 10: 17 - 20

The Tabernacle was taken down and moved just as God had commanded earlier.


 

Numbers 10: 21 - 28

The holy items were carried out by the Kohathites, just as God had commanded earlier. They were followed with the tribes God had commanded to follow. Nothing was added to or taken from God’s commands.

 

Numbers 10: 29 - 32

Moses asked his father-in-law to go with them to the Promised Land, but he would not.

 

Numbers 10: 33 - 34

They set out with the Ark of the Covenant in the lead. They journeyed for three days. The cloud was over them by day when they set out.

 

Numbers 10: 35 - 36

When the Ark set out, Moses prayed for God to protect them from their enemies. When the Ark rested, Moses prayed for God to watch over Israel in their encampment.

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Numbers 11

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 11: 1 - 3

The people began to complain about their misfortunes and it angered God. His fire consumed some of the outlying parts of the camp. The people cried to Moses, who prayed, and the fires ceased. The named the place Taberah, because the fire of God burned among them.

 

Numbers 11: 4 - 6

The rabble in the group began to crave good meat. They cried out about all the good foods they had to eat when they were slaves in Egypt. They complained about the manna God had provided for them.

 

Numbers 11: 7 - 9

The manna was like a coriander seed. They gathered it up, ground it in handmills or beat it in mortars, and made cakes. It tasted like cakes baked with oil. When the dew fell, the manna fell.






 

Numbers 11: 10-15

Moses heard the people weeping and complaining about the manna. God was very angry and Moses was displeased. Moses griped to God about having to nursemaid the Israelites. He asked God to kill him, because the burden was too heavy for him to bear alone.

 

Numbers 11: 16 - 23

God told Moses to gather 70 elders and bring them to the Tabernacle to stand with him. God would take some of the Holy Spirit guiding Moses and put it in the elders to guide them. God told Moses to gather the people, and they would get meat. They would get so much meat that it would become loathsome to them. This was because they rejected God and complained about their condition instead of being thankful to Him for freeing them from slavery. Moses doubted that God could give them meat for a month, since there were 600,000 on foot. God told Moses he would see the power and might of God.

 

Numbers 11: 24 - 25

Moses told the people what God said, and then he appointed 70 elders. The Holy Spirit came on the 70 and they prophesied for a short time.



 

Numbers 11: 26 - 30

Two men, Eldad and Medad, remained in the camp, and the Holy Spirit came upon them. They prophesied in the camp. A young man ran and told Moses. Joshua wanted him to put a stop to this, but Moses told him that he wished all of the Israelites were prophets. Moses and the elders returned to the camp.

 

Numbers 11: 31 - 35

God caused quail to fall around the camp. The people gathered up vast quantities of the quail. God’s anger was kindled, and He struck down a large number of them with a plague. They called the place Kibroth-hattaavah, because they buried the people who had the craving. They left there and travelled to Hazeroth, where they remained for a while.

 

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Numbers 12

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 12: 1 - 9

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. They were claiming to have a prophecy from God on this matter. Moses was more meek than any man alive. God heard what was going on and called all three of them out of the Tabernacle. God came down in a pillar of cloud and stood there, calling Aaron and Miriam forward. God told them that he speaks to prophets in dreams and visions. He speaks directly to Moses with no riddles, and Moses beholds the form of the Lord. God asked them why they were emboldened enough to speak against Moses, His servant. God’s anger was kindled and He left.

 

Numbers 12: 10 - 16

When the cloud departed, Miriam was leprous. Aaron begged Moses not to punish them, and asked for forgiveness for their foolishness and their sins. Moses asked God to heal Miriam. God told Moses she should be shut outside the camp for a week. She was, and the people did not set out to leave until the end of the seven days. After that, they left Hazaroth and moved to Paran.

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Numbers 13

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 13: 1 - 16

God told Moses to send one of the chief men from each tribe to spy out the Promised Land. Moses sent them out from Paran to Canaan.

 

Numbers 13: 17 - 20

Moses told them to go to the Negeb and see if the people there were weak or strong. He wanted them to note whether they were many or few, whether the land was good or bad, whether the cities were camps or strongholds, and whether the land was rich or poor, and if there were trees in it or not. He told them to have courage, and to bring some of the fruit of the land back with them. This was the season for the first ripe grapes.

