From chapters 19 the israelites are preparing for their journey and entry into the promise land. To order the hebrew tribes in marching and camping formations num 2 e. What was the purpose of the census in numbers 1 answers. Take ye the sum this is not the same muster with that spoken of exodus 38. Modifications and adjustments in the structure of covenant stipulations are reported. These are the codes used when filing the paperwork with customs when you export products overseas. Most of the events of the book are set in the wilderness. Bamidbar picks up on the first day of the second month of the second year since the children of israel left egypt. Preparation to finally enter canaan numbers 2636 second numbering of the people. Its narrative begins at the point where exodus leaves off.
This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses. Aug 20, 2018 census in the bible the book of numbers derives its name from the two recorded censuses made of the israelite people, one at the beginning of the 40year wilderness experience and one at the end. Choose from 500 different sets of book of numbers flashcards on quizlet. First, a group this size would more than fill the land of goshen and would have had no problem overpowering the egyptian government. God now instructs moses to take aaron and a leader from each tribe and count the people. The number of israelites in the numbers censuses and the. In this time a census was taken of all men who were over twenty and who could serve in military efforts 14. A pagan prophet is hired to curse israel, but he only hears words of blessing from god. North american industry classification system naics main. Another census was ordered by god of the men who were over 20 years of age by family. Indeed, the whole story of numbers had been one of movement towards the land of promise. The census in numbers chapter 1 did not list clans and chapter 2. To allot work assignments in the forced labor gangs and the religious cult num 3. The book has a long and complex history, but its final form is.
Feb, 2019 the lord spoke to moses in the wilderness of sinai, in the tent of meeting take a census of the whole congregation numbers 1. Census in the bible the book of numbers derives its name from the two recorded censuses made of the israelite people, one at the beginning of the 40year wilderness experience and one at the end. Numbers presents an account of the 38year period of israels wandering in the desert following the establishment of the covenant. List how many men were counted from the following tribes 1. The book of numbers becomes a warning and encouragement for us to follow god and trust his good. Some of these codes can be used for imports as well, so theyre very versatile. The united nations defines the essential features of.
In this census, the people are preparing the military campaign to take the land which indeed they would have done at once if not for the regrettable incident with the spies stay tuned for parashat shlach in three weeks and the purpose of this census was to count the men over the age of 20 for military service. A second census was taken while the israelites were camped in the plains of moab, in numbers 26. The results of the census of the 12 tribes of israel from the. More importantly, israels reaction to those stipulations is recorded. The book draws its name from the census made of the people, a necessary step toward their organization and future government. The book of numbers was named after the first key word bemidbar in hebrew scripture, which appropriately means in the desert, the place where the israelites spent forty. The results of the census of the 12 tribes of israel from the book of numbers 1. The meaning of census in the bible learn religions. The main divisions in the book of numbers are as follows. Mendenhall that drastically revised the number of early israelites given in the book of numbers, assuming an early scribal misunderstanding in short, the original hypothesis depends on the interpretation of the word. What problem is presented in the book of numbers census reports.
The people complain, miriam and aaron oppose moses, and the people refuse to enter canaan because of the reports of the unfaithful spies numbers 10. A chapter by chapter and verse by verse study of numbers taught by pastor paul leboutillier of calvary chapel ontario, oregon. While i respect loretto szucsmatthew wrights excellent book and the detailed book by kathleen hinchley, this one is concise, has detailed dates and references, and is the one i return to again and again, bravo, bill. Census bureau instructs americans on the questionnaire that will be mailed to every household by april 1, 2020, april fools day, which also. A census is an important part of society, though it is not necessarily the easiest to read in a book format. It describes moses taking two population censuses, hence the name numbers. The census in numbers chapter 1 did not list clans and chapter 2 only listed the tribal. Numbers takes the reader on a long and winding path through a desert of excruciating detail. From the census that is taken to number the people.
At the same time the story of zelophehads daughters does provide a fitting conclusion to the book of numbers itself. Book of numbers overview insight for living ministries. Among these groups the land shall be divided as their heritage in keeping with the. Bible class book on numbers david padfield numbers, moses, old testament, bible class, workbook, study guide, israel, youth group, sunday school. Jan 02, 2020 the stated purpose of the israeli census, according to numbers 1. To prepare for parceling out the promised land based on the population of each tribe verses 5256. Summary of the book of numbers the story of the bible.
The census is to account for every male of military age, according to their households. The book of numbers is named after the counting of the israelite population in numbers 14 according to the house of the fathers after the exodus from egypt. The results of the census of the 12 tribes of israel from. A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. The purpose of the book of numbers is to tell about how israel prepared to enter the promise land, but sinned and was punished. To record some of the events of the 40 year wilderness wandering to record the census of.
It reminds believers of the spiritual warfare in which they are engaged, for numbers is the book of the service and walk of gods people. The israelites disobedience and lack of faith caused god to make them wander in the desert until all the people of that generation had diedwith a few important exceptions. The first nine chapters of the book include the first census of the people and their preparations to go into the promised land, or canaan. The three horizons of interpretation of the book of numbers. Each census taker must forego his or her rights of protection. The journey begins the people are sorted according to tribe with the tabernacle at the center. Oct 26, 2010 the main events in the book of numbers. Reubens tribe lost 2,770 men since the first census 6%. The book of numbers is the fourth book of the law of moses, also known as the torah or pentateuch. Numbers presents an account of the 38year period of israels wandering in the desert following the establishment of the covenant of sinai compare 1. Moses completed the book before his death deuteronomy 31. Leviticus, which interrupts the flow of narration, consists almost entirely of legislation independent of historic precedentwith the exception of lev.
Learn about faith and rebellion in the book of numbers. What is the purpose of the book of numbers in the bible answers. Lest we get caught up in the counting and the details, there is a purpose to this book. Each time israel rebels, god displays his justice and mercy together. The primary purpose of the census is to allocate our legislators in the house of representatives theyre meted out by population, unlike the senate where every state gets 2 no matter what, but it has come to be an invaluable tool for the governm. In the book of numbers, we have two censuses taken of the militaryage men of israel. Scholars speculate that part of dathans and abirams resentment towards moses was because moses was descended from a younger son, levi. The book of numbers largely duplicates the contents of the book of exodus, a puzzle if, as commonly supposed, both books were written by moses. The census did not leave out women and young people due to anything related to their social status but rather due to their military ineligibility. The north american industry classification system naics is the standard used by federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the u. The apparent purpose in compiling the book of numbers is to record the beginnings of the outworkings of the covenant in israels life. Jan 26, 2017 a chapter by chapter and verse by verse study of numbers taught by pastor paul leboutillier of calvary chapel ontario, oregon. This way they are still counted but separately from the community. Bill dollarhides the census book is the best reference book on the subject among several that have been issued in the same time frame.
The book of numbers the book of numbers purpose to record. The message of the book of numbers is universal and timeless. Outline of the book of numbers israel prepares for the journey to the promised land numbers 1. The book of numbers the book of numbers purpose to. The book of numbers is composed of narrative, legislation, and archival records. What is the purpose of the book of numbers in the bible. The book of numbers becomes a warning and encouragement for us to follow god and trust his good plan for his people.
The english name of the book comes from the septuagint the prechristian greek translation of the ot and is based on the census lists found in chs. In numbers the history of israel during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness from egypt to canaan is described. The whole purpose of the book of numbers is to record statistics. For the 1973 american crime film, see book of numbers film. In chapter 1, we find a tally of the men of the first generation, those who came out of egypt with the exodus. As with the exodus, it is difficult to establish the exact route that the israelites took, but it is generally believed that they headed east from mount sinai until they reached the red sea, where they turned northward to the top of the gulf and on to kadesh. Even in their rebellion, god continues to show his incredible love and provision for them. The english name of the book comes from the septuagint the prechristian greek translation of the ot and is based on the census lists. The lord jesus includes the book of numbers in his words when explaining to his disciples all that was written concerning himself in the law of moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms. The events described here took place in nineteen days. Interpreting the census figures in numbers israel in the wilderness numbers 1, 26. Introduction to the book of numbers learn religions. If one understands the numbers to be literal and the men to represent about onefourth of the population, then the number of the israelites ranges from two to three million people 10 a literal understanding of the numbers in the census is in congruence with pharaohs fear of the rapidly increasing hebrews overrunning egypt ex 1.
The book of numbers is the fourth book of the hebrew bible, and the fourth of five books of the jewish torah. The book of numbers itself refers to the writing of moses in 33. Conquering edom and moab numbers 2125 death of aaron. Main page north american industry classification system naics us census bureau. The book records census results for all twelve tribes not once, but twice. To record some of the events of the 40 year wilderness wandering to record the census of two. Book of numbers encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway.
The lord instructs moses concerning the arrangement of the tribal camps around the tabernacle. This summary of the book of numbers provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of numbers. The book of numbers records two censuses of israelite males 20 years and olderi. Yet half way through the book, the unnamed narrator develops a new method of the census not gathering certain information but instead, deciding what information to look for. What follows in the book of numbers is a great counting and arranging of gods people by tribes and clans. The name of the book comes from the two censuses taken of the israelites. The stated purpose of the israeli census, according to numbers 1. The hebrew title of the book bemidbar, in the desert is more descriptive of its contents. Numbers begins at mount sinai, where the israelites have received their laws and covenant from god and god has taken up residence among them in the sanctu.
Once you determine this purpose, you will never read the book. In the 1990searly 2000s, there was a series of articles published for the most part in vetus testamentum, revisiting an old hypothesis of g. The law includes the books of genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy. View notes the book of numbers from bible 105 at liberty university. Intro to numbers biblica the international bible society. The lord commands moses to take a census of the whole israelite community.
Because the counting was for an military purpose, which the levites do not participate in rather they work in the tabernacle, therefore they had a separate counting. The census that we find in numbers is not just a tally of the men and women of israel, but it has a specific purpose within the story of israel, as well as in the pentateuch. Except for joshua, caleb, and moses, the older generationeveryone twenty years old or older at the time of the first censusdied before the completion of numbers, due to their disobedience and disbelief numbers 14. Old testament ch 8 book of numbers flashcards quizlet. The pentateuchal priestly writers used two census lists in the book of numbers nm 1.
Consider the census as a large instrument made up of living cellsand each cell is a census taker. Orli in chapter 3 of numbers there is a separate census of leviim from one month and upwards. Learn book of numbers with free interactive flashcards. This would explain why women were not included in the census and males under twenty were not counted. The entire book consists of two census or numberings of the israelites from which the book derives its name. The book of numbers gets its english name by way of the septuagint, which used the term because of the census that begins the book and the second one in chapter 26. Numbers was written in the final year of moses life. Numbers with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The book of numbers was written between 1440 and 1400 b.
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