CONSOLIDATED NOTES FOR NUMBERS

1. Scribes Summary for Numbers

(An overview)
1. There are 36 chapters.

2. While Exodus narrates the journey from Egypt to Mt. Sinai, the onward journey
from Sinai to Kadesh and Moab is narrated in Numbers.

3.The name Numbers is given for the two census, mentioned in this book. The
first census (Ch 1) was during the initial days at Sinai and the second census was
during the end of the journey at Moab ( Ch 26).

4. Though the title is _Numbers_ actually the content is only journey. So we may
call it as *Exodus 2* (Journey 2 from Sinai to Moab) Yatra

5..The whole book may be divided into three, based on the three places namely
Sinai, Kadesh and Moab.

6.In Chapters 1 - 10 they are based at Sinai. The chapters are almost like Leviticus
with more worship regulations.

7. Chapters 11 - 20 is about journey Sinai to Kadesh. They've been in this same

spot (Sinai) for about a year and now they're getting ready to start out their onward
journey to the promised land. At Kadesh, they rebelled against God and were
punished for 38 Years (Dt.2:14)

8..The third division is Chapter 21 - 36. This is the journey form Kadesh to Moab.
The new generation of Israelites again attempt to enter the land to take it as God
promised. They had to face the Edomites who refused the path way. The oracles
of Balam also is in this context.
9. In the first part of the journey the major challenge was physical problems like
water, food etc. In the later part of the journey, it was related with the people,
internal and external oppositions. They had to face people and battle.

10. The more they moved closer to the promised land, the challenges they had to
face were increasing.

11. The important persons to remember : Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Joshua, Caleb,
Eleazar, Korah, Sihon (King of Amorites), Og (King of Bashan), Balak and
Balaam.

12.Some places to remember: Sinai, Taberah(11:3), Kadesh, Beer(a well - 21:16),

Moab, Shittim. (Nu. 33 mentions 42 places of their journey)

13. The chapters of this book Numbers are not kept in a chronological order.
Numbers 33 gives the chronological itinerary of their journey from Egypt until
Moab.

14. NT Connections: 1 Cor 10:1-12, Math 5:17, John 3:14, Heb 3:7. Rev 22:16
__________________________________________________________

2. Numbers: N for Numbers (In Original Hebrew Bible Title is: Wandering)
There are three censuses. But essentially this book has more of journeys.

3. Three Censuses (Ch 1 (wariors), Ch 2 (Levites) Ch 26 (Census @ Moab)

4. Exodus (To construct Tabernacle),

Leviticus (To use the Tabernacle).
Numbers (To carry and march with the Tabernacle)

5. How to study ? (Our methodology)

Sinai (1 -10)
Sinai to Kadesh (11 – 20)
Kadesh to Moab (21 – 36)

6. Time Line: Sinai (1445 BC)

Moab (1407 BC)
38 Yrs (Deut 2: 14)
7.

8. IN 1 – 10 we see more of Listings as we see below

List of warriors – Number Tribe wise (1)
List – of Elders in each tribe. (1)
List of Groups – Order of Marching (2)
List of Sons of Levi. (3)
List of duties of the Levites (4)
List of laws from Leviticus (repetition
List of the donors for the Tabernacle

9. Census
 Homework:
Make two columns. Write the Name of the Elders chosen:
Write for the 12 tribes.

SL Tribe Name of the Elder Census Count

1
2
3
12

10. Taking the census of a huge population was difficult. But God provided assistants. We
need to be assured that to fulfil His task He provides assistants to us. We need to involve
them too.

11. Marching Order:

12. Chapters 7 -9 may come before Chapters 1 – 4

13. Silence (Exo14: 7 Vs Sword Numbers 1:3, 31: 3

While crossing Red Sea God said be silent. I will fight for you
Now in Numbers God was preparing the Israelites to fight.

