February 3, 2025

Why is the book of Numbers called "Numbers"?

Numbers 1-3

Kyle Aaron
Monday's Devo

February 3, 2025

Monday's Devo

February 3, 2025

Big Book Idea

Even amidst a tragic transition, God still had a plan.

Key Verse | Numbers 1:1-2

The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head."

Numbers 1-3

A Census of Israel's Warriors

The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head. From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company by company. And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his fathers. And these are the names of the men who shall assist you. From Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur; from Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; from Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab; from Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar; from Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon; 10 from the sons of Joseph, from Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud, and from Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur; 11 from Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni; 12 from Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai; 13 from Asher, Pagiel the son of Ochran; 14 from Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel; 15 from Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.” 16 These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the chiefs of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel.

17 Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, 18 and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, 19 as the LORD commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai.

20 The people of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: 21 those listed of the tribe of Reuben were 46,500.

22 Of the people of Simeon, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, those of them who were listed, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: 23 those listed of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.

24 Of the people of Gad, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: 25 those listed of the tribe of Gad were 45,650.

26 Of the people of Judah, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 27 those listed of the tribe of Judah were 74,600.

28 Of the people of Issachar, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 29 those listed of the tribe of Issachar were 54,400.

30 Of the people of Zebulun, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 31 those listed of the tribe of Zebulun were 57,400.

32 Of the people of Joseph, namely, of the people of Ephraim, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 33 those listed of the tribe of Ephraim were 40,500.

34 Of the people of Manasseh, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 35 those listed of the tribe of Manasseh were 32,200.

36 Of the people of Benjamin, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 37 those listed of the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400.

38 Of the people of Dan, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 39 those listed of the tribe of Dan were 62,700.

40 Of the people of Asher, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 41 those listed of the tribe of Asher were 41,500.

42 Of the people of Naphtali, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 43 those listed of the tribe of Naphtali were 53,400.

44 These are those who were listed, whom Moses and Aaron listed with the help of the chiefs of Israel, twelve men, each representing his fathers' house. 45 So all those listed of the people of Israel, by their fathers' houses, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war in Israel— 46 all those listed were 603,550.

Levites Exempted

47 But the Levites were not listed along with them by their ancestral tribe. 48 For the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 49 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not list, and you shall not take a census of them among the people of Israel. 50 But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it and shall camp around the tabernacle. 51 When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. And if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death. 52 The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and each man by his own standard. 53 But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.” 54 Thus did the people of Israel; they did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.

Arrangement of the Camp

The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers' houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side. Those to camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah by their companies, the chief of the people of Judah being Nahshon the son of Amminadab, his company as listed being 74,600. Those to camp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar, the chief of the people of Issachar being Nethanel the son of Zuar, his company as listed being 54,400. Then the tribe of Zebulun, the chief of the people of Zebulun being Eliab the son of Helon, his company as listed being 57,400. All those listed of the camp of Judah, by their companies, were 186,400. They shall set out first on the march.

10 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben by their companies, the chief of the people of Reuben being Elizur the son of Shedeur, 11 his company as listed being 46,500. 12 And those to camp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon, the chief of the people of Simeon being Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, 13 his company as listed being 59,300. 14 Then the tribe of Gad, the chief of the people of Gad being Eliasaph the son of Reuel, 15 his company as listed being 45,650. 16 All those listed of the camp of Reuben, by their companies, were 151,450. They shall set out second.

17 Then the tent of meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps; as they camp, so shall they set out, each in position, standard by standard.

18 On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim by their companies, the chief of the people of Ephraim being Elishama the son of Ammihud, 19 his company as listed being 40,500. 20 And next to him shall be the tribe of Manasseh, the chief of the people of Manasseh being Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, 21 his company as listed being 32,200. 22 Then the tribe of Benjamin, the chief of the people of Benjamin being Abidan the son of Gideoni, 23 his company as listed being 35,400. 24 All those listed of the camp of Ephraim, by their companies, were 108,100. They shall set out third on the march.

25 On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan by their companies, the chief of the people of Dan being Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, 26 his company as listed being 62,700. 27 And those to camp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher, the chief of the people of Asher being Pagiel the son of Ochran, 28 his company as listed being 41,500. 29 Then the tribe of Naphtali, the chief of the people of Naphtali being Ahira the son of Enan, 30 his company as listed being 53,400. 31 All those listed of the camp of Dan were 157,600. They shall set out last, standard by standard.”

32 These are the people of Israel as listed by their fathers' houses. All those listed in the camps by their companies were 603,550. 33 But the Levites were not listed among the people of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.

