Survey of Numbers

Written in the final year of Moses life. The events from 20.1 to the end occur in the 40th year after the exodus

It ends with them poised on the eastern side of the Jordan River across from Jericho which is where the conquest of the land of Canaan began.

It must be dated 1405- Since it is foundational to the book of Deuteronomy and Deut is dated in the 11th month of the 14th year after the exodus

Wilderness is used 48 times in the book

Little vegetation or trees, little rainfall, not easily cultivated.

Best used for tending flocks and animals

from Sinai to Kadesh---Kadesh to Paran— Paran to Zin

Numbers comes from the two censuses that are key features of this book. However In the Wilderness is a more descriptive way to describe the book.

Isreal traveled from Mt. Sinai to the border of the Promised Land. But they refused to obey and take possession of the Land so God made them wander for nearly forty years.

census of children 20 years old and upwards

1:46 603,550 men

1:47 Levites were not listed.

1:1 to 14:45 occur in 1444bc the year after the exodus

everything after 20:1 is dated 1405ish— the 14th year after the exile

some stuff undated but the majority of the book is in the 2nd and 14th years after the exile

The lack of material devoted to this journey compared to others years of the journey from Egypt to Canaan indicate the waste of years spent wandering and grumbling to the Lord. Wasted time but Gods providence always