Números 1

Números 1

MacArthur - The English title “Numbers” comes from the Greek (LXX = arithmoi) and Latin (Vg.) versions. This designation is based on the numberings that are a major focus of chaps. 1–4 (ED; THE OLD GENERATION AT MT SINAI) and chap 26 (ED: THE NEW GENERATION ON PLAINS OF MOAB). The most common Hebrew title comes from the fifth word in the Hebrew text of 1:1, “in the wilderness [of].” This name is much more descriptive of the total contents of the book, which recount the history of Israel during almost 39 years of wandering in the wilderness....The book of Numbers must be dated ca. 1405 B.C., since it is foundational to the book of Deuteronomy, and Deuteronomy is dated in the 11th month of the 40th year after the Exodus (Deut. 1:3). Ronald Allen - The Book of Numbers, while presenting unusual problems for the modern interpreter, yields significant rewards for the patient reader. In a day marked by pop art, quick fixes, and fast foods, the Book of Numbers is particularly troublesome. It simply does not appeal to the person who is unwilling to invest time and energy in the study of Scripture. Often the modern reader first will be discouraged just by the name of the book. “Numbers” seems to be a particularly inappropriate title for a part of the revelation of God. The title seems as interesting as a book named, for example, “Telephone Directory” or, perhaps, “Principles of Arithmetic.” A suspicion of increasing dullness settles in long before finishing the first chapter. By the fifth chapter the reader may have dropped out altogether. Numbers is not “fast food” literature! Indeed, some wonder whether it is any kind of literature at all. Once a reader braves these murky waters, he or she will discover that there are four major problems to face in the Book of Numbers: (1) its seeming lack of coherence as a book, (2) the dizzying variety of the contents, (3) the problematic large numbers of the tribes of Israel, and (4) the fascinating but confusing story of Balaam (Num 22–24). These factors combine to arrest even the interest of the most pious readers. (EBC) Brian Bell asks what was Numbers originally known as in the Hebrew Bible? Bemid-bar - in the wilderness/desert. {which better indicates what the book is about} Also been called Book of Journeyings; Book of the Murmurings; 4th Book of Moses. It’s a book of Transition: setting aside the old generation because of unbelief (ch 1-20); Then preparing the new generation to inherit the Promised land (ch.21-26). It’s a book of Wanderings: for God made His people wander in the wilderness for 40 years. [Till, the old generation, 20 yrs & older, died off] Application: “Unless by faith you enter into your spiritual inheritance in Christ, you will “wander” in unbelief & rob yourself of the blessings God has planned for you.” (Warren Wiersbe) What would God teach them/us in the wilderness? How to be wholly dependent on Him for food, clothing, health, protection, & all things. So we can learn what He can be to the heart that trusts Him. Why study the Book of Numbers? Paul explains they provide us an example and are for our instruction "Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (1 Cor.10:11, cf Ro 15:4+) Jensen - THE FIRST PROMINENT TRUTH about the ways of God revealed in the Book of Numbers is His order and planning. This is vividly demonstrated in the Genesis account of the creation of the universe. Here in Numbers it is manifested in His leading a great host of people (at least two million) on a journey through strange lands. At this point in the history of the Israelites everything pointed to a goal not yet attained, the occupation of the land of Canaan. This was not the goal of a dreamer, but the goal promised by the God who already had done marvelous miracles in behalf of His very own people. He had formed them into a nation as He had promised Abraham: “I will make of thee a great nation” (Gen. 12:2). He had delivered them from the utmost in human bondage in Egypt. He had also encouraged them as to the reality of occupying Canaan by making prior specific provision for the kind of life and worship which would be theirs. The Book of Leviticus is filled with such provision and direction, e.g., “When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto Jehovah” (Lev. 25:2). (Numbers-Journey to God's Rest-Land) Arnold Goldberg - “For the Christian reader, this book is first of all an epoch of Heilsgeschichte an epoch of that history that moves forward from Adam the fallen man to Jesus” Then the LORD spoke to Moses - The words Moses records in this book are God's holy words. As one writer has said "It is necessary to assume that the writer of these words was a fraud if this writing did not originate with Moses." Contrary to what some liberal writers might say the Bible itself ascribes to Moses the authorship of the Law or Pentateuch (see Josh. 8:31; 2 Kin. 14:6; Neh. 8:1; Mark 12:26; John 7:19). The book of Numbers itself refers to the writing of Moses. Nu 1:1 says the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai and in the closing verse Nu 36:13 reminds that God had spoken through Moses, ending with "These are the commandments and the ordinances which the LORD commanded to the sons of Israel through Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho." Numbers 33:2 Moses recorded their starting places according to their journeys