NUMBERS, DEUTERONOMY:
LIFE ON THE EDGE
Unit 1: Warning! Watch Out for Pitfalls
December 4
Numbers 1:1–8:26
Numbers 6:1-15
Stay True to Your Commitments
December
11 setting
Numbers 9:1–10:10 context
Numbers 9:1-11a,15-19 lesson
Stay on Track with God's GPS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SETTING
While
we look at the five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy) as five separate books (Pentateuch), it is essentially one piece
of writing. Genesis gives the beginnings: creation, man, sin, salvation,
covenant, and Abraham’s family. Exodus sees Abraham’s family become the nation
of Israel as they travel from Egypt to Mt. Sinai.
Numbers
finds them here at Mt. Sinai. They have already experienced the “golden calf”
incidents—where Moses made “God with them” crucial to their travel—and they are
now preparing for that journey. In preparation for their travel to Kadesh-Barnea, they must include spiritual and ceremonial
cleansing so that God will travel in their midst. Numbers 1-10 record these
preparations and those instructions from God that accompany their work.
After
a formulaic record of a tribe by tribe military census and instructions for the
responsibilities of uncounted Levities, the LORD instructed Israel on the
arrangement of the tribes as they camp around the Tabernacle so that every
Israelite is defined by his service to the LORD. Then, the LORD sets specific
details for the Levites by clan as well as the purification laws for the
community. So the reader is given specific qualifications and duties for office
holders in the service of the LORD. However, even though office holding is not
for every Israelite, dedicated service is. Thus, in chapter six, the Nazarite Vow instructions provide for any Israelite to
dedicate himself to God in a more specific way than his general
responsibilities already provide.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUTLINE
Book One:
The End of the First Generation
in the Wilderness (1:1–25:18)
I. Faithfulness of Israel at Sinai (1:1–10:10)
1. Sinai Cycle A:
Census and Consecration of the Tribes of Israel (1:1–6:27)
(1) Historical Setting: Prologue (1:1)
(2) Military Conscription of the Twelve Tribes of
Israel (1:2–46)
(3) Holy Arrangement of the Israelite Camps
(2:1–34)
(4) Responsibilities and Census of the Levite
Clans (3:1–4:49)
(5) Purification Laws for the Faithful Community
(5:1–31)
(6) The Sacred Nazirite
Vow (6:1–21)
(7) The Priestly Blessing (6:22–27)
2. Sinai Cycle B:
Tabernacle and Celebration (7:1–10:10)
(1) Offerings of the Leaders of the Israelite
Tribes (7:1–89)
(2) Menorah Lamp Arrangement (8:1–4)
(3) Installation of the Levites (8:5–26)
(4) The Second
Passover: With New Delineations (9:1–14)
(5) Pattern of the
Journey: The Lord and the Cloud (9:15–23)
(6) The Silver
Trumpets (10:1–10)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LESSON
Last
Consecration before Departure, Numbers 9:1-5
The
apex of spiritual and ceremonial cleansing before Israel can leave Mt. Sinai
with God in their midst comes at God’s command to commemorate the Passover. On
the first month and the fourteenth day, Israel consecrated itself just as it
had the night of that final and dreadful tenth plague in Egypt by remembering
God’s deliverance from slavery at the meal of the paschal lamb.
Certainly,
this yearly taking of that paschal lamb forecasts the Paschal Lamb, Jesus
Christ our Lord. He is the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. He is our
Passover. (Is this not a fitting memory at Christmas time?) Just
as the Passover must be presented at its appointed time, so will the Lamb of
God.
God
commanded that they observe all His instruction concerning this feast.
Wondrously, Israel did “everything as
the LORD had commanded Moses. (HCSB)” However, God’s instruction created a dilemma. Everyone
must participate or be excluded from Israel. Unclean people were excluded from
participation. Which command takes precedence?
