DBG - February 22 - Numbers 19-21

This chapter contains laws concerning purification.  It contains one of the most intriguing aspects of the Law that pertains to prophecy: the red heifer.  As we will see, the ashes of the red heifer are key to the purification rites, and many believe they will be necessary before the Temple can be rebuilt (Daniel 9:24-27) in the Tribulation period.  If you want to go down that rabbit hole from a Jewish perspective, the Temple Institute has much information at https://templeinstitute.org/red-heifer/

vs. 1-10 – The ashes of the red heifer are used in purification rites.  In its first occurrence, Eleazar oversees the killing and burning of the red heifer outside the camp.  He took its blood and sprinkled it before the Tabernacle, and casts cedar, hyssop, and scarlet (also used in Leviticus 14:4) onto the burning carcass.  Another person gathers the ashes  Everyone involved is unclean and must wash before being pronounced clean in the evening.   Water would be mixed with the ashes and sprinkled to cleanse defiled people.

vs. 11-16 – Pronouncements of uncleanness upon those that touch a dead body.

vs. 17-22 – Directions for purification using the water of purification with the ashes of the red heifer.

In this chapter we have the passing of Miriam and Aaron as we also draw near the end of the forty year’s wandering

vs. 1 – Miriam, the sister of Moses, dies at Kadesh and is buried there.  Reese’s Chronological Bible puts this event in 1452 B.C., 38 years since the failure to enter the land and 2 years before they enter Joshua leads the people through the Jordan into Canaan.

vs. 2-13 – The people again complain because there is no water.  God tells Moses to gather the people and speak to the rock.  Moses instead strikes the rock twice and water bursts out in abundance.  They name the place Meribah, meaning “strife, contention”.  Because of the disobedience of Moses and Aaron they will not be allowed to enter the Promised Land.

vs. 14-21 – The Edomites (descended from Esau) refused to allow the Israelites to pass through their territories.  Old grudges were still held.

vs. 22-29 – Aaron dies on Mt. Hor and Eleazar assumes the role of High Priest. The people mourn for 30 days.

In this chapter Israel moves into the Transjordan region east of the Jordan River and defeat the inhabitants there that oppose them.

vs. 1-3 – This must be referring to the Canaanites who attacked Israel 38 years before in 14:45.  Israel had vowed vengeance and finally delivers it. 

vs. 4-9 – The people again complain and God sends serpents into the camp as judgment.  These are described as “fiery”, which may refer to their use in judgment, the pain of their bite, or their appearance.  There are snake species in the area such as the saw-scale viper that are reddish in color.  The solution is one of the clearest depictions of Christ’s redemptive work, as Moses places a brazen serpent on a pole and all who look upon it are healed (see John 3:14).

vs. 10-13 – A summary begins of the route taken to the east side of the Dead Sea and Jordan River.

vs. 14-15 – A lost book is referred to here, “The Book of the Wars of the Lord”.  The Scriptures were not the only literary records the Jews produced.  There are a few such historical records mentioned in the Bible, most of which are lost to time.  They were not part of the canon of Scripture so nothing of God’s revealed truth has been lost.

vs. 16-18 – Beer means “well” and was so-called because of the incident here where God told the people to dig a well.  If you pay careful attention to the account, you will see that this well was dug very easy, one might say miraculously easy.  Their song of rejoicing is preserved.  It is two lines long and was probably sung in a call-and-response style.

vs. 19-20 – Continues the summary of the route seen previously.

vs. 21-25 – The Amorites refused to allow Israel passage through their territory.  Their king, Sihon, gathered his army and attacked.  Israel defeated them and took control of their territory, though they did not eradicate the Amorites. 

vs. 26-30 – Here is preserved an ancient historical poem recording the exploits of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who defeated the Moabites and established his capital in Heshbon.  Think of it as an early Iliad.  Here it is in a poetry layout:

Come into Heshbon

let the city of Sihon be built and prepared: 

For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon,

a flame from the city of Sihon:

it hath consumed Ar of Moab, [Moab’s capital]

and the lords of the high places of Arnon. 

Woe to thee, Moab!

thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: [the god of the Moabites]

he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters,

into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites. 

We have shot at them;

Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon,

and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah,

which reacheth unto Medeba. [These are all cities of Moab]

vs. 31-32 – More conquering of the Amorites.

vs. 33-35 – Bashan was an extensive kingdom north of the Amorites and east of the Sea of Galilee.  It’s king, Og (“giant”),  attacks Israel at Edrei (“stronghold”), which is about 30 miles east of the Sea of Galilee.  God promises and gives a complete victory to Israel.

I would to comment on multiple things we have read today!  There are so many great topics in these chapters, but the greatest is by far the brazen serpent.  So many pictures here.  Brass represents judgment and serpents represent sin (remember the Garden of Eden?)  To be saved from the serpent’s poison all the Israelites had to do was to look toward the brazen serpent.  Christ draws a parallel between Himself and this imagery.  We are all bitten and infected with the deadly poison of sin.  What is our hope?  To look to the One who became sin for us (II Corinthians 5:21), who was lifted up on the Cross (John 3:14).  Our faith in Him is the vehicle by which God brings salvation to our souls.

“Serpent of Brass” was included in hymnals compiled by Isaac Watts and John Rippon in the 1700’s but I am unable to locate its origin or author.  It wonderfully connects the Brazen Serpent to Christ.

When Israel's grieving tribes complain'd,
With fiery serpents greatly pain'd,
A serpent straight the prophet made
Of molten brass, to view display'd.

Around the fainting crowds attend,
To heaven their mournful sighs ascend;
They hope, they look, while from the pole,
Descends a pow'r that makes them whole.

But, O, what healing to the heart,
Doth our Redeemer's cross impart!
What life, by faith, our souls receive!
What pleasures do his sorrows give!

Still may I view the Saviour's cross,
And other objects count but loss:
Here still be fix'd my feasted eyes,
Enraptur'd with his sacrifice.

Jesus the Saviour! balmy name!
Thy worth my tongue would now proclaim;
By thy atonement set me free,
My life, my hope, is all from thee.