Numbers Outline

## **Numbers: Direction of Israel**

The book of Numbers
takes place after the events of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus. Genesis gives
the account of Creation, the corruption, destruction, and dispersion of man,
and the choosing of the nation of Israel. Genesis also tells how Jacob, his
twelve sons, and their families ended up in Egypt. Exodus tells of Israel’s
departure from Egypt and their receiving the law from God on Mount Sinai.[1] Leviticus goes into the
complexities of how God wanted the Israelites to live; it deals mostly the
sacrificial system that when observed would cover their sins before a holy and
just God.[2]  Numbers records the means by which God
directed the children of Israel as they left Sinai to travel to the Promised
Land.

## **Author**

Moses is the human
author of the book of Numbers. “Universal Jewish and Christian tradition
attributes the Book of Numbers (along with the rest of the Pentateuch) to
Moses, though little in Numbers explicitly confirms it”[3] Geisler
says that Moses is logically the author of Numbers, since he was the only one
who would have been familiar with the desert which the Israelites traversed.[4] He also states that
Numbers claims to be written by Moses.[5] The proof that the Bible itself
gives testimony of Mosaic authorship is conclusive proof for anyone coming to the
text with an open mind.

## **Date**

Numbers is fairly clear
about the date during which it was written. Numbers 36:13 says, “These *are* the commandments and the judgments,
which the Lord commanded by the
hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan *near* Jericho.” This indicates that the
book of Numbers was written after the journey through the wilderness.[6]
The date for this would have been between 1445-1405 B.C. [7] Because it was written by
Moses, Numbers would have to have been written prior to his death; this would
have confirmed the writing date to be at least 1405 B.C. Geisler states: “The
events of the Book of Numbers cover thirty-eight years-the period between
thirteen months after the Exodus (1:1) and the end of the forty-years
wandering. It could not have been completed until then (1405 B.C.).”[8]

## **Historical Background**

The contents of the book
of Numbers takes place in the triangular peninsula of Sinai. When the children
of Israel refused out of fear to go into the Promised Land, God cursed them to
wander the wilderness for forty years until an entire generation had passed
away. The Sinai Peninsula was the wilderness in which the Israelites began
their forty years of wandering.[9]
Most of their wandering, however, was done in Kadesh-barnea.[10] The book of Numbers also
gives a listing of the children of Israel according to tribes. “After the
making of the covenant and the giving of the Law at Sinai, the Lord instructed
Moses to take a census of all the tribes of Israel by clans and families.”[11]
These tribes were positioned around the tabernacle as they traveled.[12] At the conclusion of the
book, the children of Israel are encamped at the border of the Promised Land
prepared to claim it as their own.[13]

## **To Whom It Was Written**

The book of Numbers was
written to the two generations of Israelites who made up the congregation of
the children of Israel. Because of the disobedience of the older generation,
that generation would die during the forty years in the wilderness. The younger
generation would then take the place of the older and enter the land of Canaan.
The book is mostly for the younger generation, to warn them of their fathers’
sins and the consequences of them.[14]

## **Why It Was Written**

Numbers was written as a
historic book describing the wandering of Israel in the wilderness. However, it
shows God’s direction and perseverance for his people.[15] It is said in *The Bible Knowledge Commentary:*

The
Book of Numbers seems to be an instruction manual to post-Sinai Israel. The
“manual” deals with three areas: (a) how the nation was to order itself in its journeying’s,
(b) how the priests and Levites were to function in the condition of mobility
which lay ahead, and (c) how they were to prepare themselves for the conquest
of Canaan and their settled lives there.[16]

Numbers is more a book of history than are the other books of the
Pentateuch. Leviticus is a good book to use as a contrast because it precedes
Numbers. Geisler states:

In
contrast to Leviticus, the book of *worship*,
Numbers is a book of the People’s *walk*
with God. Leviticus stresses their *purity*;
Numbers their *pilgrimage*. Leviticus
is *ceremonial* while Numbers is *historical*. Leviticus gives a call to *fellowship* with God; Numbers is a call
to *faithfulness* to God. The emphasis
shifts from *sanctification* before God
to *direction* by God.[17]