 

Numbers 13: 21 - 24

They spied out the land from Zin to Rehob. They went into the Negeb and came to Hebron. The sons of Anak were in Hebron, which had been build seven years before Zoan in Egypt. They came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down a single cluster of grapes and carried it on a pole between two of them. They also brought some pomegranates and figs. They named the valley Eshcol because of the cluster of grapes they cut down there.


 

Numbers 13: 25 - 29

They returned from their mission after forty days. They came to Moses and the congregation in Paran. They brought back word and showed them the fruit of the land. They told Moses the land flowed with milk and honey. They reported that the people were strong and the cities were fortified. They also reported that they saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites lived in the Negeb. The Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites lived in the hill country. The Canaanites lived by the sea and by the Jordan.

 

Numbers 13: 30 - 33

Caleb told them they should go up at once and take the land, because they were able to overcome the people there. Ten of them said they could not take the land nor could they overcome the people there, because the people there were stronger than the Israelites. They were afraid of the people there, including the Nephilim, descendants of Anak. They said the people there made them look like grasshoppers.

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Numbers 14

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 14: 1 - 4

The congregation cried, moaned, and complained against Moses and Aaron. These people claimed they would have rather died in Egypt or in the wilderness instead of being slaughtered by the people of Canaan. They rebelled against Moses by seeking to find another leader and returning to Egypt. This was rebellion against God, too.

 

Numbers 14: 5 - 10

Moses and Aaron fell on their faces. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes. They told the people that the land was great and fruitful. They told them that God would fight for them and the people of the land had no chance at all of winning. The people tried to stone them, but the Glory of the Lord appeared at the Tabernacle.

 

Numbers 14: 11 - 12

God told Moses that since these people continued in their rebellion against Him, He would strike them with a pestilence, disinherit them,  and make a great nation from Moses descendants.



 

Numbers 14: 13 - 19

Moses spoke on behalf of the people, saying that when the Egyptians heard of it, they would claim that God was not able to bring the people into Canaan. They knew about all the miracles God had done for them in the wilderness, and would mock Him. Moses begged God to remain slow to anger and to forgive the people once again.

 

Numbers 14: 20 - 25

God forgave them, but declared that not a single one of the generation who had rebelled against Him at this time would enter the Promised Land. Only Caleb would make it, because he followed God fully. We know that Joshua made it, too, because of the same reason. God sent them on their way to wander for forty years until that generation died off.

 

Numbers 14: 26 - 35

God told Moses to tell them that not a one of them from the age of 20 up would enter the Promised Land except for Joshua and Caleb, who had remained faithful to Him. They would be forced to wander for forty years in the wilderness until the last of this current generation had died.




 

Numbers 14: 36 - 38

The ten spies who said the land couldn’t be taken died of a plague at the hand of God. Joshua and Caleb remained alive.

 

Numbers 14: 39 - 45

The people mourned when they heard the sentence God had handed down to them. They decided on their own to go to the land and take it. They went up against the Amalekites without Moses and without the Ark of the Covenant. They were soundly defeated.

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Numbers 15

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 15: 1 - 10

Here, God gives them details as to how they are to make sacrifice to Him when they come into the Promised Land. God revealed how He desired them to make these sacrifices to Him, and they were not free to add anything to it, nor were they free to take anything away from the Divine pattern God established for them. The same holds true today. God revealed through the New Testament how we can be saved from our sins. We either obey or not. God revealed through the New Testament how we are to worship Him in this age. We either obey, or not. Those who obey will be saved. Those who choose to do things their way, will be lost. It’s a simple equation.

 

Numbers 15: 11 - 16

All Israelites were to do things in the exact manner prescribed by God. If strangers or sojourners were with them and wanted to join in and make a sacrifice, they had to do it in the exact manner prescribed by God. No alterations are ever allowed by God in the worship He prescribes to us.

 

Numbers 15: 17 - 21

When they came to the Promised Land, they were to make a donation of bread to God from the first of the dough they made.