34 Thus did the people of Israel. According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they set out, each one in his clan, according to his fathers' house.

The Sons of Aaron

These are the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he ordained to serve as priests. But Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father.

Duties of the Levites

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. They shall keep guard over him and over the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, as they minister at the tabernacle. They shall guard all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and keep guard over the people of Israel as they minister at the tabernacle. And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the people of Israel. 10 And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.”

11 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the people of Israel. The Levites shall be mine, 13 for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my own all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and of beast. They shall be mine: I am the LORD.”

14 And the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 “List the sons of Levi, by fathers' houses and by clans; every male from a month old and upward you shall list.” 16 So Moses listed them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded. 17 And these were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon and Kohath and Merari. 18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei. 19 And the sons of Kohath by their clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 And the sons of Merari by their clans: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites, by their fathers' houses.

21 To Gershon belonged the clan of the Libnites and the clan of the Shimeites; these were the clans of the Gershonites. 22 Their listing according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward was 1 3:22 Hebrew their listing was 7,500. 23 The clans of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle on the west, 24 with Eliasaph, the son of Lael as chief of the fathers' house of the Gershonites. 25 And the guard duty of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting involved the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting, 26 the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and its cords—all the service connected with these.

27 To Kohath belonged the clan of the Amramites and the clan of the Izharites and the clan of the Hebronites and the clan of the Uzzielites; these are the clans of the Kohathites. 28 According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were 8,600, keeping guard over the sanctuary. 29 The clans of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle, 30 with Elizaphan the son of Uzziel as chief of the fathers' house of the clans of the Kohathites. 31 And their guard duty involved the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, and the screen; all the service connected with these. 32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the chiefs of the Levites, and to have oversight of those who kept guard over the sanctuary.

33 To Merari belonged the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites: these are the clans of Merari. 34 Their listing according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward was 6,200. 35 And the chief of the fathers' house of the clans of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. 36 And the appointed guard duty of the sons of Merari involved the frames of the tabernacle, the bars, the pillars, the bases, and all their accessories; all the service connected with these; 37 also the pillars around the court, with their bases and pegs and cords.

38 Those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, guarding the sanctuary itself, to protect 2 3:38 Hebrew guard the people of Israel. And any outsider who came near was to be put to death. 39 All those listed among the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron listed at the commandment of the LORD, by clans, all the males from a month old and upward, were 22,000.

Redemption of the Firstborn

40 And the LORD said to Moses, “List all the firstborn males of the people of Israel, from a month old and upward, taking the number of their names. 41 And you shall take the Levites for me—I am the LORD—instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the people of Israel.” 42 So Moses listed all the firstborn among the people of Israel, as the LORD commanded him. 43 And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names, from a month old and upward as listed were 22,273.

44 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. The Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD. 46 And as the redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the people of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites, 47 you shall take five shekels 3 3:47 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams per head; you shall take them according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel of twenty gerahs 4 3:47 A gerah was about 1/50 ounce or 0.6 gram ), 48 and give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are over.” 49 So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of the people of Israel he took the money, 1,365 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary. 51 And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Footnotes

[1] 3:22 Hebrew their listing was
[2] 3:38 Hebrew guard
[3] 3:47 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
[4] 3:47 A gerah was about 1/50 ounce or 0.6 gram
Table of Contents
Introduction to Numbers

Introduction to Numbers

Timeline

Author and Date

Moses is the source and primary author of the book of Numbers, which is the fourth volume in the Pentateuch. Its English name comes from the censuses in chs. 1–4 and 26.

Numbers tells of Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai to the borders of the Promised Land, summarizing some 40 years of the nation’s history. With Israel having been freed from slavery in Egypt and then receiving the law (Exodus and Leviticus), the book of Numbers begins with the people’s final preparations to leave Sinai. It then records their triumphal setting out, before a series of events in which the people grumbled about the difficulty of the journey and the impossibility of conquering Canaan. This response leads God to delay their entry to Canaan by 40 years. The closing chapters of the book tell how the people at last set out again and reach the banks of the Jordan, ready to cross into the land promised to their forefathers.

Theme and Purpose

The theme of Numbers is the gradual fulfillment of the promises to Abraham that his descendants would be the people of God and would occupy the land of Canaan. The book shows the reality of God’s presence with Israel in the pillar of cloud and fire over the tabernacle. It also shows how Israel’s unbelief delays the entry into Canaan and costs many lives. Nevertheless, by the end of the book, Israel is ready to enter the land.

