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Guide to Numbers

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The Book of Numbers

/ Guide to Numbers

Statistics

Statistics

4th book in the Bible
36 chapters
1,289 verses
32,896 words

 

Bible Statistics

Genre

Sacred History/Pentateuch

Sacred History retells events in primeval and mythic history.
The Pentateuch is the collection of five books that comprise the Law of Moses.

Biblical Genres

Author

Moses*

*Moses is the assumed author in the narrative. However, authorship for most Biblical books is inconclusive.

 

Biblical Authorship

Time Covered

1445–1407 B.C.*

*All Dates Are Approximate, according to the narrative of the Bible. These dates may reflect literary significance as opposed to the precise dates of history.

Biblical Chronology

Summary

The book of Numbers takes its name from the Greek Septuagint, referencing the two military censuses that take place in Numbers 1 and 26 and other counting lists throughout the book. Israel is spoken of in terms of the unbelieving generation and the new generation that follows who will possess the promised land and discusses many of Israel’s conquests against Canaanite nations in the wilderness who attempted to impede their journey as well as internal apostasies that threatened the well-being of the people. Numbers is commonly divided into three sections regarding Israel’s travels in the wilderness: (1) The wilderness of Sinai in Numbers 1:1–10:10; (2) Israel’s travel to the Transjordan in Numbers 10:11–22:1; and (3) the journeyings of Israel in the plains of Moab in Numbers 22:2–36:13.

Old Testament Minute: Numbers
Book Outline

The Order of the Camp of Israel (Numbers 1–9) (Camp)

Numbers 1

  • The Lord Commands Moses to Take a Census (Numbers 1:1–46)
    • Reuben (Numbers 1:20–21)
    • Simeon (Numbers 1:22–23)
    • Gad (Numbers 1:24–25)
    • Judah (Numbers 1:26–27)
    • Issachar (Numbers 1:28–29)
    • Zebulun (Numbers 1:30–31)
    • Joseph (Numbers 1:32–35)
    • Benjamin (Numbers 1:36–37)
    • Dan (Numbers 1:38–39)
    • Asher (Numbers 1:40–41)
    • Naphtali (Numbers 1:42–46)
  • The Duty of the Levites (Numbers 1:47–54)

Numbers 2

  • The Arrangement of the Camps of Israel Around the Tabernacle (Numbers 2:1–34)
    • East Side of the Tabernacle (Numbers 2:3–9)
    • South Side of the Tabernacle (Numbers 2:10–17)
    • West Side of the Tabernacle (Numbers 2:18–24)
    • North Side of the Tabernacle (Numbers 2:25–34)

Numbers 3

  • The Sons of Aaron (Numbers 3:1–4)
  • The Duties of the Levites (Numbers 3:5–13)
  • Census of the Levites (Numbers 3:14–39)
  • The Levites Serve in Place of the Firstborn (Numbers 3:40–51)

Numbers 4

  • The Kohathites Cover and Bear the Tabernacle Vessels (Numbers 4:1–20)
  • The Gershonites Bear the Tabernacle Curtains and Hangings (Numbers 4:21–28)
  • The Merarites Bear the Tabernacle Boards, Bars, and Pillars (Numbers 4:29–33)
  • The Numbering of the Levite Clans (Numbers 4:34–49)

Numbers 5

  • Laws for Unclean People (Numbers 5:1–4)
  • Laws for an Unfaithful Wife (Numbers 5:5–15)
  • An Ordeal to Test the Wife’s Faithfulness (Numbers 5:16–31)

Numbers 6

  • Laws for Nazarite Vows (Numbers 6:1–12)
  • The Completion of the Nazarite Period (Numbers 6:13–21)
  • The Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6:22–27)

Numbers 7

  • Twelve Leaders of Each Tribe Make Offerings for the Tabernacle (Numbers 7:1–88)
    • The Offering of Nashon from the Tribe of Judah (Numbers 7:12–17)
    • The Offering of Nethaneel from the Tribe of Issachar (Numbers 7:18–23)
    • The Offering of Eliab from the Tribe of Zebulun (Numbers 7:24–29)
    • The Offering of Elizur from the Tribe of Reuben (Numbers 7:30–35)
    • The Offering of Shelumiel from the Tribe of Simeon (Numbers 7:36–41)
    • The Offering of Eliasaph from the Tribe of Gad (Numbers 7:42–47)
    • The Offering of Elishama from the Tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 7:48–53)
    • The Offering of Gamaliel from the Tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 7:54–59)
    • The Offering of Abidan from the Tribe of Benjamin (Numbers 7:60–65)
    • The Offering of Ahiezer from the Tribe of Dan (Numbers 7:66–71)
    • The Offering of Pagiel from the Tribe of Asher (Numbers 7:72–77)
    • The Offering of Ahira from the Tribe of Naphtali (Numbers 7:78–88)
  • The Lord Speaks to Moses from the Mercy Seat (Numbers 7:89)

