Jun 2 2013

Book of Numbers (Part 2) – Spies and Rebellion

The Book of Numbers gives us more details and fills in other information in Leviticus and the other Books of the Law. The key events for chapter 1:11 through chapter 19 are as follows:

Israel sets out from Sinai to Kadesh

The Gershonites and Merarites carry the Tabernacle – Numbers 10:17
The Kohathites carry the holy things – Numbers 10:21
The glory of the Lord was over them – Numbers 10:34
The people complained – God angered at their ingratitude and irreverence, fire at Taberah and plague at Kibroth-hattaavah – Numbers 11

Miriam and Aaron Speak Against Moses

The Lord in His anger turns Miriam leprous – Numbers 12:10
Moses intercedes and pleas on her behalf – Numbers 12:13-15

Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan to see what it was like. Ten gave a bad report of the danger, while Joshua and Caleb gave a good report. (Numbers 13).

Spies Sent Out to Canaan

From the Wilderness of Zin to Rehob – Numbers 13:17-24
Spies bring report to congregation (Caleb urges them to go and occupy) – Numbers 13:25-33
The people rebel – Numbers 14:1-4
God’s anger kindled – Moses intercedes – Numbers 14:11-19
God’s response – none living will see land – Numbers 14:26-35
Death of the faithless spies (Caleb and Joshua alone spared) Numbers 14:36-38
Faithless attempt at conquest – obedience too late, ends in defeat Numbers 14:39-45

Law-giving at Kadesh – (Numbers 15)

Rebellion of rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram

Death of the Kohathite supporters of Korah – Numbers 16:16–19, Numbers 16:35–40
Death of the leaders of rebellion and their families – Numbers 16:20-34
At Moses’ instruction, Aaron ends the judgment of the plague – Numbers 16:41-50

Aaron’s budding staff – Numbers 17

Duties and privileges of priests and Levites

Guarding the sanctuary – Numbers 18:1-7
The Priests’ income – Numbers 18:8-20
The Levite’s income – Numbers 18:21-24
Their own contribution (tithe of the tithe) – Numbers 18:25-32

Cleansing From Death’s Uncleanness

Recipe for the cleansing ash (scientific foreknowledge – see this article at ApologeticsPress.org) – Numbers 19:1–10
Cleansing Process Numbers 19:11-22

/Bob’s boy

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image © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog. All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility. When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com. For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

May 26 2013

Book of Numbers (Part 1) – Census and Dedication

English: Model of the tabernacle, as seen in Israel, Timna Park Deutsch: Modell der Stiftshütte in Israel, Timna Park. Originalgetreu nachgebaut und begehbar. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Book of Numbers is integral to the other 5 Books of the Law. The events overlap a great deal with what is written in Leviticus. In Hebrew, this book is most appropriately named Bemidbar, which loosely translated, means “in the desert – or wilderness.” The key events for chapters 1 through 10:10 are as follows:

Census and Levite Instructions

Chapter 1 – God commanded Moses to take a census in the Sinai wilderness of all of the people of Israel; and specifically exempted the Levites from this census, appointing them care over the tabernacle and its furnishings – including responsibility for taking it down and setting it back up when camp is moved (Numbers 1:47-51).
Chapter 2 – The Lord reveals the arrangement of the tribes when encamped around the Tabernacle.
Chapter 3 – The Lord gives Moses commandments about the Levites; claiming Levites for His own to be priests in Israel, and redeeming all of the first born of the tribes (Numbers 3:44-51).
Chapter 4 – The Lord orders a census of the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites, and spells out the duties for the sons of Kohath in Numbers 4:4-15, the sons of Gershon in Numbers 4:24-28, and the sons of Merari in Numbers 4:31-33.

Cleansing of the camp

Isolation of the unclean, atonement, and adultery – Numbers 5:1-31
Nazirite definition, rules and vows – Numbers 6:1-21
The priestly blessing of Aaron and sons – Numbers 6:22-27

Completion of the tabernacle

The lampstand – Numbers 8:1-4
Dedication of the Levites – Numbers 8:5-26
The second Passover – Numbers 9:1-14
The cloud covering the Tabernacle – Numbers 9:15-23
The silver trumpets – Numbers 10:1-10

/Bob’s boy

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image © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Mar 27 2012

Numbers 32 – Reuben and Gad Settle in Gilead

Land divided - TransJordan

The land received after the conquest of the Amorites and their king, Sihon and that of Og and the land of Bashan was found desirable to the tribes of Reuben and Gad for their vast livestock reserves. So they propose to settle there instead of across the Jordan.

This angers Moses, as he reminds them of the consequences to the people when the spies 40 years earlier discouraged entry into the land from Kadesh-barnea. The tribes reassure him that they will cross over to defeat the Canaanites across the Jordan anyway.

So Moses agrees under those conditions (with a stern warning – verse 23), and a portion of the land of Gilead is also set aside for the half-tribe of Manasseh after it was captured. The portion of northern Gilead given to them is described in Joshua 13:29-31.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Robert

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image © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Mar 26 2012

Numbers 21:4-9 / Num 25 – Baal Worship at Peor

Image via Wikipedia

Much has happened in the wilderness as we come into this reading. We have skipped over Aaron’s death in chapter 20; and Moses has descended Mount Hor with Aaron’s son Eleazar. The first part of this reading is about the bronze serpent in chapter 21, on the heels of their first victory against the Canaanites (brought on by the attack by the king of Arad). The people have been grumbling about the “miserable food” and God has begun dealing with them in a dramatic way – with fiery serpents. At God’s instruction, Moses makes the bronze serpent, which saves the lives of those who look upon it. Verse 5 suggests that their grumbling was more than just a little bit disrespectful. After the close brush with self-destruction in the golden calf fiasco, it is almost surprising to see that any of them would dare to behave in that way. But, as we will see in the second part of this reading, it gets worse.

