• Hebrew text – “In the wilderness”. This is from the first word of the first chapter of Numbers.
• Greek text – “Numbers”. This is taken from the second verse of the chapter of Numbers.
• English text – “Numbers”

There are two numberings of the people.

1. The first numbering is in chapter 1 and as they are numbered, there are 603,550 fighting men over 20 years of age.
2. The second numbering is in chapter 26 and there are 601,730 fighting men over 20 years of age. This would make the total population of Israel, at this time, around 2.5 million people.

What is the reasons for these numberings?

1. To see how many fighting men the people of Israel have because there is going to be some wars.
2. The division of the lands, they were to come to, would be on the basis of numbers in the tribes.

Moses. There is a problem verse in Numbers 12:3, but it should be stated that Moses wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

See the five things to be noted below:-

• At Mount Sinai (Chapters 1:1-9:14). God completes His instructions to the Israelites.
• Leave Mount Sinai and go to Kadesh (Chapters 9:15-12:6). Kadesh is a little town on the southern border of the land of Canaan.
• They are abiding at Kadesh (Chapters 13-14). In these chapters we read that twelve spies are sent into the land of Canaan, to spy out the land. They bring back a mixed report. Ten of them say that the people are giants and too great to be beaten, but Joshua and Caleb come back and say, “Our God is a great God, He has promised to give us the land, let us go in and take it”. There was division among the people and the majority believed the ten spies and decided they could not take the land.
• In the wilderness for 38 years (Chapters 15-20). They wander in the wilderness for 38 years because of their unbelief. They journey from Kadesh, around the Dead Sea, to the edge of the Jordan river.
• They are about to cross over into the land of Canaan (Chapters 21-36).

It is “The failure of Israel’s faith”. We can read this in chapters 13 and 14, and the Israelites do not enter the land until the new generation is born. This book shows God’s goodness and discipline.

There are three major divisions in this book:-

• The old generation (Chapters 1-14). This contains the experiences of the old generation. This section can be divided into three headings:-

1. The order of the people – Chapters 1-4. Instructions are given to the people concerning their outward order. They are numbered by Moses, and then their order around the tabernacle is given and also their order when they are marching.
2. The inward condition of the people – Chapters 5-9. Some instructions are given concerning ceremonial purification and some provisions are made for their religious worship.
3. The onward journey of the people – Chapters 9-14. They break camp at Mount Sinai and head for Kadesh, after about 13 months at Mount Sinai. At Kadesh they pick out their spies and send them out and 10 come back and report that the people of Canaan are too strong. And believing this majority they; in unbelief; do not go into Canaan.

• The transaction (Chapters 15-20). It takes 38 years for this new generation to be born. The old generation dies out, except Joshua, Caleb and Moses. Joshua and Caleb are spared because they were faithful to God. In chapter 20, Moses strikes a rock twice in unbelief and is disqualified by God from going into the land of Canaan.
• The new generation (Chapters 21-36). There are several stories during this time:-

1. The brazen serpent – There are fiery serpents among the people because of their unbelief, and many die. God provides, by telling Moses to make a fiery serpent of brass and to put it on a pole, and those who look at the brazen serpent on the pole shall be saved. This is a picture of Christ. See John 3 v 14.
2. The story of Balaam – See the selected studies below.

