Numbers
The book of Numbers begins with a census of the Israelites, where 603,550 men are counted, excluding the Levites who are appointed to care for the tabernacle. The Israelites are instructed to set up their camps around the tabernacle, with each tribe assigned a specific location. The Levites are given to Aaron and his sons as a gift to serve in the ministry of the tabernacle. The book then describes the instructions for the Levites, including their responsibilities and the rituals for purification and consecration. The Israelites are also given instructions for observing the Passover, dealing with uncleanness, and making sacrifices. The book then recounts the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, including their rebellion against Moses and Aaron, and their encounters with various nations, including the Canaanites and the Moabites. The book also describes the story of Balaam, who is hired by the Moabites to curse the Israelites but instead blesses them. The book concludes with the Israelites' preparations to enter the promised land, including the division of the land among the tribes and the establishment of laws and regulations for the Israelites to follow.
Chapter 1
The Lord instructed Moses to take a census of the Israelites, counting all males 20 years and above who were able to go to war. The census was conducted by tribe, with each tribe having a designated leader, and the total number of men counted was 603,550. The Levites, however, were not included in the census, as they were appointed to care for the tabernacle and its vessels, and to serve as guardians of the tabernacle. The Israelites were instructed to camp by their companies and bands, with the Levites surrounding the tabernacle to prevent outsiders from approaching it.
Chapter 2
The Israelites were instructed to set up their camps around the tabernacle, with each tribe assigned a specific location and leader. The tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon camped on the east side, with a total of 186,400 fighting men. The tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad camped on the south side, with a total of 151,450 fighting men. The tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin camped on the west side, with a total of 108,100 fighting men, and the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali camped on the north side, with a total of 157,600 fighting men.
Chapter 3
The Lord instructed Moses to bring forward the tribe of Levi to minister to Aaron and his sons, and to keep watch over the tabernacle and its vessels. The Levites were given to Aaron and his sons as a gift, and they were to serve in the ministry of the tabernacle. The Lord also instructed Moses to number the sons of Levi, and they were found to be 22,000 males from one month and above. The Levites were divided into three families: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, each with their own leader and responsibilities. The Lord also instructed Moses to number the firstborn of the sons of Israel, and to take the Levites in place of the firstborn, with the excess to be redeemed with five shekels per head.
Chapter 4
The Lord instructed Moses and Aaron to take a census of the Levites, specifically the sons of Kohath, Gershon, and Merari, from thirty to fifty years old, who were to serve in the tabernacle. The Kohathites were responsible for carrying the most sacred objects, including the ark and the altar, while the Gershonites carried the curtains and coverings, and the Merarites carried the structural elements of the tabernacle. Each group was assigned specific tasks and was under the supervision of Aaron's sons, with Eleazar overseeing the Kohathites and Ithamar overseeing the Gershonites and Merarites. The census revealed a total of 8,580 Levites who were eligible to serve in the tabernacle.
Chapter 5
The Lord instructs Moses to have the Israelites expel from their camp anyone who is unclean, including lepers and those who have been polluted by the dead. If someone has sinned, they must confess and make restitution, adding a fifth of the value to the amount owed. The Lord also gives instructions for dealing with a wife suspected of adultery, where the husband brings her to the priest, who administers a test using bitter waters to determine her guilt or innocence. If she is guilty, she will suffer physical consequences, but if innocent, she will be unharmed and able to bear children.
Chapter 6
The Lord instructed Moses to tell the Israelites about the law of the Nazarite, who makes a vow to consecrate themselves to the Lord. During this time, they must abstain from wine, grapes, and anything made from them, and not cut their hair or come near a dead body. If they become polluted, they must shave their head, offer sacrifices, and restart their consecration period. When the vow is completed, the Nazarite must offer a male lamb as a holocaust, a female lamb for sin, and a ram as a peace-offering victim, and then they can drink wine again.
Chapter 7
The leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel each offered gifts to the Lord for the dedication of the altar, with each leader offering the same items: a silver dish, a silver bowl, a gold mortar, an ox, a ram, a lamb, a goat for sin, and multiple animals for peace offerings. The gifts were given over a period of twelve days, with one leader offering each day. The total gifts included twelve silver dishes, twelve silver bowls, twelve gold mortars, twelve oxen, twelve rams, twelve lambs, twelve goats for sin, twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty goats, and sixty lambs for peace offerings. After the offerings, Moses entered the tabernacle to consult the oracle and heard the voice of the Lord speaking to him from the propitiatory.