So why make such note of the bronze serpent passage – just about 6 verses? Great question, actually. First, it begs some questions – what actually saved the people? Was it just the fact that they looked at the bronze serpent? Did they have to believe that it would save them? Could that belief alone have saved them – without actually doing the act of looking at it? Jesus refers to this event in John 3:14, where he tells Nicodemus (and us) how to achieve salvation. This reference by and about our savior is “sandwiched” between Jesus telling Nicodemus he must be born again, and the baptisms and lessons in obedience to Christ in the verses all the way to the end of John 3. Do yourself a favor and read this entire chapter of John (36 verses) after reading Numbers 21:4-9. Jesus’ references to being lifted up has other meaning here, as it does in John 8:28 and John 12:32.

In chapter 25, Shittim is the last encampment before the people cross the Jordan, and apostasy again rears its ugly head in a horrible affront to God. Some scholars think this may be Tell el-Hammam (about 16 kilometers east of Jericho). The sins are numerous and include the worship of Baal with the Moabites. we do not find out for sure until chapter 31, but it is Balaam who leads them to this. We are not reading his story from the last few chapters in this schedule, but he is referred to again in 2 Peter 2:15 and Jude 1:11. Eleazar’s son, Phineas gains favor with the Lord and keeps the ensuing plague from getting any worse (verses 7-9). But this sin at Peor will not keep the Lord from sending His people to conquer the Canaanites. It is not for their righteousness, as Moses will remind them – but for the evil of the Canaanites themselves.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Robert

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image © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Mar 23 2012

Numbers 14 – The People Rebel

Image via Wikipedia

Once again, the people who have seen the power and the Glory of the Lord with their own eyes forget His promise and this time, believing the report of the spies and (as Joshua and Caleb aptly put it in verse 9) rebelling against the Lord will cost them dearly. God is once again fed up with their disobedience; and in verse 12, He tells Moses (as He did in Exodus 32:10) that He will destroy them and start over with Moses.

But Moses again intercedes and passionately pleads with the Lord in verses 13-19. It is this blogger’s opinion that the Lord relented on their destruction not because of Moses’ argument in those verses about what the nations around them will think. The Lord’s time is His own, and He would do as He wills and the nations would see His power anyway. Consider instead, His simple statement afterward in verse 20. “I have pardoned, according to your word.” That was it. Moses favor and his request were enough to grant their pardon.

So just as Pharaoh decided the fate of his own in Exodus 11:5, siding with the spies and disobeying God would mean that these people decided their own fate. Instead of their little ones becoming a prey as they said in verse 3, those little ones will be the ones to enter Canaan – only after these people all die in the wilderness. But except for Caleb and Joshua, the spies would all meet their doom more quickly (verse 38).

Having received this news, the people have a change of heart and despite Moses’ warning that God would no longer be with them, they make an attempt to enter Canaan anyway – and are soundly defeated (verses 40-45). The time for obeying God is always now.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Robert

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image © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Mar 22 2012

Numbers 13 – Spies Sent into Canaan

Image via Wikipedia

We take the story of God’s word up now almost half way into the Book of Numbers. The people of Israel left Sinai in chapter 10 and the Lord makes the command for one leader from each of the tribes of their fathers to be sent into the land of Canaan to spy. Notice the reminder in verse 2 that this is the Land that He is giving to the people of Israel. But except for Joshua and Caleb, the spies forget the promise. After 40 days travel through the Negeb (or Negev), Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, they bring back a report that the land is indeed good. But their description of the way the land is defended, and indeed the people themselves (verses 32-33) is calculated to persuade the people that taking the land would be impossible.

(Side note: Some background on the Negeb (or Negev) along with a modern photo are provided in this article at Ferrell’s Travel Blog)

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Robert

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Mar 4 2012

Preview – Schedule Accelerating! / Feb Week 3 Summary Posted

This blog will be in the book of Joshua by the end of March!

How did that happen, you ask?

In our quest to get the whole Bible story this year by reading 5 chapters a week, we will be jumping over some sections of Exodus, skipping Leviticus entirely, blazing through parts of Numbers and will have finished 3 chapters of Joshua by March 30th!!!

It is going to be a another great month in the Lord’s word! If you are behind, don’t worry. Just jump in now where we are! Reading just five chapters a week this whole month is easy, and will enrich your life, for sure! Never a better time to just get started. Get the schedule from the “Bible Reading Schedules” page.

The “Summaries” page can help you if you are interested in some parts of the schedule you have missed. If you have questions, submit through the contact page and I will try to help.

Summing Up

Each weekend, I am now posting a page-length PDF of one week of chapter summaries (on the website’s “Summaries” page), current to the beginning of the previous week. I have posted the summary for Week 8 (February Week 3) of the schedule I am following. This short PDF document contains condensed comments about Genesis chapters 44, 45, 46, and Exodus 1 and 2, with hyperlinks to the ESV version of each chapter for listening or reading, and joins the summaries for other weeks already posted there.