Key Themes

There were four elements to God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:1–3, and they all play a role in Numbers:

  1. The land. Numbers describes Israel’s journey toward the Promised Land.
  2. Descendants. Abraham had been promised that his descendants would be as many as the stars of heaven (Gen. 15:5). Jacob’s family consisted of just 70 persons when he entered Egypt (Gen. 46:27). Now they had increased immensely. The first census (Num. 1:1–46) showed that the fighting men numbered 603,550. That did not include women and children. Surveying their camp from a hilltop, Balaam declared, “Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel?” (23:10). Balaam went on to predict that Israel would become a powerful kingdom in its own right: “a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (24:17).
  3. Covenant relationship with God. The essence of the covenant was, “You shall be my people, and I will be your God.” The Lord’s presence with Israel is constantly highlighted throughout the book of Numbers.
  4. Blessing to the nations. This is the aspect of the promises to Abraham that is least apparent in Numbers. To a greater or lesser degree, the nations that Israel encounters are all hostile. Nevertheless Balaam recalls the phrasing of Genesis 12:3 when he says, “Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you” (Num. 24:9). Nations who treat Israel generously by blessing her will themselves be blessed.

Outline

Numbers consists of three major blocks of material describing the events and laws associated with three centers where Israel encamped for a significant time. These centers are Sinai (chs. 1–10), Kadesh (chs. 13–19), and the plains of Moab (chs. 22–36). They are linked by two short travelogues recording what occurred as Israel journeyed from one camp to the next.

  1. Israel Prepares to Enter the Land (1:1–10:10)
  2. Marching from Sinai to Kadesh (10:11–12:16)
  3. Forty Years near Kadesh (13:1–19:22)
  4. Marching from Kadesh to the Plains of Moab (20:1–21:35)
  5. Israel in the Plains of Moab (22:1–36:13)

Journeys in the Wilderness

c. 1446 B.C.

The book of Numbers details the Israelites’ experience in the wilderness as they journeyed from Mount Sinai to Canaan. As with the exodus, it is difficult to establish the exact route that the Israelites took, but it is generally believed that they headed east from Mount Sinai until they reached the Red Sea, where they turned northward to the top of the gulf and on to Kadesh-barnea.

Journeys in the Wilderness

The Global Message of Numbers

The Global Message of Numbers

Numbers in Redemptive History

The modern title of the book of Numbers is probably one reason that the church often neglects this important part of Scripture. The title, together with a first reading of its early chapters, may mislead the reader into believing that the book is primarily a detailed census of the population of Israel. The original Hebrew title of the book, however, is “In the Wilderness,” and this accurately describes the essence of the book. The original purpose of Numbers was to warn the second generation of Israel not to lapse into the rebellion and unbelief of their first-generation parents, lest they also perish in judgment in the wilderness between Egypt and the Promised Land. Yet its deeper purpose was to encourage them that the Lord was with them, and that he intended to fulfill his promise to their father Abraham to give his descendants the land and through them to bless the nations.

Numbers thus has something to say to Christians all around the globe today, for this book advances the history of redemption for all peoples—the story of salvation that began in Eden, was given as a solemn promise in Genesis 12:1–3, and which we see finally accomplished in Revelation 21–22.

Conquest of the Promised Land

In Numbers, Moses seeks to encourage the second generation of Israelites to advance to the Promised Land by faith and begin the war to take possession of it. This will be a holy war. The Israelite camp houses a holy army, for the Lord dwells at the center of the camp and has ordered its military configuration and census. The camp itself is arranged in three concentric circles (or squares), from greater to lesser holiness. The holy tabernacle sits at the center. The Levites, encamped immediately around the tabernacle, provide a protective space between it and the rest of the camp. The twelve tribes surround them as the outermost ring. As Israel prepares to set off from Mount Sinai toward Canaan, the tabernacle becomes the royal traveling tent of a King on the march to retake what is rightfully his. The camp is a holy army preparing for war to take the Promised Land by conquest.

Tested in the Wilderness

Israel’s wilderness wandering can be seen as an “already–not yet” stage in redemptive history. Israel had already experienced God’s salvation in their exodus deliverance from Egypt, but they had not yet obtained the Promised Land. The wilderness becomes the place of testing. When Israel first entered the wilderness, the Lord gave them manna from heaven, not merely to provide for their needs but also that “I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not” (Ex. 16:4; compare 20:20). The wilderness was no easy stretch of land through which to journey. Hot and dry, it offered no shelter from the sweltering heat. Like much of the world today, the wilderness was barren, harsh, windswept, and inhospitable. Plants did not grow, and humans struggled to survive. God intended the wilderness to function as a test for his people, to reveal whether their faith was genuine or not. Those with genuine faith persevered with the Lord through the hardships and trials; those who did not trust the Lord fell away into apostasy and rebellion.

