a 16:8 Unknown Hebrew term.
a 20:25 "Clean" refers to anything that is presentable to God. "Unclean" refers to anything that is not presentable to God.
a 24:8 Or "covenant."
a 24:11 Part of verse 11 (in Hebrew) has been placed in verse 10 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.
a 26:5 Threshing is the process of beating stalks to separate them from the grain.
b 26:9 Or "covenant."
a 27:25 Hebrew adds "There are 20 gerahs to the standard shekel."
Introduction to NUMBERS.
It's easy to see where Numbers gets its name. Chapters 1 and 26 give a detailed head count of military draft-eligible men-over 600,000 of them, listed by tribes. Israel is bound for the land of Canaan, but blood will be shed and the army must prepare.
Why two lists? The Hebrew name for this book, Bemidbar ("in the desert"), tells the story. Shortly after leaving Egypt, Moses sends twelve men to check out Canaan. Forty days later, they return. Two of them, Caleb and Joshua, are optimists: they see "a land flowing with milk and honey" (14:8), a land that can be conquered and subdued because the Lord is with them. The other ten are pessimists: they see only walled cities, fierce tribes, and terrifying giants. The people of Israel side with the pessimists. Afraid to trust God and enter the land, they begin laying plans to return to Egypt, even talking of killing Moses and Aaron.
Through Moses, God announces that none of the rebellious Israelites will live to see the Promised Land. For the next forty years, until nearly all the adults have died, they will wander in the desert. A new generation-plus Caleb and Joshua-will march into Canaan. The book of Numbers is about the desert years.
The census in Numbers 1, then, lists the men who should have conquered Canaan; the census in Numbers 26 lists the men who actually did conquer it. In between, the book tells stories about Israel's continual grumbling-tasteless food! no water!-and God's continual provision. Check out the story of the bronze snake in Numbers 21:4-9: Jesus alludes to it in John 12:32 (see also John 3:14-15). Look also at the story of Moses bringing water from the rock (Numbers 20:1-13): Paul mentions it in 1 Corinthians 10:1-5. And enjoy the story about Balaam and his talking donkey (Numbers 22-24).
Numbers, like Exodus and Leviticus, includes a lot of laws and regulations. Many involve the priests, Levites, and military. It also describes the major religious celebrations, the establishment of cities of refuge for the falsely accused, and the upholding of women's rights to own property. These rules have a purpose. By the end of the book, God has prepared a new generation of Israelites to leave the desert behind and to enter the Promised Land.
Key Names of God in Numbers Yahweh LORD El, Elohim God Ruach Spirit Adonay Lord, Master Ruach Elohim the Spirit of God Shadday Almighty Elyon Highest NUMBERS.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20.
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30.
31 32 33 34 35 36.
Moses Takes a Census of Israel 1 1 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai. It was the first day of the second month in the second year after leaving Egypt. He said, 2 "Take a census of the whole community of Israel by families and households. List every man by name 3 who is at least 20 years old. You and Aaron must register everyone in Israel who is eligible for military duty. List them by divisions. 4 One man from each tribe will help you. Each of these men must be the head of a household.
5 "Here are the names of the men who will help you: Elizur, son of Shedeur, from the tribe of Reuben; 6 Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, from the tribe of Simeon; 7 Nahshon, son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah; 8 Nethanel, son of Zuar, from the tribe of Issachar; 9 Eliab, son of Helon, from the tribe of Zebulun; 10 Elishama, son of Ammihud, from the tribe of Ephraim; Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, from the tribe of Manasseh; (Ephraim and Manasseh are Joseph's descendants.) 11 Abidan, son of Gideoni, from the tribe of Benjamin; 12 Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai, from the tribe of Dan; 13 Pagiel, son of Ochran, from the tribe of Asher; 14 Eliasaph, son of Deuel, from the tribe of Gad; 15 Ahira, son of Enan, from the tribe of Naphtali."
16 These were the men chosen from the community, the leaders of their ancestors' tribes, and heads of the divisions of Israel.
17 Moses and Aaron took the men who had been named 18 and assembled the whole community on the first day of the second month. Each man at least 20 years old provided his genealogy by family and household. Then his name was listed. 19 So Moses registered the men of Israel in the Desert of Sinai as Yahweh had commanded him.
20 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Reuben, Israel's firstborn son, listed every man by name who was at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 21 The total for the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.
22 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Simeon registered and listed every man by name who was at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 23 The total for the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.
24 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Gad listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 25 The total for the tribe of Gad was 45,650.
26 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Judah listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 27 The total for the tribe of Judah was 74,600.
28 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Issachar listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 29 The total for the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.