Chapter 8
The Lord instructed Moses to have Aaron set up the lampstand in the tabernacle with seven lamps facing north, and Aaron obeyed. The Lord then instructed Moses to purify the Levites through a ritual of sprinkling, shaving, washing, and offering sacrifices, and to consecrate them as a gift to the Lord to serve in the tabernacle. The Levites were to serve the Lord in place of the firstborn of Israel, and they were to be separated from the rest of the Israelites. The Levites were to begin serving in the tabernacle at 25 years old and cease serving at 50 years old, but they could continue to assist their brothers in the tabernacle.
Chapter 9
The Lord instructed the Israelites to observe the Passover on the 14th day of the first month, and they did so at Mount Sinai. However, some individuals who were unclean due to contact with a dead body were unable to participate, prompting Moses to consult the Lord, who then provided an alternative date for them to observe the Passover in the second month. The Lord also established that anyone who failed to observe the Passover without a valid reason would be cut off from the community. Additionally, the Lord guided the Israelites' journey through the wilderness by a cloud that covered the tabernacle, indicating when they should set up camp or move forward.
Chapter 10
The Lord instructed Moses to make two silver trumpets to signal the Israelites to gather or move their camp. The trumpets were to be sounded in different ways to signal different actions, such as moving the camp or gathering for war or celebrations. The sons of Aaron were to sound the trumpets, and this was to be an everlasting ordinance. The Israelites then set out from the desert of Sinai, following the cloud, with each tribe moving in a specific order, led by their respective leaders.
Chapter 11
The Israelites complained to God about their hardships and the lack of variety in their food, specifically desiring meat. God became angry and sent a fire that burned the outskirts of the camp, but Moses prayed and the fire was extinguished. The people continued to complain, and Moses expressed his frustration to God, feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of leading the people. God instructed Moses to gather 70 elders to help him bear the burden, and promised to provide the people with meat for a month. A wind brought quails into the camp, and the people gathered and ate them, but before they had finished, God struck them with a plague, killing those who had lusted after the meat.
Chapter 12
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of his Ethiopian wife, questioning whether God only spoke through him. God appeared to them in a column of cloud, rebuking them for disparaging Moses, who was the most faithful in God's house and spoke with Him directly. As a result of God's anger, Miriam was afflicted with leprosy, and Aaron begged Moses to intercede for her. Moses prayed for her healing, and God instructed that she be separated from the camp for seven days, after which she was called back and the people continued their journey.
Chapter 13
Moses sent 12 men, one from each tribe, to explore the land of Canaan, which God had promised to the Israelites. The men were instructed to examine the land, its people, and its cities, and to bring back some of its fruits. After 40 days, the men returned and reported that the land was fertile and abundant, but its occupants were strong and the cities were walled. However, Caleb encouraged the Israelites to take possession of the land, while the other men discouraged them, describing the inhabitants as giants and the land as devouring its inhabitants.
Chapter 14
The Israelites, fearing the inhabitants of the land they were to conquer, rebelled against Moses and Aaron, wanting to return to Egypt. Joshua and Caleb, who had seen the land, tried to reassure them of God's presence and the land's goodness, but the people refused to listen. God, angry with the Israelites' disobedience, declared that none of them, except Caleb and Joshua, would enter the promised land, and that they would wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Despite Moses' warning, the Israelites attempted to ascend to the top of the mountain, but were defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites.
Chapter 15
The Lord instructed Moses to tell the Israelites to offer sacrifices of fine wheat flour and wine with their burnt offerings and peace offerings. The amount of flour and wine varied depending on the type of animal being offered. The Lord also commanded the Israelites to separate the first-fruits of their food to Him. If the Israelites forgot to do this, they were to offer a calf and a he-goat for sin. The Lord also established one law for all who sinned by ignorance, but those who sinned through arrogance would be put to death. A man who collected wood on the Sabbath was put to death as an example of this law. The Lord also instructed the Israelites to make hems on their cloaks with ribbons of hyacinth to remind them to follow His commandments.
Chapter 16
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, along with 250 other Israelites, rebelled against Moses and Aaron, questioning their authority and claiming that the entire multitude was holy. Moses proposed a test to determine who was chosen by God, where each of the rebels would offer incense to the Lord. The Lord caused the earth to swallow Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and their families, and a fire from the Lord killed the 250 men who were offering incense. The next day, the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron, and a plague broke out, but Aaron's offering of incense stopped the plague, though 14,700 people had already died.
Chapter 17
The Lord instructed Moses to gather a rod from each of the twelve tribes, with Aaron representing the tribe of Levi, and place them in the tabernacle to determine God's chosen leader. The next day, Aaron's rod had germinated, producing flowers and almonds, signifying God's choice. Moses then returned the rods to their owners, but was instructed to keep Aaron's rod in the tabernacle as a reminder of the rebellion and to quiet the complaints of the Israelites. The Israelites, realizing the gravity of their situation, feared approaching the tabernacle, believing it would lead to their destruction.
