4 Numbers Flashcards
Why is the Book of Numbers so named?
In it God orders Moses to number all those able to bear arms and appoint princes over each tribe.
What is the Sotah ritual?
A ritual to demonstrated whether a woman has committed adultery. In it a priest mixes holy water with Tabernacle floor dust, writes curses on a scroll (your thighs will rot, uterus will drop etc), dissolves the ink in the water, and makes the accused woman drink it. If she is unfaithful, she’s harmed; if innocent, unscathed.
What happened to the 12 spies that Moses sends into Canaan?
They returned after 40 days. Ten reported giants and dangers, discouraging the Israelites – except Joshua and Caleb, carrying cluster of grapes. For their disbelief, God struck down the 10 men and decreed the Israelites would wander 40 years in the wilderness until a new generation could enter Canaan.
What happened to Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and the 250 leaders who challenged Moses and Aaron’s authority?
The earth opened and swallowed them up. Then when the people objected to this, God sent a plague to kill 14,700 of them.
Who is Balaam, and what did he do?
Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet hired to curse Israel, ends up blessing them instead by God’s instruction.
What did Balaam’s donkey do on his journey to curse the Israelites?
Donkey complains about being beaten after seeing an angel of the Lord blocking their path.
What is the significance of Aaron’s rod budding and growing almonds?
A miracle confirming Aaron’s divine selection as high priest amidst challenges to his authority.
What do the Israelite people mostly do in Numbers? And how does the Lord respond?
To constantly complain about being in the desert. Lord punishes them and says that complaining causes them to be refused access to the promised land.
How did Moses bring water to the Israelites?
By striking a rock which sprung forth water.
How did the Lord punish the Israelites for complaining about the lack of food and water? And how did Moses cure them?
Lord sent poisonous snakes to bite them. Moses prayed for them, was ordered by Lord to make a bronze snake on a pole, which cured bites if you look at it.
How did Balaam finally cause the Israelites to be cursed, thus fulfilling wishes of Moabite King Balak?
He advises King Balak to send the Moabite women to the camp of Israel. They have sex with the women and worship their idols.
How does God respond to the idolatry of the Israelites with the Moabite women?
Sends a plague that kills 24,000 people.
Who is the main object of worship of the Moabites?
Baal of Peor
Who are the Moabites and what is their territory?
Descendants of Moab, the son of Lot and his eldest daughter, following the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Territory is east of the Dead Sea (Modern-day Jordan).
Who are the Midianites and what is their territory?
Midianites are considered descendants of Midian, a son of Abraham through his wife Keturah.
Territory is south of Canaan, in the northwest Arabian Peninsula, and along the eastern shores of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea.
How are the Midianites blamed for the plague at Peor?
A Midianite woman Kozbi, daughter of their King Zur, is brought to the camp by Zimri. She is speared by Phineas as their lying together. This ends the plague, after which God tells Israelites to treat the Midianites as enemies and kill them.
What is depicted here?
Pheneas killing Zimri and Cozbi, 9th century manuscript
What happens in the war against the Midianites?
Israelite soldiers kill everyone, including 5 kings and sorcerer Balaam, except female virgins.
What is the debate over the virgins in Numbers 31?
Whether the exhortation that the soldiers can have the virgins “for themselves” means sexual debauchery, or as servants.
What is the share of the Lord in the booty from the war on the Midianites?
One out of every 500 of persons (virgins) and animals.
What might have happened to the 1/500 share of virgins (32 of them) offered to the Levites?
Possibly human sacrifice, possibly enslaved.
What is depicted here?
Balaam and his Ass, Rembrandt, 1639
What is depicted here?
Balaam and the Angel, John Linnel, 1859
What is depicted here?
Moses and the Brazen Serpent, Van Dyck, 1650
