seminar 1 world behind text sbc

7/28/2019 Seminar 1 World Behind Text SBC

1/8

THE BIBLICAL TEXT

Numbers 22: 28 - 30

Balaams Donkey (The Talking Donkey)

28 Then the LORD opened the donkeys mouth, and it said to Balaam, What have I

done to you to make you beat me these three times?

29 Balaam answered the donkey, You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword

in my hand, I would kill you right now.

30 The donkey said to Balaam, Am I not your own donkey, which you have always

ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?

No, he said.

THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEXT

Book:NUMBERS

A. The Hebrew title is Bemidbar or In the Wilderness (rbdmb) (of Sinai?)

B. The Greek title in the translation of the OT (LXX) was arithmoi (ARIQMOI)

emphasizing the lists of numbers recorded in the book (1--4; 26).

C. The Latin Vulgate picked up on the Greek title and named the book Numeri

from which the English acquires the name Numbers.

Milgrom suggests that the Greek and Vulgate titles, are probably derived from the

oldest Hebrew title homesh ha-pekudim the fifth (of the Torah) the mustered (Mish.

Yoma 7:1, Mish. Men. 4:3), so named because of the several censuses recorded in the

book (chaps. 1-4,26).

Date of Writing:The Book of Numbers was written between 1450 and 1400 B.C.

Who wrote the text?

Ascribed by tradition: Moses

The Sources Responsible for the Text

Gian Carlo C. Tapalla
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moseshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses


2/8

The book of NUMBERS as part of the Pentateuch, had no single author, and

its composition took place over centuries. Its oldest layer, called the Yahwist, may

date from the time of Solomon, although many scholars now believe that it should be

dated considerably later. It was given its current form by a group of authors and

editors who lived in the Persian period, called the Priestly source, and Numbers

therefore reflects the program of this group. The text of Genesis-Numbers leaves nodoubt as to the central concern of the priests: the cult of Yahweh was to be under the

control of "Aaron and his sons" forever, and to the exclusion of all other priestly lines

(such as Korah, Dathan and Abiram, who meet terrible fates in Numbers 16-17 for

challenging Aaron, but also the lines of David's priests Abiatharand Zadok, as well as

the low-level Levites).

Several beliefs were written by different groups regarding the author of the

Pentateuch where Numbers is a part of.

P.N. Benware states that "Moses was the human author of Genesis and

the other books of the Pentateuch ...These five 'books of the law' were writtenby Moses alone, with the exception of Deuteronomy 34, which records the

death of Moses... The Pentateuch, therefore, is an inspired, inerrant,

authoritative document written by the man Moses."

The authors of the New Commentary on the Whole Bible state that "The

education Moses would have received as the adopted grandson of Pharoh

specially qualified him for the task of compiling and writing the Pentateuch."

Larry Richards states: "Moses wrote or supervised the writing of the bulk of

the Pentateuch and ...these books are rightly viewed as both a divine

revelation and an accurate, eyewitness account of events described as

happening in Moses' lifetime."

J.W. Hayford writes: "Jewish tradition lists Moses as the author of Genesis

and of the next four books....we notice a number of loanwords from Egyptian

that are found in Genesis, a fact which suggests that the original author had

his roots in Egypt, as did Moses."

Since conservative Christians believe in the inerrancy (freedom from error) of the

Bible, the matter of authorship is settled and is not open to debate. Moses wrote at

least the vast majority of the Pentateuch. Some suggest that he authored all five

books, and that the account of his death and burial was a prophecy by Moses.

However, some Fundamentalist and other Evangelical Christians have deviated from

traditional Christian teachings. They believe that selected passages were written bypersons other than Moses. Some of these writings are referred to as "post-Mosaica"

(material that was added after Moses' death). Others are called "a-Mosaica" (material

that could have been written at the time of Moses but which could not reasonably be

attributed to him).

Fundamentalists and other Evangelical Christians generally believe that Moses

wrote all or most of the five books after the Israelite's exodus from Egypt, but before

they entered Canaan. This would date the writing to the 40 year period when the

Israelites were wandering through the desert, circa 1450 BCE.

