DBG - February 24 - Numbers 25-26

This chapter contains the story of the attempt to sway the heart of Israel by seducing them with the sensuous worship of Baal.

vs. 1-5 – According to Numbers 13:16 and Revelation 2:14, Balaam is behind this scheme to turn the hearts of Israel.  Knowing that they cannot conquer the Israelites, Balaam counsels Balak to corrupt them.  The instrument of this corruption is the pagan worship of Baal.  The name Baal means simply “lord” and may refer to a few different deities in its application, as here it may refer to the Moabite deity of Chemosh.  Archaeologists and historians bear testimony that the Canaanite religions used ritualized prostitution in its worship.  The details of their practices are so depraved that most commentaries refuse to go into the particulars.  It was fueled by fleshly and sexual instincts, which ensnared the men of Israel.  Note in this passage that it focuses on concepts like whoredom and the actions of the “daughters”.  God commands Moses and the government of Israel to condemn the idolators and execute them by hanging, which was a visible reminder that their false gods could not deliver them.

vs. 6-9 – The boldness of the rebellion against God!  As the righteous gather to mourn the sin in the camp, they witness an Israelite bring a Midianite woman into the camp.  This was not just for a social visit.  Phinehas (“mouth of brass”), the son of Eleazar, takes a spear and kills the Israelite man and the Midianite woman.  We get more details about them later in this chapter.

vs. 10-13 – The zeal of Phinehas in exacting judgment for God is a bold stand of faithfulness that is rare in these days, maybe only likened to Caleb and Joshua’s faithful report.  God halts His judgment and promises that Phinehas and his descendants to be the future high priesthood.

vs. 14-15 – Details about the slain Israelite man, Zimri (“praiseworthy”), a leader in the tribe of Simeon.  The slain Midianite woman is Cozbi (“deceitful”), who was something of a noblewoman or princess among her people.

vs. 16-18 – God order the Israelites to attack the Midianites in retaliation for their role in seducing Israel to sin.

In this chapter we have the record of the second census.

vs. 1-4 – God orders the second census of the Israelite people.  This is the generation of people that will follow Joshua into the Promised Land.

vs. 5-11 – The families and leaders of the tribe of Reuben.  The rebels that allied with Korah are highlighted.

vs. 12-14 – The families and leaders of the tribe of Simeon.

vs. 15-18 – The families and leaders of the tribe of Gad.

vs. 19-22 – The families and leaders of the tribe of Judah.

vs. 23-25 - The families and leaders of the tribe of Issachar.

vs. 26-27 - The families and leaders of the tribe of Zebulon.

vs. 28-34 - The families and leaders of the tribe of Manasseh.

vs. 35-37 - The families and leaders of the tribe of Ephraim.

vs. 38-41 - The families and leaders of the tribe of Benjamin.

vs. 42-43 - The families and leaders of the tribe of Dan.

vs. 44-47 - The families and leaders of the tribe of Asher

vs. 48-50 - The families and leaders of the tribe of Naphtali.

vs. 51 – Here is a summary of the results of the first and second censuses:

·       TRIBE………..FIRST……..SECOND

·       Reuben ……..46,500……..43,730

·       Simeon………59,300……..22,200

·       Gad…………..45,650……..40,500

·       Judah………..74,600……..76,500

·       Issachar……..54,400……..64,300

·       Zebulun……..57,400……..60,500

·       Ephraim……..40,500……..32,500

·       Manasseh …..32,200……..52,700

·       Benjamin…….35,400……..45,600

·       Dan…………….62,700……..64,400

·       Asher………….41,500……..53,400

·       Naphtali……..53,400……..45,400

·       TOTAL……….603,550.…..601,730

vs. 52-56 – Directions for the division of the land of Canaan.

vs. 57-62 - The families and leaders of the tribe of Levi.

vs. 63-65 – Closing remarks on this census.  Only Caleb and Joshua are the only men that were over 20 years old when Israel refused to enter the Promised Land.  See 14:29

The story of Israel’s seduction into Baal worship may not seem like something that is relevant today, at least on the surface.  Yes, we are bombarded in our modern society with sexual temptations.  It would be easy to focus on that.  But I think there is a deeper warning here.  God has set the boundaries of the true worship, which we are to submit ourselves to.  There are many forces that pull at us to change that worship, to make it less spiritual and more sensual.  It is important to worship in spirit and in truth, and not to appease the appetites of the flesh. 

