Numbers Overview + Outline
The book of Numbers starts with some numbers recording the census of Israel's warriors. (And the list seems to go on and on.) Later in chapter 26, Israel again holds another census. Hence the name of the book, Numbers!
While there are some heavy-lifting sections of counting groups of men throughout the book of Numbers, the number of times Israel disobeyed God seems pretty ongoing too! As you read this book, may your heart be turned to believe in the Lord. He is not like man that He should lie or change!
With that said, let's dive deep into the Book of Numbers.
WHAT TYPE OF BOOK IS THIS? (LAW, HISTORY, POETRY, WISDOM, GOSPEL, EPISTLE, OR PROPHECY)?
The book of Numbers is the fourth book in the Pentateuch, meaning it falls into the law genre.
WHO WROTE THIS BOOK? WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE AUTHOR?
Two specific verses within Numbers affirm Moses wrote this book. In Numbers 33:2, we learn that God instructed Moses to write down the starting places and details of each tribe. It says, "Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the Lord, and these are their stages according to their starting places." Likewise, Numbers 36:13 states that we learn God commanded Moses to communicate the commandments and rules "to the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho," addressed in the book. Again, Moses wrote this portion of Scripture along with most of the Pentateuch.
Need a recap of Moses's story? Here it goes: Moses entered the scene in Exodus when his mother placed him in a basket and into the river to save him from the pharaoh's decree to kill baby boys. He grew up in the pharaoh's house with the highest education. After murdering an Egyptian who abused a Hebrew slave, he fled into the wilderness. It was there God called Moses to help deliver the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.
After the plagues which led to the Exodus, Moses was in charge of leading Israel through God's command. Though Moses did not enter the Promised Land, he faithfully led God's people until his death.
WHO IS THE AUDIENCE OF EXODUS? WHEN IS IT WRITTEN?
The Book of Numbers begins in the second month of the second year after the Exodus called Ziv (Numbers 1:1). According to the timeline of Deuteronomy 1:3, we can place the book of Numbers as written close to 1405 B.C., for this was around the time of Israel's fortieth year of wandering. Moses wrote Numbers in his last year of life!
WHAT IS THE SETTING AND LOCATION OF THIS BOOK?
In Numbers 1:1-10:10, Israel encamped in the wilderness of Sinai, where the Lord had made His Mosaic covenant with Israel. In chapters 10:11-12:16, Israel traveled from Sinai to Kadesh. Then, from Numbers 13:1-20:13, Israel wandered in the wilderness of Paran and Zin before landing in the plains of Moab in Numbers 20:14-22:1. Moab would be the primary setting for Numbers 22:2-36:13, which was a flat land surrounded by desert wasteland.
Because this book highlights Israel's second and fortieth year after the Exodus, Numbers 1:1-14:45 occurred around 1444 BC. Everything after Numbers 20:1 happened around 1406/1405 BC.
WHAT'S THE GENERAL OUTLINE AND STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK AS A WHOLE?
The first generation in Israel (1:1-25:18)
The Obedience of Israel toward the Lord (1:1-10:36)
The organization of Israel around the Tabernacle (1:1-6:27)
The orientation of Israel toward the Tabernacle (7:1-10:36)
The Disobedience of Israel toward the Lord
Complaining on their journey (11:1-12:16)
Israel's rebellion (13:1-19:22)
Moses and Aaron rebellion (20:1-29)
Israel continued to complain (21:1-22:1)
Balaam's blessing of Israel (22:2-24:25)
Israel's final rebellion with Baal of Peor (25:1-18)
Israel's second generation in Moab (26:1-36:13)
Preparations to conquest the land (26:1-32:42)
Summary of Israel's journey in the wilderness (33:1-49)
Anticipation of the conquest (33:50-36:13)
HOW DOES THIS BOOK FIT INTO THE TIMELINE OF SCRIPTURE? WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE IT? WHAT HAPPENS AFTER IT?
Numbers chronicles two generations of Israelites. The first generation was those who left Egypt. They saw God's mighty hand deliver them from the hands of Egyptians! (Their history can be found in Exodus 2:23, Leviticus, and Numbers 1-14.) Ultimately, their unbelief in God caused them not to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:20-23). The only men who entered the Promised Land were Joshua and Caleb for obeying the Lord. Everyone else 20 years or older died on the way there.
However, those younger than 20 years old at the time eventually entered the land promised to them. This group would make the second generation of Israelites who would go to war, conquer the territory, and inherit the land promised to them. (Their story starts in Numbers 26:1 through Deuteronomy and Joshua.) Deuteronomy affirms the blessings and covenants established throughout the generations before them.
KEY VERSES IN NUMBERS
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26
"Then the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. 21 But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. 25 Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.” Numbers 14:20-25
"And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live." Numbers 21:8-9
"God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" Numbers 23:19
KEY THEMES IN NUMBERS: UNBELIEF
The Israelites completely defied the Lord and His provision. Several times throughout their wanderings, they yearned to return to Egypt, the place of their slavery. We see this theme on repeat.
Numbers 11:1 says, "And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them adn consumed some outlying parts of the camp."
Numbers 11:4 says, "Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, "Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at." Israel even cried, "Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food" (Numbers 21:5).
Time and time again, the Israelites grumbled and complained against the Lord. Eventually, He gave them what they wanted. (Read Numbers 14:26-30 for more information on this.)
Hebrews 3:16-19 talks about the Israelites throughout these wanderings. The writer concluded, "so we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief" (Hebrews 3:19). The Israelites called the Lord a liar, not taking Him at His Word. Sadly, so do we today.
HOW DID CHRIST FULFILL THE TRUTH FOUND IN NUMBERS?
Jesus is the greater Israelite and man, for He is the only one never to call God a liar. His entire life demonstrated His trust in the Father.
Scripture says that believing in the Lord means we believe the Lord and His Word regarding our sins. (See John 3:16, John 3:18, John 3:33, and 1 John 5:10 for more on this.) However, the following verses show that Christ perfectly trusted the Father.
"He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly." 1 Peter 2:22-23
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:17
"...looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2
"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21
Therefore, Jesus is the greater Joshua and Caleb, who took God at His Word. They entered the Promised Land for their trust in Him!
WHERE DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT QUOTE OR REFER TO NUMBERS?
In John 3:14, Jesus refers to the bronze serpent in Numbers 21:4-9, showing this Old Testament event was a type and shadow of His death on the Cross. Also, later in John 19:36, John noted that the soldiers did not break Christ's bones on the Cross, just like a lamb for Passover could not have any broken limbs outlined in Numbers 9:12.
Hebrews 3:16-19 talks about the Israelites and their rebellion, causing their wandering in the desert. Their grumblings showed their unbelief!
1 Corinthians 10:1-12 alludes to Numbers as a whole and mentions specifics simultaneously. Verse one references the cloud covering the Tabernacle, telling Israel when to stay and go (Numbers 9:18). Verse three through four alludes to the manna God provided for them on their journeys (Numbers 11:4). The writer declares the Israelites drank from the rock of Christ in the desert (Numbers 20:11)!
Lastly, three places refer to Balaam and his talking donkey found in 2 Peter 2:15-16, Jude 11, and Revelation 14 to describe the rebellion surrounding Balaam.