Overview Article
The book of Numbers tells the story of Israel in the wilderness, journeying toward the Promised Land from Mount Sinai. As Moses led Israel from Egypt to Canaan, God tested his people in the crucible of the wilderness to see if they would be faithful to him as a unified nation. Numbers documents their successes and failures. Israel’s disobedience resulted in the Lord’s judgment, always counterbalanced by his patient persistence in raising a new generation to fulfill his plan. With its many stories and the detailed exposition of God’s laws, Numbers gives us a dramatic account of the Lord’s nature, his covenant, and his plan for his people.
Key People, Places, and Terms
People 221
Places 137
Key Terms 124
Themes
The Cloud and Fire 15 When Israel was in the wilderness, God guided them with a pillar of cloud and fire. The pillar appeared to the Israelites immediately after the first Passover, when they left Egypt ( Exodus 13:20–22 ). The pillar had... Spirit Empowerment 7 Throughout the Bible, when needed, God gives special abilities to those committed to serving him. The story of Moses and the seventy elders is an early example. It shows that God has acted in special ways among his pe... The Cities of Refuge 5 The Israelites built the cities of refuge to protect innocent people from blood revenge. An avenger had the legal right to kill a murderer ( Numbers 35:19 ; see Genesis 9:6 ). If someone accidentally caused a death, t... The Family Redeemer 4 The idea of the family redeemer was established in the law of Moses. The story of Ruth shows us an example of this idea. In that book, this term has a specific legal meaning. In other places, the Hebrew term go’el tra... The Priestly Blessing 4 The priestly blessing is a well-known and beloved passage in the Hebrew Bible ( Numbers 6:22–27 ). For centuries, worshipers have found comfort in its short yet meaningful lines. This famous text is simple and disting... The Plagues 3 The main purpose of the plagues in Egypt was not to rescue the Hebrew people from Egyptian oppression. If rescue was the goal, one big miracle would have been enough. The plagues intended to show who God is to Israel,... Complete Dedication 3 The Hebrew word kherem (related to the verb kharam ) means something that is “specially set apart.” It has no exact match in modern English. The word can mean either to destroy something completely or to dedicate it f... Vows to God 3 A vow to God means something like saying, "If God does 'this', then I will give 'this' to God or his holy place." Examples include:
See all (20)
The Bronze Snake 3 Numbers 21:4–9 describes an event where the Israelites complained against God and Moses. They were unhappy about the food and water and said, " We detest this wretched food!" ( 21:5 ). In response, the Lord sent poiso... Apostasy 2 Sadly, opposition to God is not limited to those outside the community of faith. The Bible tells of many who seemed to know God but turned away (see Numbers 16 ; Deuteronomy 13 ; 2 Kings 17:5–23 ; Ezekiel 8 ). God bri... Atonement 2 Leviticus 16 explains the Day of Atonement. On this day, the high priest presented the community's sins to the LORD. Worshiping a holy God requires removing any ceremonial uncleanness or sin. God's grace accepted an a... Fearing People 2 God promised to be with his people when they encountered opposition (see, for example, Deuteronomy 20:1–4 ; Joshua 1:9 ). As long as they remained committed to him, they had no reason to fear others. Israel's history... Remove the Evil 2 Sin is so opposed to God’s holiness that it cannot exist with him. The same should be true for God's people. God is holy, and he expects his people to show his holiness ( Leviticus 11:45 ; 19:2 ). God required severe... The Central Sanctuary 2 God wanted people to worship where he had chosen to put his name. For Israel, this was first the tabernacle and later the temple in Jerusalem. God is transcendent (above all things) and omnipresent (present everywhere... The Dangers of Sin 2 Choosing sin instead of remaining faithful to the one true God leads to disaster. This has been true since the beginning, when Adam and Eve's disobedience brought curses and separation from their first home ( Genesis... The Passover 2 The feast of Passover became a central part of Israelite religious practice. This festival celebrated God's rescue of the Hebrews from Egypt and his protection from the final deadly plague. God wanted it observed ever... Violation of the Sacred 2 Violation of the sacred is the act of disrespecting, damaging, or misusing something that is considered holy or set apart for God. Ever since the early days in the garden of Eden, humans have tried to claim God's holy... Anger 2 Wise people do not get angry quickly. “ A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly ” ( Proverbs 14:29 ). Anger can cause bad judgment, so wise people think before they act ( 14:16 )... Blessing 2 Before the patriarch Jacob died, he blessed each of his sons and Joseph's sons ( Genesis 49:1–28 ; 48:3–20 ). This was also how his father Isaac had blessed him ( 27:27–29 ). A blessing gives, improves, and enriches l... Life After Death 2 Writers in the Old Testament describe the place where dead people are as beneath the earth's surface ( Ezekiel 26:20 ). Sometimes, the earth swallows them alive ( Numbers 16:31–33 ; Psalm 55:15 ). But usually, "the co...
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Outline
Use of Numbers in the New Testament
Quoted 3 times across 3 New Testament books
Total quotations 3
Connected books 3
Most-connected book John 1
All References
| Numbers | bookOverview.connections.ntReference | Compare |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers 9:12 | John 19:36 | Compare |
| Numbers 14:35–36 | Hebrews 3:17 | Compare |
| Numbers 16:5 | 2 Timothy 2:19 | Compare |
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