The Strand Study Bible

NUMBERS

Author: Moses (Num 33:1-2) Theme: Disobedience to God Leads to Wandering Book’s Main Character: Moses (Moses is referred to 101 times in the New Testament)

About the Author : Moses, whose name means, “to draw out,” was born into slavery in Egypt c. 1568 BC. He was born approxi- mately 64 years after Joseph’s death (1632 BC). Moses’ first 40 years were spent training in Pharaoh’s Court. His second 40 years were spent tending sheep in the wilderness of Midian. And his third and last 40 years were spent teaching God’s people God’s ways on the way to Canaan (called the Promised Land). Moses died before the children of Israel entered Canaan (1448 BC - Deut 34:5). About the Book: The book of Numbers tells the story of Israel’s journey from Mt. Sinai to Canaan (the Promised Land). During that time the people of Israel were numbered twice, thus the name “Numbers”. The first time Israel was numbered was at Mt. Sinai just before they left for the Promised Land (Num 1). Following the numbering, Israel traveled to Kadesh-Barnea just south of Canaan’s border. Here the old generation refused to enter the Promised Land because of the evil report of the ten spies. For the next thirty-eight years Israel would wander until the old generation died off. The second time Israel was numbered they were encamped at the plains of Moab just east of Canaan (Num 26). Here the new generation was numbered while Israel prepared to cross over the Jordan River and finally enter the Promised Land. The book of Numbers covers thirty-eight years and nine months (from May 1st, 1486 - February 1st, 1448 BC). Notes of Interest: 1. Numbers is not quoted in the NT. 2. Prophecies are referred to 13 times in Numbers . 3. Prophecies concerning CHRIST are referred to 11 of those 13 times (Num 14:24 & 24:7,8,17-20,22-24). 4. CHRIST appeared in a preincarnate physical form 1 time in Numbers (Num 22:22-35). 5. There are 19 maps used in the book of Numbers . They are numbered chronologically (#52-70).

Outline of Numbers :

1. The Old generation refuses to enter the Promised Land (Num 1-14) 2. Thirty-eight years of wilderness wanderings (Num 15-25) 3. The New generation prepares to enter the Promised Land (Num 26-36) Numbers 1 Israel prepares to leave Mount Sinai 1. Exo 18:21-25

7 Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Ammi- nadab. 8 Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 9 Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon. 10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 11 Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gide- oni. 12 Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammis- haddai. 13 Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran. 14 Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 15 Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan. 16 These were the renowned of the con- gregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, 1 heads of thousands in Israel. 17 And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names: 18 And they assembled all the congrega- tion together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls. 19 AstheLORDcommandedMoses,sohe numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

( The men of war are numbered ) Date - May 1 st 1486 BC / AM 2514

1 And the LORD spake untoMoses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 Take ye the sum of all the congrega- tion of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; 3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. 4 And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers. 5 And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur. 6 Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zuri- shaddai.

1:7 Amminadab’s name means “My people are willing or noble.” He is referred to 2 times in the NT (Mt 1:4 and Lk 3:33). Ammin- adab is the 38th generation from CHRIST (Num 1:7 & 2:3 and Ruth 4:19-20). He lived around 1558 BC (somewhere between Exo 1:14 and 15). 289