Chapter 18
The Lord instructs Aaron that he, his sons, and the Levites will bear the iniquity of the Sanctuary and the sins of the priesthood. The Levites are to assist the priests in the tabernacle, but are not to approach the vessels of the Sanctuary or the altar. The Lord gives the Levites to Aaron as a gift to serve in the ministries of the tabernacle, and the priests are to guard the priesthood and the altar. The Lord also gives Aaron and his sons the first-fruits and offerings of the Israelites as their inheritance, and the Levites are to receive the tithes of the Israelites as their possession.
Chapter 19
The Lord instructs Moses and Aaron on the ritual for a red cow to be used for purification from sin, which involves its sacrifice and burning outside the camp, with its ashes being preserved for use in the water of aspersion. Those who come into contact with a dead body are unclean for seven days and must be sprinkled with the water of aspersion on the third and seventh days to be cleansed. Any person or object that comes into contact with something unclean becomes unclean itself, and must be purified according to the ritual.
Chapter 20
The Israelites, in need of water, rebelled against Moses and Aaron, who prayed to the Lord for a solution. The Lord instructed Moses to speak to a rock to bring forth water, but Moses instead struck the rock twice with his rod, and as a result, he and Aaron were told they would not lead the people into the promised land. The Israelites then requested to pass through Edom, but were refused, and instead diverted away. Aaron, who also did not follow the Lord's instructions, was told he would not enter the promised land and was replaced by his son Eleazar, and he died on mount Hor, mourned by the Israelites for thirty days.
Chapter 21
The Canaanite king Arad fought against the Israelites and took some of them captive, but Israel made a vow to God and was given victory over the Canaanites. The Israelites then journeyed to the Red Sea, but the people grew tired and complained against God and Moses, leading to God sending fiery serpents among them. Moses prayed for the people and God instructed him to make a bronze serpent, which healed those who looked at it. The Israelites continued their journey, stopping at various places, and eventually sent messengers to Sihon, the king of the Amorites, asking to pass through his land, but Sihon refused and was defeated by the Israelites, who then took possession of his land.
Chapter 22
Balak, the king of Moab, feared the Israelites and asked Balaam, a seer, to curse them, offering him a reward. Balaam initially refused, citing God's prohibition, but after repeated requests, God allowed him to go with the Moabite leaders, warning him to speak only what He commanded. On the journey, Balaam's donkey saw an angel of the Lord standing in their path and turned aside, prompting Balaam to beat her. The Lord opened the donkey's mouth, and she spoke to Balaam, who then saw the angel and was rebuked for his actions. The angel instructed Balaam to continue on, but to speak only what he was told. Balaam met with Balak, who took him to a high place to gaze upon the Israelites, preparing for Balaam to curse them.
Chapter 23
Balaam, at the request of Balak, sets up seven altars and offers sacrifices, but instead of cursing Israel, he blesses them, saying God has not cursed them and he cannot condemn them. Balak is displeased and asks Balaam to try again from a different location, but Balaam again blesses Israel, stating God is not a man who lies and has led Israel out of Egypt with great strength. Despite Balak's repeated requests, Balaam refuses to curse Israel, saying he can only speak what God commands.
Chapter 24
Balaam, under the influence of the Spirit of God, blesses Israel, describing their beauty and strength, and foretells their future victories over their enemies. He also prophesies the rise of a star from Jacob that will strike down the commanders of Moab and possess Idumea. Balaam then sees Amalek and the Kainites, prophesying their downfall, and finally foretells the arrival of a people from Italy who will overcome the Assyrians and devastate the Hebrews, but ultimately perish themselves.
Chapter 25
The Israelites at Shittim began to fornicate with the daughters of Moab and worship their gods, including Baal of Peor, which angered the Lord. The Lord instructed Moses to execute the leaders who participated in this idolatry, and Moses ordered the judges to kill those who had been initiated into Baal of Peor. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, killed an Israelite man and a Midianite woman who were together in a brothel, which stopped the plague that had killed 24,000 men. The Lord rewarded Phinehas with a covenant of everlasting priesthood for his zeal and for making expiation for the wickedness of the Israelites.
Chapter 26
The Lord instructed Moses and Eleazar to count the sons of Israel from twenty years and above, by their houses and kinships, who were able to go to war. The count revealed the following numbers for each tribe: Reuben (43,730), Simeon (22,200), Gad (40,500), Judah (76,500), Issachar (64,300), Zebulun (60,500), Manasseh (52,700), Ephraim (32,500), Benjamin (45,600), Dan (64,400), Asher (53,400), and Naphtali (45,400). The total number of sons of Israel was 601,730. The Lord then instructed Moses that the land would be divided among the tribes according to their numbers, with the greater number receiving a greater portion. The chapter also lists the families of Levi, but notes that they were not counted among the sons of Israel and did not receive a possession.
