numbers… · approaching numbers • who wrote numbers? • as with genesis-leviticus, we afﬁrm...

Numbers

In the Wilderness

Approaching Numbers

• Who wrote Numbers?

• What kind of literature is Numbers?

• What are the interpretative challenges in Numbers?

• What is the content of Numbers?

• How is Numbers used in the New Testament?

Approaching Numbers


• As with Genesis-Leviticus, we affirm an essentially Mosaic authorship of Numbers.

• There is a reference within the book to Moses’ writing (33:1-2).

• In addition, as with Leviticus, it is noted several times that Moses is the recipient of the divine revelation that makes up the book (1:1, 2:1, 4:1, etc).

Approaching Numbers


• There are some portions of the book that suggest later editorial activity:

• Numbers 32:34-42 describes building activity in the Transjordan region after the completion of the conquest of the Promised Land

• Numbers 12:3 describes Moses as “very meek, more than ll people who were on the face of the earth.”

• However, this editorial activity is not inconsistent with holding that the vast majority of the material in Numbers was written by Moses.

Approaching Numbers


• Theologically informed historical narrative: narrative (4:1-3); lampoon (22:22-35); diplomatic letter (21:14-19); census list (26:1-51); temple archive (7:10-88); itinerary (33:1-49)

• We recognize that Moses emphasized the patterns of sin, rebellion, and judgment along with God’s continued mercy to his people

• There is a great deal that goes untold (e.g. what happened during the 37 years Israel wandered in the wilderness?)

• Poetry: poetry (21:17-18); prophecy (24:3-9); victory song (21:27-30); prayer (12:13); blessing (6:24-26)

• Law: civil law (27:1-11); cultic law (15:7-21); oracular decision (15:32-26)

Approaching Numbers


• The multiplicity of genres in the book, which to some feels haphazard, has created some difficulty in understanding the structure of the book

• Chronological

• Geographical

• Theological

Potential Structures for Numbers

Chronological

1:1-10:11:From the first day of the 2nd month of the

wilderness wandering to the nineteenth day

10:12-21:9:Undated, but falling within a forty year

period of wandering

21:10-36:13: Five months during the fortieth year in

the wilderness

Geographical

1:1-10:11Continuing from

Exodus 19In the wilderness

near Mt. Sinai

10:12-20:13:Traveling to and remaining near

Kadesh

20:14-36:13:Traveling from

Kadesh to the Plains of Moab, on the

edge of the Promised Land

Theological

1-25:The Rebellion and

Rejection of the First Generation

26-36The Readying of the Second Generation

Approaching Numbers


• How do we understanding the censuses (1, 26)?

• The grand total of warriors in 1:46 is 603,550; since this would only include men between 20 and 60 years old, the total population of Israel may have been around 2 million.

• Three problems have been suggested as a result of this:

Approaching Numbers



• How could so many people have survived in the wilderness for 40 years?

• Archeological evidence suggests there were only 3 million people total in Palestine at this time; other biblical texts (Exo 23:29-30; Deut 7:6-7, 21) suggest that there were not enough Israelites to take the promised land at once.

• Some of the numbers in general seem to reflect mathematical oddities: most numbers are even (rounded to 100s) and the ratio between all males to firstborn males is very high (27 to 1).

Approaching Numbers



• Some potential solutions:

• Take the numbers at face value.

• Take the numbers at face value, but assign the numbers to a later period.

• View the numbers as altered due to scribal misunderstanding.

• View the numbers as symbolic.

Approaching Numbers


• I think the that the two census (1, 26) serve as structure points in the book—the first generation preparing to enter the Promised Land (1); the second generation doing the same (26)

• The overarching theme is the sin, rebellion, and judgment of the first generation and the continued covenant faithfulness of God.

Approaching Numbers


• The first generation prepares to enter the promised land (1-10)

• Counting the people: God’s faithfulness to his promise to Abraham (1, 23:10, 26)

• Moving from Sinai to Kadesh-barnea (10)

Approaching Numbers


• The first generation prevented from entering the promised land and passes from the scene (11-25)

• Initial rebellion against God and his leaders (11-12)

• National rebellion against God and his purpose (13-14)

• Continued rebellion against God and his leaders (16-17)

• Moses’ own rebellion against God and his Word (20)

• Continued rebellion and God’s merciful provision (21)

• Final apostasy and God’s judgment (25)

Approaching Numbers


• The second generation prepares to enter the Promised Land and begins the conquest (26-36)

• The census signals a fresh start in God’s purpose and continued faithfulness to his promise (26)

• The succession between Moses and Joshua also is a mark of God’s continued faithfulness (27)

• The battle with Midian and securing of the Transjordan is the beginning of the conquest (31-32)

Approaching Numbers

• How is Numbers used in the New Testament?

• Numbers 11:11-35, 20:2-13, 25:1:-9 and 1 Corinthians 10:2-11

• Numbers 13-14 and Hebrews 3:7-19

• Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:14

• Numbers 22-24 and 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 11, Revelation 2:14

numbers… · approaching numbers • who wrote numbers? • as with genesis-leviticus, we afﬁrm...

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