February 4, 2025

What is God's standard?

Numbers 4-6

Elisabeth Reid
Tuesday's Devo

February 4, 2025

Tuesday's Devo

February 4, 2025

Big Book Idea

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

Key Verse | Numbers 6:2, 8

"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD . . . . All the days of his separation he is holy to the LORD."

Numbers 4-6

Duties of the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites

The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their clans and their fathers' houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who can come on duty, to do the work in the tent of meeting. This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: the most holy things. When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it. Then they shall put on it a covering of goatskin 1 4:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain; compare Exodus 25:5 and spread on top of that a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles. And over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; the regular showbread also shall be on it. Then they shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet and cover the same with a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles. And they shall take a cloth of blue and cover the lampstand for the light, with its lamps, its tongs, its trays, and all the vessels for oil with which it is supplied. 10 And they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of goatskin and put it on the carrying frame. 11 And over the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue and cover it with a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles. 12 And they shall take all the vessels of the service that are used in the sanctuary and put them in a cloth of blue and cover them with a covering of goatskin and put them on the carrying frame. 13 And they shall take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 And they shall put on it all the utensils of the altar, which are used for the service there, the fire pans, the forks, the shovels, and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles. 15 And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, lest they die. These are the things of the tent of meeting that the sons of Kohath are to carry.

16 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering, and the anointing oil, with the oversight of the whole tabernacle and all that is in it, of the sanctuary and its vessels.”

17 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 18 “Let not the tribe of the clans of the Kohathites be destroyed from among the Levites, 19 but deal thus with them, that they may live and not die when they come near to the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them each to his task and to his burden, 20 but they shall not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment, lest they die.”

21 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 22 “Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers' houses and by their clans. 23 From thirty years old up to fifty years old, you shall list them, all who can come to do duty, to do service in the tent of meeting. 24 This is the service of the clans of the Gershonites, in serving and bearing burdens: 25 they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering of goatskin that is on top of it and the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting 26 and the hangings of the court and the screen for the entrance of the gate of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords and all the equipment for their service. And they shall do all that needs to be done with regard to them. 27 All the service of the sons of the Gershonites shall be at the command of Aaron and his sons, in all that they are to carry and in all that they have to do. And you shall assign to their charge all that they are to carry. 28 This is the service of the clans of the sons of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting, and their guard duty is to be under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

29 As for the sons of Merari, you shall list them by their clans and their fathers' houses. 30 From thirty years old up to fifty years old, you shall list them, everyone who can come on duty, to do the service of the tent of meeting. 31 And this is what they are charged to carry, as the whole of their service in the tent of meeting: the frames of the tabernacle, with its bars, pillars, and bases, 32 and the pillars around the court with their bases, pegs, and cords, with all their equipment and all their accessories. And you shall list by name the objects that they are required to carry. 33 This is the service of the clans of the sons of Merari, the whole of their service in the tent of meeting, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.”

34 And Moses and Aaron and the chiefs of the congregation listed the sons of the Kohathites, by their clans and their fathers' houses, 35 from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty, for service in the tent of meeting; 36 and those listed by clans were 2,750. 37 This was the list of the clans of the Kohathites, all who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron listed according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses.

38 Those listed of the sons of Gershon, by their clans and their fathers' houses, 39 from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty for service in the tent of meeting— 40 those listed by their clans and their fathers' houses were 2,630. 41 This was the list of the clans of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron listed according to the commandment of the LORD.

42 Those listed of the clans of the sons of Merari, by their clans and their fathers' houses, 43 from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty, for service in the tent of meeting— 44 those listed by clans were 3,200. 45 This was the list of the clans of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron listed according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses.