Universal Themes in Numbers

Abrahamic, messianic, and new creational themes are all seen in Balaam’s oracles (Numbers 23–24). Genesis 12:3 and 49:9 are echoed in Numbers 24:9. Israel is reaffirmed as the bearer of a messianic hope and the channel through which the Abrahamic promise will be realized and the nations of the world blessed. The messianic promise from Genesis 49:9 of an ultimate king of the nations from the line of Judah is picked up and expounded (Num. 23:21, 24; 24:7, 9, 17–19). This king will bear Israel’s vocation upon his shoulders and will fulfill the Abrahamic promise. Through him the world will be blessed and the curses of Genesis 3 will be overcome (see “The Global Message of Genesis”; compare Ps. 72:17). He will rule over the world as the king of Israel, depicted in a vision as an Eden-paradise-kingdom (Num. 24:3–7). All these hopes are finally fulfilled in Jesus

The Global Message of Numbers for Today

Murmuring rather than trusting. Grumbling plagues the global church today as it always has. Complaining when circumstances are difficult, when leaders appear ineffective, or when resources are scarce may seem like the normal and even right thing to do. The book of Numbers warns, however, that grumbling is taken by the Creator-King as treason. Whenever Israel murmured, God’s anger was roused and he broke out in judgment against them (Num. 11:1–3, 33–34; 12:10–16; 14:20–23, 27–38; 16:20–35, 46–50; 20:12; 21:6–9). The Lord had set out to test Israel, but Israel tested him instead—ten times (14:22). For their stubborn rebellion, the first generation’s bodies were strewn across the desert, and they never saw or entered the Promised Land.

The global church must recognize that grumbling, murmuring, and complaining all flow out of a lack of trust in the promises of its covenant Lord. By covenant, the Lord had become Israel’s God and had promised to provide for their needs and protect them. He had also sworn to bring them to the Promised Land, assuring them that it was “flowing with milk and honey”—far better than slavery in Egypt. The people, however, did not trust these promises. Their murmuring reflected the deeper issue of unbelieving hearts. Grumbling, complaining, and murmuring by the church is rebellion against Christ and reveals unbelief in the promises of God. Paul warns the church against such murmuring (Phil. 2:14–15).

Adversity in the wilderness. In 1 Corinthians 10:1–13, Paul refers to several events in Israel’s journey through the wilderness. He sees the church as being “in the wilderness,” on its way to a Promised Land, having been freed from slavery in an exodus deliverance (see 1 Cor. 5:7). God had tested his people Israel by the difficulties of the wilderness, in order to see if they would trust and obey him in the midst of adverse circumstances. Likewise, the span between the first and second comings of Christ can be seen as the church’s own wilderness journey. In his first coming, Christ delivered his people in the exodus deliverance of the cross; at his return, Christ will usher the church into the new creation, the true and final Promised Land. The wilderness march of Israel serves as a pattern of the church’s own wilderness march (1 Cor. 10:11).

Our march through this wilderness is not easy, nor does God intend it to be. It is a time of difficulty and suffering. It is a time of testing, to distinguish between those who profess faith in Christ and persevere in obedience to him (thus revealing genuine faith) and those who profess faith yet fall away in apostasy (revealing lack of true saving faith). Through difficult circumstances, the church must trust Christ as we march homeward. Christ has promised to every believer who overcomes the wilderness of this world the privilege “to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Rev. 2:7). He has assured the church that he will bring her safely home to this Promised Land. This is indescribably better than any pleasures that the fallen world may offer (Heb. 11:24–26).

Numbers Fact #1: Where do the events in Numbers take place?

Fact: Where do the events in Numbers take place?

Where do the events in Numbers take place? Chapters 1–9 take place near Mount Sinai. In chs. 10–12 the people travel to Kadesh, where they will spend the next 40 years (chs. 13–19). Next they journey toward Canaan (chs. 20–21), and in the final chapters of Numbers (22–36) they camp in the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River from the Promised Land.

Numbers Fact #4: Symbols of holiness

Fact: Symbols of holiness

Symbols of holiness are found all throughout Numbers. The tabernacle objects that were farther from the presence of God in the Most Holy Place could be made of ordinary materials like bronze. Within the Most Holy Place, everything was overlaid with pure gold.

