Opening Numbers

Today's Reading: Background on the Book of Numbers

	Comments:
	So as I begin a new book each time now I will try to answer the following questions before proceeding: 1. Who wrote the book? 2. When was it written in comparison to other books? 3. What is the historical chronology? 4. Is there a specific audience? 5. What is the major theme or purpose of the book? 6. Anything else special? Prayer: Heavenly Father, please reveal your purpose in this book and help me to understand how it fits into the big picture of your Word and the story of your Son. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
	1. Who wrote the book?
	It looks like there is a consensus that Moses wrote this book and he did so in the final year of his life. The title is taken from the early Greek translation of the OT called the Septuagint but the original Hebrew text was titled "in the wilderness" (Hb. bemidbar) and is more descriptive of the historical context. Commentators state that Moses clearly wrote certain passages by his own hand where it is possible that some was biography rather than autobiography.
	2. When was it written in comparison to other books?
	Numbers is the fourth of five books believed to be primarily authored by Moses in what is known as the Pentateuch (Gk. "five-volumed") .  The Hebrew title is the Torah ("law or "instruction") and the NT refers to it this way.  From the Bible Knowledge Commentary- The last verse in the Book of Numbers states, “These are the commands and regulations the Lord gave through Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho” (36:13). This implies that the journey through the wilderness had been completed and that Israel was about to enter the land of Canaan. Crossing the Jordan occurred 40 years after the Exodus (cf. Josh. 5:6), an event to be dated 1446 b.c. So the Book of Numbers must be dated about 1406, obviously before Moses’ death which also took place in that year. (The date 1446 for the Exodus is based on 1 Kings 6:1 which says that Solomon commenced the construction of the temple in his fourth year, 966 b.c., which was 480 years after the Exodus. See the comments on that passage.) Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (Le 27:16–21). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. Moses' Pentateuch were most likely the first five books of scripture written and in the sequence found within the bible.
	3. What is the historical chronology?
	From the ESV Study Bible- The book begins with Israel making final preparations to leave Sinai. It then records their triumphal setting out, before relating a series of disasters in which the people grumbled about the difficulty of the journey and the impossibility of conquering Canaan. This response leads to God delaying the entry to Canaan by 40 years. The closing chapters of the book tell how the people at last set out again and reached the banks of the Jordan, poised to cross into the land promised to their forefathers. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (257). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
	4. Is there a specific audience?
	As a foundational book of the bible the audience is not specific although it is part of the Petateuch and therefore has ultimate significance for Jews of all generations. From the ESV Study Bible- The Pentateuch is not simply the beginning of the Bible; it is also the foundation of the Bible. It serves to orient the reader for reading the rest of the biblical story line. It introduces the key promises that show God’s purposes in history and that lay the groundwork for the coming of Christ. Its theological ideas and ethical principles inform the rest of the Bible so that the subsequent books assume its authority and appeal to it as they evaluate people’s deeds and character. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (35). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
	5. What is the major theme or purpose of the book?
	Being part of the Pentateuch, I start with the them of the larger collection- From the ESV Study Bible- A review of the contents of the Pentateuch shows that its center of gravity is the law-giving at Sinai. All of Exodus 19 to Numbers 10 is devoted to the events that occurred in the vicinity of Sinai: the declaration of the Ten Commandments, the building of the tabernacle, the laws governing sacrifice, entry to the tabernacle, and the celebration of the festivals. Closer examination of this central section suggests that its climax is God’s glory filling the newly built tabernacle (Ex. 40:34–38) as a visible demonstration of his choice of and intimacy with Israel—a restoration of the situation in the garden of Eden, where God walked with Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:8).  The theme of the Pentateuch is announced in Genesis 12:1–3, the call of Abraham: “Go from your country … to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you … and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Here God promises Abraham four things: (1) a land to live in; (2) numerous descendants (“a great nation”); (3) blessing (divinely granted success) for himself; and (4) blessing through him for all the nations of the world. God’s benefit for the nations is the climax or goal of the promises: the preceding promises of land, descendants, and personal blessing are steps on the way to the final goal of universal blessing. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (36). