| abstract
| - Numbers is more than a book about "numbers" or numerical issues. It contains the story of Israel's journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab on the border of Canaan. The translators of the Septuagint gave it the name "Numbers" because of the books census lists found in chs. 1 and 26. The Hebrew name, bemidbar, means more properly "in the desert". __TOC__ The beginning of Numbers (1:1 - 10:10) deals with Israel's preparation to leave Mount Sinai. Yet, they refused to enter the promised land (10:11 - 20:21), with the climax of the book appearing in chapter 14. Israel did not trust God, for when he said that he would give the nation the land of Canaan (13:1) they still would not trust Him and feared men over the Lord (13:31-33). Israel complained, saying "wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" (14:3). Moses and Aaron attempted to tell the nation, "...do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them," (14:9). Sadly, not only did Israel not listen, but they even "talked about stoning them" (14:10). Israel rebelled despite their recent redemption from the Egyptians, found in Exodus. Furthemore, God had recently made a covenant with them at Mount Sinai, however, Israel still disobeyed and did not trust God. God's decision was "for fourty years - one year for each of the fourty days you explored this land - you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you," (14:34). Moses was not spared from this disobedience (cf. Num. 20:1-13) and was not allowed to enter the promised land. The rest of Numbers (20:22 - 36:13) may be seen as more preparation to enter the land of Canaan.
- The Book of Numbers (Greek: Αριθμοί arithmoi meaning "numbers") or Bəmidbar (Hebrew: במדבר, literally "In the wilderness of") is the fourth book of the Hebrew Bible, and the fourth of five books of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch. This book may be divided into three parts: 1.
* The numbering of the people at Sinai, and preparations for resuming their march (1–10:10). 2.
* An account of the journey from Sinai to Moab, the sending out of the spies and the report they brought back, and the murmurings (eight times) of the people at the hardships by the way (10:11–21:20). 3.
* The transactions in the plain of Moab before crossing the Jordan River (21:21–36). In Numbers, the priests are instructed to bless the nation of Israel as follows: “May Yahweh bless you, and keep you. May Yahweh let his face shine on you and be gracious to you. May Yahweh show you his face and bring you peace.” This priestly blessing is regularly performed during Jewish services, on Jewish holidays, and sometimes by parents over their own children before the Friday Shabbat meal. The period comprehended in the history extends from the second month of the second year, as measured from the Exodus, to the beginning of the eleventh month of the fortieth year, in all about thirty-seven years and nine months; a dreary period of wanderings. They were fewer in number at the end of their wanderings than when they left the land of Egypt. According to tradition, Moses authored all five books of the Torah. According to the documentary hypothesis, Numbers, with its dry style and emphasis on censuses, derives from the priestly source, c. 550–400 BC, and was combined with the other three sources to create the Torah c. 400.
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