 

Numbers 15: 22 - 26

This tells how the unintentional sins of the entire nation could be atoned for. If they unintentionally did something in their worship that was not acceptable because God had not prescribed it, they could atone for their sin by making the sacrifice described here. When they did, the entire nation would be forgiven.

 

Numbers 15: 27 - 31

This tells how one individual who sinned unintentionally could have that sin atoned for. When the sacrifice was made, the unintentional sin would be forgiven. Anyone who did anything arrogantly was to be cut off from the congregation. His sins would remain with him.

 

Numbers 15: 32-36

While they were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath, which was forbidden. He was brought to Moses and Aaron and in front of the entire congregation. God told them the man was to be stoned outside the camp. They did as God commanded.






 

Numbers 15: 37 - 41

Throughout all their generations they were to put tassels on the corners of  their garments. The tassels were to have a cord of blue on their corner. When they looked at it, they were to remember the commandments of God and to obey them. They were not to follow after their own desires, but instead were to obey the Will of God. He knew they were inclined to drift away. He knew they would prostitute themselves to idols, but He reminds them anyway that HE is God, the only God, the God who brought them out of Egyptian slavery.

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Numbers 16

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 16: 1 - 11

Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On started a rebellion against Moses. They had 250 of the chief men in with them. They claimed Moses was taking too much power for himself and for Aaron, and not sharing it with the rest of the people, who they claimed were just as holy and sanctified as Moses. Moses fell on his face when he heard it, and told them that in the morning, God would show them who is His and who is holy. These rebels were Levites, and Moses castigated them for thinking they were better than anyone else. They were seeking to gain more power than that which God had allowed them to have.

 

Numbers 16: 12 - 15

Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, but they refused to go. They didn’t accept Moses rule. They were angry that they were having wander in the wilderness, but it was their own fault for their lack of faith in God. They could have taken Canaan if they hadn’t been afraid of the report the spies brought back. Now they decided to take matters into their own hands.

 

Numbers 16: 16 - 19

Moses ordered them all to be present at the Tabernacle. They were, and the glory of God appeared to the entire congregation.

 

Numbers 16: 20 - 24

God told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the congregation so He could destroy them all at once. Moses asked God if He would destroy the entire congregation for the sin of one man. God told them to separate themselves from Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

 

Numbers 16: 25 - 30

Moses had the congregation to completely separate from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. They got away from them fast. Moses told the congregation, as the rebels watched, that if they die a normal way, God had not sent him. However, if the ground opens up and swallows them, they will know that Moses was sent by God and ruled because of the Will of God.

 

Numbers 16: 31 - 35

As soon as he finished speaking, the ground opened up beneath the rebels and swallowed them up with their entire families. Fire came from God and consumed the 250 men offering the incense.

 

Numbers 16: 36 - 40

They were told by God how the censers that held the incense were to be used. This was to remind them that no one but a Levite could burn incense to God, or they would suffer the same punishment the rebels had suffered.

 

Numbers 16: 41 - 50

The people grumbled against Moses and Aaron the next day because of the deaths of the rebels. They turned to the Tabernacle where the cloud was covering it, and the glory of God appeared. God told Moses and Aaron to get away from the congregation so that He could consume them. Moses told Aaron to make atonement for the people quickly, but the plague from God had already killed many. The plague was stopped when Aaron made the sacrifice for atonement. Counting the rebels and those killed with the plague, 14700 were killed.

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Numbers 17

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 17: 1 - 7

God told Moses to gather a staff from each tribe, including Levi. The names of the leaders of each tribe was to be put on the staff. Aaron’s name would be on the one for Levi. These were to be placed in the Tabernacle, and showed the one leader of each tribe. God would make the staff of the man He chose to sprout, so the rest of the people would stop grumbling. Moses did this, just as God had directed.

 

Numbers 17: 8 - 11

Moses went into the Tabernacle the next day, and the staff of Aaron had sprouted and produced ripe almonds. Moses brought all the staffs out for the people to see. God told Moses to put Aaron’s staff back into the Tabernacle, so the rebels could see who He had chosen, and that they had better stop their grumblings or they would die. Moses obeyed God.