• Balaam’s donkey – How is it possible for a donkey to speak ? All things are possible with God. While the appearance of the angel and the voice of the donkey were not dreams, it seems that they were seen and heard by Balaam only and not by the others who were present. (See Acts 9:7;22:9; John 12:28,29) The donkey was more mentally and spiritually aware then Balaam ! It was not until God open his eyes, that Balaam could see the angel. God does not need to use men to communicate his message. If God can speak through Balaam’s donkey, He can certainly use you to communicate His message.
• What was the manna? – For 40 years God fed 2.5 million people in the desert. God’s provision was in the form of “a small round thing” described as “like coriander seed, white” and sweet, which the people called “manna”. The Hebrew word “man” means “what?”. The people asked “What is it?” and from this question took the name “manna”. Some scholars have suggested that it was the secretion of an insect. But this could not have fed so many and is seasonal. The Bible describes manna as “food from heaven .. the bread of angels” (Psalm 78:24-25). Exodus 16:4 tells us that the manna was a test. And in Numbers 11 they fail the test.
• The law of the Nazarite – Numbers 6. This was given to the nation of Israel. It was a voluntary vow that could be taken by a man or a woman and it was usually taken out for a short period of time. There were some who took it for some years and others from birth. E.g. John the Baptist and Samson were both Nazarites from birth. This was because their parents were told to make them Nazarites, but generally it was on a short time basis. The reason why a person took that vow was to respond to some act of God; goodness or Grace: in his life. It was really an act of appreciation and gratitude and thanksgiving to God. The law involved three things:-

1. He could not drink wine or eat anything made with grapes.
2. He could not cut his hair.
3. He could not touch or be in the presence of a dead body. This all signified a separation to God and dedication to Him. Jesus was a Nazarene, (He came from Nazareth) but He was not a Nazarite. This vow is similar to Romans 12:1, 2.

• Israel’s failure at Kadesh – Numbers 13-14 It was first of all, a failure to possess the land that God had given to them in Genesis 13-14. God had promised a land for the nation, in fact, He had even promised the boundaries of this land. The reason why they fail is because of unbelief. See also Deuteronomy 1:19-40, 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 and Hebrews 3-4. This incident is one of the most important ones in the Bible and certainly the most important incident in Numbers. The ten spies saw the giants but they did not see God, while the two others saw God but did not see the giants. The way you look at circumstances in life depends on your faith. Their unbelief in chapters 13-14 was the result of a combination of previous failures, because in chapters 11-12 there was a series of mutinies, acts of discontent, jealousy and general disbelief. The real test comes in chapters 13-14 and they fail because in the little tests they failed. There is a spiritual lesson to be learnt here for the believer. That generation lost the privilege of possessing and enjoying what God had given to them. In the book of Ephesians we learn that God has given to us an inheritance, just like the Israelites. The true Christian will possess this inheritance but the way to lose out is by unbelief.
• The Bronze Serpent – Numbers 21 Later the people again complained against the Lord, who sent a plague of “fiery” serpents. The Egyptians and Hebrews had something in common – fear of snakes. Most were harmless, but a few struck quickly, with deadly venom. These snakes may have been sand vipers and carpet vipers. The carpet viper is about 2 feet long, and often hides in the sand, attacking without warning. At first the victim feels no pain, but already internal bleeding has started. After a day or two the person actually feels better, but death soon comes. God provides a means of salvation from death. Only the people who looked at the bronze serpent would live. (See John 3:14,15). The bronze serpent is a picture of Jesus Christ. Those who believe on Him will have eternal life! The bronze serpent was later worshipped as a god by the people, and finally King Hezekiah had to destroy it. (2 Kings18:4).
• Balaam – A false prophet – (Numbers 22-24). This is under two headings:-

1. The error of Balaam – Balaam, once a true prophet of God, seems to added to his prophetic gift, sorcery, and divination. In this manner, he had departed from God, becoming a false prophet. Ancient Kings often hired religious leaders to “curse” their enemies. It was God who turned Balaam’s curse into a blessing. Balaam acted in greed to do the work of God, he did it for wages. This is a characteristic of apostates in the last days. See 2 Peter 2:15 and Jude 1:11.
2. The doctrine of Balaam – Balaam instructed the people of Israel to intermarry with the heathen, and generally compromise with them. As a result 24,000 died. Balaam was later put to death by the Israelites. (Numbers 31:8) The lesson to us i this, we must be separated from error. See Revelation 2:14-15. “BE SURE YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT”. This story shows how dearly men pay for their love of honour and money when they sacrifice principle and character to obtain things which will not last. Neither is worth a ruined life.