A Study of Numbers

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Numbers 26

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 26: 1 - 4

After the plague, God told Moses and Eleazar to take another census of all the men 20 years old and up who were able to go to war. They did this on the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

 

Numbers 26: 5 - 11

From the tribe of Reuben, there were 43,730. We are told that Dathan and Abiram led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. They, along with 250 others were swallowed up and burned.

 

Numbers 26: 12 - 14

There were 22,200 from the tribe of Simeon.

 

Numbers 26: 15 - 18

There were 40,500 from the tribe of Gad.

 

Numbers 26: 19 - 22

From the tribe of Judah we are told that Onan and Er died when they made it to Canaan. There were 76,500 from the tribe of Judah.

 

Numbers 26: 23 - 25

There were 64,300 from the tribe of Issachar.

Numbers 26: 26-27

There were 60,500 from the tribe of Zebulun.

 

Numbers 26: 28 - 34

From the sons of Joseph, there were 52,700 in the tribe of Manasseh.

 

Numbers 26: 35 - 37

From the other son of Joseph, there were 32.500 from the tribe of Ephraim.

 

Numbers 26: 38 - 41

There were 45,600 from the tribe of Benjamin.

 

Numbers 26: 42 - 43

There were 64,400 from the tribe of Dan.

 

Numbers 26: 44 - 47

There were 53,400 from the tribe of Asher.

 

Numbers 26: 48 - 50

There were 45,400 from the tribe of Naphtali.

 

Numbers 26: 51

There were 601,730 men over the age of 20 able to fight in a war.

Numbers 26: 52 - 56

God told Moses that large tribes would get a large inheritance, and small tribes a smaller inheritance when they arrived in the Promised Land. Their inheritance was to be given in proportion to their population. What land they got was to be divided by lot.

 

Numbers 26: 57 - 62

We are now given the count of Levites, after being reminded that Nadab and Abihu died because they offered unauthorized fire to God. There were 23,000 males listed from one month old and upward. The Levites were not listed among the people because they were to receive no inheritance in the Promised Land.

 

Numbers 26: 63 - 65

These are the ones left after the preceding generation had died off. No one counted in the original census was left alive except for Joshua and Caleb because God had said not a one of those who were afraid to go on into Canaan would live to see the Promised Land.

 

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Numbers 27

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 27: 1 - 4

The daughters of Zelophehad of the tribe of Manasseh came to Moses with a concern. Their father had died in the wilderness, and had not been one of the rebels who had followed Korah. There were no male heirs, and they were concerned that his possession in the Promised Land would be taken away from them. 

 

Numbers 27: 5 - 11

Moses brought their case before God, who said the daughters were correct. They should receive the inheritance that would have gone to their father. God then made a statute that if a man dies with no male heirs, his daughters shall inherit his possessions. If he has no children at all, his inheritance shall go to his brothers. If he has no brothers, his inheritance shall go to his uncles. If he has no uncles, his inheritance shall go to the person closest of kin to him. 

 

Numbers 27: 12 - 23

God told Moses to go into the mountain and look upon the Promised Land. When he saw it, he was to be gathered to his people like Aaron had been, because of their sins at the well. Moses asked God to appoint a good man over the congregation. God told Moses to show that Joshua had been chosen to replace Moses after his death. Moses did this in front of the entire congregation. 

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Numbers 28

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 28: 1 - 8

Now we begin with God restating and clarifying some of the Laws He commanded the Israelites to follow. They were to make sure they made their offerings to God at the required time. God then restated how the food offering and the drink offering were to be done on a daily basis. 

 

Numbers 28: 9 - 10

In addition to the regular offerings, they were to make a Sabbath Day offering of two one year old unblemished lambs. This was to be done along with a grain offering and a drink offering. All of these offerings were foreshadowing of the sacrificial offering of the Messiah for our sins. 

 

Numbers 28: 11 - 15

On the first day of each month, they were to make an offering consisting of two unblemished bulls, a ram,  and two unblemished male lambs a year old. They were also to offer a male goat as a sin offering. The burnt offering, grain offering, and drink offering are also restated. 

 

Numbers 28: 16 - 25

God now restates how the Passover offering is to be done. The Passover was to be celebrated, beginning on the fourteenth day of the first month. It was to be a seven day celebration. They were to make the offerings as God had commanded, and on the seventh day of this celebration, no work was to be done at all. 

 

Numbers 28: 26 - 31

God now details how they are to make offerings at the Feast of Weeks. They were not to do any ordinary work during this feast. They were to offer burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings.  

 

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Numbers 29

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 29: 1 - 6

On the first day of the seventh month they were to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets. No common labor was to be done. They were to blow trumpets and offer a burnt offering, a grain offering, and a drink offering as shown by God. 