What about the Unclean? Numbers 9:6-11a
Some
men came to Moses. They were unclean because of a human corpse. Should they
take part in the Passover worship (violating God’s instructions) or set
themselves aside (excluding them from Israel)? Moses takes their dilemma to the
LORD.
The
LORD provides for their problem and another—those away on a journey. They
celebrate Passover a month later. This provides time for the unclean to be
cleansed and those traveling to return. God even allows them to include the
foreigner in their assembly.
“They are to eat the animal with unleavened bread and
bitter herbs;
12 they may not
leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones. They must observe the
Passover according to all its statutes.” Numbers 9:11b-12 (HCSB)
Column of Cloud, Numbers 9:15-19
Just
as the Father orchestrates these events by His revealed instructions to Moses,
and the Son’s sacrifice providing redemption is prefigured in the Passover
lamb, so we see the directing presence of the Holy Spirit in the comings and
goings of the cloud.
The
Cloud inhabits the tabernacle by day and appears like fire at night. God dwells
among them. When the column of cloud/pillar of fire moves, Israel follows. When
it stops, they stop and remain until it moves again. Every member is defined by
where and when he dwells or travels in relation to God’s visible Director.
23
They camped at the LORD's command, and they set out
at the LORD's command. They carried out the LORD's requirement according to His
command. Num 9:23 (HCSB)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outline of Numbers 1
Book One:
The End of the First Generation
in the Wilderness (1:1–25:18)
I. Faithfulness of
Israel at Sinai (1:1–10:10)
1. Sinai Cycle A:
Census and Consecration of the Tribes of Israel (1:1–6:27)
(1) Historical
Setting: Prologue (1:1)
(2) Military
Conscription of the Twelve Tribes of Israel (1:2–46)
Census Instructions (1:2–4)
Census Assistants Enlisted (1:5–16)
Census Directed by Moses (1:17–19)
Census Results by Tribal Households (1:20–43)
Census Summary and Total (1:44–46)
Responsibilities of Uncounted Levites (1:47–53)
Census Conclusion: Faithful Obedience (1:54)
(3) Holy Arrangement
of the Israelite Camps (2:1–34)
Introduction (2:1–2)
East Side, South Side West Side, North Side Encampments
(2:3–31)
Conclusion: Faithful Obedience (2:32–34)
(4) Responsibilities
and Census of the Levite Clans (3:1–4:49)
Introduction: Genealogy of Aaron and Moses (3:1–4)
Levite Consecration to Service (3:5–10)
Levite Replacement of the Firstborn (3:11–13)
Genealogical Delineation of Levite Clans (3:14–20)
Census and Responsibilities of the Levite Clans (3:21–39)
Dedication of the Levites in Firstborn Redemption (3:40–51)
Further Responsibilities and Census of Levites for Service
(4:1–49)
Kohathite Service Detailed (4:1–20)
Gershonite Service Detailed (4:21–28)
Merarite Service Detailed (4:29–33)
Summary Census of Levites (4:34–49)
(5) Purification Laws
for the Faithful Community (5:1–31)
Cultic Isolation of Various Disease Carriers (5:1–4)
Restitution for Wrongs Done (5:5–10)
The Case of a Suspected Adulterous Wife (5:11–31)
(6) The Sacred Nazirite Vow (6:1–21)
Introduction (6:1–2)
Prohibitions (6:3–8)
Purification from Corpse Defilement (6:9–12)
Completion Rituals of the Nazirite
Vow (6:13–20)
Summary (6:21)
(7) The Priestly
Blessing (6:22–27)
2. Sinai Cycle B:
Tabernacle and Celebration (7:1–10:10)
(1) Offerings of the
Leaders of the Israelite Tribes (7:1–89)
Historical Setting and Introduction (7:1–11)
Tribal Gifts Delineated (7:12–83)
Summary of Offerings Presented (7:84–88)
Yahweh Speaks with Moses in the Tabernacle (7:89)