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. Numbers- So Numbers is basically describing the 40 years of wandering the desert before finally crossing the Jordan under the new leadership of Joshua… From the Pentateuch Commentary- The Book of Numbers can be summarized in the caption “Marching and Murmuring.” The immediate purpose of the book is to relate the history of God’s people from the time of the first census until the final encampment before they entered the Promised Land. For the most part during that period Israel was on the march from Mt. Sinai to the Plains of Moab just across Jordan from Jericho. Although they were being led by the Lord, all during that march God’s people complained about their circumstances. Smith, J. E. (1993). The Pentateuch (2nd ed.) (Nu). Joplin, Mo.: College Press Pub. Co. From Wiersbe's Outline on the Old Testament- Someone has described Israel’s wilderness wanderings as “the longest funeral march in history.” Only Caleb and Joshua of the older generation were permitted to enter Canaan, because they had trusted God and opposed the decision of the nation to turn back at Kadesh-Barnea. Even Moses was forbidden to go into the Promised Land because of his sin when he smote the rock instead of speaking to it. Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the Old Testament. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. From the ESV Study Bible- The theme of Numbers is the gradual fulfillment of the promises to Abraham that his descendants would be the people of God and occupy the land of Canaan. The book shows the reality of God’s presence with Israel in the cloud of fire over the tabernacle, but the repeated displays of unbelief by Israel delay the entry into Canaan and cost many lives. Nevertheless, by the end of the book, Israel is poised to enter the land. There are four elements to the patriarchal promise set out first in Genesis 12:1–3: (1) land, (2) many descendants, (3) covenant relationship with God, and (4) blessing to the nations. These four aspects of the promise all play a role in Numbers.  The land of Canaan is the goal of the book of Numbers. Chapter 13 relates their arrival at the southern border of the land and the mission of the spies. The spies’ gloomy report causes Israel to lose heart about the land, and God sentences them to wander for 40 years in the wilderness. But the second half of the book shows the people again on the move toward the land, overcoming opposition and reaching the eastern border of Canaan, marked by the Jordan River (ch. 34). Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (259). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. From the Pentateuch Commentary- The ultimate purpose and abiding lesson of Numbers is that perseverance is essential. Only two adults of those who left Egypt were permitted to enter the Promised Land. Those who make a good start are not crowned, but those who finish the course! Paul drew the lesson from this book that Christians must avoid presumption (1 Cor 10:1–12). The writer of Hebrews saw here a warning against unbelief (Heb 3:19). Smith, J. E. (1993). The Pentateuch (2nd ed.) (Nu). Joplin, Mo.: College Press Pub. Co.
	6. Anything else special?
	From Wiersbe's Outline on the Old Testament- Numbers has an important spiritual lesson for Christians today, as explained in Hebrews 3–4 and 1 Cor. 10:1–15. God honors faith and punishes unbelief. At the root of all of Israel’s sins in the wilderness was unbelief: they did not trust God’s Word. At Kadesh-Barnea they doubted God’s Word and failed to enter into their inheritance. Instead of claiming Canaan by faith, they wandered in the wilderness in unbelief. Many Christians today are “in between” in their spiritual lives. They have been delivered from Egypt by the blood of the Lamb, but they have not yet entered into their inheritance in Christ. Canaan is not a picture of heaven. Rather, it is an illustration of our spiritual inheritance in Christ (Eph. 1:3), an inheritance that must be claimed by faith. Canaan was a land of battles and blessings, as is the Christian life today. Alas, too many Christians come to the place of decision (their own Kadesh-Barnea), and they fail to enter into their inheritance by faith! Instead of being conquerors (as described in Joshua), they become wanderers, as described in Numbers. Yes, they are saved, but they fail to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. They will not trust God to overcome the giants, knock down the walls, and give them the inheritance that He has promised. They will not cross Jordan (which illustrates death to self) and step out by faith to claim what Christ has promised them. Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the Old Testament. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. Application and Prayer: Today I will consider the significance and the context of my readings in the bible in order to better understand how the scripture applies to me and how it forms the entire redemptive story of salvation presented in the bible Thank you Lord for this book of Numbers, the story of Israel's 40 years wandering in the desert before coming into the promise land. Please let me learn the lessons you have for me in this text over the coming weeks as I study how Israel failed to claim your promise and yet you were faithful to bring them to the promised land. Let me not live in fear of my circumstances Lord but teach me to claim your promises and teach me to live by faith, fulfilling your purpose for my life. In Jesus name I pray, amen. Soli Deo Gloria! View blog from a computer or iPad for more content. Follow @dailysurrender