Numbers Fact #2: The arrangement of the Israelites’ camp

Fact: The arrangement of the Israelites’ camp

The arrangement of the Israelites’ camp symbolized the Lord’s prominence. It was arranged in a square, with the east side of the camp considered the prime position. This pattern is still followed by tent-dwellers today in the Middle East. In a Bedouin camp the chieftain’s tent occupies a central position. The families are then assigned positions around his tent.

Numbers Fact #3: Guard duty

Fact: Guard duty

Guard duty. It was the Levites’ job to put to death anyone other than Aaron and his sons who attempted to enter the holy ground of the tabernacle. This included Israelites and not just outsiders. Only those whom God had chosen could be appointed to serve as priests.

Journeys in the Wilderness

Journeys in the Wilderness

c. 1446 B.C.

The book of Numbers details the Israelites’ experience in the wilderness as they journeyed from Mount Sinai to Canaan. As with the exodus, it is difficult to establish the exact route that the Israelites took, but it is generally believed that they headed east from Mount Sinai until they reached the Red Sea, where they turned northward to the top of the gulf and on to Kadesh-barnea.

Journeys in the Wilderness

The Hebrew Calendar

The Hebrew Calendar

The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.

Hebrew Month Gregorian (Modern) Month Biblical References
First Month:
Abib (Preexile)
Nisan (Postexile)
March–April Ex. 13:4; 23:15; 34:18; Deut. 16:1; Neh. 2:1; Est. 3:7 (compare Gen. 8:13; Ex. 12:2, 18; 40:2, 17; Lev. 23:5; Num. 9:1; 20:1; 28:16; 33:3; Josh. 4:19; 1 Chron. 12:15; 27:2, 3; 2 Chron. 29:3, 17; 35:1; Ezra 6:19; 7:9; 8:31; 10:17; Est. 3:7, 12; Ezek. 29:17; 30:20; 45:18, 21; Dan. 10:4)
Festivals:
14th/15th: Passover (Ex. 12:18; Lev. 23:5)
15th–21st: Unleavened Bread (Ex. 12:14–20; Lev. 23:6)
16th: First Fruits (Lev. 23:9–11)
Second Month:
Ziv (Preexile)
Iyyar (Postexile)
April–May 1 Kings 6:1, 37 (compare Gen. 7:11; 8:14; Ex. 16:1; Num. 1:1, 18; 9:11; 10:11; 1 Chron. 27:4; 2 Chron. 3:2; 30:2, 13, 15; Ezra 3:8)
Festival:
14th: Later Passover (Num. 9:10–11)
Third Month: Sivan May–June Est. 8:9 (compare Ex. 19:1; 1 Chron. 27:5; 2 Chron. 15:10; 31:7; Ezek. 31:1)
Festivals:
4th: Pentecost [Feast of Weeks] (Lev. 23:15–16)
Fourth Month: Tammuz June–July Ezek. 8:14 (compare 2 Kings 25:3; 1 Chron. 27:7; Jer. 39:2; 52:6; Ezek. 1:1; Zech. 8:19)
Fifth Month: Ab July–August Not mentioned by name in the Bible (compare Num. 33:38; 2 Kings 25:8; 1 Chron. 27:8; Ezra 7:8, 9; Jer. 1:3; 28:1; 52:12; Ezek. 20:1; Zech. 7:3, 5; 8:19)
Sixth Month: Elul August–September Neh. 6:15 (compare 1 Chron. 27:9; Ezek. 8:1; Hag. 1:1, 15)
Seventh Month:
Ethanim (Preexile)
Tishri (Postexile)
September–October 1 Kings 8:2 (compare Gen. 8:4; Lev. 16:29; 23:24, 27, 34, 39, 41; 25:9; Num. 29:1, 7, 12; 2 Kings 25:25; 1 Chron. 27:10; 2 Chron. 5:3; 7:10; 31:7; Ezra 3:1, 6; Neh. 7:73; 8:2, 14; Jer. 28:17; 41:1; Ezek. 45:25; Hag. 2:1; Zech. 7:5; 8:19)
Festivals:
1st: Trumpets (Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1)
10th: Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29–34; 23:27–32)
15th–21st: Booths (Lev. 23:34–40)
22nd: Solemn assembly (Lev. 23:36)
Eighth Month:
Bul (Preexile)
Marchesvan (Postexile)
October–November 1 Kings 6:38 (compare 1 Kings 12:32, 33; 1 Chron. 27:11; Zech. 1:1)
Ninth Month: Chislev (Kislev) November–December Neh. 1:1; Zech. 7:1 (compare 1 Chron. 27:12; Ezra 10:9; Jer. 36:9, 22; Hag. 2:10, 18)
Festival:
25th: Dedication (John 10:22)
Tenth Month: Tebeth December–January Est. 2:16 (compare Gen. 8:5; 2 Kings 25:1; 1 Chron. 27:13; Ezra 10:16; Jer. 39:1; 52:4; Ezek. 24:1; 29:1; 33:21; Zech. 8:19)
Eleventh Month: Shebat January–February Zech. 1:7 (compare Deut. 1:3; 1 Chron. 27:14)
Twelfth Month: Adar* February–March Ezra 6:15; Est. 3:7, 13; 8:12; 9:1, 15, 17, 19, 21 (compare 2 Kings 25:27; 1 Chron. 27:15; Jer. 52:31; Ezek. 32:1; 32:17)