30 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Zebulun listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 31 The total for the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.
32 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Joseph-those from Ephraim-listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 33 The total for the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.
34 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Manasseh listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 35 The total for the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.
36 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Benjamin listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 37 The total for the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.
38 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Dan listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 39 The total for the tribe of Dan was 62,700.
40 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Asher listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 41 The total for the tribe of Asher was 41,500.
42 The roster of families and households for the descendants of Naphtali listed the men by name who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty. 43 The total for the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.
44 Moses, Aaron, and the 12 leaders of Israel, each representing his own family, added up these totals. 45 So the Israelites were registered by households. The grand total of men who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty 46 was 603,550.
47 But the households from the tribe of Levi were not registered along with the other Israelites. 48 Yahweh had said to Moses, 49 "Don't register the tribe of Levi or include them in the census with the other Israelites. 50 Put the Levites in charge of the tent of God's words, including the equipment for the tent and everything else having to do with the tent. The Levites will carry the tent and all its equipment. They will take care of the tent and camp around it. 51 When the tent has to be moved, the Levites will take it down. When we camp, they will set it up. Anyone else who comes near the tent will be put to death.
52 "The other Israelites will camp with each family in its own area under its own flag. 53 The Levites will camp all around the tent of God's words. In this way the LORD won't be angry with the community of Israel. So the Levites will be in charge of the tent of God's words."
54 The Israelites did everything as Yahweh commanded Moses.
The Arrangement of Israel's Camp 2 1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, 2 "The Israelites will put up their tents with each family under the flag that symbolizes its household. They will put their tents around the tent of meeting, facing it.
3 "On the east side, facing the rising sun, the armies led by Judah will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Judah is Nahshon, son of Amminadab. 4 The total number of men in his army is 74,600.
5 "Next to them will be the tribe of Issachar. The leader for the people of Issachar is Nethanel, son of Zuar. 6 The total number of men in his army is 54,400.
7 "Then will be the tribe of Zebulun. The leader for the people of Zebulun is Eliab, son of Helon. 8 The total number of men in his army is 57,400.
9 "The grand total of all the troops in Judah's camp is 186,400. They will be the first group to move out.
10 "On the south side the armies led by Reuben will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Reuben is Elizur, son of Shedeur. 11 The total number of men in his army is 46,500.
12 "Next to them will be the tribe of Simeon. The leader for the people of Simeon is Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai. 13 The total number of men in his army is 59,300.
14 "Then will be the tribe of Gad. The leader for the people of Gad is Eliasaph, son of Deuel. 15 The total number of men in his army is 45,650.
16 "The grand total of all the troops in Reuben's camp is 151,450. They will be the second group to move out.
17 "When the tent of meeting is moved, the Levites will stay in the middle of the groups. The tribes will move out in the same order as they are in the camp, everyone in place under his own flag.
18 "On the west side the armies led by Ephraim will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Ephraim is Elishama, son of Ammihud. 19 The total number of men in his army is 40,500.
20 "Next to them will be the tribe of Manasseh. The leader for the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur. 21 The total number of men in his army is 32,200.
22 "Then will be the tribe of Benjamin. The leader for the people of Benjamin is Abidan, son of Gideoni. 23 The total number of men in his army is 35,400.
24 "The grand total of all the troops in Ephraim's camp is 108,100. They will be the third group to move out.
25 "On the north side the armies led by Dan will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Dan is Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai. 26 The total number of men in his army is 62,700.
27 "Next to them will be the tribe of Asher. The leader for the people of Asher is Pagiel, son of Ochran. 28 The total number of men in his army is 41,500.
29 "Then will be the tribe of Naphtali. The leader for the people of Naphtali is Ahira, son of Enan. 30 The total number of men in his army is 53,400.
31 "The grand total of all the men in Dan's camp is 157,600. They will be the last group to move out. They will travel under their own flag."
32 This is the total number of Israelites, counted by households. The grand total of all the troops in the camps was 603,550. 33 As Yahweh had commanded Moses, the Levites were not registered along with the other Israelites.
34 So the Israelites did everything as Yahweh had commanded Moses. They set up camp under their flags, and each person traveled with his own family and household.
The Tribe of Levi Is Registered and Assigned Duties 3 1 This is the list of Aaron and Moses' descendants at the time when Yahweh spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai.
2 The names of Aaron's sons are Nadab (the firstborn), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of Aaron's sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. 4 Nadab and Abihu died in Yahweh's presence because they offered unauthorized fire in Yahweh's presence in the Desert of Sinai. They had no children. So only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.