Situation of the Life Back Then

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahwisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priestly_sourcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiatharhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zadokhttp://www.religioustolerance.org/inerrant.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahwisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priestly_sourcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiatharhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zadokhttp://www.religioustolerance.org/inerrant.htm


3/8

The Passover occurred on the fourteenth day of the first month of the year and

the nation departed from Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month (Num

33:3; Ex 12:2, 6)

The tabernacle was erected at Mount Sinai exactly one year after the Exodus

(on the first day of the first month of the second year; Ex 40:2, 17)

One month later the nation prepared to leave Sinai for the Promised Land (on

the first day of the second month of the second year; Num 1:1)

On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year the cloud was

lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony and the sons of Israel went out

on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai (Num 10:11-12).

Deuteronomy opens with a reference to the first day of the eleventh month of

the 40th year. This is 38 years, eight months and ten days after the nationdeparted from Sinai (Deut 1:3; cf. Num 10:11-12)

The Structure of the Book

Most commentators structure Numbers in three sections based on locale

(Mount Sinai,Kadesh-Barnea and the plains of Moab), linked by two travel sections.

This view has the advantage of anchoring Numbers to the Pentateuch as a whole, but

an alternative is to see it as structured around the two generations of those condemned

to die in the wilderness and the new generation who will enter Canaan, making a

theological distinction being the disobedience of the first generation and the

obedience of the second.

It is written with law and its narrative. The mixture of law and narrative is

designed to remind the readers, that saving history concerns everyone and that now is

when they must do the will of God. The inclusion of law with narrative is designed to

emphasize promise in that Israel can fulfill it. The rondo, or variation, form in

Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers emphasizes large cycles which bring out the

parallels between the three journeys, and between the three occasions of law-giving,

at Sinai, Kadesh and the plains of Moab.

The Theme of the Book

David A. Clines, in his influential The Themes of the Pentateuch (1978),

identified the overarching theme of the five books as the partial fulfilment of a

promise to be made by God to the patriarchs, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The

promise has three elements: posterity (i.e., descendants - Abraham is told that his

descendants will be as innumerable as the stars), divine-human relationship (Israel is

to be God's chosen people), and land (the land of Canaan, cursed by Noah

immediately after the Deluge).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadesh-Barneahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaachttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadesh-Barneahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaachttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob


4/8

The theme of the divine-human relationship is expressed, or managed, through

a series of covenants (meaning treaties, legally binding agreements) stretching from

Genesis to Deuteronomy and beyond. The first is the covenant between God and

Noah immediately after the Deluge in which God agrees never again to destroy the

Earth. The next is between God and Abraham, and the third between God and all

Israel at Mount Sinai. In this third covenant, unlike the first two, God hands down anelaborate set of laws (scattered through Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers), which the

Israelites are to observe; they are also to remain faithful to Yahweh, the god of Israel,

meaning, among other things, that they must put their trust in his help.

The theme of descendants marks the first event in Numbers, the census of

Israel's fighting men: the huge number which results (over 600,000) demonstrates the

fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham of innumerable descendants, as well as

serving as God's guarantee of victory in Canaan. As chapters 1-10 progress the theme

of God's presence with Israel comes to the fore: these chapters describe how Israel is

to be organised around the Sanctuary, God's dwelling-place in their midst, under the

charge of the Levites and priests, in preparation for the conquest of the land.

The Israelites then set out to conquer the land, but almost immediately they

refuse to enter it and Yahweh condemns the whole generation who left Egypt to die in

the wilderness. The message is clear: failure was not due to any fault in the

preparation, because Yahweh had foreseen everything, but to Israel's sin of

unfaithfulness. In the final section the Israelites of the new generation follow

Yahweh's instructions as given through Moses and are successful in all they attempt.

The last five chapters are exclusively concerned with land: instructions for the

extermination of the Canaanites, the demarcation of the boundaries of the land, how

the land is to be divided, holy cities for the Levites and "cities of refuge", the problem

of pollution of the land by blood, and regulations for inheritance when a male heir is

lacking.