Chapter 27
The daughters of Zelophehad, who had no brothers, petitioned Moses for an inheritance, as their father had died without a male heir. The Lord instructed Moses to grant them the inheritance, establishing a law that when a man dies without a son, his inheritance passes to his daughter, then to his brothers, and so on. The Lord also instructed Moses to ascend a mountain to view the land that would be given to the Israelites, but told him he would not enter the land himself due to his disobedience at the Waters of Contradiction. Moses requested a leader to succeed him, and the Lord chose Joshua, who was given a portion of Moses' authority and the responsibility of leading the Israelites.
Chapter 28
The Lord instructs Moses to tell the Israelites to offer daily sacrifices of two one-year-old lambs, along with wheat flour and wine, as a perpetual holocaust. Additional sacrifices are required on the Sabbath, the first day of each month, and during the Passover and the feast of first-fruits. The sacrifices include calves, rams, lambs, and a he-goat for sin, along with wheat flour and wine, and are to be offered as a most sweet odor to the Lord.
Chapter 29
The Lord instructs the Israelites to observe the first day of the seventh month as a holy day, on which they are to offer a holocaust of a calf, a ram, and seven lambs, along with a he-goat for sin. The tenth day of the seventh month is also to be a holy day of atonement, with similar offerings. The fifteenth day of the seventh month begins a seven-day celebration, during which the Israelites are to offer a series of sacrifices, including calves, rams, and lambs, along with a he-goat for sin each day. The eighth day is to be a day of rest, with a final offering of a calf, a ram, and seven lambs.
Chapter 30
If a man makes a vow to the Lord, he must fulfill it. A woman's vow is binding unless her father or husband hears of it and immediately contradicts it, in which case the vow is nullified. A widow or divorced woman is responsible for her own vows. A married woman's vow is binding unless her husband hears of it and immediately contradicts it, and if he delays judgment, the vow remains binding.
Chapter 31
The Lord instructed Moses to avenge the Israelites against the Midianites, and 12,000 men were chosen for battle. They killed all the Midianite men, including their kings and Balaam, and took their women, children, and goods as spoils. Moses was angry that the women who had caused the Israelites to sin were spared, and he ordered that all the males and women who had known men be killed, while the young girls were reserved for the Israelites. The spoils were purified and divided among the warriors and the rest of the Israelites, with a portion set aside for the Lord and the Levites.
Chapter 32
The sons of Reuben and Gad asked Moses to give them the land of Jazer and Gilead as a possession, citing its fertility for pasturing animals, and requested to not have to cross the Jordan River. Moses was concerned that this would discourage the rest of the Israelites from entering Canaan, drawing a parallel to the previous generation's disobedience. The sons of Reuben and Gad agreed to send their fighting men to battle alongside the Israelites, while leaving their families and livestock in the cities of Gilead, and Moses accepted their proposal.
Chapter 33
The Israelites departed from Rameses in Egypt and traveled through various locations, including Soccoth, Etham, Pi-hahiroth, and the wilderness of Sinai, before arriving at the plains of Moab. Along the way, Aaron the priest died on Mount Hor at the age of 123. The Israelites were instructed by God to destroy the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, break their monuments, and lay waste to every exalted thing, and to divide the land among themselves by lot. If they failed to do so, the remaining inhabitants would become adversaries to them in the land.
Chapter 34
The Lord instructed Moses to define the borders of the land of Canaan, which would be divided among the sons of Israel by lot. The borders were described as starting from the wilderness of Sin in the south, circling around to the Torrent of Egypt, and ending at the shore of the Great Sea in the west. The northern border would begin from the Great Sea and extend to the village of Enan, and the eastern border would be the Jordan River and the Sea of Salt. The land would be divided among the nine and a half tribes, with two and a half tribes having already received their portion across the Jordan River.
Chapter 35
The Lord instructed Moses to have the Israelites give the Levites cities with surrounding suburbs for dwelling and livestock. Six of these cities were to be designated as places of refuge for those who had unintentionally killed someone, where they could flee from the victim's avenger. The cities were to be divided equally among the tribes, with more cities given to those with larger territories. The Lord also established laws regarding murder, stating that a murderer could be put to death based on the testimony of two or more witnesses, and that the punishment for murder could not be commuted by payment of money.
Chapter 36
The leaders of the families of Gilead, descendants of Joseph, approached Moses with a concern that if the daughters of Zelophehad married men from other tribes, their inheritance would be transferred, reducing the Gileadites' portion. Moses, instructed by the Lord, ruled that the daughters could marry anyone they chose, but only within their own tribe, to prevent the commingling of possessions and tribes. The daughters of Zelophehad obeyed and married their paternal uncle's sons, keeping their inheritance within their tribe. This ruling was part of the commandments and judgments given by the Lord to the Israelites through Moses.
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