Numbers 8

  • Aaron Lights the Menorah (Numbers 8:1–4)
  • Moses Consecrates the Levites in Place of the Firstborn (Numbers 8:5–26)

Numbers 9

  • The Passover at Sinai (Numbers 9:1–5)
  • Laws for Observing the Passover When Unclean (Numbers 9:6–14)
  • The Presence of the Lord at the Tabernacle (Numbers 9:15–23)

The Wilderness to Transjordan (Numbers 10–21) (Brazen Serpent)

Numbers 10

  • The Silver Trumpets (Numbers 10:1–10)
  • The Israelites Depart from Sinai (Numbers 10:11–36)

Numbers 11

  • The Lord Smites the People with Fire (Numbers 11:1–3)
  • The People Complain They Have No Meat (Numbers 11:4–9)
  • Moses Requests Help in Leading the People (Numbers 11:10–23)
  • Moses Calls Seventy Elders and They Prophesy (Numbers 11:24–30)
  • The Lord Sends Quail and a Plague (Numbers 11:31–35)

Numbers 12

  • Miriam and Aaron Speak Against Moses (Numbers 12:1–9)
  • The Lord Smites Miriam with a Disease (Numbers 12:10–16)

Numbers 13

  • Moses Sends Scouts into the Land of Canaan (Numbers 13:1–24)
  • The Scouts Return to the Camp (Numbers 13:25–33)

Numbers 14

  • The Israelites Complain and the Lord Seeks to Destroy Them (Numbers 14:1–12)
  • Moses Intercedes with the Lord to Save Israel (Numbers 14:13–19)
  • The Lord Command Israel to Wander for a Generation (Numbers 14:20–38)
  • Some Venture into Canaan and Are Killed (Numbers 13:39–45)

Numbers 15

  • Laws for Various Offerings (Numbers 15:1–21)
  • Offerings for Sins of Ignorance (Numbers 15:22–31)
  • Penalty for Violating the Sabbath (Numbers 15:32–36)
  • Fringes on Garments (Numbers 15:37–41)

Numbers 16

  • Some Levites Rebel (Numbers 16:1–15)
  • The Rebels Present Themselves Before the Lord and Are Destroyed (Numbers 16:16–40)
  • The Israelites Complain and the Lord Smites Them with a Plague (Numbers 16:41–50)

Numbers 17

  • Aaron’s Rod Blooms as a Token Against Rebels (Numbers 17:1–13)

Numbers 18

  • The Duties of Priests and Levites (Numbers 18:1–7)
  • Offerings for Priests and Levites (Numbers 18:8–32)

Numbers 19

  • Ceremony of the Red Heifer (Numbers 19:1–10)
  • Using the Ashes to Purify Uncleanness (Numbers 19:11–22)

Numbers 20

  • Moses Smites a Rock and Brings Forth Water at Meribah (Numbers 20:1–13)
  • The Israelites Are Rejected from Traveling Through Edom (Numbers 20:14–21)
  • Aaron Dies at Mount Hor (Numbers 20:22–29)

Numbers 21

  • The Israelites Destroy Arad (Numbers 21:1–3)
  • The Brazen Serpent (Numbers 21:4–9)
  • The Israelites Journey to Moab (Numbers 21:10–20)
  • The Israelites Defeat Sihon (Numbers 21:21–31)
  • The Israelites Defeat Og (Numbers 21:32–35)

In the Plans of Moab (Numbers 22–31) (Balak)

Numbers 22

  • King Balak Summons Balaam to Curse Israel (Numbers 22:1–20)
  • The Donkey of Balaam Sees an Angel (Numbers 22:21–35)
  • Balaam Reports to King Balak (Numbers 22:36–41)

Numbers 23

  • Balaam’s First Prophecy (Numbers 23:1–12)
  • Balam’s Second Prophecy (Numbers 23:13–26)
  • Balaam’s Third Prophecy (Numbers 23:27–24:14)

Numbers 24

  • Balaam’s Fourth Prophecy (Numbers 24:15–19)
  • Balaam’s Prophecy to the Amalekites (Numbers 24:20)
  • Balaam’s Prophecy to the Kenites (Numbers 24:21–22)
  • Balaam’s Final Prophecy (Numbers 24:23–25)

Numbers 25

  • Israel Commits Idolatry and Whoredom (Numbers 25:1–18)