by the command of the LORD, and these are their journeys according to their starting places. This formula the LORD spoke to Moses is repeated in Numbers - Beloved as frequent as this phrase is in the OT, it pales in comparison to our continual access to God's throne room through Christ in prayer (Hebrews 4:16+) and through His Word. In theory, it should be said of you and I each day that Jehovah spoke to __________. (Put you name in that blank). No, He won't speak audibly, but if you confess your sins and submit yourself to Him, seeking to hear from Him in His Word, you will "hear" from Him through His Word and His Spirit! (cf Ps 145:18+, Pr 8:17, Isa 55:6, Mt 6:33+) Num. 1:1; Num. 2:1; Num. 3:5; Num. 3:11; Num. 3:14; Num. 3:44; Num. 4:1; Num. 4:17; Num. 4:21; Num. 5:1; Num. 5:5; Num. 5:11; Num. 6:1; Num. 6:22; Num. 7:4; Num. 8:1; Num. 8:5; Num. 8:23; Num. 9:1; Num. 9:9; Num. 13:1; Num. 14:26; Num. 15:1; Num. 15:17; Num. 16:20; Num. 16:23; Num. 16:36; Num. 16:44; Num. 17:1; Num. 18:25; Num. 19:1; Num. 20:7; Num. 20:23; Num. 25:10; Num. 25:16; Num. 26:1; Num. 26:52; Num. 27:6; Num. 28:1; Num. 31:1; Num. 31:25; Num. 33:50; Num. 34:1; Num. 34:16; Num. 35:1; Num. 35:9; Believers Study Bible adds that "That the Lord spoke to and through Moses is stated over 150 times in Numbers, which testifies to the fact that this is indeed the Word of God as given to Moses." THOUGHT ON REPEATED EMPHASIS THAT YAHWEH SPOKE TO MOSES - "Apart from the revelation of God’s will, Israel would not have known what to do or where to camp. “You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron” (Ps. 77:20NKJV)." (Wiersbe). Beloved, how will we know how to move about in this wilderness world unless He speaks to us? Short answer - we won't know! We need to daily go to God for instructions in His Word (Jer 33:3, Jn 15:7 Ps 48:14+, Ps 91:15+, Isa 30:21) and trust that His Spirit will be our Guide during the day (Jn 16:13,). Can you see the problems one might encounter if they are reading the Word of Truth only once or twice a week (or even worse only once or twice a month!)? THOUGHT - Hearing God’s Word - In the book of Numbers, we read that the Lord spoke over 150 times. The children of Israel were without excuse in terms of knowing God’s will regarding many different aspects of life and worship. How much more should we be without excuse today. We have the entire Bible, both the Old and the New Testaments. God still speaks today through the authors of Scripture, we should devote ourselves to studying the Word of God in order to discern His will for our lives. Since God still speaks today through the authors of Scripture, we should devote ourselves to studying the Word of God in order to discern His will for our lives.(Getz) In the wilderness of Sinai In the tent of meeting - Yes God spoke to Moses in the wilderness but in the Tabernacle that was in the wilderness. “The Hebrew word for wilderness (midbar) means a place for driving flocks. It is not a completely arid desert, but contains little vegetation and a few trees. The rainfall in such areas is too light, a few inches per year, to support cultivation.” (Wenham) The scant rainfall of the wilderness could support crops but it could support flocks. [ Wilderness in Numbers - Num. 1:1; Num. 1:19; Num. 3:4; Num. 3:14; Num. 9:1; Num. 9:5; Num. 10:12; Num. 10:31; Num. 12:16; Num. 13:3; Num. 13:21; Num. 13:26; Num. 14:2; Num. 14:16; Num. 14:22; Num. 14:25; Num. 14:29; Num. 14:32; Num. 14:33; Num. 14:35; Num. 15:32; Num. 16:13; Num. 20:1; Num. 20:4; Num. 21:5; Num. 21:11; Num. 21:13; Num. 21:18; Num. 21:23; Num. 24:1; Num. 26:64; Num. 26:65; Num. 27:3; Num. 27:14; Num. 32:13; Num. 32:15; Num. 33:6; Num. 33:8; Num. 33:11; Num. 33:12; Num. 33:15; Num. 33:16; Num. 33:36; Num. 34:3; THOUGHT - The Book of Numbers approaches it all God’s way. When we are in the wilderness, we are tempted to launch a hundred different schemes and plans to escape. But only God’s way really works; and the Book of Numbers gives us God’s way. The idea that the LORD spoke to Moses is repeated more than 150 times and more than 20 different ways in Numbers. (Guzik) On the first of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying - This census was taken one month after the Tabernacle was erected for we read Exodus 40:17 "Now in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected." Ryrie explains that "The Tabernacle was set up one year after the Exodus from Egypt (cf. Ex 12:2+) and nine months after Israel's arrival at Sinai (cf. Ex 19:1+)." Wenham - “The theme of the book of Numbers is the journey to the Promised Land of Canaan. Its opening ten chapters, covering a mere fifty days, describe how Moses organized Israel for the march from Sinai to the Promised Land.” (TOTC-Numbers) Elmer Smick - The priests and the Tabernacle were consecrated in this one month (Ex 40; Lev 8); the princes brought their gifts in this month (Num 7); and the first commemorative Passover took place then (Nu 9:1-14). (Wycliffe Bible Commentary) Kay Arthur reminds us of the hymn "When the Saints Go Marching In.”...I was to be among that number when the saints would go marching into heaven! Hallelujah! It was something to rejoice over. Well, Beloved, our study of Numbers is all about when the saints, God’s holy people, go marching out — out from Sinai to the land promised to them as an everlasting possession." (Numbers Study)