46 All those who were listed of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chiefs of Israel listed, by their clans and their fathers' houses, 47 from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come to do the service of ministry and the service of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting, 48 those listed were 8,580. 49 According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses they were listed, each one with his task of serving or carrying. Thus they were listed by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Unclean People

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp everyone who is leprous 2 5:2 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 or has a discharge and everyone who is unclean through contact with the dead. You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.” And the people of Israel did so, and put them outside the camp; as the LORD said to Moses, so the people of Israel did.

Confession and Restitution

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed. 3 5:7 Hebrew they shall confess their sin that they have committed And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong. But if the man has no next of kin to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for wrong shall go to the LORD for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for him. And every contribution, all the holy donations of the people of Israel, which they bring to the priest, shall be his. 10 Each one shall keep his holy donations: whatever anyone gives to the priest shall be his.”

A Test for Adultery

11 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Speak to the people of Israel, If any man's wife goes astray and breaks faith with him, 13 if a man lies with her sexually, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and she is undetected though she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her, since she was not taken in the act, 14 and if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife who has defiled herself, or if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife, though she has not defiled herself, 15 then the man shall bring his wife to the priest and bring the offering required of her, a tenth of an ephah 4 5:15 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters of barley flour. He shall pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it, for it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of remembrance, bringing iniquity to remembrance.

16 And the priest shall bring her near and set her before the LORD. 17 And the priest shall take holy water in an earthenware vessel and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water. 18 And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD and unbind the hair of the woman's head and place in her hands the grain offering of remembrance, which is the grain offering of jealousy. And in his hand the priest shall have the water of bitterness that brings the curse. 19 Then the priest shall make her take an oath, saying, ‘If no man has lain with you, and if you have not turned aside to uncleanness while you were under your husband's authority, be free from this water of bitterness that brings the curse. 20 But if you have gone astray, though you are under your husband's authority, and if you have defiled yourself, and some man other than your husband has lain with you, 21 then’ (let the priest make the woman take the oath of the curse, and say to the woman) ‘the LORD make you a curse and an oath among your people, when the LORD makes your thigh fall away and your body swell. 22 May this water that brings the curse pass into your bowels and make your womb swell and your thigh fall away.’ And the woman shall say, ‘Amen, Amen.’

23 Then the priest shall write these curses in a book and wash them off into the water of bitterness. 24 And he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain. 25 And the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy out of the woman's hand and shall wave the grain offering before the LORD and bring it to the altar. 26 And the priest shall take a handful of the grain offering, as its memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water. 27 And when he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and has broken faith with her husband, the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain, and her womb shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away, and the woman shall become a curse among her people. 28 But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she shall be free and shall conceive children.

29 This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself, 30 or when the spirit of jealousy comes over a man and he is jealous of his wife. Then he shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall carry out for her all this law. 31 The man shall be free from iniquity, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.”

The Nazirite Vow

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, 5 6:2 Nazirite means one separated, or one consecrated to separate himself to the LORD, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. All the days of his separation 6 6:4 Or Naziriteship he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins.

All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the LORD, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long.

All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body. Not even for his father or for his mother, for brother or sister, if they die, shall he make himself unclean, because his separation to God is on his head. All the days of his separation he is holy to the LORD.

And if any man dies very suddenly beside him and he defiles his consecrated head, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing; on the seventh day he shall shave it. 10 On the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two pigeons to the priest to the entrance of the tent of meeting, 11 and the priest shall offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, and make atonement for him, because he sinned by reason of the dead body. And he shall consecrate his head that same day 12 and separate himself to the LORD for the days of his separation and bring a male lamb a year old for a guilt offering. But the previous period shall be void, because his separation was defiled.