 

Numbers 29: 7 - 11

On the tenth day of the seventh month, they were to afflict themselves and do no work at all. This was the day of atonement for their sins. They were to offer a burnt offering, a grain offering, a drink offering, and a sin offering as shown to them by God. 

 

Numbers 29: 12 - 34

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month they were to refrain from work and celebrate the Feast of Booths. This was to be a seven day celebration. They were to offer the sacrifices each day of the seven that God showed them to offer in the way God showed them to offer them. 

 

Numbers 29: 35 - 38

On the eighth day, they were to have a solemn assembly and do no work. They were to offer the sacrifices that God showed them in the way God showed them. 

Numbers 29: 39 - 40

These feasts days were to be celebrated as God revealed. They were to make the offerings on these days in addition to the regular offerings commanded by God. Moses told the people everything exactly as God had commanded. 

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Numbers 30

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 30: 1 - 2

Moses told the heads of the tribes that if a man made a vow, he was never to break it. 

 

Numbers 30: 3 - 5

If a woman makes a vow in her youth, and her father knows about it and says nothing, then that vow is binding. If her father opposes it, the vow will not stand. God will forgive her because her vow was opposed by her father. 

 

Numbers 30: 6 - 9

If she marries while under a vow or some thoughtless oath she made, and her husband knows about it and doesn’t say anything, she is still under the vow or oath. If her husband knows about it and opposes it, the vow becomes null and void. God will forgive her because her husband opposed the vow. Widows and divorced women must keep their vows and oaths. 

 

Numbers 30: 10 - 15

If, after she has married, a woman makes a vow or an oath and her husband knows and doesn’t say anything, that vow will be in force. If her husband opposes, the vow will be null and void. Her husband voided the vow, and she will be forgiven by God. The husband can void any vow or oath made by his wife. 

If he makes them null and void after having ignored them when first hearing of them, the sin lies on the husband not the wife. 

 

Numbers 30: 16

These are commanded by God about oaths and vows by men and women in different situations. 

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Numbers 31

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 31: 1 - 12

God told Moses to avenge the people of Israel on Midian. After this, Moses would die. Moses told the people to arm themselves for the war of vengeance against Midian. They were to send 1000 from each tribe. There were 12,000 armed for war. Moses sent them to war, along with Phineas, with vessels of the sanctuary and trumpets. They warred against Midian and killed every male, as God commanded. Balaam was killed in this war. They took the women and children captive. They plundered all their cities, then burned them. They brought the captives and the plunder to Moses and Eleazar on the plains of Moab, near Jericho. 

 

Numbers 31: 13 - 20

Moses, Eleazar, and the chiefs of the congregation met together outside the camp. Moses was angry with them because they had allowed the women to live. These people, on the advice of Balaam, had caused the Israelites to sin by worshiping idols. This brought the plague upon them. Moses ordered them to kill every male child, and every female who was not a virgin. They could keep the female virgins alive for themselves. The soldiers and captives had to follow the seven day purification ritual. 

 

Numbers 31: 21 - 24

Metals had to be passed through fire and water to be purified. Non-metals and things that would burn in the fire could be purified by water. After the seven day purification ritual, they could enter the camp. 

 

Numbers 31: 25 - 31

God told Moses to count the plunder and divide it into two parts. One part went to the warriors who had fought the battle. The other part went to the congregation as a whole. A tax was to be taken from the half given to the warriors. This would be given to Eleazar. A tax was to be taken from the half given to the congregation. This would go to the Levites. 

 

Numbers 31: 32 - 41

Here we see how much plunder the Israelites got from the Midianites, and the tribute given to God from the warriors half. This went to Eleazar. 

 

Numbers 31: 42 - 47

Here we see the congregation’s half. We also see the tribute given to God from this half, which went to the Levites. 

 

Numbers 31: 48 - 54

The officers reported that the Israelites had not lost a single man in the battle. They turned over to Moses the gold and jewels which were plundered from the Midianites. This was to make atonement for themselves. The commanders plunder was brought into the Tabernacle as a memorial for the people of Israel before God. The regular soldiers kept their plundered valuables. 

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Numbers 32

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 32: 1 - 5

The people of the tribes of Reuben and Gad wanted to settle in the lands before crossing the Jordan because they had a lot of livestock and that land was great for livestock. They asked Moses and Eleazar if this would be alright. 

 

Numbers 32: 6 - 15

Moses asked them if they would sit out the war that was going to take place when the rest of Israel went to conquer the Promised Land. He compared them to their ancestors, who had been afraid to go into Canaan because of the people there. Moses was judging them unrighteously. He was comparing them to their fathers, which is not a good judgment. 

 

Numbers 32: 16 - 27

The leaders of Reuben and Gad said they would build their homes in the land before Jordan, but they would send their men to fight with the rest of Israel to conquer Canaan. Moses agreed to this. 

 

Numbers 32: 28 - 32

Moses then codified this agreement by letting Joshua and Eleazar know the terms with the people of Reuben and Gad. 