During the years of
wandering covered in Numbers, the people were leaving Mount Sinai and preparing
to march to the Promised Land. Numbers gives the organization of Israel into
groups that would enable quicker and easier travel. The people were gathered
into tribes which were placed around the tabernacle. The Levites were dedicated
to the work of taking care of the tabernacle and teaching. A census was also
taken for the purpose of assigning responsibilities. Men twenty years old and
older were numbered for serving in Israel’s military force. Men thirty and
older would work in the “Tent of meeting.”[18] I Corinthians 14:33 say,
“For God is not *the author* of
confusion, but of peace…” The people were organized according to tribe and
placed around the tabernacle; this prevented chaos when they traveled.

Numbers
records the repeated grumblings and rebellion of the Israelites. They
complained about the food.  God sent
quail, and then He sent a plague to punish them.  Miriam and Aaron questioned Moses’s right to
leadership, and judgment fell.  The
twelve spies were sent out, and ten brought back an evil report which their
lack of faith.  However through all of
this, God was faithful to fulfill His promise. He did not give up on them, even
though the first died in the wilderness. The younger generation remembered what
had happened to their fathers and prepared to enter the land.[19]  That generation, too, had periods of
unfaithfulness and backsliding.  Balak
the enemy of God’s people had his prophet give false counsel to the Israelites
causing them to take wives among the heathen.
Twenty-four thousand people died due to this sin of compromise.  Moses, himself, is forbidden because of
disobedience to enter the promised land.

Numbers is important to study for the history it
contains.  It shows how God provided for
Israel during their wanderings, how He judged those who heeded Him not, and how
He directed those who were obedient. Christians can learn these principles from
reading Numbers; this makes it important for Christians today.

[1]
Wolf, Herbert*. An Introduction to the Old*
Testament Pentateuch. *Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1991, pg. 149*

[2]
Wolf, Herbert*. An Introduction to the Old*
Testament Pentateuch. *Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1991, pg. 191*

[3]
Eugene H. Merrill, “Numbers,” in *The*
Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures*, ed. J. F.*
Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 215.

[4] Norman L. Geisler. *A Popular Survey of the Old Testament.* Grand Rapids, MI. Baker Book
House, 1977. Pg. 71

[5] Ibid.

[6]
Eugene H. Merrill, “Numbers,” in *The*
Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures*, ed. J. F.*
Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 215.

[7] Ibid

[8]
Norman L. Geisler. *A Popular Survey of the Old Testament.* Grand Rapids, MI. Baker Book
House, 1977. Pg. 72

[9]Walter
A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, *Baker*
Encyclopedia of the Bible *(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1564.*

[10]

[11]
Eugene H. Merrill, “Numbers,” in *The*
Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures*, ed. J. F.*
Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 216.

[12] Norman L. Geisler. *A Popular Survey of the Old Testament.* Grand Rapids, MI. Baker Book
House, 1977. Pg. 73

[13]
Wolf, Herbert*. An Introduction to the Old*
Testament Pentateuch. *Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1991, pg. 222*

[14] Norman L. Geisler. *A Popular Survey of the Old Testament.* Grand Rapids, MI. Baker Book
House, 1977. Pg. 72

[15]
Norman L. Geisler. *A Popular Survey of the Old Testament.* Grand Rapids, MI. Baker Book
House, 1977. Pg. 72-73

[16]
Eugene H. Merrill, “Numbers,” in *The*
Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures*, ed. J. F.*
Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 215.

[17] Norman L. Geisler. *A Popular Survey of the Old Testament.* Grand Rapids, MI. Baker Book
House, 1977. Pg. 73

[18]
Wolf, Herbert*. An Introduction to the Old*
Testament Pentateuch. *Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1991, pg. 220*

[19]
Wolf, Herbert*. An Introduction to the Old*
Testament Pentateuch. *Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1991, pg. 220*

## For further studies, see also:

Genesis Outline

Exodus Outline

Leviticus Outline

Deuteronomy Outline