Purposes of Writing the Book of Numbers:

The message of the Book of Numbers, is universal and timeless. It reminds

believers of the spiritual warfare in which they are engaged, for Numbers is the book

of the service and walk of God's people. The Book of Numbers essentially bridges the

gap between the Israelites receiving the Law (Exodus and Leviticus) and preparing

them to enter the Promised Land (Deuteronomy and Joshua).

To fill-in the historical period from the Exodus and Sinai revelation to the

preparations in Moab to enter the Promised Land;

To explain that the 38 year period in the wilderness was a consequence for the

unbelief of the older generation (Dt 1:35ff);

To demonstrate Gods faithfulness and forbearance against the backdrop of

Israels unfaithfulness, rebellion, apostasy and frustration;



5/8

To present laws as case studies which do not have a precedent in what has

been spoken thus far;

To narrate the preparation of Israel for entry into the Promise Land by

describing the journey from Sinai to the region beyond Jordan, and the legal

decisions made in the wilderness.

THE WORLD OF THE TEXT

Genre: Fable

Theme: Narrative with Dialogue

Characters:

1. Balaam (Hebrew: , StandardBil am TiberianBil m ) - he was a Gentileprophet who lived in Pethor (Deuteronomy 23:4), a city south of Carchemish in

northern Mesopotamia (Iraq) on the west bank of the Euphrates River (Numbers

22:5). Balaam did not know that the Lord had forbidden the conquest of Moab

(Deuteronomy 2:9). When Israel camped on the plains of Moab prior to entering the

Promised Land, Balak, King of Moab, was in a panic. Since his nation wasn't strong

enough for a military confrontation with Israel and since Moab under the power of

Baal was full of anti-Semitism, he sent for Balaam, a famous soothsayer, topronounce a curse on Israel.

2. Angel of the Lord sent by God to prevent Balaam

3. Donkey the means of transportation of Balaam in his travel. It hasreceived three beatings from Balaam which made it talk with Gods words.

4. Balak is the king of Moab who was having a problem that the Israeliteswere coming to take his land.

Beginning:

This occurs during the sojourn of the Israelites in the plains of Midian, east of

the Jordan River, at the close of forty years of wandering, shortly before the death of

Moses, and the crossing of the Jordan. The Israelites have already defeated two kings

on this side of the Jordan: Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan.

Balak, king of Moab (Numbers 22:2), consequently becomes alarmed, and sends

elders of Midian and his messengers (Numbers 22:4-5), to Balaam, son of Beor, to

induce him to come and curse Israel. Balaam's location is simply given as his people

in the masoretic text and the Septuagint, though the Samaritan Pentateuch, Vulgate,

and Syriac Peshitta all identify it as Ammon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_language#Modern_Hebrewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberian_vocalizationhttp://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Deuteronomy+23:4&language=english&version=NASBhttp://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Numbers+22:5&language=english&version=NASBhttp://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Numbers+22:5&language=english&version=NASBhttp://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Deuteronomy+2:9&language=english&version=NASBhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sihonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoriteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balakhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moabhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masoretic_texthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septuaginthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaritan_Pentateuchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulgatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriac_Peshittahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_language#Modern_Hebrewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberian_vocalizationhttp://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Deuteronomy+23:4&language=english&version=NASBhttp://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Numbers+22:5&language=english&version=NASBhttp://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Numbers+22:5&language=english&version=NASBhttp://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?passage=Deuteronomy+2:9&language=english&version=NASBhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sihonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoriteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balakhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moabhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masoretic_texthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septuaginthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaritan_Pentateuchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulgatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriac_Peshittahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammon


6/8

Balaam sends back word that he can only do what YHWH commands, and

God has, via a nocturnal dream, told him not to go.