 

Numbers 32: 33 - 42

Moses gave the people of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh their inheritance on the side of Jordan before reaching Canaan. They built cities and settled. They conquered the Amorites who were in that area and settled in their land as well. 

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Numbers 33

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 33: 1 - 4

Here we begin a review of the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan. Moses recorded the journey stage by stage. They left from Rameses in Egypt the day after Passover, the fifteenth day of the first month. While the Egyptians were still burying their firstborn, the Israelites left. God had executed judgment on the Egyptians and their gods. 

 

Numbers 33: 5 - 37

This section reviews the stages of the journey from Rameses to Mt. Hor on the edge of Edom. 

 

Numbers 33: 38 - 39

Aaron went up on Mt. Hor as God commanded him, and died. He was 123 years old. 

 

Numbers 33: 40

The Canaanite king of Arad, who was in the Negeb, heard of the approaching Israelites. 

 

Numbers 33: 41 - 49

This section reviews the journey of the Israelites from Mt. Hor to Mt. Nebo, in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River at Jericho. 

Numbers 33: 50 - 56

God spoke to Moses here and told him to tell the people that when they crossed over into Canaan, they were to drive out every inhabitant and destroy all of their idols. They were to take possession of the land and live there because God had given it to them. They were to divide the land up by lot according to their clans. Large tribes got a large inheritance and small tribes got a small inheritance. He warned them that if they allowed any of the Canaanites to remain, they would become a barb in the side of Israel and trouble the land where they lived. If this happens, God will do to Israel what He told Israel to do to the Canaanites. 

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Numbers 34

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 34: 1 - 5

God told Moses to define the borders of the Promised Land for the people. This section defines their southern border. 

 

Numbers 34: 6 

The Mediterranean Sea would be their western border. 

 

Numbers 34: 7 - 9

This section defines their northern border. 

 

Numbers 34: 10 - 12

This section defines their eastern border. 

 

Numbers 34: 13 - 15

Moses told the 9.5 tribes that would get land across the Jordan that this was their inheritance from God. Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh remained on the opposite side of the Jordan. 

 

Numbers 34: 16 - 29

God then tells Moses who will be the ones in charge of dividing the land. God chose Eleazar the priest and Joshua. Moses was to take one chief from every tribe to be on this council to divide the land.

 God then told Moses who to pick. Caleb, who was one of the two, along with Joshua, who wanted to enter the land the first time they approached, was chosen.  The rest of the committee is named in this section as well. 

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Numbers 35

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 35: 1 - 5

God told Moses to command the people to give the Levites cities and pastureland around those cities for them to live in and raise their livestock. He details to Moses how the amount of pastureland given to the Levites was to be measured. 

 

Numbers 35: 6 - 8

Six of the cities given to the Levites were to be cities of refuge. These were places where those who committed manslaughter could flee for safety. The total number of cities to be given to the Levites was 48. These 48 were to be given in proportion to the size of the tribe. 

 

Numbers 35: 9 - 15

The six cities of refuge were for those who killed someone without intent to flee to for safety. He was safe from vengeance until he could stand trial. Three were to be beyond Jordan, and three were to be in Canaan. Israelites, strangers, and sojourners who committed manslaughter could seek refuge in these cities. 

 

Numbers 35: 16 - 21

If someone struck someone down with an iron, stone, or wooden tool, it was murder. The murderer was to be put to death. The avenger of blood was to put the murderer to death. 

If someone pushed another out of hatred, or struck someone in a fight and killed them, that person was a murderer and was to be executed. 

 

Numbers 35: 22 - 29

If someone accidentally killed another without intent or without anger, that person was to be placed on trial. If the congregation judges that it was manslaughter and not murder, that man was to be restored to his city of refuge until the High Priest died. If that person strayed outside of his city of refuge, he could be killed. After the death of the High Priest, he could return to his possessions. 

 

Numbers 35: 30 - 34

Murderers were to be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. However, there had to be more than one witness. One was not sufficient for a conviction. There was to be no pardon or parole for a murderer. The murderer was to be put to death. The person who fled to a city of refuge who was convicted of murder was to be executed. They were not to pollute their land with blood. The only atonement for the sin of murder was the blood of the murderer. 

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Numbers 36

By: Jim Crews

 

Numbers 36: 1 - 4

The heads of the households of the clan of the people of Gilead, which were of the tribe of Manasseh came to speak to Moses and the elders. They wanted a clarification on their tribes lands should their daughters marry someone from another tribe. 

 

Numbers 36: 5 - 9

The land of one tribe was not to be transferred to another tribe for any reason. The daughters of a tribe who possessed land were to marry someone from their tribe. 

 

Numbers 36: 10 - 12

The daughter who caused this question did as God commanded and married within their tribe. 

 

Numbers 36: 13

God gave these commandments in the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho.