Lesson 22 Flashcards
- Explain the importance of trust and obedience towards God for covenantal blessing
- Describe the views of those who doubt the validity of the numbers in this book
1. A critical view: the numbers are fabrications and have no relation to historical fact
2. Another critical view: the numbers are fairly accurate for a later period in Israel’s history and have been transposed to the wilderness period to show that, in a theological sense, all Israel is present (Albright 1957)
3. The Symbolic view: the numbers are deliberately overstated by a factor of 10 in order to bring greater glory to God (Allen 1990, 688)
The Hebrew term ‘elep (אֶלֶף), translated “1,000,” is given some other sense which reduces the total figures
The term ‘elep should be re-pointed to read ‘allup, “chieftain,” which yields for Reuben 45 leaders of 1,500 men
See J. W. Wenham (1967, 19-53)
The term ‘elep means “group” or “family / clan” (1 Sam 10:19; Judg 6:15)
Example: Reuben’s tribe has “forty-six ‘elep and five hundred,” 46 groups with a total of 500 men
Totals for Israel: 5,550 men in 598 groups in Num 1
See W. M. Flaners Petrie (1958, 52-66)
Problems
The system does not work for the Levites, who would have 22 groups with no men (Num 3)
If ‘elep and the Hebrew term for 100 (me’ah) essentially mean the same thing, there should be more correspondence between them in the census
The term ‘elep means “troop” or a contingency of military men which yields for Reuben 46 leaders of 500 men
See Colin J. Humprhies (1998)
Total number is 5,500 men, not 603,550
20,000 people at the exodus event
Problems
A complicated scheme
The Levites must be worked out differently
‘elep (אֶלֶף) as “1000’ // ‘elep (אֶלֶף) as “troop
Gershom: 7,500 // 7 troops of 500 men
Kohath: 8,300 // 8 troops of 500 men
Merari: 6,200 // 6 troops of 200 men
Total: 22,000 // 21 troops of 1000 men
Numbers uses 22 ‘elep (אֶלֶף) as a total
Since figures are added up, Numbers is using ‘elep (אֶלֶף) as 1000
4. A literal view of the numbers
Any attempt to whittle down the numbers fails to meet the standard of consistency with other contexts, even though ‘elep does mean family unit or tribe in Judg 6:15
When ‘elep is used with hundreds it reinforces the idea of a literal number
The 603,550 census in Num 1 fits the total amount of ransom money in Exod 38:25-27
At the rate of a half shekel per numbered man, the total was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels (Exod 38:25)
3,000 shekels = 1 talent; 100 talents = 300,000 shekels; 300,000 + 1,775 = 301,775 x 2 = 603,550
See Walter Kaiser (1998, 102)
God did continually intervene on behalf of his people to sustain such a large group (Deut 29:5)
The low number of firstborn may reflect the number of firstborn that had been born since the Exodus (Keil and Delitzsch 1980, 1:5-11)
- How does Numbers 1-10 support the view that Israel, as the army of God, needed to be pure in order to secure victory in battle?
A. The theme of this section is that in order for God’s people to be victorious in battle, they must go forth in purity
B. Israel is the army of God
1. The people left Egypt “armed for battle” (Exod 13:18)
2. Brought out “by their divisions” (Exod 6:26)
3. The preparation for military occupation of the land (Num 1-10)
4. Two emphases:
a. Israel must be pure as the army of God for victory
b. Israel is an army on the move
5. The census (Num 1:3)
a. Focuses on males who are able to serve in the army
b. The Levites are exempt from the census
i. Responsible for the care of the tabernacle
ii. They camped around the tabernacle (Num 1:50, 53)
iii. The Levites represented the purity of God’s people, as they guarded the holiness of God
6. The disposition of the camp (Num 2)
a. The positoning of the tribes
THE DID ALL THAT THE LORD COMMANDED (Num 2:?)
b. The movement toward the land (Num 2:17)
7. The position and duty of the Levites focuses on the
moving of the camp (Num 3, 4)
Priests are counted separate in census
Priests are not in the army
Priests care for tabernacle
a. Census of the Levites (3:14-39) in regards to the firstborn of Israel (v 40-51)
b. Census of the working Levites for delegating different kinds of work (Num 4)
- Miscellaneous laws (Num 5-6)
Purification of the camp
The Lord dwells in the camp, therefore, the camp must be pure.
a. Purification of the camp, representing ceremonial purity (Focus on the Lord; Num 5:1-4)
b. Repayment of debts as restitution (Focus on the Lord; Num 5:8)
c. Test for marital unfaithfulness and hidden sins (Focus on family; Num 5:11-31)
- Husband thinks his wife has been unfaithful. There is a test of the wife.d. Nazarite vow and the holiness of the people (Focus on individuals; Num 6:1-21) - Vow to holiness. (No wine or drink, no cutting of hair, no contact with dead body) e. Aaronic blessing, purity brings God's blessing (Focus on community; Num 6:22-27) f. Every part of the nation must be pure - The dedication of the altar, the moving tabernacle, and gifts of tribal leaders brings the focus upon the worshipping community (Num 7)
FOCUS IS ON WORSHIP
C. Leaving Mt. Sinai parallels leaving Egypt
- What are some parallels between Israel’s exodus from Egypt and Israel’s leaving Mt. Sinai? How and why does God respond differently to Israel’s grumblings after Mt. Sinai?
C. Leaving Mt. Sinai parallels leaving Egypt
1. Firstborn regulations and the Levitical place as the firstborn of Israel (Lev 8:5-19)
2. Passover and new legislation that looks forward to life in the land (Num 9:1-14)
3. Guidance by the cloud and the people move at God’s command (Num 9:15-23)
4. Silver trumpets help coordinate movements of the tribes (Num 10:1-10)
c. Quicker judgment on the people
i. Before Sinai, the Israelites were in a time of immaturity (not a nation and no commitment to the covenant)
ii. After Sinai, the Israelites were a commissioned people and had the obligation of more faithful covenant obedience
d. The theological point of this episode is that God’s people should trust in God’s provision
- How do Numbers 5-6 support the idea that Israel must be pure as the army of God?
a. Purification of the camp, representing ceremonial purity (Focus on the Lord; Num 5:1-4)
b. Repayment of debts as restitution (Focus on the Lord; Num 5:8)
c. Test for marital unfaithfulness and hidden sins (Focus on family; Num 5:11-31)
d. Nazarite vow and the holiness of the people (Focus on individuals; Num 6:1-21)
e. Aaronic blessing, purity brings God’s blessing (Focus on community; Num 6:22-27)
f. Every part of the nation must be pure
- What is the significance of the fact that there is a new census in Numbers 26?
V. The New Generation in the Wilderness (Num 26:1-36:13)
A. The theme is that God continues to fulfill his promises through a new generation whom he prepares to take the land
B. The new census (Num 26)
1. A turning point: “after the plague” (Num 26:1)
2. A purged and renewed community (Num 26:63-65)
3. Military service (Num 26:2)
4. Inheritance rights once the land is taken (Num 26:52-56)
5. Reconstitution of the community
- What are the three great sins in Numbers 10:11-25:18? Be able to discuss who was involved and what was at the heart of the sin.
C. Three great sins of the people
1. The first great sin: Rejection of the land (Num 14)
a. Magnitude of the problem
i. All of the people desired to go back to Egypt (14:2-4)
ii. Unbeilief amongst the people (14:11-12)
b. Because of this, a generation was lost (Num 14:44)
c. People respond with presumption (Num 14:44)
i. Deafeated because God was not with them
ii. Wandering in the wilderness
iii. Circumcision is ingnored
d. Reaffirmation (Num 15:1-21)
i. God’s promise has not failed
ii. Regulatiosn for worship
e. A warning that disobedience will have disastrous consequences (Num 15:22-41)
i. Tassles given as a reminder
ii. Obedience of Faith is their responsibility
2. The second great sin: Rebellion of Korah (Num 16-17)
a. A rejection of the program set out in Num 3-4 by the Levitical leadership
i. Usurpation of authority
ii. Bring your censors to God and let him decide
iii. The judgment is that fire falls from heaven and the ground swallows them
iv. The people still complain, leading to a plague (Num 16:41)
b. Reaffirmation (Num 17-19)
i. The budding of Aaron’s rod (Num 17)
Confirms Aaron’s role
Set as a sign against the rebels (Num 17:10)
ii. Reaffirmation of the Levites (Num 18)
iii. Purification of the unclean (Num 19)
3. The third great sin: Exclusion of Moses and Aaron (Num 20:1-13)
a. Primary leadership involved
b. Rejection of God’s Word (Compare 20:8 and 20:11)
c. No one is exempted from obedience
d. Reaffirmation
i. Aaron dies but the priesthood continues (investiture of Eleazar; Num 20:22-29)
ii. Movement toward the land with success
Journey around Edom (Num 20:14-21)
Defeat of the Canaanites, demonstrating military success on account of faithfulness (Num 21:1-3)
Successful battle against Og and Sihon (Num 21:10-35)
- How did God respond after each sin?
1) First Great Sin:
a) God was not with them in battle because they went on their own strength
b) Reaffirmed regulations for worship to assure the promise land will be fulfilled
2) Second Great Sin:
a) God separates clean from unclean, reigns fire down and swallows them
b) affirms Moses and Aaron’s leadership
c) Reaffirmation of the Levites role and purification of the unclean
3) Third Great Sin:
a) God does not allow Aaron to enter into Promise Land, and Aaron dies
b) reaffirms that priesthood will continue
c) movement toward the land with success