(2) Menorah Lamp
Arrangement (8:1–4)
(3) Installation of
the Levites (8:5–26)
Ritual Cleansing (8:5–7)
Presentation of Levites with Sacrifices (8:8–11)
Offering of Sacrifices (8:12–14)
Levite Substitutionary Role (8:15–19)
Summary of the Levite Dedication (8:20–22)
Postlude: The Levite Retirement (8:23–26)
(4) The Second
Passover: With New Delineations (9:1–14)
(5) Pattern of the
Journey: The Lord and the Cloud (9:15–23)
(6) The Silver
Trumpets (10:1–10)
Gathering and Disembarking the Camps (10:1–7)
Rallying for Battle and Rejoicing in Festival Offerings
(10:8–10)
II. The Rebellious
Generation in the Wilderness (10:11–25:18)
1. Rebellion
Cycle A:
From Sinai to Zin—Decline and Fall
of the First Generation (10:11–15:41)
(1) Historical
Reference: From Mount Sinai to the Paran Desert
(10:11–13)
(2) The Departure from
Sinai (10:14–36)
The Israelite Tribes Depart in Orderly Array (10:14–28)
Hobab: Departure or Guidance in the Wilderness? (10:29–32)
First Stage of the Journey
(10:33–36)
(3) First Rebellion:
General Murmuring (11:1–3)
(4) Second Rebellion:
Complaint about Food (11:4–35)
The Rabble’s Complaint (11:4–6)
Yahweh’s Provision of Manna (11:7–9)
Moses’ Complaint about the People (11:10–15)
Yahweh Responds: Assemble Seventy Elders (11:16–17)
Preparation for Provision of Meat: Purification and
Confession (11:18–20)
Moses Expresses Disbelief to Yahweh (11:21–22)
Yahweh Responds to Moses’ Disbelief (11:23)
Preparation for Blessing: Elders Assembled (11:24)
Yahweh Sends Spirit upon the Seventy Elders (11:25–27)
Moses Responds to Joshua’s Complaint (11:28–30)
Yahweh’s Fresh Provision of Meat (11:31–32)
Plague upon the People: With Meat in their Mouths (11:33–34)
Second Stage of the Journey: Kibroth Hattaavah
to Hazeroth (11:35)
(5) Third Rebellion:
Challenge to Moses’ Authority (12:1–16)
Miriam and Aaron’s Challenge of Moses (12:1–3)
God Speaks to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam (12:4–8)
The Judgment against Miriam (12:9–13)
God’s Reply to Moses, Miriam, and Aaron (12:14–15)
Third Stage of the Journey
(12:16)
(6) Fourth Rebellion:
Rejection of the Promised Land (13:1–14:45)
Instructions from Yahweh to Explore the Promised Land
(13:1–3)
Tribal Scouts Enlisted (13:4–16)
Moses Instructs the Tribal Scouts (13:17–20)
Scouts Explore the Land (13:21–25)
Report of the Scouts (13:26–33)
Congregational Response to the Report (14:1–4)
Leadership Response to the People (14:5–10)
God Intervenes: Glory of Lord Appears (14:10b–12)
Moses Intercedes with Yahweh for the People (14:13–19)
Yahweh Responds to Moses’ Prayer (14:20–23)
Caleb My Servant Will Live (14:24–25)
Yahweh Speech: The Unfaithful Community Will Die in the
Wilderness (14:26–35)
Judgment against the Leaders: The Ten versus Joshua and Caleb
(14:36–38)
Conclusion: Moses Reports Judgment—Israel Mourns (14:39–45)
(7) Offerings from the
Land of Promise: Covenant Hope (15:1–41)
Offerings from the Land (15:1–16)
Offerings of the Firstfruits
(15:17–21)
Offerings for Inadvertent versus Intentional Sins (15:22–36)
Covenant Epilogue: Garment Tassels and Growing Faith
(15:37–41)
2. Rebellion
Cycle B: Korah and Company Challenge Moses
(16:1–19:22)
(1) Rebellion of Korah and the Reubenites
(16:1–50)
Korah Instigates Rebellion versus Moses and Aaron (16:1–3)
Moses’ Initial Response: Yahweh Will Demonstrate (16:4–7)
Moses’ Confrontation with Rebellious Leaders (16:8–15)
Moses’ Further Instructions to Korah
(16:16–19)
Yahweh’s Judgment and Moses’ Appeal (16:20–22)
Yahweh’s Response: Judgment Is Imminent (16:23–30)
Yahweh’s Judgment (16:31–35)
Yahweh’s Instruction to the Priests (16:36–40[Hb. 17:1–5])
People’s Response: Grumbling (16:41–43[Hb.
