NUMBERS 1
THE CENSUS OF THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL
In the previous book, Leviticus, God spoke to Moses from the tent of meeting. This book starts by saying that God meets with Moses inside the tent of meeting. Because Moses follows the laws listed in Leviticus, he is able to be closer to God!
God tells Moses to take a census of each of the twelve tribes, descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob, where they are all accounted for and numbered. Often, a census signifies preparation for war.
The Levites are excluded from this count and are instead responsible for transporting and protecting the tabernacle. There are still twelve tribes included in the census, even without the Levites because the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, Joseph’s two sons, are included.
Judah is the largest of the twelve tribes. Judah is significant throughout Scripture because God chose the tribe of Judah to be the ancestors of Jesus.
NUMBERS 2
THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE TRIBAL CAMPS
God gives Moses and Aaron instructions for the arrangement of the camp as the tribes travel towards the land of Canaan that God has promised to them. The Levites and the tabernacle are placed in the center of the formation, both for protection and to show that God’s presence is at the heart of His people.
NUMBERS 3
THE SONS OF LEVI, THE LEVITES
The sons of Aaron are listed as Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Nadab and Abihu died from making an unfit sacrifice in Leviticus 10. Eleazar and Ithamar are the remaining sons of Aaron and serve as priests in the tabernacle.
The sons of Levi are listed as Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
God appoints the Levites to serve in the tabernacle instead of the firstborn sons from the other tribes. Originally, the firstborn sons of Israel were set apart to belong to God. Now the Levites are chosen to take on that role. Since there are more firstborn sons than Levites, the extra ones are redeemed. This means their families pay a set amount of silver, and those sons are released from the responsibility of tabernacle service.
NUMBERS 4
THE GERSHONITES, KOHATHITES, + THE MERARITES
The Levites are divided into three groups, named after Levi’s sons: the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites. Each group is assigned a specific role in caring for the tabernacle.
The Gershonites are responsible for the fabric and coverings of the tabernacle, the Kohathites are responsible for the most sacred objects, and the Merarites are responsible for the frames and structural pieces.
NUMBERS 5
LAWS FOR CLEANLINESS + PURITY
God gives Moses instructions about cleanliness within the Israelite camp. Those who are unclean due to disease, bodily discharge, or contact with the dead are sent outside the camp.
The chapter also includes a ritual for when a husband suspects his wife has been unfaithful, but has no proof. The woman undergoes a ceremony meant to prove guilt or innocence. Though the process appears intense or even harmful, it reflects the legal and cultural practices of ancient Israel and highlights the seriousness of faithfulness.
NUMBERS 6
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE NAZIRITE VOW + BLESSING OF AARON
God gives Moses instructions for those taking a Nazirite vow. Anyone who takes this vow must not drink wine or cut their hair, as a sign of being set apart for God.
God also gives Moses a beautiful blessing to speak over Aaron and his sons. This blessing is still used today as a reminder of God’s care and favor.
Numbers 6:24-26 - The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his face upon you and give you peace.
NUMBERS 7
OFFERINGS FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE TABERNACLE
The Gershonites and Merarites are given oxen and carts to help transport the tabernacle, but the Kohathites carry the most holy items on their shoulders using poles.
The leader of each tribe, starting with Judah and moving clockwise around the camp, brings a grain offering, burnt offering, sin offering, and peace offering for the dedication of the tabernacle.
At the end of the chapter, Moses hears God speak to him from above the ark of the covenant, between the wings of the cherubim on the mercy seat.
NUMBERS 8
DIRECTIONS FOR THE TABERNACLE LAMPS
God gives Moses instructions for the seven lamps located within the tabernacle. Throughout Scripture, the number seven represents completion or perfection.
God tells Moses how to purify and dedicate the Levites, who will serve as ministers of the tabernacle from age twenty-five to fifty.
NUMBERS 9
THE CLOUD BY DAY + FIRE BY NIGHT
God gives Moses instructions for honoring the annual Passover celebration. If someone is unclean or unable to participate at the proper time, they are allowed to celebrate one month later.
God’s presence covers the tabernacle as a cloud by day and fire by night, reminding the Israelites of His provision and guidance in the wilderness since Exodus 13. The people follow the movement of the cloud, trusting it as a sign of God’s direction.
NUMBERS 10
THE ISRAELITES LEAVE SINAI + TRAVEL TOWARDS THE PROMISED LAND
God gives Moses instructions for blowing silver trumpets, signaling all of the Israelites to gather together. The Israelites pack up their camp and start their journey toward the land that God promised them.
NUMBERS 11
GOD SENDS QUAIL FOR THE ISRAELITES
The Israelites complain about not having enough food, which angers God. God is gracious and sends quail for the Israelites to eat.
God sees the burden that was placed on Moses and appoints seventy elders to help him lead the Israelites.
Some of the people are greedy and take a ravenous amount of food. God sees their greed and strikes them down. The place they are buried is called the “graves of craving” which warns the Israelites not to let their desires get the best of them.
NUMBERS 12
MIRIAM + AARON OPPOSE MOSES
Miriam and Aaron, the sister and brother of Moses, begin to speak against him, criticizing his leadership and his wife, who is from a different region.