13 And this is the law for the Nazirite, when the time of his separation has been completed: he shall be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting, 14 and he shall bring his gift to the LORD, one male lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish as a sin offering, and one ram without blemish as a peace offering, 15 and a basket of unleavened bread, loaves of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and their grain offering and their drink offerings. 16 And the priest shall bring them before the LORD and offer his sin offering and his burnt offering, 17 and he shall offer the ram as a sacrifice of peace offering to the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread. The priest shall offer also its grain offering and its drink offering. 18 And the Nazirite shall shave his consecrated head at the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall take the hair from his consecrated head and put it on the fire that is under the sacrifice of the peace offering. 19 And the priest shall take the shoulder of the ram, when it is boiled, and one unleavened loaf out of the basket and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them on the hands of the Nazirite, after he has shaved the hair of his consecration, 20 and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD. They are a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed. And after that the Nazirite may drink wine.

21 This is the law of the Nazirite. But if he vows an offering to the LORD above his Nazirite vow, as he can afford, in exact accordance with the vow that he takes, then he shall do in addition to the law of the Nazirite.”

Aaron's Blessing

22 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

24  The LORD bless you and keep you;
25  the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26  the LORD lift up his countenance 7 6:26 Or face upon you and give you peace.

27 So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Footnotes

[1] 4:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain; compare Exodus 25:5
[2] 5:2 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
[3] 5:7 Hebrew they shall confess their sin that they have committed
[4] 5:15 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters
[5] 6:2 Nazirite means one separated, or one consecrated
[6] 6:4 Or Naziriteship
[7] 6:26 Or face
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.

Revelation Fact #16: Benedictions

Fact: Benedictions

Revelation contains seven benedictions, or blessings (see chart). Some other memorable benedictions include Aaron’s blessing on Israel (Num. 6:24–26), 2 Corinthians 13:14, and Jude 24–25. These and other blessings are often used in Christian worship.

Numbers Fact #5: What is a “grain offering of jealousy”?

Fact: What is a “grain offering of jealousy”?

What is a “grain offering of jealousy”? This was part of a ritual to determine the guilt or innocence of a woman accused of adultery (5:11–31). Oil and frankincense were not poured over this offering, as they were with other grain offerings. The lack of these elements showed that this was not a joyful occasion.

Numbers Fact #6: Nazirites

Fact: Nazirites

Nazirites were dedicated laypersons. Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist were lifelong Nazirites.

1 Chronicles Fact #9: Why couldn’t the ark be carried on an oxcart?

Fact: Why couldn’t the ark be carried on an oxcart?

Why couldn’t the ark be carried on an oxcart? The Lord had commanded that the ark should be carried with long poles (Ex. 25:12–15). Transporting the ark on an oxcart instead demonstrated a lack of reverence for this representation of God’s presence. When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah touched the ark to steady it, and the Lord struck him dead. Even those whose job it was to carry the ark were forbidden to touch it (Num. 4:15).

Psalms Fact #32: Wanting God’s blessing

Fact: Wanting God’s blessing

Wanting God’s blessing. Psalm 67 echoes the priestly blessing in Num. 6:24–26. Israel desires God’s blessing so that all nations may know of his saving power. God called Abram in order to bless him and his descendants and to make them a means of blessing to all the nations of the world (Gen. 12:2–3).

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

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
Study Notes
1 Chronicles Fact #9: Why couldn’t the ark be carried on an oxcart?

Fact: Why couldn’t the ark be carried on an oxcart?

Why couldn’t the ark be carried on an oxcart? The Lord had commanded that the ark should be carried with long poles (Ex. 25:12–15). Transporting the ark on an oxcart instead demonstrated a lack of reverence for this representation of God’s presence. When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah touched the ark to steady it, and the Lord struck him dead. Even those whose job it was to carry the ark were forbidden to touch it (Num. 4:15).

Study Notes

Num. 4:1–20 The Kohathite priests handle the most holy items of the tabernacle (such as the ark, lampstand, and altars). The non-priestly Kohathites will die if they even look at these objects (compare Ex. 33:20).

Study Notes

Num. 3:1–4:49 The two censuses of Levites count different groups. The first (3:1–51) counts every male Levite over one month old. The male Levites took the place of the firstborn males of the other tribes to serve the Lord, so the first census ensures that the number of the Levites matches the number of other firstborn sons. The second census (4:1–49) counts Levites between 30 and 50 years of age. This census aims to find if there are enough able-bodied male Levites to transport the tabernacle.

