Beacon Bible Commentary, Volume 1

A. NAME AND SCOPE

In the English Bible the title of this fourth book of the OT is Numbers, following the title, Numeri, of the Latin Vulgate. It is used, no doubt, to highlight the two census reports which are recorded here. The first of these was a part of the program of organizing the people of Israel after their sudden and dramatic exodus from Egypt. The other was a part of the preparation in marshalling them for their trip into the Promised Land. Actually, however, these “numberings” occupy but a small portion of the book, namely, cc. 1—4 and 26. Hence other titles have been suggested from time to time as being more appropriate.

The Hebrews commonly used a distinguishing word from the beginning phrases of a book for its title. Consequently, Numbers was sometimes called “And he spoke” (Vaidabber), from its initial word. Most Hebrew Bibles give it the title “In the wilderness” (Bemidbar), which is not only the fifth word of the first verse, but speaks also of the setting of the main body of the book.

So far as content is concerned, Numbers might well be designated as the “Book of Moses.”1 Here Moses is portrayed as God's man for the hour in a more profound manner even than in the preceding two books and perhaps even more than in the book which follows. He dominates the scene as lawgiver, as intercessor, as peacemaker, as provider, as wise counsellor, as astute statesman, as clever general, as righteous leader, and as humble servant of God.

The Book of Numbers could also be titled “The Story of God's Faithfulness.” The basic story of the book is God working among His people.2 He is a Pillar of Fire by night, a Pillar of Cloud by day, a Provider of water and manna, a Captain at the front of the armies, a hovering Presence over and around the entire camp. Hence, Numbers contributed greatly, across the centuries, to the Israelites' basic faith in God.

The object of the book could be pinpointed even more explicitly by such a title as “Pilgrimage,” with the key verse, not at the beginning, but deep within the heart of the record: “We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel” (10:29).

Or in looking at the book from the vantage point of Hebrew and Christian history, it might well be called “The Tragedy of a Murmuring People.” The book is spotted with records of the murmuring and complaining of the people because of the hardships which were thrust upon them. It also has, as its historical hub, the great sin of unbelief at Kadesh-barnea, in which the people moved from criticism of their leaders to criticism of God himself.3

Although this book is thought by some not to be as detailed or as authentic as other of the historical books, yet it is significant to the history of Israel and to the history of God's dealings with His people.4

B. THE BOOK'S STRUCTURE

In several ways Numbers is unique both in its structure and in its treatment of the data it contains. It is not an independent book which carries its own distinctive meaning, but is, with Leviticus, “the middle part of a continuous story which runs from Genesis through Deuteronomy, and indeed into Joshua … This means that … [they] play a crucial part in understanding the others.”5 Within the book itself, cc. 1:1—10:10 relate back to Leviticus and Exodus and the Egypt-oriented experiences, while the portion following 10:11 points ahead to Canaan-oriented experiences.

Numbers is composed of narrative, instruction, laws, religious rites, and epic literature. The arrangement of these gives the impression that the material could have come from many sources. In certain places, for example, the legislative matter, which is interspersed with the narration, grows out of and shows a natural connection with that narrative. In other instances, however, such a relationship is not evident.6

The narrative itself is uneven and broken. It does not unfold as a continuous, fully treated story but is a record of certain incidents, some treated very briefly and others more at length. The book gives detailed attention, for example, to the preparations for leaving Sinai and to the incidents which preceded the spiritual defeat at Kadesh. It gives a bit less attention to the account of the final march to Canaan and to the incidents surrounding it. There is only a short note and very few answers to one's questions regarding the 38 years of the “wilderness wanderings.”

The book, then, must be read in the light of this “patchwork” nature. There seems to be no pattern of organization which eases the abrupt transitions, explains the obscurities, or bridges the gaps which abound. It has many beginnings and many endings. However, these empty spots in our full understanding of the structure of Numbers need not weaken its position in the canon of Holy Scripture. It still stands as a trustworthy account of that famous trek of the people of Israel from Sinai to Canaan.

C. THE FINDINGS OF ARCHAEOLOGY

It is regrettable that there are not more documented helps from the scholarly research of archaeology and related fields which apply to the areas and times covered by the Book of Numbers. The findings to date are limited and few of them are so clearly established as to be uncontested.

As a result, it is necessary to depend heavily upon tradition for such matters as the marking of the route of the journey, the locations of many of the events connected with it, and for other data not made explicit by the biblical record. Such important locations as the mountain called Sinai, the springs of Kadeshbarnea, and many of the stopping places (33:1-37) on the way cannot be pinpointed conclusively on a contemporary map. Thus, any attempt to show the route of the pilgrimage can at best be only an estimate and must contain many probabilities.7

There are, to be sure, findings upon which the archaeologists place some importance. There are evidences, for example, that these wilderness areas may not always have been as barren and unproductive as they are today. They could, indeed, have given a measure of support to the food needs of as great a host of people as the Scriptures record, even though there was still need for the miracles which God performed in order that they could survive. There are also evidences which indicate that the Sinai area, during these times, boasted a production of metals (iron, copper, and perhaps others). These facts would explain the names found in the record of this period relating to metals, smelting, and the like. They would also support the biblical implication that these areas were not as remote and desolate as modem conditions would suggest.8

Certain scholars 9 have felt that the best evidences from archaeology support the “later” date (roughly 1300 B.C.) of the Exodus. There are two of these to which they point as being the most significant. (1) There has been a more exact dating of the origin of the Hyksos dynasty in Egypt, whose beginning is believed to coincide with the days of Joseph and the migration of Jacob and his family to Egypt. (2) There is evidence which supports the idea of a rather sudden appearance of established cities in southern Palestine and in trans-Jordan in the thirteenth century B.C., which condition certainly pertained when the Israelites made contact with these areas in connection with their journey.

There have been speculations concerning the authorship of Numbers, but here again little evidence has been uncovered that changes the traditional position, which holds that Moses was the author of the bulk of the book.10 This may be maintained in spite of the intimations that interpolations have been made, either by the original compiler or by some later reviser, and in spite of the presence of the rather unrelated pieces of epic literature which could have come from other sources. Firm evidence is lacking which would cause us to assign the basic authorship to any other than Moses.

In the main, the supporting data covering this period is limited, more so even than that covering the later times of the settlement of Israel in Canaan. Hence there is little help from these outside sources in filling the empty spots and little that adds basically to the information which has been preserved in the biblical account.

Outline

I. Preparations at Sinai, 1:1—10:10

A. The Census, 1:1—2:34

B. Provisions for the Levites, 3:1—4:49

C. Social Responsibilities, 5:1-31

D. The Nazarite Vow, 6:1-21

E. The Benediction, 6:22-27

F. Offerings from the Princes, 7:1-89

G. Cleansing of the Levites, 8:1-26

H. On the Eve of Departure, 9:1—10:10

II. From Mountain to Wilderness, 10:11—14:45

A. The Camp Moves Out, 10:11-36