Climax:

Moab consequently sends higher ranking priests and offers Balaam honours;Balaam, in his covetousness, continues to press God, and God finally gives him over

to his greed and permits him to go but with instructions to say only what he

commands. Balaam thus, without being asked again, sets out in the morning with the

princes of Moab and God becomes angry that he went, and the Angel of the Lord

(Numbers 22:22) is sent to prevent him. At first the angel is seen only by the donkey

Balaam is riding, which tries to avoid the otherwise invisible angel. After Balaam

starts punishing the donkey for refusing to move, it is miraculously given the power to

speak to Balaam (Numbers 22:28), and it complains about Balaam's treatment. At this

point, Balaam is allowed to see the angel, who informs him that the donkey is the only

reason the angel did not kill Balaam. Balaam immediately repents, but is told to go

on.

Ending:

Balak meets with Balaam at Kirjat Huzoth, and they go to the high places ofBaal, and

offer sacrifices on seven altars, leading to Balaam being given a prophecy by

Yahweh, which he speaks to Balak. However, the prophecy blesses Israel; Balak

remonstrates, but Balaam reminds him that he can only speak the words put in his

mouth, so Balak takes him to another high place at Pisgah, to try again. Building

another seven altars here, and making sacrifices on each, Balaam provides another

prophecy blessing Israel.

Balaam finally gets taken by a now very frustrated Balak to Peor, and, after the seven

sacrifices there, decides not to seek enchantments but instead looks upon the Israelites

from the peak. The Spirit of God comes upon Balaam and he delivers a third positive

prophecy concerning Israel. Balak's anger rises to the point where he threatens

Balaam, but Balaam merely offers a prediction of fate. Balaam then looks upon the

Kenites, and Amalekites and offers two more predictions of fate. Balak and Balaam

then simply go to their respective homes... for the moment. Deuteronomy 23:36

summarises these incidents, and further states that the Ammonites were associated

with the Moabites. Joshua, in his farewell speech, also makes reference to it.

Balaam is later listed amongst the Midianites who were killed in revenge for

the "matter of Peor".

THE WORLD BEFORE THE TEXT

How is God addressing us and inviting us to enter into dialogue and participate in

his work of salvation?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_the_Lordhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkeyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahwehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pisgah_(Bible)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalekitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deuteronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshuahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_the_Lordhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkeyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahwehhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pisgah_(Bible)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalekitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deuteronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua


7/8

The text (Numbers 22: 28 30) is a proof that God is almighty, for nothing

is impossible with God (Luke 1:37)." He made a donkey talk with his power.

He wanted to communicate with us so badly that he could make any animal

talk just for us to hear him. He know what is the best path to take, he will not

lead us to peril. In this story, he aims for salvation, and it will be the same

thing that will apply to us. He has created a path for us to fulfill. He will givesigns for us to be back on the right track.

Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago, what each

person would be. So there's no use arguing with God about your destiny

(Ecclesiastes 6:10). God is our destiny. He will stop us if He sees we are not

on the path he has planned for us.

How does the message of the Bible enlighten our lives today?

Imagine that a stray cat that youve been hitting with stones orthe pesky rat that frightens you every time it runs is God? It goes backto the famous song lyrics; What if God was one of us? We can never

tell. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through

him (John1:3). Everything that we see is created by God. Even the creepiestinsects are given life by God.

Applying the story to myself, it has reached to my senses to giverespect and value all those things around me, whether human or

animal, living or non- living. It gave me a strong sense to listen and tobe considerate with what others feel. I should stop always thinking firstfor myself and it is now the time to consider others.

As a working student, this story gives me an insight of how anEmployer should treat his or her Employees. The donkey is like theemployee and Balaam is the employer. The story showed the hostiletreatment of Balaam to his donkey. Its a system in an office. Theemployee works for the employer, and the latter compensates theformer in return. Ideally, its a smooth process but once an employeehas something to say, the employer should listen.

In the story, instead of checking what made the donkey behavedthat way, Balaam hit the donkey times this is not proper. Consideringthe donkey has served Balaam in all his journeys, Balaam should nothave the guts to beat the donkey. The donkey

How do we respond to oppression and injustice in order to live thevalues and spirit of the gospel?

How can we discern Gods will in making a decision in life?



8/8


seminar 1 world behind text sbc

Documents