5 Yahweh said to Moses, 6 "Bring the tribe of Levi, and have them stand in front of the priest Aaron to assist him. 7 They will work for him and the whole community in front of the tent of meeting, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent. 8 They will take care of all the furnishings in the tent of meeting and work for the Israelites, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent. 9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. The Levites will be the only Israelites given to them. 10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who tries to do the priests' duties must be put to death."
11 Yahweh said to Moses, 12 "Out of all the Israelites, I have taken the Levites to be substitutes for every firstborn male offspring among them. The Levites are mine, 13 because every firstborn is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set apart as holy every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They will be mine. I am Yahweh."
14 Yahweh said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai, 15 "Count the Levites by households and families. Count every male who is at least one month old." 16 So Moses did what Yahweh said and registered them as he had been commanded.
17 Gershon, Kohath, and Merari were the sons of Levi.
18 Libni and Shimei were the sons of Gershon. Their families were named after them.
19 Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel were the sons of Kohath. Their families were named after them.
20 Mahli and Mushi were the sons of Merari. Their families were named after them.
These were the households of Levite families.
21 To Gershon belonged the families descended from Libni and Shimei. These were the families descended from Gershon. 22 The total number of all the males at least one month old was 7,500. 23 The families descended from Gershon put up their tents on the west side behind the tent of meeting. 24 The leader of the Gershonite households was Eliasaph, son of Lael. 25 At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were in charge of the inner tent, the outer tent and cover, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains for the courtyard, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the inner tent and the altar, and the ropes. They took care of all these things.
27 To Kohath belonged the families descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These were the families descended from Kohath. 28 The number of all the males at least one month old was 8,600. They were in charge of the holy place. 29 The families descended from Kohath put up their tents on the south side of the tent of meeting. 30 The leader of the Kohathite families and households was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. 31 They were in charge of the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils used in the holy place, and the screen. They took care of all these things.
32 The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron. It was Eleazar's duty to supervise those who were in charge of the holy place.
33 To Merari belonged the families descended from Mahli and Mushi. These were the families descended from Merari. 34 The total number of all the males at least one month old was 6,200. 35 The leader of the Merarite families and households was Zuriel, son of Abihail. They put up their tents on the north side of the tent of meeting. 36 It was the duty of the Merarites to be in charge of the framework of the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, sockets, and all the equipment. They took care of all these things. 37 They also took care of the posts for the surrounding courtyard, the bases, pegs, and ropes.
38 Moses, Aaron, and his sons put up their tents on the east side in front of the tent of meeting. They were in charge of the holy place on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who tried to do the Levites' duties had to be put to death.
39 The grand total of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted at Yahweh's command, by families, every male who was at least one month old, was 22,000.
40 Yahweh said to Moses, "Register every firstborn male of the Israelites who is at least one month old, and make a list of their names. 41 I am Yahweh. Take the Levites for me to be substitutes for all firstborn Israelites. Also take the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for all firstborn animals of the Israelites."
42 So Moses registered all the firstborn Israelites as Yahweh commanded him. 43 The total of all the firstborn males at least one month old was 22,273. They were listed by name.
44 Yahweh said to Moses, 45 "Take the Levites to be substitutes for all the firstborn Israelites and the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for their animals. The Levites will be mine. I am Yahweh. 46 There are 273 more firstborn male Israelites than there are Levites. 47 It will cost you two ounces of silver per person (using the standard weight of the holy place) to buy them back. 48 Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It will buy back those Israelites who outnumber the Levites."
49 So Moses took this ransom money from the Israelites who outnumbered the Levites. 50 The silver Moses collected for the firstborn Israelites weighed 34 pounds, using the standard weight of the holy place. 51 Then Moses did what Yahweh said and gave Aaron and his sons this ransom money as he had been commanded.
The Duties of the Families Descended from Levi's Sons 4 1 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, 2 "Take a census of the Levites who are descended from Kohath. List them by families and households. 3 Register all the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who are qualified to work at the tent of meeting.
4 "This is the work the Kohathites will do in the tent of meeting: They will take care of the most holy things. 5 When the camp is supposed to move, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the canopy that hangs over the ark containing the words of God's promise. First they will cover the ark with the canopy. 6 Over this they will put a covering of fine leather.a On top of that they will spread a cloth made entirely of violet material. Then they will put the poles in place.
7 "They will spread a violet cloth over the table of the presence and put on it the plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers for the wine offerings. The bread that is always in the LORD'S presence will also be on it. 8 They will spread a bright red cloth over everything on the table. They will cover all this with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place.
9 "They will take a violet cloth and cover the lamp stand, as well as the lamps, tongs, trays, and all the containers for the olive oil used in the lamps. 10 Then they will put the lamp stand and all its utensils under a covering of fine leather and put them on a frame to carry them.