14. Home work

Refer Numbers 33.
The first 12 places we already had matched with the journey Egypt to Sinai (Exodus
Class)
Now from Sinai to Kadesh Find out the 21 places
(1) shall be Kibroth-hattaavah: (21) shall be Wilderness of Zin (Kadesh)
15. Numbers 11 – 20
The seven Rebellions:
Home work
The Bible reference is given. You have to write the remarks

SL Scripture Reference Write the description

1 Numbers 11:1 Taberah
2 Numbers 11:5
3. Numbers 12:1
4. Numbers 14:1,2
5. Numbers 16: 1 – 3
6. Numbers 16:41
7. Numbers 20:3
8. Numbers 21:4

16. Some concepts

1- 10 They were obedient
11 – 20 : Disobedient or Failures
NEET Pass & MBBS Fail

17. Numbers 21 – 36 (Last section)

18. Identify the last 9 places from Numbers 33:

(1) Mount Hor
(2) . . . . . . . . .
(9) Abarim mountains

19. Write Chapter wise Title for 21 – 30

Some examples:
21 Canaanite Kings Defeated
22 – 25 Balak & Balaam

20. Book of wars:

It was an ancient record of Israel’s battles. It contained stories, songs and poems or narration of
the wars and victories of the Lord. Today we do not have any copies of ‘The Book of the Wars'

21. The concept of Ask one and get many

Explanation: (Numbers 21)
There is another interesting observation, The Israelites not only received the
land of Amorites but the land of the Moabites too. This can be explained like
this:
 Imagine:
- On Monday King of Delhi captured Agra and Mathura. _
- (Agra and Mathura were tough regions to be conquered) _
- Then on Tuesday, the King of Chandigarh attacked the King of Delhi._
- Now Chandigarh not only received Delhi, but as a bonus also received
Agra and Mathura.

This is what had happened in this passage. Israelites got victory over the King
of Sihon. But a little earlier already this King fought against others and
captured. Now the Israelites who did nothing but got Sihon and as a bonus all
that he had captured earlier. This is one of the phenomena, how the Israelites
entered into Canaan.

Very often God does this for us. After a long time of constant failures, setbacks
and struggles in our lives, we suddenly get one blessing and it comes with a
package.

22. How we can study?

Method 1:
1 – 10 (Sinai) - (Study all the events)
11 – 20 (Sinai – Kadesh) - (Study all the events)
21 – 36 ( Kadesh to Moab) - (Study all the events)

Method 2:

Some chapters are

Listings (Numbers) Example : 1 – 4,
Like Leviticus (Laws ) 5 - 10
Rebellions (Na Pass) 11 - 21
Like Joshua (Conquest) 22 – 25

23: Difficult Passages:

Why God punished Moses?
https://www.gotquestions.org/Moses-promised-land.html

Why Levites were chosen?

https://knowingscripture.com/articles/levites-class-of-warrior-priests
https://www.gotquestions.org/God-inheritance-Levites.html

RED HEIFER

Numbers 19 is the only chapter in the OT where we read about the Red heifer.

Some believe that the construction of the third temple is one of the signs of the
end days. To construct the temple, they will need the ashes of a red heifer, mixed
with water, for the ceremonial cleansing.

Many do not know much about Numbers 19 and the Red Heifer. But they may
still be just talking about the red heifer in Israel, the construction of the temple
and the end.
Numbers 19 deals with Laws of Purification. Already in Leviticus from Chapters
11 to 16, we had seen about several purifications. Dietary purification,
Purification after Child birth, Purification after leprosy, bodily discharges and
purification of houses.

Numbers 19 mainly teaches how an Israelite can be cleansed after touching a dead
body. Num 19:11 “Whoever touches the dead body of any person shall be
unclean

To understand the whole chapter, why a red heifer?, why cleansing water? we
need to come from a reverse order. From the last few verses of this chapter to the
earlier passages. This will be an easiest way to understand this chapter and all
about the Red Heifer.

(To read the full article see in our e book Numbers & Me)

https://www.gotquestions.org/red-heifer.html

https://www.grace-life.org/2019/01/the-red-heifer-numbers-19-20/
CONCLUSION:

Who is our God?

In Numbers we see
- God gave instructions, guidance
- He punished them when they rebelled.
- 3 Ps His Presence, His Provisions, His Patience.

A Loving God.

Other web sites for advance studies:

https://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-exodus-route-sinai-kadesh-barnea.htm

https://bibleproject.com/blog/israels-rebellion-wilderness/

https://forwhatsaiththescriptures.org/2015/03/30/angels-food-psalm-78-24-25/

Notes by
Rev Dr J Godwin Nickelson
ScribeS Publishers

These notes are meant for the participants of our program 39 OT Books in 39
Weeks.

Scribes Pubshers
M 91 – 9099408760
scribespublisher@gmail.com
www.otmadeeasy.in