Num. 4:1–49 Levites between 30 and 50 years old were responsible for moving the tabernacle from campsite to campsite. This chapter specifies what each Levitical clan must do (vv. 3–33) and then records their number (vv. 34–49). For a full description of the tabernacle, see Exodus 25–31 and notes, and illustration.

The Tabernacle And Court

The Tabernacle And Court

The tabernacle was a portable temple—a “tent of meeting”—within a movable courtyard (Exodus 25–31; 35–40). It was constructed after the pattern that Yahweh revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai, and was assembled in the desert as Moses led the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. The tabernacle courtyard was 150 feet (46 m) long and 75 feet (23 m) wide, totaling 11,250 square feet (1,045 square meters).

The Tabernacle And Court

Study Notes

Num. 5:2 leprous. The skin conditions involved are described in Leviticus 13. dead. On the uncleanness caused by death, see Num. 19:11–22. discharge. See notes on Leviticus 15.

Study Notes

Num. 5:1–4 The unclean must live separate from the people, outside the campsite (compare Lev. 13:46; 2 Kings 7:3).

Study Notes

Num. 5:5–10 This law expands on Lev. 6:1–7, which deals with the case of someone stealing his neighbor’s property and then taking an oath denying that he did so.

Study Notes

Num. 5:15 grain offering. For the normal procedure, see Leviticus 2. The absence of oil and frankincense shows that this is not a joyful occasion.

Study Notes

Num. 5:18 unbind the hair. An act of shaming, or perhaps of mourning (compare Lev. 10:6; 21:10).

Study Notes

Num. 5:11–31 The ritual described here is designed to distinguish between actual adultery (vv. 12–14a) and unwarranted suspicion (v. 14b). In Israel as well as in other ancient Near Eastern countries, adulterers faced the death penalty (Deut. 22:22). It is not clear what the threat that her womb swell and her thigh fall away means, but it could refer to miscarriage. The guilty wife is threatened with childlessness, while the innocent wife is assured she shall be free and shall conceive children (Num. 5:28; compare Gen. 20:17–18).

Numbers Fact #5: What is a “grain offering of jealousy”?

Fact: What is a “grain offering of jealousy”?

What is a “grain offering of jealousy”? This was part of a ritual to determine the guilt or innocence of a woman accused of adultery (5:11–31). Oil and frankincense were not poured over this offering, as they were with other grain offerings. The lack of these elements showed that this was not a joyful occasion.

Study Notes

Num. 6:7 his separation to God is on his head. The word translated “separation” is also used of the high priest’s crown (Lev. 8:9). Both the priestly crown and the Nazirite’s uncut hair reminded other people of their dedication to God’s service.

Study Notes

Num. 6:7–12 Contact with death brought severe uncleanness. It had to be remedied by offering three sacrifices (sin, burnt, and guilt offerings; Lev. 1:14–16; 5:7–10, 14–16) and by starting the period of the Nazirite vow all over again: the previous period shall be void (Num. 6:12).

Study Notes

Num. 6:13–20 When the period for which a Nazirite had dedicated himself ended, he had to bring various offerings. His unshaven head marked his dedication to God, and by burning the hair he symbolically gave himself to God. The shoulder of the ram is given to the priest, in addition to his usual share of the sacrifice (the breast and the thigh; see Lev. 7:31–34).

Study Notes

Num. 6:1–21 Nazirites were the most dedicated laypeople in the OT. Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist were lifelong Nazirites, but usually a person vowed to become a Nazirite for a limited period of time.

Study Notes

Num. 6:24–25 The LORD bless you. God blesses by giving good harvests, peace, children, and his own presence (Lev. 26:3–13). keep. That is, “guard” and “protect.” his face to shine upon you. A shining face indicates God’s favor on his people.

