Keith Essex
Part VI: Numbers

Keith Essex's correlating video lecture(s) from The Master's Seminary:

• Lecture 12: Introduction and Themes of Numbers;
• Lecture 13: Purpose, Literary Structure of Numbers;
• Lecture 14: Interpretive Issues of Numbers.

6. Numbers [MSB, 193-94; ESVSB, 257-64; BTSB, 217-23; NIVSB, 208-12; RSB, 196-200; HWSOT, 142-61; WOTA, 122-39; LDIOT, 92-101; DOTP, 611-18]
   1. Introduction
      1. Title [W&W, 232]
         1. Hebrew: "In the Wilderness;" "And He spoke"
         2. LXX: "Numbers"
      2. Date of Events:
         • from 1445 BC (Num 7:1; 9:15)
         • to 1406 BC (Deut 1:3)
         The Chronology of Numbers [cf. MSB, 110; W&W, 235]

         2nd Year 1st

         The Offering of Carts and Oxen at the Tabernacle (Num 7:1-9);

         1st Month

         The Cloud and Trumpets (Num 9:15–Num 10:10)

           1-12

         The Offerings of Each Tribal Leader at the Tabernacle (Num 7:10-89)

         The Arrangement of the Lamps and the Dedication of the Levites (Num 8:1-26)

           14

         The Second Passover (Num 9:1-8)

         2nd Month 1st

         The Numberings Begin and Further Laws Given (Num 1:1–Num 6:27)

           14

         The Passover for the Defiled (Num 9:9-14)

           20

         The Departure from Sinai (Num 10:11-32)

         3rd Month

         Journey from Sinai to Kadesh (Num 10:33–Num 12:16)

         4th Month 20

         Spies Sent Out (Num 13:1-20)

         Spying the Land (Num 13:21-24)

         5th Month

         6th Month 1st

         Spies Return and the People Rebel against the Lord (Num 13:25–Num 14:38)

         The Futile Invasion Attempt (Num 14:39-45)

         7th to 12th Month

         Death in the Wilderness (Num 15:1–Num 19:22)

         3rd Year through 39th Year

         40th Year

         Miriam Dies (Num 20:1)

         1st Month

         The Rebellion of Moses and Aaron at Meribah (Num 20:2-13)

         2nd Month

         Edom Denies Israel Passage (Num 20:14-21)

         3rd Month

         Journey to Mount Hor (Num 20:22)

         4th Month

         Aaron Dies (Num 20:23-28; 33:38)

         5th Month

         Aaron Mourned (Num 20:29)

         6th Month

         Travel to and Victories in Transjordan (Num 21:1–Num 22:1)

         7th Month

         8th Month

         Balaam (Num 22:2–Num 25:18)

         9th Month

         Final Preparations for Canaan (Num 26:1–Num 36:13)

         10th Month

         11th Month

         Moses Exhorts Israel (Deut 1:5)

         Moses Dies (Deut 34:5)

         12th Month

         Moses Mourned (Deut 34:8)
      3. The History of Interpretation [RSB, 198; DTIB, 539-41; ACCSOT, vol.III]
   2. Major Themes [see W&W, 246-48; NIDOTTE, 4:985-91]
      1. The Wilderness (Num 1; 3; 9; 10; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 20; 21; 24; 26; 27; 32; 34)
      2. The Rebellion of Israel (Num 11; 12; *Num 14; 15; 16; *Num 20; 21; *Num 25)
      3. The Wrath of God toward His Disobedient People (Num 11; 12; 14; 15; 16; 20; 21; 25)
      4. The Blessing of God through Balaam (Num 23-24) [NIDOTTE, 4:436-7]
      5. The Numbers: The Glory and Grace of Yahweh (Num 1; 2; 3; 4; 7; 14; 26)
      6. The Old and the New: the Patience of Yahweh (Num 1–10; 26–36)
      7. The Land (Num 9:14; 10:9; 13-15; 16:14; 18:20; 20:12, 24; 26:53, 55; 32:7-9, 11; 33:50-56; 34-36)
   3. Purpose:
      • The failure of Israel to obey Yahweh in faith brought Yahweh's discipline by death, but it did not frustrate Yahweh's ultimate purpose to bless Israel with the gift of the Land and the ultimate King.
   4. The Literary Structure (W&W, 234-37)
      1. The Literary Frames Related to Numbers
         NUMBERS 26:1 – DEUTERONOMY 34:12

         The Final Preparations for Entrance into the Land

         Description (Narrative)

         Prescription (Exhortation)

         "the plains of Moab … Jericho"
         (Num 26:3)

         "the plains of Moab … Jericho"
         (Deut 34:1)

         "land … an inheritance"
         (Num 26:52)

         "land … an inheritance"
         (Deut 31:7)

         "go up to the mountain"
         (Num 27:12)

         "go up to the mountain"
         (Deut 32:49; cf. 34:1)

         Num 26:1 – Num 36:13

         Deut 1:1 – Deut 34:12
         NUMBERS 26:1 – 36:13

         The Renewed Obedience of Israel towards the Lord

         Preparation

         Anticipation

         "Lord commanded"
         (Num 26:4)

