Purpose
The theme of Numbers is a people traveling through the wilderness; it is the wilderness book of experience. It marks the progress, or lack of progress, of the people of God.
Pictures of Christ in Numbers
His Life – Ark, Nazarite, Manna
His Death – Brazen Serpent, Red Heifer, Passover Lamb
His Resurrection – Aaron’s Rod, Rock, Star, and Scepter
Parts of Numbers
Ch 1-10 Preparation for Progress
Seven Requirements
Organization
Separation
Purification
Consecration
Dedication of Levites
Fortification
Appreciation of Divine Guidance
Ch 11-25 Problems in Progress
Seven Rebellions
ch 11 – Murmuring over manna
ch 12 – Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses
ch 13-14 – Unbelief concerning the Land
ch 16-17 – Korah, Dathan, and Abiram
ch 20 – Murmuring over water
ch 21 – Murmuring over the way
ch 25 – Baal-peor and defilement
Ch 26-36 Principles in Progress
Seven Lessons
The Second Numbering – the tragedy of unbelief
A Successor Named – the solemnity of failure
The Sacrifices and Seasons – the priority of God
The Statutes – the importance of obedience
Strife Removed – the lesson of Midian
The Story of their Journeys – the lesson of the past learned
The Salvation Provided in the Cities of Refuge – mercy and justice to mark them
The three sections are also linked together as follows:
1. A problem arises for which Moses needs special guidance from the Lord for the wilderness
ch 9 – Defilement and the Passover
ch 15 – Disobedience and the Sabbath
ch 27 – Daughters and the Inheritance
2. Marks of mercy and grace of God
ch 9 – Passover and second month provision
ch 22-23 – Balaam and Balak, and God overturning counsels of the ungodly
ch 32 – The two tribes and the allowance to remain on the east of Jordan
Poetry
ch 10:35-36; 21:17-18, 27-30; ch 23-24
Words
|
(x = times mentioned) |
ch 1-10 |
ch 11-25 |
ch 26-36 |
|
Levites/Levi |
49x |
13x |
11x |
|
Lord spake |
23x |
23x |
13x |
|
Number |
78x |
2x |
20x |
|
Murmur |
0 |
11x |
0 |
|
War |
13x |
0 |
13x |
|
Journey |
6x |
2x |
2x
|
|
Removed |
0 |
3x |
18x |
|
Departed |
1x |
5x |
19x |
|
Sin Offering |
18x |
4x |
16x |
|
Moses Obeying – according to the commandment of the Lord |
21x |
5x (3 linked with judgment: 15:36; 17:11; 20:9, 27) |
9x
|
|
Forward |
14x |
0 |
3x |
- The Lord – His Guidance, Goodness, Government, Grace, Gifts, Gentleness, Glory
- The Land – 90x
- The Laws – Defining Boundaries; Describing Responsibilities and Vows;
Demanding Purity - The Levites
- The Leaders – Their responsibility; The transfer of power; Their character
- Loss – of Inheritance; of Integrity (Aaron and Miriam); of Innocence (Baal-peor)
Recommended Commentaries
Numbers by John Stubbs
What the Bible Teaches by Ritchie
Numbers by C. A. Coates