17:6–8])
Yahweh Dispenses Judgment (16:44–50[Hb.
17:9–15])
(2) Aaron’s Budding of
Staff: Primacy of the Aaronic Priesthood Reconfirmed (17:1–13 [Hb. 17:16–28])
Requirements: Instructions and Commands (17:1–5 [Hb. 17:16–20])
Ready Compliance of the People and Moses (17:6–7 [Hb. 17:21–22])
Results of the Test (17:8–9[Hb.
17:23–24])
Renewed Instructions (17:10–11[Hb.
17:25–26])
Rhetorical Response of the Israelites (17:12–13 [Hb. 17:27–28])
(3) The Priests and
the Levites: Additional Responsibilities and Provisions (18:1–23)
Priests and Levites as Guardians of the Sanctuary (18:1–7)
Provisions of Tribute for the Priests (18:8–19)
Provisions for the Levites (18:20–24)
Tithes and Offerings of the Levites (18:25–32)
(4) Red Heifer Ashes
and the Waters of Purification (19:1–22)
Introduction: Divine Instruction and First Statute (19:1–2a)
Preparation of the Ashes of the Red Heifer (19:2b–10)
General Rule for Applying Red Heifer Ashes (19:11–13)
Second Statute: Applying the Waters of Purification for
Death Impurity (19:14–22)
3. Rebellion
Cycle C: From Zin to Moab: The Rebellion and
Replacement of Moses (20:1–25:19)
(1) From Kadesh of Zin to Mount Hor: The End of an Era (20:1–29)
Historical Setting: Kadesh of Zin and the Death of Miriam (20:1)
Moses’ Rebellion at Meribah- Kadesh (20:2–13)
Edom Denies Passage to the Israelites (20:14–21)
The Death and Burial of Aaron (20:22–29)
(2) Victory over the
Canaanites of Arad Hormah (21:1–3)
(3) Rebellion and
Judgment (21:4–9)
(4) Journey through
Moab (21:10–20)
(5) Victory over the
Amorites of Transjordan (21:21–35)
Victory over Sihon of Heshbon (21:21–31)
Victory over Og
of Bashan (21:32–35)
(6) The Book of Balaam
(22:1–24:25)
Literary Analysis of Numbers 22–25
Introduction to the Balaam Oracles (22:1–24:25)
Geographical Setting: Arabah of
Moab along the Jordan across from Jericho (22:1)
Cycle I: First Messengers Sent to Balaam (22:2–14)
Balak Sees—Moses Fears the Numerous Israelites (22:2–4)
First Messengers Sent (22:5a)
The Message: Curse the Mighty Israel (22:5b–6)
Elders of Moab and Elders of Midian
Journey to Pethor to Meet Balaam (22:7)
Balaam’s Response (22:8)
God’s Encounter with Balaam (22:9–12)
Balaam’s Response of Refusal (22:13)
Messengers Return Home to Moab (22:14)
Cycle II: Second Set of Messengers Sent to Balaam (22:15–21)
Messengers Again Sent to Balaam (22:15–17)
Balaam’s Response to Balak’s New
Messengers (22:18–19)
God’s Second Encounter with Balaam (22:20)
Balaam Departs with Messengers (22:21)
Cycle III: God’s Messenger Sent to Balaam (22:22–38)
Introduction: God’s Anger with Balaam (22:22a)
The Angel of Yahweh Appears (22:22b)
The Donkey Responds (22:23)
The Angel of Yahweh Appears Again (22:24)
Donkey Responds Again (22:25)
The Angel of Yahweh Appears the Third Time (22:26)
Donkey Responds the Third Time (22:27)