         "Lord commanded"
         (Num 36:13)

         "daughters of Zelophehad"
         (Num 26:33; 27:1-11)

         "daughters of Zelophehad"
         (Num 36:1-12)

         "larger … smaller inheritance"
         (Num 26:52-56)

         "larger … smaller inheritance"
         (Num 33:50-56)

         Num 26:1 – Num 33:49

         Num 33:50 – Num 36:13
      2. The Outline of Numbers
         1. The Experience of the First Generation of Israel in the Wilderness (Num 1:1–Num 25:18)
            1. The Obedience of Israel toward Yahweh at Sinai (Num 1:1–Num 10:36)
               1. The Organization of Israel around the Tabernacle of Yahweh (Num 1:1–Num 6:27)
               2. The Orientation of Israel toward the Tabernacle of Yahweh (Num 7:1–Num 10:36)
            2. The Disobedience of Israel toward Yahweh in the Wilderness (Num 11:1–Num 22:1)
               1. The Complaining of Israel on the Journey from Sinai to Kadesh (Num 11:1–Num 12:16)
               2. The Rebellion of Israel and Its Leaders at Kadesh (Num 13:1–Num 20:29)
                  1. The Rebellion of Israel and the Consequences (Num 13:1–Num 19:22)
                  2. The Rebellion of Moses and Aaron and the Consequences (Num 20:1-29)
               3. The Renewed Complaining of Israel on the Journey from Kadesh to the Plains of Moab (Num 21:1–Num 22:1)
            3. The Final Rebellion of Israel with Baal of Peor on the Plains of Moab (Num 22:2–Num 25:18)
               1. The Blessing of Israel by Balaam: Yahweh Will Fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant through a Future King from Jacob (Num 22:2–Num 24:25)
               2. The Covenant of an Everlasting Priesthood: The Seed of Phinehas (Num 25:1-18)
         2. The Experience of the Second Generation of Israel on the Plains of Moab: The Renewed Obedience of Israel toward Yahweh (Num 26:1–Num 36:13)
            1. The Preparations for the Conquest of the Land (Num 26:1–Num 33:49)
            2. The Anticipation of the Conquest of the Land (Num 33:50–Num 36:13)
   5. Bibliography
      1. Exegetical:
         • none
      2. English Interpretation:
         • Ashley, The Book of Numbers (NICOT).
         • *Cole, Numbers (NAC).
         • Wenham, Numbers (TOTC).
      3. Expositional:
         • Duguid, Numbers (PTW).
         • Gane, Leviticus, Numbers (NIVAC).
   6. Selected Interpretive Problems
      1. The Literary Structure [DOTP, 611-18; BTSB, 222-23]
         1. Geographical [Ashley; Wenham]
            • Sinai (Num 1:1–Num 10:10)
            • From Sinai to the Plains of Moab (Num 10:11–Num 22:1)
            • The Plains of Moab (Num 22:2–Num 36:13)
         2. Ideological [BTSB; Cole; Duguid; EBC1 & 2]
            • The End of the Old: The First Generation of God's People Die in the Wilderness (Num 1:1–Num 25:18)
            • The Birth of the New: The Second Generation of God's People Prepare to Enter the Promised Land (Num 26:1–Num 36:13)
         3. Combination of Geographical / Ideological [Gane]
      2. The Large Numbers in Num 1:2-46; 2:1-34; 26:1-65 {see also Exod 12:37; 38:26} (cf. Num 3:39-51; Exod 23:25-30; Deut 7:7-22) [MSB, 194-96, 230; ESVSB, 260-61; BTSB, 221; DOTP, 407-10; W&W, 240-46]
         1. Literal and Precise
            1. The Wilderness Generation [KD; Duguid(?); BKC]
            2. The Davidic Generation
         2. Gematria
         3. Different Meaning for ‘elep [see NIDOTTE, 1:416-8]
            1. "A Military Unit"
            2. "Clan"
            3. "Chief"
         4. Symbolic [Wenham(?)]
         5. Deliberate Hyperbole [Cole (?); EBC1 & 2]
         6. Numbers Based on a System Familiar to the Readers but Unknown Now [Ashley; Gane (?)]
         7. Textual Corruption
      3. The Jealousy Ordeal (Num 5:11-28) [MSB, 202-3; ESVSB, 273; BTSB, 233-34; W&W, 238; DOTP, 295-97]
      4. Balaam (Num 22:2-24:25; 31:16) [MSB, 194; ESVSB, 301; BTSB, 257-58; DOTP, 75-78; W&W, 239-40]
         1. A Prophet of Yahweh
         2. A False Prophet (cf. 2 Pet. 2:15, 16; Jude 11; Rev. 2:14) [Cole; Wenham; Duguid; EBC1 & 2]
         3. Balaam's Character Incidental to the Narrative; This Text Gives a Neutral Judgment [Ashley]
   7. Preaching Numbers

Used with permission by Dr. Keith Essex. Redistribution without express permission from Dr. Keith Essex is prohibited.