 

Numbers 17: 12 - 13

The people were afraid, thinking that anyone who approached the Tabernacle would die.

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Numbers 18

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 18: 1 - 7

God spoke to Aaron and revealed the role of the Levites. The Levites were to minister to the sons of Aaron. Aaron’s sons would perform the duties at the Tabernacle that God required, and the other Levites would aid them, but could not approach the Tabernacle or they would die. The Levites who were not Aaron’s sons would guard the Tabernacle and do the duties commanded of them by God in moving it and setting it up, but could not enter into it. The Levites were separated from the people and given to Aaron and his offspring as a gift, to do service to the Tabernacle. The priesthood was a gift to Aaron and the Levites from God. No outsiders were to be allowed into the inner circle, or they would die. This separation from the rest of the world is the same as Christians today, who are priests, are to separate ourselves from worldliness.

 

Numbers 18: 8 - 20

God now tells Aaron that all of the sacrifices made to Him were His gift to the Levites. They could eat and drink of the offerings as long as they were clean. The firstborn males who were offered were to be redeemed as detailed in Exodus. The Levites would have no inheritance in the Promised Land, nor would they have a part there. Their part was the gifts God was giving them now.

Numbers 18: 21 - 24

The tithes were given to the Levites by God for their inheritance and for the services they rendered. This was so the rest of the people wouldn’t come before the Tabernacle and die because of their sins. The Levites would bear the iniquities of the people.

 

Numbers 18: 25 - 32

The Levites were to contribute a portion of these tithes to God. This was to be given to the High Priest. When the best of the offerings had been made to God, the rest could be taken and eaten by the Levites as a reward for their service in the Tabernacle.

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Numbers 19

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 19: 1 - 10

God commands a sacrifice for purification. The people were to bring a flawless red heifer to Eleazar, the priest. He would sacrifice it as God revealed. The thing we can learn from this is the cleanliness and purification. Each person who had touched the dead animal or it’s dung had to bathe thoroughly, wash their clothes, and remain unclean for the rest of the day. This meant they did not come into contact with anyone else. This is how God protects the Israelites from bacteriological infections.

 

Numbers 19: 11 = 13

Any one of them who touched a dead body had to perform these cleansing rituals. These served to get any bacteria or viral infection off of the individual. Remaining unclean or isolated for a week ensured that any biological contaminant that had been on the dead body was now completely gone.

 

Numbers 19: 14 - 19

When someone died in a tent, everything and everyone who came into contact with the interior of the tent was to be isolated for seven days. Open containers were unclean. Anyone who touched a dead body was to be isolated for a week.


 

Numbers 19: 20 - 22

The person who did not follow the purification rituals was to be ostracized from the congregation. This is because he could infect them with some disease. Anyone who comes into contact with someone who has not purified themselves was to be isolated for the rest of the day, after performing the cleansing rituals.

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Numbers 20

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 20: 1

Israel came into the wilderness of Zin near Kadesh and stayed there. Miriam died and was buried there.

 

Numbers 20: 2 - 9

There was no water for them here. They griped and complained to Moses like they always did. Moses and Aaron spoke to God in the Tabernacle. God told them to take the staff and speak to the rock, and it would provide them with water.

 

Numbers 20: 10 - 13

Moses anger showed as he called the people rebels and said he and Aaron would bring them water. God, though, told Moses since he had not believed what God said, he would not see the Promised Land. Moses showed pride and arrogance by proclaiming the he was bringing the waters. He disobeyed God by changing the manner in which God told him to bring the water from the rock. God commands, and we are expected to obey without changing a thing, IF we wish to be partakers in His Grace. The place was called Meribah because they had quarrelled with God, and through them He had shown Himself holy.


 

Numbers 20: 14 - 21

Moses sent envoys to Edom, asking for permission to pass through their land. He gave the Edomite leaders a briefing on their journey to date, and told them that the Israelites would take nothing. They would simply pass through the land on their way to the Promised Land. Edom refused, and came out against Israel with a large army. Israel went another direction.