God’s Third Encounter with Balaam (22:28–35)
Balak Goes out to Meet Balaam (22:36–38)
Preparation for the First Oracular Event (22:39–40)
Balaam’s First Oracle (22:41–23:10)
Balak Leads Balaam to Bamoth Baal
(22:41)
Balaam Instructs Balak to Prepare
Sacrifices (23:1)
Balak Obeys Balaam (23:2)
Balaam to Balak: Stand Beside Your Burnt Offering (23:3)
God Manifested Himself to Balaam (23:4–5)
Balaam Returns to Balak (23:6)
Balaam Obeys Yahweh: Speaks the First Oracle (23:7–10)
Balak’s Response to Balaam and the Rejoinder (23:11–12)
Balaam’s Second Oracle (23:13–26)
Balak Sacrifices Animals on Seven Altars (23:14b)
Balaam to Balak: Stand Beside Your
Burnt Offering (23:15)
God Manifested Himself to Balaam (23:16)
Balaam Returns to Balak (23:17)
Balaam Obeys Yahweh: Speaks the Second Oracle (23:18–24)
Balak’s Second Response to Balaam and the Rejoinder (23:25–26)
Balaam’s Third Oracle (23:27–24:14)
Balak Leads Balaam to Bamoth Baal
(23:27–28)
Balaam Instructs Balak to Prepare
Sacrifices (23:29)
Balak Obeys Balaam (23:30)
God Manifested Himself to Balaam (24:1–2)
Balak’s Angry Response (24:10–11)
Balaam’s Retort (24:12–14)
Balaam’s Fourth Oracle (24:15–19)
Balaam’s Final Three Oracles (24:20–24)
Balaam’s Fifth Oracle: Against the Amalekites (24:20)
Balaam’s Sixth Oracle: Against the Kenites
(24:21–22)
Balaam’s Seventh Oracle: Against Assyria (24:23–24)
Balaam Departs Homeward (24:25)
(7) The Final
Rebellion: Idolatry at Baal Peor (25:1–19)
Setting of Immorality (25:1–3)
Moses Receives Instruction from Yahweh (25:4)
Moses Instructs the Leaders of Israel (25:5)
Phinehas Follows Moses’ Instruction (25:6–8a)
Wrath of Yahweh Allayed (25:8b)
The Results of Israel’s Immorality (25:9)
Moses Receives Further Instruction from the Lord (25:10–18)
Conclusion: The End of the Former Generation and Setting for
the New (25:19)
Book Two:
The New Generation
and the Prospects of
the Promised Land (26:1–36:13)
III. Preparation of
the New Generation of Israel (26:1–30:16)
1. The Second
Census in the Plains of Moab (26:1–65)
(1) Census
Instructions (26:1–4)
(2) Reuben’s
descendants (26:5–11)
(3) Simeon’s
Descendants (26:12–14)
(4) Gad’s Descendants
(26:15–18)
(5) Judah’s
Descendants (26:19–22)
(6) Issachar’s
Descendants (26:23–25)
(7) Zebulun’s Descendants (26:26–27)
(8) Sons of Joseph:
Manasseh’s Descendants (26:28–34)
(9) Sons of Joseph:
Ephraim’s Descendants (26:35–37)
(10) Benjamin’s
Descendants (26:38–41)
(11) Dan’s Descendants
(26:42–43)
(12) Asher’s
Descendants (26:44–47)
(13) Naphtali’s
Descendants (26:48–50)
(14) Total Population
of the Second Generation (26:51)
(15) Instructions for
Division of the Land (26:52–56)
(16) Levi’s Descendants
(26:57–62)
(17) Conclusion of the
Second Census (26:63–65)
2. Land Inheritance
Laws: The Case of Zelophehad’s Daughters (27:1–11)
