In Today's Email:
Welcome to the Book of Numbers!
The Book of Numbers gets its name from two censuses taken in the book, the first in Chapter 1 and the second in Chapter 26. It covers a about 40 years of history, with Israel making to the border of the Promised Land, refusing to trust God and enter it, and then wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.
A few quick facts about Numbers:
It covers history from 1491 to 1451 B.C.
It was written by Moses around 1451 B.C.
The key verses are 14:22-23
A simple outline:
Wrapping up at Sinai - 1:1-10:10
Wandering in the Wilderness - 10:11-21:35
Preparing to enter the Promised Land - Chapters 22-36
Some events to remember:
First Census - Chapter 1
The Twelve Spies - Chapters 13-14
Second Census - Chapter 26
Numbers 1 Notes
In this chapter we see the details of the military census taken at Sinai. The total number of fighting men is given as 603,550. This does not include women, children, or Levites. In Genesis 36:27 we saw that 70 people of the house of Jacob entered Egypt which Reese’s Chronological Bible dates to 1706 B.C. Here we are 215 years later with a total population of a few million people. This article explains how this is possible: https://answersingenesis.org/bible-questions/did-600000-men-leave-egypt-moses/
vs. 1 – This is one month since the Tabernacle was erected in Exodus 40:17.
vs. 2-4 – Here are the directions for the census. It is to ascertain the military strength of the nation.
vs. 5-16 – These men are the princes or leaders for their respective tribes.
vs. 17-46 – Here are the details of the census. It is good to note the results to compare with future censuses. Remember that this is only fighting men over 20 years of age. Here is the breakdown by tribe:
Reuben ……..46,500
Simeon………59,300
Gad…………..45,650
Judah………..74,600
Issachar……..54,400
Zebulun……..57,400
Ephraim……..40,500
Manasseh …..32,200
Benjamin…….35,400
Dan…………….62,700
Asher………….41,500
Naphtali……..53,400
TOTAL……….603,550
vs. 47-54 – The tribe of Levi is exempted from military duty. They are to be devoted to the work of the priesthood and care of the Tabernacle. In 3:43 in a separate numbering there are 22,273 Levite men.
Numbers 2 Notes
In this chapter we see the description of the layout of the camp. Traditionally this has been described as being square shaped, but recently I have seen some think it was cross shaped. This makes little sense for the practical or defensive layout of Israel. The square layout with 3 tribes on each side and the Levites and Tabernacle in the center makes far too much sense to dismiss. Here is a very basic chart of what it would look like:
vs. 2 – We learn here that each tribe had a standard to represent them. The colors relate to the stones on the High Priest’s breastplate. According to tradition, their flags were:
Reuben – red with mandrakes
Simeon – green with city of Shechem
Levi – one third white, one third black, and one third red.
Judah – sky blue with a lion
Issachar – dark blue with sun and moon.
Zebulun – white with a ship.
Dan – green with a serpent
Gad – grey with a military camp
Naphtali – pale red with a gazelle
Asher – blue-green with olive tree
Ephraim – black with an ox
Manasseh – black with an oryx (antelope)
Benjamin – twelve colors of other tribes with a wolf
vs. 3-9 – The tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon were on the east side of the Tabernacle.
vs. 10-16 – The tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad were on the south side.
vs. 17-24 – The tribes of Benjamin, Manasseh, and Ephraim on the west side.
vs. 25-31 – The tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali were on the north side.
vs. 32-34 – Summary of the details of the census and camp.
Closing Thoughts
These two chapters may seem dull with the repetitions of information and formulaic structure. However, looking beyond the details we see that, well, God is interested in the details! He has given Israel an orderly place of worship, and orderly system of worship, and an orderly way of life. Here in the minutia of troop strengths and camping plots God is setting a standard: His people should reflect His orderliness.
Hymn for Today
“Whatever My God Ordains Is Right” was written by Samuel Rodigast in 1675 in German. It was translated into English by Catherine Winkworth in 1863. As we have highlighted that God is a God of order, this hymn finds comfort in trusting in God’s plan.
Whate’er my God ordains is right:
His holy will abideth;
I will be still whate’er He doth;
And follow where He guideth;
He is my God; though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall:
Wherefore to Him I leave it all.
Whate’er my God ordains is right:
He never will deceive me;
He leads me by the proper path:
I know He will not leave me.
I take, content, what He hath sent;
His hand can turn my griefs away,
And patiently I wait His day.
Whate’er my God ordains is right:
His loving thought attends me;
No poison can be in the cup
That my physician sends me.
My God is true; each morn anew
I’ll trust His grace unending,
My life to Him commending.
Whate’er my God ordains is right:
He is my friend and Father;
He suffers naught to do me harm,
Though many storms may gather,
Now I may know both joy and woe,
Some day I shall see clearly
That He hath loved me dearly.
Whate’er my God ordains is right:
Though now this cup, in drinking,
May bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it, all unshrinking.
My God is true; each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
And pain and sorrow shall depart.
Whate’er my God ordains is right:
Here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet I am not forsaken.
My Father’s care is round me there;
He holds me that I shall not fall:
And so to Him I leave it all.