God calls all three into the tabernacle and rebukes Miriam and Aaron for questioning Moses’ unique relationship with Him. God strikes Miriam with leprosy, but Moses shows grace and pleads with God to heal her. God agrees, but Miriam is sent outside the camp for seven days.
NUMBERS 13
ISRAELITE SPIES SENT TO EXPLORE CANAAN
The Israelites are on their way to the Promised Land, the land of Canaan. God tells Moses to send spies into Canaan for forty days. One man from each tribe accompanies Joshua, the man who Moses chose to lead the way.
Joshua was originally named Hoshea, but Moses calls him Joshua. This renaming symbolizes Joshua's leadership and the role he will play in guiding the Israelites into the Promised Land.
Joshua and the spies are told to have courage and bring back fruit from Canaan as a sign that they arrived. When the spies return, they feel defeated, saying the Israelites are the size of grasshoppers compared to the mighty Canaanite army.
Caleb, the spy from the tribe of Judah, disagrees. He has faith that the Israelites will be able to overcome the land.
NUMBERS 14
THE ISRAELITES REBEL, BUT CALEB + JOSHUA TRUST GOD
After hearing the alarming report from the spies, the Israelites complain about being in the wilderness. They complain that heading towards the Promised Land is a waste of energy and think they’d be better off dead, or even back as slaves in Egypt, than wasting away in the wilderness.
Caleb and Joshua try to convince the Israelites that God will bring them into the land that He promised, but this angers the people and they want to stone Caleb and Joshua.
God is angry with the Israelites and considers killing them, but instead decides to prevent the current generation from ever entering the Promised Land. Caleb and Joshua are the exceptions to this rule because of their belief in God’s provision.
Instead of entering the Promised Land, the Israelites will wander in the wilderness for forty years, one year for each day the spies were in Canaan. During this time, the entire generation who doubted God would be killed by old age, battle, or plague. The first deaths occurred quickly, as Israel was defeated in battle by the Canaanites and Amalekites.
Numbers 14:8 - If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey.
NUMBERS 15
GOD PROVIDES INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY OFFERINGS
God gives Moses instructions for the sacrifices that the Israelites should make once they enter the Promised Land. Even though this is forty years away, God plans to keep His promise and bring the Israelites into Canaan.
These laws apply to all of God’s chosen people and any foreigners who have turned to God and want to follow His ways.
God gives instructions for sacrifices to atone for accidental sin. God takes the laws about Sabbath seriously, and a man is put to death for working and gathering wood on the seventh day. The Israelites begin to put tassels on their clothing as a reminder of the commandments.
NUMBERS 16
KORAH, DATHAN, + ABIRAM OPPOSE MOSES
One of the direct descendants of Levi and cousins of Moses, a man named Korah, rebels against Moses’ leadership. Although he is a Kohathite, responsible for carrying the holy elements of the tabernacle, he aspires to be more important, undermining who God appointed as priestly leaders.
Korah enlists two Reubenites, Dathan and Abiram, to build an army of 250 people to try and oppose Moses’ leadership. Korah wants to have a different fate than inevitable death in the wilderness.
Dathan and Abiram speak about Egypt, the place where they were enslaved, as the Promised Land. Their discontentment in the wilderness and distrust of God allows them to romanticize and distort the past.
Because of their rebellion, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram are swallowed up by the earth and killed.
NUMBERS 17
THE BUDDING OF AARON’S STAFF
Moses places twelve staffs, one for each of the tribes of Israel including Aaron’s for the tribe of Levi, in the tabernacle, in front of the ark of the covenant. Moses is allowed to enter this sacred space because of his leadership over Israel. Overnight, Aaron’s staff produces almond blossoms, marking him as uniquely chosen by God.
NUMBERS 18
DUTIES OF THE PRIESTS + LEVITES
God speaks directly to Aaron, giving instructions for guarding the tabernacle. The priests are responsible for the sanctuary, while the Levites assist by caring for the areas surrounding it.
God reminds Aaron that the Levites will receive no land inheritance. Instead, they are set apart for service to God and will receive provision from the offerings. God Himself is their portion and inheritance.
NUMBERS 19
PURIFICATION + CLEANLINESS SURROUNDING DEATH
God gives Moses and Aaron instructions for purification after being around death or dead bodies. These laws are especially relevant as an entire generation is nearing their death.
Being unclean is not the same as being sinful; it just requires a process of cleansing before entering into the tabernacle..
NUMBERS 20
MOSES STRIKES THE ROCK AGAINST GOD’S COMMAND
Miriam, the sister of Moses, dies in Kadesh and is buried there.
As the Israelites are in the wilderness, they complain about not having water. God instructs Moses to gather the people and speak to a rock to provide water. Instead of following God’s instructions and simply speaking to the rock, Moses hits the rock twice with a staff. As a result of his disobedience, Moses and Aaron are not allowed to enter Canaan.
The Edomites do not let the Israelites pass through Edom, so they have to take a longer route.
When the Israelites arrive at Mount Hor, Aaron dies, and his priestly garments are passed to his son Eleazar, marking him as the new high priest.
Numbers 20:12 - And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”