Numbers 26

  • The Lord Commands Moses to Take a New Census (Numbers 26:1–65)
    • Reuben (Numbers 26:5–11)
    • Simeon (Numbers 26:12–14)
    • Gad (Numbers 26:15–18)
    • Judah (Numbers 26:19–22)
    • Isaachar (Numbers 26:23–25)
    • Zebulun (Numbers 26:26–27)
    • Joseph (Numbers 26:28–37)
    • Benjamin (Numbers 26:38–41)
    • Dan (Numbers 26:42–43)
    • Asher (Numbers 26:44–47)
    • Naphtali (Numbers 26:48–56)
    • Levi (Numbers 26:57–65)

Numbers 27

  • The Daughters of Zelophehad Seek an Inheritance (Numbers 27:1–11)
  • The Lord Chooses Joshua as Moses’s Successor (Numbers 27:12–23)

Numbers 28

  • Daily Offerings (Numbers 28:1–8)
  • Sabbath Offerings (Numbers 28:9–10)
  • Monthly Offerings (Numbers 28:11–15)
  • Offerings for the Passover (Numbers 28:16–25)
  • Offerings for the Festival of Weeks (Numbers 28:26–31)

Numbers 29

  • Offerings for the Festival of Trumpets (Numbers 29:1–6)
  • Offerings for the Day of Atonement (Numbers 29:7–11)
  • Offerings for the Festival of Tabernacles (Numbers 29:12–40)
    • The First Day (Numbers 29:12–16)
    • The Second Day (Numbers 29:17–19)
    • The Third Day (Numbers 29:20–22)
    • The Fourth Day (Numbers 29:23–25)
    • The Fifth Day (Numbers 29:26–28)
    • The Sixth Day (Numbers 29:29–31)
    • The Seventh Day (Numbers 29:32–34)
    • The Eighth Day (Numbers 29:35–40)

Numbers 30

  • Laws for Vows (Numbers 30:1–16)

Numbers 31

  • The Israelites Attack the Midianites (Numbers 31:1–12)
  • They Return from War (Numbers 31:13–24)
  • Dividing the Spoils (Numbers 31:25–54)

Inheriting the Promised Land (Numbers 32–36) (canaan)

Numbers 32

  • Reuben and Gad Seek to Inherit Gilead (Numbers 32:1–19)
  • Reuben and Gad Covenant with Moses and the Lord (Numbers 32:20–42)

Numbers 33

  • Review of Israel’s Journey from Egypt (Numbers 33:1–49)
  • Instructions for Inheriting the Promised Land (Numbers 33:50–56)

Numbers 34

  • The Geographic Boundaries of the Promised Land (Numbers 34:1–15)
  • The Tribal Leaders Who Will Divide the Land (Numbers 34:16–29)

Numbers 35

  • The Lord Appoints Cities for the Levites (Numbers 35:1–8)
  • Cities of Refuge (Numbers 35:9–15)
  • Laws for Murder and the Revenger of Blood (Numbers 35:16–34)

Numbers 36

  • Zelophehad’s Daughters Concerning Marriage and Inheritance Laws (Numbers 36:1–13)

Videos

Watch selected videos on this book of the Bible to enhance your study. Note: Not all videos included come from a Latter-day Saint perspective. Inclusion on this list should not imply endorsement for all content.

Overview: Numbers

BibleProject

The Book of Numbers

BibleProject

Numbers: a Quick Overview | Whiteboard Bible Study

OverviewBible

Historical Settings

Main People

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LORD

Jan van 't Hoff, "The Covenant Renewal," Gospel Images.

Moses

Place Holder

Israel, Israelites, or Children of Israel

Place Holder

Israel, Priests of

Place Holder

Aaron, Sons of

Main Places

Read about places mentioned in this book.

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Wilderness of the Wandering

Time

*All Dates Are Approximate, according to the narrative of the Bible. These dates may reflect literary significance as opposed to the precise dates of history.

See Biblical Chronology
  • 1445–1407 B.C.*

Further Reading

Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Dana M. Pike, and David Rolph Seely, Jehovah and the World of the Old Testament: An Illustrated Reference for Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 2009), 124–135.

George A. Horton Jr., “Insights into Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy,” in The Joseph Smith Translation: The Restoration of Plain and Precious Truths, ed. Monte S. Nyman and Robert L. Millet (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1985), 71–88.

Robert L. Millet, “Lessons in the Wilderness (Numbers),” in Studies in Scripture, vol. 3: Genesis to 2 Samuel, ed. Kent P. Jackson and Robert L. Millet (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 1989), 173–204.

Hebert C. Wright, “A Study of Certain Typological References to the Atonement Found in Genesis, Exodus, and Numbers” (Master’s thesis; BYU, 1955).

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