11 "They will spread a violet cloth over the gold altar and cover the cloth with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place.
12 "They will take all the articles that are used in the holy place, put them in a violet cloth, cover that with fine leather, and put them on a frame to carry them.
13 "After they take the ashes away, they will spread a purple cloth over the altar. 14 Next, they will put all the accessories used at the altar on it. These are the trays, forks, shovels, and bowls-all the altar's accessories. They will spread a covering of fine leather over all this. Then they will put the poles in place.
15 "When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy things and the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites will come to carry all the holy articles. They must never touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites will carry all the things from the tent of meeting.
16 "Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of the oil for the lamps, the sweet-smelling incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He is in charge of the whole tent and everything in it, the holy place and its contents."
17 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, 18 "Don't let the Kohathite families from Levi's tribe be destroyed. 19 This is what you must do so that they won't die when they come near the most holy things: Aaron and his sons will go into the holy place and tell each man what he will do and what he will carry. 20 But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die."
21 Yahweh said to Moses, 22 "Also take a census of the Gershonites. List them by households and families. 23 Register all the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who are qualified to serve at the tent of meeting.
24 "This is what the Gershonite families will do and what they will carry: 25 They will carry the sheets that are part of the inner tent and the tent of meeting. They will also carry the inner cover for the tent of meeting, the outer cover of fine leather that goes over it, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains for the courtyard around the tent and the altar, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes, and all the equipment used to set up the curtains. The Gershonites will do everything that needs to be done with these things. 27 All their work, whatever they carry and all their duties, will be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You are in charge of telling them everything they're supposed to carry. 28 This is the work of the Gershonite families in the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them.
29 "Register the Merarites by families and households. 30 Register all the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who are qualified to serve at the tent of meeting. 31 These are their duties as they work at the tent of meeting: They will carry the framework for the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, and sockets, 32 the posts for the surrounding courtyard, the bases, pegs, and ropes. They must take care of all this equipment. Tell each man by name the things he will carry. 33 This is what the Merarite families will do as they work at the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them."
34 Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the community registered the Kohathites by their families and households. 35 They registered all the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who were qualified to work at the tent of meeting. 36 The total of those who were registered was 2,750. They were listed by families. 37 This was the total of all those in the Kohathite families who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron did as Yahweh had commanded Moses and registered the Kohathites.
38 The Gershonites were registered by families and households. 39 All the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who were qualified to serve at the tent of meeting were registered. 40 The total of those who were registered was 2,630. They were listed by families and households. 41 This was the total of all those in the Gershonite families who worked at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron did as Yahweh had commanded Moses and registered the Gershonites.
42 The Merarites were registered by families and households. 43 All the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who were qualified to serve at the tent of meeting were registered. 44 The total of all those who were registered was 3,200. They were listed by families. 45 This was the total of those registered in the Merarite families. Moses and Aaron did as Yahweh had commanded Moses and registered the Merarites.
46 The grand total of all the Levites whom Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel registered was 8,580. They were listed by families and households. 47 These were the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who were qualified to do the work of serving and who carried the tent of meeting.a 49 At Yahweh's command through Moses each man was registered and told what to do and what to carry.
So they were registered as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Removing Unclean People from the Camp 5 1 Yahweh said to Moses, 2 "Command the Israelites to send outside the camp anyone who has a serious skin disease or a discharge or anyone who is uncleanb from touching a dead body. 3 Send all of these unclean men and women outside the camp. They must not make this camp where I live among you unclean." 4 So the Israelites did as Yahweh had told Moses. They sent these unclean people outside the camp.
Confessing and Paying for Sins 5 Yahweh said to Moses, 6 "Tell the Israelites: If you do something wrong to another person, you have been unfaithful to Yahweh. When you realize your guilt, 7 you must confess your sin, pay in full for what you did wrong, add onefifth to it, and give it to the person who was wronged. 8 But there may be no heir to whom the payment can be made. In that case, the payment for what you did wrong must be given to Yahweh for the priest to use. This payment is in addition to the ram which makes peace with the LORD.
9 "Any contribution over and above the holy offerings that the Israelites bring to the priest will belong to the priest. 10 Each person's holy offerings will belong to that person, but whatever is given to the priest will belong to the priest."
When a Husband Suspects That His Wife Has Been Unfaithful 11 Yahweh said to Moses: 12 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: A man's wife may have been unfaithful to him 13 and may have had sexual intercourse with another man without her husband's knowledge. She may have kept it secret if there were no witnesses to accuse her and she wasn't caught in the act.