(1) The Case of Zelophehad’s Daughters (27:1–5)
(2) Case Decision and
Derived Principles (27:6–11)
3. Joshua Heir to
Moses (27:12–23)
(1) Moses’ Sin
Recapitulated (27:12–14)
(2) Moses’ Entreaty
for a New Leader (27:15–17)
(3) Moses’ Instruction
from the Lord (27:18–21)
(4) Moses Commissions
Joshua (27:22–23)
4. The Appointed
Times and Offerings (28:1–29:40)
(1) Introduction
(28:1–2)
(2) Daily Offerings
(28:3–8)
(3) Weekly (Sabbath)
Offerings (28:9–10)
(4) Monthly (Rosh Chodesh) Offerings (28:11–15)
(5) Passover (Pesach)
and Unleavened Bread Offerings (28:16–25)
(6) Feast of Weeks (Shavuoth / Pentecost) Offerings (28:26–31)
(7) Feast of the
Blowing Trumpets Offerings (29:1–6)
(8) Day of Atonement
(Yom Kippur) Offerings (29:7–11)
(9) Feast of Booths
(Sukkoth) Offerings (29:16–38)
(10) Summary (29:39–40)
5. Women’s Vows
(30:1–16)
(1) Introduction:
General Principle for Vows (30:1–2)
(2) Vows of Unmarried
Women (30:3–5)
(3) Vows of Newly
Married Women (30:6–8)
(4) Vows of Widowed or
Divorced Women (30:9)
(5) Vows of Married
Women (30:10–15)
(6) Summary (30:16)
IV. Advent Cycle B:
Preparation for War and Entry into the Promised Land (31:1–36:13)
Introduction to the Second Advent Cycle
1. The Midianite Campaign (31:1–54)
Critical Issues in
Numbers 31
(1) Israelite Armies
Battle the Midianites (31:1–12)
(2) Preserving the Sanctity
of the Camp (31:13–24)
(3) Division of the
War Booty among the Israelites (31:25–54)
2. Settlement of
the Transjordan Tribes (32:1–42)
(1) Reubenite and Gadite Request
(32:1–5)
(2) Moses’ Response
(32:6–15)
(3) Promise of Support
(32:16–19)
(4) Moses’ Response to
the Promise (32:20–24)
(5) Gad and Reuben
Ratify the Agreement (32:25–27)
(6) Moses Informs Eleazar and Joshua of the Decision (32:28–30)
(7) Gad and Reubenite Reiterate the Promise (32:31–32)
(8) Moses Grants
Transjordan Tribal Territory (32:33–42)
3. The Israelite
Victory March: From Ramses to the Plains of Moab (33:1–49)
4. Instructions for
the Conquest of the Land (33:50–56)
5. Preparation for
Allocation of the Promised Land (34:1–29)
(1) Boundaries of the
Promised Land Delineated (34:1–15)
(2) Leaders Appointed
to Divide the Promised Land (34:16–29)
6. Levitical Cities and the Cities of Refuge (35:1–34)
(1) The Levitical Cities (35:1–8)
(2) Cities of Refuge
(35:9–34)
7. Inheritance Laws:
Zelophehad Clarifications (Laws and Land) (36:1–12)
Legal Precedent: Historical Background of the Request by Zelophehad’s Daughters (36:1–2)
The Case Presented by the Gileadite
Clans (36:3–4)
Moses Presents the Case Adjudication at Yahweh’s Command
(36:5–12)
8. Conclusion to the Case and the Book of
Numbers (36:13)
______________________
1 R. Dennis Cole, Numbers, electronic ed., Logos Library
System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman
Publishers, 2001).