*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.

Parallels between Exodus and Numbers

Parallels between Exodus and Numbers

Ex. 18:1 Advice from Moses’ father-in-law Advice from Moses’ father-in-law Num. 10:29
Ex. 15:22 Three-day journey to Sinai Three-day journey from Sinai Num. 10:33
Ex. 15:22–26 Complaint about water Unspecified complaint Num. 11:1–3
Exodus 16 Manna and quail Manna and quail Num. 11:4–15, 31–35
Exodus 18 Leaders appointed to assist Moses Leaders appointed to assist Moses Num. 11:16–30
Ex. 15:20–21 Miriam’s song of praise Miriam and Aaron rebel Numbers 12
Ex. 17:8–16 Israel defeats Amalek Israel defeated by Amalek Num. 14:39–45
Ex. 17:1–7 Water from rock Water from rock Num. 20:1–13
Ex. 32:6 People sacrifice to other gods People sacrifice to other gods Num. 25:2
Ex. 32:27 Killing of apostates demanded Killing of apostates demanded Num. 25:5
Ex. 32:28–29 Levites’ status enhanced Levites’ (Phinehas’s) status enhanced Num. 25:6–13
Ex. 32:35 Plague on the people Plague on the people Num. 25:9
Israel in Camp and on the March

Israel in Camp and on the March

Israel in Camp

Israel in Camp

Israel on the March

Israel on the March

Both in camp and on the march, the tabernacle (guarded by the Levites) is always at the center, as God is at the heart of the nation. The Judah group has pride of place in the camp and leads the nation on the march (capital letters designate the lead tribe in each of the four groups).

Positions and Duties of the Levites

Positions and Duties of the Levites

Positions and Duties of the Levites

Study Notes

Num. 1:1 The wilderness of Sinai is the area near Mount Sinai. Israel has been encamped there since Ex. 19:1. The tent of meeting, otherwise known as the tabernacle (see Exodus 25–31; 35–40), had been completed just one month earlier (Ex. 40:2). It now served as God’s earthly dwelling, where he gave instructions to Moses.

Study Notes

Num. 1:3 All . . . able to go to war shows that the invasion of Canaan is about to happen.

Study Notes
See chart See chart
The Hebrew Calendar

The Hebrew Calendar

The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.