Study Notes

Num. 6:26 The “countenance” is the face or its expression. For God to lift up his countenance involves taking notice of his people and treating them with favor. Peace (Hebrew shalom) involves more than the English sense of “lack of war”; it means total well-being.

Psalms Fact #32: Wanting God’s blessing

Fact: Wanting God’s blessing

Wanting God’s blessing. Psalm 67 echoes the priestly blessing in Num. 6:24–26. Israel desires God’s blessing so that all nations may know of his saving power. God called Abram in order to bless him and his descendants and to make them a means of blessing to all the nations of the world (Gen. 12:2–3).

Revelation Fact #16: Benedictions

Fact: Benedictions

Revelation contains seven benedictions, or blessings (see chart). Some other memorable benedictions include Aaron’s blessing on Israel (Num. 6:24–26), 2 Corinthians 13:14, and Jude 24–25. These and other blessings are often used in Christian worship.

Study Notes

Num. 5:1–6:27 The concept of uncleanness is important in the Bible, and it is not what most people assume the term means (for a discussion of the term, see Introduction to Leviticus; see also Leviticus 11–16). There were different levels of uncleanness, ranging from a mild form caused by marital intercourse (Lev. 15:18), to moderate caused by skin disease (Leviticus 13), to severe uncleanness triggered by sins like idolatry, adultery, and homicide. Severe uncleanness had led to the Canaanites losing their land, and Israel was warned that the same thing could happen to them (Lev. 20:22–23). People who were unclean were forbidden to participate in worship. Their uncleanness could infect the tabernacle, making it impossible for God to dwell there. The Day of Atonement cleansed the tabernacle once a year (Leviticus 16) to ensure God’s continuing presence with his people. These regulations in Numbers 5–6 protect the camp from uncleanness so that the tabernacle will remain pure and God can stay with his people.

Num. 6:22–27 This famous blessing shows that God’s will is to bless every Israelite, not just the Nazirites. The priests offer God’s blessing to the people.

Numbers Fact #6: Nazirites

Fact: Nazirites

Nazirites were dedicated laypersons. Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist were lifelong Nazirites.

S4:030 Numbers 4-6

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Dive Deeper | Numbers 4-6

Did you have that one person whom you looked up to as a kid? You'd show up eager and with your shovel in hand if they were out working in the garden, or you'd plead to have a turn using the hammer to nail a picture frame to the wall. What happened when you inevitably sliced a plant with the shovel or punched a hole in the wall with the hammer? That mentor probably stepped in and offered guidance on how to do things the correct way. The consequences still existed—the plant remained sliced, and the hole in the wall wasn't going anywhere—but you were given another chance to do it the right way and learn from your mistake.

God is both just and merciful. He allows consequences, but meets us in the midst to offer a path back to sanctification. He gives us another chance. The Israelites made a mistake by not entering the land of Canaan as God had commanded them. Their consequence was to wander in the desert for 40 years. Yet, in the midst of their consequence, God met them and showed them another way toward sanctification. These new instructions from God don't fix the Israelites' consequences from their sins, but rather give them another chance to follow Him. The greatest example of God meeting humankind and offering redemption was through the death and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ. 

So what does this mean for us now? Numbers 6:2 describes the vow of a Nazirite to offer oneself in service to the Lord for a set period of time. This is a preview of the commission that Paul gives in Romans 12:1-2: "[P]resent your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." We are called to follow in Jesus' steps and live a life surrendered to God, pursuing Him in everything.

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. What is your "desert" (natural consequence of past sins) that you're experiencing today? Do you believe that God has forgiven you for the sin(s) that caused it and desires to give you another chance?

2. Is there something you feel that God might be calling you to but that you are avoiding? If so, why?

3. What evidence have you seen of God giving second chances in your life?

4. Can you think of other instances in the Bible when God gave humankind a second chance? List these and see if the stories have similarities.