Our hymn today is a setting of Psalm 106 in the 1650 Scottish Psalter.  I have chosen it because it mentions zealous Phinehas, who we read about today. 

Give praise and thanks unto the Lord,
for bountiful is he;
His tender mercy doth endure
unto eternity.
God's mighty works who can express?
or show forth all his praise?
Blessèd are they that judgment keep,
and justly do always.

Remember me, Lord, with that love
which thou to thine dost bear;
With thy salvation, O my God,
to visit me draw near:
That I thy chosen's good may see,
and in their joy rejoice;
And may with thine inheritance
triumph with cheerful voice.

We with our fathers sinnèd have,
and of iniquity
Too long we have the workers been;
we have done wickedly.
The wonders great, which thou, O Lord,
didst work in Egypt land,
Our fathers, though they saw, yet them
they did not understand:

And they thy mercies' multitude
kept not in memory;
But at the sea, ev'n the Red Sea,
provoked him grievously.
Nevertheless he savèd them,
ev'n for his own name's sake;
That so he might to be well known
his mighty power make.

When he the Red Sea did rebuke,
then drièd up it was:
Through depths, as through the wilderness,
he safely made them pass.
From hands of those that hated them
he did his people save;
And from the en'my's cruel hand
to them redemption gave.

The waters overwhelmed their foes;
not one was left alive.
Then they believed his word, and praise
to him in songs did give.
But soon did they his mighty works
forget unthankfully,
And on his counsel and his will
did not wait patiently;

But much did lust in wilderness,
and God in desert tempt.
He gave them what they sought, but to
their soul he leanness sent.
And against Moses in the camp
their envy did appear;
At Aaron they, the saint of God,
envious also were.

Therefore the earth did open wide,
and Dathan did devour,
And all Abiram's company
did cover in that hour.
Likewise among their company
a fire was kindled then;
And so the hot consuming flame
burnt up these wicked men.

Upon the hill of Horeb they
an idol-calf did frame,
A molten image they did make,
and worshippèd the same.
And thus their glory, and their God,
most vainly changèd they
Into the likeness of an ox
that eateth grass or hay.

They did forget the mighty God,
that had their savior been,
By whom such great things brought to pass
they had in Egypt seen.
In Ham's land he did wondrous works,
things terrible did he,
When he his mighty hand and arm
stretched out at the Red sea.

Then said he, He would them destroy,
had not, his wrath to stay,
His chosen Moses stood in breach,
that them he should not slay.
Yea, they despised the pleasant land,
believèd not his word:
But in their tents they murmurèd,
not heark'ning to the Lord.

Therefore in desert them to slay
he lifted up his hand:
'Mong nations to o'erthrow their seed,
and scatter in each land.
They unto Baal-peor did
themselves associate;
The sacrifices of the dead
they did profanely eat.

Thus, by their lewd invëntions,
they did provoke his ire;
And then upon them suddenly
the plague brake in as fire.
Then Phin'has rose, and justice did,
and so the plague did cease;
That to all ages counted was
to him for righteousness.

And at the waters, where they strove,
they did him angry make,
In such sort, that it farèd ill
with Moses for their sake:
Because they there his spirit meek
provokèd bitterly,
So that he uttered with his lips
words unadvisedly.

Nor, as the Lord commanded them,
did they the nations slay:
But with the heathen mingled were,
and learned of them their way.
And they their idols served, which did
a snare unto them turn.
Their sons and daughters they to dev'ls
in sacrifice did burn.

In their own children's guiltless blood
their hands they did imbrue,
Whom to Cänaan's idols they
for sacrifices slew:
So was the land defiled with blood.
They stained with their own way,
And with their own invëntions
a whoring they did stray.

Against his people kindled was
the wrath of God therefore,
Insomuch that he did his own
inheritance abhor.
He gave them to the heathen's hand;
their foes did them command.
Their en'mies them oppressed, they were
made subject to their hand.

He many times delivered them;
but with their counsel so
They him provoked, that for their sin
they were brought very low.
Yet their affliction he beheld,
when he did hear their cry:
And he for them his covenant
did call to memory;

After his mercies' multitude
he did repent: And made
Them to be pitied of all those
who did them captive lead.
O Lord our God, us save, and gather
the heathen from among,
That we thy holy name may praise
in a triumphant song.

Blessed be JEHOVAH, Isr'el's God,
to all eternity:
Let all the people say, Amen.
Praise to the Lord give ye.