Hebrew Month Gregorian (Modern) Month Biblical References
First Month:
Abib (Preexile)
Nisan (Postexile)
March–April Ex. 13:4; 23:15; 34:18; Deut. 16:1; Neh. 2:1; Est. 3:7 (compare Gen. 8:13; Ex. 12:2, 18; 40:2, 17; Lev. 23:5; Num. 9:1; 20:1; 28:16; 33:3; Josh. 4:19; 1 Chron. 12:15; 27:2, 3; 2 Chron. 29:3, 17; 35:1; Ezra 6:19; 7:9; 8:31; 10:17; Est. 3:7, 12; Ezek. 29:17; 30:20; 45:18, 21; Dan. 10:4)
Festivals:
14th/15th: Passover (Ex. 12:18; Lev. 23:5)
15th–21st: Unleavened Bread (Ex. 12:14–20; Lev. 23:6)
16th: First Fruits (Lev. 23:9–11)
Second Month:
Ziv (Preexile)
Iyyar (Postexile)
April–May 1 Kings 6:1, 37 (compare Gen. 7:11; 8:14; Ex. 16:1; Num. 1:1, 18; 9:11; 10:11; 1 Chron. 27:4; 2 Chron. 3:2; 30:2, 13, 15; Ezra 3:8)
Festival:
14th: Later Passover (Num. 9:10–11)
Third Month: Sivan May–June Est. 8:9 (compare Ex. 19:1; 1 Chron. 27:5; 2 Chron. 15:10; 31:7; Ezek. 31:1)
Festivals:
4th: Pentecost [Feast of Weeks] (Lev. 23:15–16)
Fourth Month: Tammuz June–July Ezek. 8:14 (compare 2 Kings 25:3; 1 Chron. 27:7; Jer. 39:2; 52:6; Ezek. 1:1; Zech. 8:19)
Fifth Month: Ab July–August Not mentioned by name in the Bible (compare Num. 33:38; 2 Kings 25:8; 1 Chron. 27:8; Ezra 7:8, 9; Jer. 1:3; 28:1; 52:12; Ezek. 20:1; Zech. 7:3, 5; 8:19)
Sixth Month: Elul August–September Neh. 6:15 (compare 1 Chron. 27:9; Ezek. 8:1; Hag. 1:1, 15)
Seventh Month:
Ethanim (Preexile)
Tishri (Postexile)
September–October 1 Kings 8:2 (compare Gen. 8:4; Lev. 16:29; 23:24, 27, 34, 39, 41; 25:9; Num. 29:1, 7, 12; 2 Kings 25:25; 1 Chron. 27:10; 2 Chron. 5:3; 7:10; 31:7; Ezra 3:1, 6; Neh. 7:73; 8:2, 14; Jer. 28:17; 41:1; Ezek. 45:25; Hag. 2:1; Zech. 7:5; 8:19)
Festivals:
1st: Trumpets (Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1)
10th: Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29–34; 23:27–32)
15th–21st: Booths (Lev. 23:34–40)
22nd: Solemn assembly (Lev. 23:36)
Eighth Month:
Bul (Preexile)
Marchesvan (Postexile)
October–November 1 Kings 6:38 (compare 1 Kings 12:32, 33; 1 Chron. 27:11; Zech. 1:1)
Ninth Month: Chislev (Kislev) November–December Neh. 1:1; Zech. 7:1 (compare 1 Chron. 27:12; Ezra 10:9; Jer. 36:9, 22; Hag. 2:10, 18)
Festival:
25th: Dedication (John 10:22)
Tenth Month: Tebeth December–January Est. 2:16 (compare Gen. 8:5; 2 Kings 25:1; 1 Chron. 27:13; Ezra 10:16; Jer. 39:1; 52:4; Ezek. 24:1; 29:1; 33:21; Zech. 8:19)
Eleventh Month: Shebat January–February Zech. 1:7 (compare Deut. 1:3; 1 Chron. 27:14)
Twelfth Month: Adar* February–March Ezra 6:15; Est. 3:7, 13; 8:12; 9:1, 15, 17, 19, 21 (compare 2 Kings 25:27; 1 Chron. 27:15; Jer. 52:31; Ezek. 32:1; 32:17)

*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.

Study Notes

Num. 1:26–27 Judah is the largest tribe. Its position in the camp (2:3) and its leadership on the march (2:9) shows Judah’s importance among the tribes. David and Jesus came from this tribe.

Study Notes

1:1–46 This first census has two purposes: (1) to show that God’s promise of many descendants for Abraham has been fulfilled (Gen. 22:17); and (2) to count the number of men over 20 years old who could fight.

Num. 1:20–46 The number of men between the ages of 20 and 60 comes to 603,550. This counts every man able to go to war in Israel (see vv. 45–46). When women, children, and men under 20 and over 60 are included, the total population would probably have been about 2 million, a remarkable fulfillment of God’s promises.

Study Notes

Num. 1:47–54 The Levites, the priestly tribe, were not included in the census because they were responsible for the tabernacle, the most vital part of the whole camp. They dismantled, carried, and reassembled the tabernacle (vv. 50–51) and guarded it from intruders. Laypeople were not allowed to enter the tabernacle, so the Levites were told to execute any outsider breaking in (vv. 51–53).

Study Notes

Num. 2:2 It is unknown what Israel’s tribal banners and standards looked like. Facing could also be translated “at a distance from.” A gap had to be kept between the non-Levites and the tabernacle.

Study Notes

Num. 2:14 Reuel is elsewhere called Deuel (1:14). The letters D and R are easily confused in Hebrew script.

Study Notes

Num. 2:1–34 This chapter describes how the camp was to be arranged and the order in which the tribes were to march. At the center of the camp was the tabernacle. Surrounding it were the Levites. Beyond them the other tribes were encamped.

Israel in Camp and on the March

Israel in Camp and on the March

Israel in Camp

Israel in Camp

Israel on the March

Israel on the March

Both in camp and on the march, the tabernacle (guarded by the Levites) is always at the center, as God is at the heart of the nation. The Judah group has pride of place in the camp and leads the nation on the march (capital letters designate the lead tribe in each of the four groups).

