Introduction to the Book of Numbers

The fourth book of the Torah/Pentateuch

Name in Hebrew “BeMidbar” – “In the wilderness”

Name in Greek “Arithmoi” the root for the word arithmetic.

Author: Moses

Covered 38 years of wandering in the wilderness

Exodus covered one year, Leviticus one month, Numbers 38 years.

Key Points:

1. It tells us how the Israelites came from Sinai to the Promised Land and why it took so long for them to get there.

2. It tells us about the high price of unbelief.3. It reminds us that God is a God of order.

4. The book of Numbers was written for our example. 1 Cor. 10:11

The places in red are where the Israelites were camped out/resting and the ones in green are when they were moving. When they are resting is when God spoke to them and the laws were given and when they moved, is when they walked with

God, only that in most instances when they were moving, they walked in disobedience.

A critical event happened at Kadesh that is of utmost consequence. The people, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb refused to crossed over to Canaan for fear of the inhabitants there. Because of this disobedience, the rest of that generation

except Joshua and Caleb, will perish in the desert.

The Order of Camp by Tribes. The Levites surround the Tabernacle.

The entry to the Tabernacle is through the Tribe of Judah (the tribe from which the Messiah would come.)

The Levites divided according to families with specific functions.

This is how the camp looks like in proportion to their tribal number based on God’s precise intructions on how to camp. This illustration also shows their tribal

symbol.

Astonishingly, this is how the camp of Israel looks like from an aerial view. A cross.

The same four living creatures upon the throne of God. Rev. 4:6-7

The same four descriptions of Jesus Christ in the four gospels.

The Priestly Blessing

The Lord instructed Moses to tell Aaron and his sons that they are to bless the Israelites in this way:

The literary structure of the priestly blessing in the original Hebrew is very precise.

The first line has three words

The second line has five words

The third line has seven words.

The first has 15 letters (3x5).

The second has 20 (4x5)

The third has 25 (5x5).

These very words of God depict His perfect nature.