 

Numbers 20: 22 - 29

The congregation journeyed from Kadesh to Mt. Hor. God told Moses to let Aaron be gathered to the people, because he would not be allowed into the Promised Land since they had sinned at Meribah. Aaron and Eleazar were to be brought onto Mt. Hor. Aaron would have his priestly garments taken from him and given to Eleazar. This passed the High Priesthood from Aaron to his son. Moses did this, and Aaron died and was buried on the mountain. Moses and Eleazar returned to the camp, and the congregation mourned the death of Aaron for 30 days.

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Numbers 21

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 21: 1 - 3

The king of Arad heard the Israelites were coming and he fought against them. He took some of them captive. Israel vowed to God that if Arad were given to them, they would destroy all of its cities. God heard and answered their plea, and they won, destroying all the cities of Arad. The place was then renamed Hormah.

 

Numbers 21: 4 - 9

From Mount Hor, they travelled back to the Red Sea in order to go around Edom. The people grew impatient and complained against God and against Moses. They continued to show the slave mentality, saying there was food in Egypt, why had they been brought out into the wilderness with no food or water. God sent fiery serpents among the people. These serpents bit the people and many of them died. The people repented of their sin and asked Moses to intercede. Moses prayed for the people. God told Moses to make a fiery serpent and put it on a pole. All who looked on it would live. Moses did this, and anyone who was bitten and looked upon the serpent, did not die.




 

Numbers 21: 10 - 20

They then set out and camped at Oboth. They left there and camped in the wilderness opposite Moab towards the sunrise. They left there and went to the valley of Zered. From there they set out and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites. Arnon was the border between Moab and the Amorites. This border is mentioned in the Book of the Wars of the Lord. This book is lost to history, but we have a quote from it preserved in the Bible. From there they continued to Beer. At this well, God had Moses gather the people together and He gave them water. Israel sang the song recorded for us. From there they travelled through Mattanah, Nahaliel, Bamoth, to the valley in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah that looks down upon the desert.

 

Numbers 21: 21 - 30

Israel sent a message to Sihon, king of the Amorites. They asked for passage through his land. They promised to remain on the path, not turning aside for any reason, until they had passed through the kingdom. Sihon would not allow this. He gathered an army and went out to fight against Israel at Jahaz. Israel defeated him and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, all the way to the border with the Ammonites. The border of the Ammonites was strong. Israel took all the Amorite cities and settled in them, including Heshbon and all its villages. Heshbon was Sihon’s city, which he gained from Moab in a war. The ballad singers sing of that war between the Amorites and Moab in the ballad recorded for us here, a ballad that would have been lost to history had it not been recorded for us by Moses.

 

Numbers 21: 31 - 35

Israel lived in the land of the Amorites for a while. Then Moses sent spies to Jazer. They captured it and took it from the Amorites. Then they turned and went up to Bashan. King Og came against them with an army at Edrei. God told Moses not to fear. He had given Og to them. Moses was to do to Og what he did to Sihon. They defeated Og and his people, leaving no survivors. They possessed all of his land.

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Numbers 22

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 22: 1 - 6

The people camped near Moab. Balak, the king of Moab, saw what they had done to the Amorites. Moab was in great fear of Israel. Balak sent messengers to Balaam to ask him to curse the Israelites so that Moab could defeat them.

 

Numbers 22: 7 - 14

The elders of Moab left with their fees to pay Balaam. They found him and he had them lodge with him that night while he spoke with God. God told Balaam he was not to go with the Moabites and he was not to speak a curse against the Israelites. Balaam sent the elders away and didn’t go with them.

 

Numbers 22: 15 - 21

Balak sent even richer princes to try to get Balaam to come. Balaam had them stay there while he asked God. God told him to go with them, but only speak what God told him to speak.

 

Numbers 22: 22 - 30

Balaam was going to Balak when his donkey stopped. His donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the path with his sword pointed at Balaam. This happened three times, each time Balaam got angry with the donkey, finally hitting it.

God allowed the donkey to ask Balaam why he was being treated the way he was.

 

Numbers 22: 31 - 35

Balaam’s eyes were then opened and he saw the angel of the Lord with drawn sword. The angel told Balaam his donkey had saved him three times. God knew what was in Balaam’s heart. Balaam repented and was told to speak only what God told him to speak.