Numbers Fact #2: The arrangement of the Israelites’ camp

Fact: The arrangement of the Israelites’ camp

The arrangement of the Israelites’ camp symbolized the Lord’s prominence. It was arranged in a square, with the east side of the camp considered the prime position. This pattern is still followed by tent-dwellers today in the Middle East. In a Bedouin camp the chieftain’s tent occupies a central position. The families are then assigned positions around his tent.

Study Notes

Num. 3:1–4 This census begins with the priests, the most holy family of the Levites. The priests were descended from Aaron, who belonged to the Kohathite clan within the tribe of Levi (Ex. 6:16–25).

Study Notes
Numbers Fact #3: Guard duty

Fact: Guard duty

Guard duty. It was the Levites’ job to put to death anyone other than Aaron and his sons who attempted to enter the holy ground of the tabernacle. This included Israelites and not just outsiders. Only those whom God had chosen could be appointed to serve as priests.

Study Notes

Num. 3:5–10 The two main tasks of the Levites were (1) guarding the tabernacle from intruders and (2) ministering at the tabernacle (which included carrying it from place to place).

Positions and Duties of the Levites

Positions and Duties of the Levites

Positions and Duties of the Levites

Study Notes

Num. 3:11–13 In the final plague, every firstborn male Egyptian and every firstborn of their cattle died, but the Israelite boys and cattle were spared. After this, all Israelite firstborn boys and cattle were dedicated to God. That meant the cattle were sacrificed and the boys should have served God in the sanctuary (Ex. 11:4–13:15). But after the golden calf incident, the Levites served in place of the firstborn boys (Ex. 32:25–29) from other tribes.

Study Notes

Num. 3:14–39 The census results are listed by clan. Each clan is responsible for carrying a specific part of the tabernacle and for guarding a specific side of the tabernacle. The total number of Levites (v. 39) is 22,000, which is 300 less than the sum of the individual Levite clans. The likeliest explanation is that, correcting a copyist’s error, the number of Kohathites should be 8,300, not 8,600. The numerals 6 and 3 are very similar in Hebrew.

Study Notes

Num. 3:43 all the firstborn males . . . were 22,273. If the total population was over 2 million, then this number would represent only firstborn males born since the exodus. Other interpreters understand this figure as the total of all the firstborn in Israel, which would indicate a much smaller total population.

Study Notes

Num. 3:46–49 The census showed that there were 273 fewer Levites than firstborn males in the other tribes. To redeem these 273 Israelites who had no Levite to take their place, five shekels per person had to be paid (see Lev. 27:6). This would have been about a year’s pay for a herdsman.

Listen to the Podcast

Listen Now

Dive Deeper | Numbers 1-3

It isn't easy to place ourselves in the story of the Old Testament. For starters, we live in Dallas, TX, in 2025, and not the Middle East in the BC era. We are under the new covenant and not the old covenant. Most of us have no biological ties to the 12 tribes of Israel. And in our post-modern world of seemingly infinite sources of information, we can't imagine waiting for one person to bring us a word from God.

However, we can relate to the people of Israel in the book of Numbers in multiple ways. Like Israel, we are in a wilderness waiting on God to fulfill His promise to bring us into a land flowing with milk and honey. And like Israel, we have an anchor of hope in knowing God is among us while we wait for the fulfillment of His promises to take place. One of the major themes of the book of Numbers is God's faithfulness to be with His people in the wilderness as He leads them to the place He promised to provide.

In Numbers 1:1, we read: "The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting." This is the same wilderness where Israel grumbled against the Lord and made a golden calf because Moses was taking too long on the burning mountain. But God, remaining true to His covenant promise, still dwelled among His chosen people.

Take time today to reflect on the faithfulness of God to stay with His people despite their sins throughout the book of Numbers. As you reflect, rejoice in the reality of the greater Moses—Jesus—who met with God on our behalf, so that we who trust in His Son might enjoy the presence of God in our lives every moment by the power of the Holy Spirit. As we continue on our pilgrimage in this wilderness, take heart in the reality that the blood of Jesus has paid the redemption price for our assurance of God's eternal presence in our lives.

This month's memory verse

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."

– Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Discussion Questions

1. As you reflect on God being in the wilderness with Israel, how does that shape your thoughts about God's character?

2. How does knowing that God has paid the price of your redemption in Jesus Christ increase your gratitude to God?

3. How does knowing God is with you by the power of the Holy Spirit impact the way you interact with your family, co-workers, roommates, and other people in your sphere of influence?