Numbers
Death and failure
As this chapter begins it has been 37 years since Israel’s first spy mission into the promised land and 40 years since the Exodus from Egypt. While the people dwelt at Kadesh waiting for instructions to march, Miriam the prophetess died and was buried there (v. 1). The peop …
Israel’s departure from Sinai
It has been two years since Israel left Egypt. Having received God’s travel instructions through Moses, Israel set out from Mount Sinai into the wilderness on their way toward the promised land. The people of Israel had camped at Mount Sinai about eleven months. They had be …
The angel and Balaam’s donkey.
This passage is about Balaam, his donkey and the angel. Balaam was a man ready to obey God’s command as long as he could profit from doing so. Although he realized the awesome power of Israel’s God, his heart was occupied with the wealth he could gain in Moab. God let Balaam go w …
Death sentence on the rebels
The LORD told Moses and Aaron to remind the people of Israel how they had complained against Him too many times (vv 26- 27). He says he is going to give them exactly what they wanted (v. 28). They will die in the dessert and their dead bodies will cover the ground (v. 29). B …
The rebellion of Korah
The most critical event of the years of wandering was the rebellion of Korah and his company against Moses and Aaron. Miriam’s and Aaron’s envy against Moses before the pronouncement of judgment at Kadesh was mild compared to this rebellion stirred up by Korah (vv. 1-35). W …
Seasons of life
The Levites were gifts to Aaron and his sons to serve at the sacred tent (vv. 19-20). They were held responsible for what happened to anyone who got too close to the sacred tent. They were dedicated to the Lord and did just as He commanded (vv. 21-22). The LORD told Moses t …
Boundries of the tribes
God had already given the eastern bank of Jordan to the two and one-half tribes. In those days there were no survey crews with scientific instruments for determining the property lines. People cited towns and geographical features when they wanted to determine boundaries. The Jew …
The numbering of Israel in Moab.
Even though Moses was not allowed to go into the Promised Land, he spent the closing weeks of his life preparing the new generation to enter Canaan and claim the land God promised to give them. In this portion of Scripture, a new census was taken in anticipation of assigning land …
Offerings of the leaders
This chapter points back to a month earlier when the tabernacle had just been completed and dedicated. In preparation for the move from Sinai to the Promised Land the tribal leaders brought to the Lord gifts of six wagons and 12 oxen (vv. 1-3). These, they said, were to be at the …
Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses
Moses, Aaron, and Miriam were a team sent by God to help the nation of Israel (Micah 6:4). Everybody in Israel knew that these three team mates were God’s chosen servants, but that Moses was the leader. Miriam, sister of Moses, was a leader as prophetess and Aaron, Moses’ b …