Numbers

Outline

See also Mann, p 159

Title

b’midbar “in the wilderness”

“Numbers”

Key Texts

Structure:

First Census: Num 1:1-3

Organization of the camp around the tabernacle, separation of the Levites, and legislation (social organization, then cultic)

The Nation Sets Out: Num 10:11-13, 29-32

Rebellion: Moses as prophetic leader, Num 11:10-15; 12:2 (“Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?”)

Rebellion and Sentence: Moses as military strategist, Num 13-14

Interlude, ch. 15, legislation for life in the land

Rebellion: Moses and Aaron as priestly elite, Num 16:3 (“All the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them”)

Wars on the approach to Canaan, chs. 20-21

The Nation Encamps in Moab

Balak hires Balaam, chs 22-24

The Sin at Baal Peor/Shittim, ch 25

Second Census: Num 26:1-4, 5 cf. Num 26:63-65!

Preparations for life in the land, inheritance, Moses’ successor, sacrifices & festivals and vows, war against the Midianites, land allotment for Gad and Reuben, travelogue, land boundaries, Levitical cities and cities of refuge, laws of homicide

Three Key Events

The Spies and the Shrinking Hearts: the fate of the Exodus Generation, Num 13-14 (esp. Num 14:4, 20-25; 28-35)

Moses and Aaron’s Failure and Fate, Num 20:2-13

Sin at Shittim: The Exodus Generation Extinguished, Num 25:1-18

Other Key Texts/Episodes

The ritual test for the wife accused of adultery, Num 5:11-31

The priestly blessing, Num 6:22-27

Cleansing from corpse contamination, Num 19

The bronze serpent Nehushtan, Num 21:4-9

The oracles of Balaam, esp. Num 23:8, 19, 21; 24:7, 17

The five, named, daughters of Zelophehad and the question of inheritance for men who die without sons frame the final section of the book, Num 27:1-11; 36:1-12