Grace Institute: The Torah :Numbers Introduction

Numbers Survey of the Old Testament: The Torah Fall 2004

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Introduction

Background

Name: The Greek and English translations of this book entitle it “Numbers,” referring to the two censuses of the people found in the book. In the Hebrew bible, the book is entitled “In the Wilderness,” referring to the location in which most of the events of this book take place.

Author: Moses , by tradition. Jesus affirms that Moses authored the “Law,” of which Numbers is traditionally considered a part.

Date Written: 1406 BC.

Audience: A new generation of Israelites who are ready to enter the Promised Land, 40 years after their parents escaped from slavery in Egypt .

Structure:

Timeline

There are four chronological markers in the bo ok:

• 1:1 – The Census - 2 nd month, 2 nd year after Exodus
• 9:1 – Instructions for Passover - 1 st mont h, 2nd year
• 10:11 – Beginning of the Marc h to the Promised Land – 2 nd mont h, 20 day, 2 nd year
• 33:38 – Death of Aaron – 5 th month, 1 st day, 40 th year (his death itself takes place in chapter 20).

The book of Numbers covers 38 years spanning from the 2 nd year after the Exodus, when the nation is still camped at Mt. Sinai , to the 40 th year after the Exodus when the new generation is ready to enter the Promised Land. The book, however, is not strictly chronological, being structured more around the generations' preparation for the Promised Land. Furthermore, the bo ok only details events in the 2 nd year and 40 th years after the Exodus, staying silent for most of the 38 years of wandering.

Purpose

Moses wrote Numbers as the second generation is ready to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 33:2) in order to encourage that generation to take hold of God's Promised Land by faith.

The first section of Numbers recounts how the nation of Israel had been prepared by God to take possession of the Promised Land, but then rejected the Promised Land. As a result, the nation wandered in the wilderness for 38 more years. The second section recounts how the next generation of the nation was similarly prepared to take the land. The implicit question at the end of the bo ok is, will this generation rise to the challenge and accept the blessings of God and take the Promised Land .

Numbers also demonstrates God's unconditional faithfulness to the nation. While the first generation rejects the blessings of the covenant, God is fai thful to the covenant. In spite of their complaints and rebellion, He still blesses the nation (see the story of Balaam) and fulfills His promise of the land to the second generation.

Theme

God's preparation of the nation of Israel for the blessings of the Promised Land.

Footnotes

1. Ronald B. Allen. “Exodus.” Expositor's Bible Commentary . ( Grand Rapids MI : Zondervan. Electronic edition, STEP file).