 

Numbers 22: 36 - 40

Balak met Balaam and was angry. Balaam told Balak he could speak only what God told him to speak. Balak then sacrificed sheep and oxen.

 

Numbers 22: 41

In the morning, Balak took Balaam and they saw a fraction of the Israelites.  

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Numbers 23

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 23: 1 - 10

Balaam had Balak build seven altars and bring seven bulls and seven rams for sacrifice. After the sacrifice, Balaam said he would go and maybe God would meet him. He would show Balak whatever God told him. God told Balaam what to say. Balaam returned and told Balak what God had put into his mouth. He told how Balak brought him to curse Israel, then asked how could he curse what God had not cursed. Balak was angry. He had brought Balaam to curse Israel and all he had done was to bless them. Balaam told him that he could only speak what God had put into his mouth.

 

Numbers 23: 13 - 17

Balak asked Balaam to come with him to a different spot and maybe he could curse them from there. They repeated the sacrifice of seven bulls and seven rams. Balaam went again to seek God, and God told him again what to speak.

 

Numbers 23: 18 - 24

Balaam told Balak to pay attention. God is not man. He does not lie nor does He change His mind. All that He has said has come to pass. God commanded Balaam to bless Israel, and that is what he must do. God is with them.

He brings them out of Egypt. There is no enchantment that will work against Israel. Nothing will stand in the way of God’s chosen nation.

 

Numbers 23: 25 - 30

Balak finally told Balaam not to curse them or bless them. Balaam told him that he could only speak what God told him to speak. Balak decided to move to another spot and try again. They moved and build the seven altars to sacrifice seven more bulls and rams.

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Numbers 24

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 24: 1 - 9

When Balaam saw that it pleased God for him to bless Israel, he didn’t even go seek Him out this time as he had done previously. The Holy Spirit came upon him, and he spoke another blessing to Israel.

 

Numbers 24: 10 - 14

Balak was angry. He had called Balaam to curse Israel, and instead he had blessed them three times. Balak told Balaam to get out of there and go home. He was not going to pay Balaam for his services because Balaam had obeyed God rather than Balak. Balaam told him there was no price that could have made him speak anything but what God had put into his mouth. Balaam prophesied what Israel would do to Balak and his people before he left.

 

Numbers 24: 15 - 19

Balaam makes a dual prophecy. He prophesied that Israel will destroy Moab. He also prophesies about the coming Messiah.

 

Numbers 24: 20

Balaam prophesies the destruction of the Amalekites.


 

Numbers 24: 21 - 22

He prophesied to the Kenite that his people would be taken captive by the Assyrians. This was well before the Assyrian Empire had even been founded.

 

Numbers 24: 23 - 24

Here Balaam prophesies that the Greeks will come and conquer all the empires of the middle east eventually.

 

Numbers 24: 25

Balaam went home. Balak returned to his place as well.

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Numbers 25

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 25: 1 - 5

While Israel was camped in that region, they began to have relations with the women of the area. They began to worship the baal that they people of that area worshiped. This angered God greatly because they were unfaithful to Him. He told Moses to hang the chiefs of the people who had bowed down to baal. Moses told the judges to kill everyone who had worshiped baal.

 

Numbers 25: 6 - 9

God had evidently struck the people with a plague for their idolatry. The people brought a Midianite woman who had apparently married an Israelite man. When Aaron’s grandson Phineas saw it, he took a spear and killed them both. This ended the plague, but not before 24,000 had died.

 

Numbers 25: 10 - 13

God told Moses that Phineas would be rewarded for his zeal in serving Him. Phineas and his descendants would be priests forever because of his zeal. His zeal in defending the faith caused God to relent from wiping Israel off the face of the planet.



 

Numbers 25: 14 - 15

The Israelite man killed was Zimri, of the tribe of Simeon. The Midianite woman killed was named Cozbi, daughter of Zur, a tribal chief.

 

Numbers 25: 16 - 18

God told Moses to strike down the Midianites because of their seduction of Israel to idolatry.

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