Numbers 1-6
Numbers 1-6
The book of Numbers picks up the history of Israel just over one year after the exodus. In the initial scene God was yet preparing His people to take the land of Canaan (1.1). Chs 1-6 is the account of how God organized Israel in such a way as to maximize their awareness of His presence among them while they journeyed toward Canaan.
The opening paragraph of Numbers records the census which arranged the Israelites for travel toward the southern edge of Canaan. Several facets of the commanded census are noteworthy: in breadth, “the entire Israelite community by their clans and their ancestral houses” (v. 2); in depth, “the names of every male one by one” (v. 2); and in purpose, “You and Aaron are to register those who are 20 years old or more by their military divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army” (v. 3). The remainder of ch 1 lists the leaders who would help Moses and Aaron complete the census, and the final totals from the register of the Israelites (vv. 5-46).
In the midst of the detailed conquest preparations the text emphasizes God’s presence among His people. The Levites were to remind Israel of God’s presence by maintaining the worship functions of the tabernacle—as opposed to preparing for direct military engagement in the land of Canaan. Lest one think this to be a trivial matter, the text states that the greatest threat to Israelite success was not a foreign army, but an offended God: “The Israelites are to camp around the tabernacle of the testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the Israelite community” (v. 53). The bulk of Num 1-6 describes the divisions and employment of the Levites:
- Aaron’s family was to play a significant role in the life of Israel. Aaron was recognized as the head of all those who would serve as priests (3.1-3, 5-10). The priesthood was to be taken seriously, and priestly duties were the privilege of Aaron, Eleazar, and Ithamar—his tworemaining sons (3.4, 9-10; cf. Lev 10). The Levites were designated as the ‘firstborn’ of Israel, God’s special possession (3.11-12; cf. Ex 4.21-23, 13.11-16). This theme was emphasized again toward the end of ch 3, where the text records that there were 273 more first-born Israelites than Levites—and 1,365 shekels were collected as “redemption money” (v. 51) so that all in Israel would be in good standing before Yahweh
- The general census of the Levites reveals that there were 22,000 males one month and older (3.14-15, 39)
- The census of qualified 30-50 year-olds of the ancestral houses totaled 8,580 men (4.2, 48). All of these were responsible for some aspect of transporting the tent of meeting; the holy things—after the priests had properly cared for the cultic regalia of the tabernacle—were carried by the Kohathites (4.4-15a, 17-20), and the physical structures were then moved by the Gershonites (4.25-26), and the Merarites (4.31-32)
Num 5-6 stresses that God’s presence among His people was also significant for their activities outside of the tabernacle; purity was to pervade the camp. Israel was to be pure from skin disease (5.1-4), unresolved offenses (5.3-10), and immorality (5.11-31). Further, the Israelites were also free to take the Nazarite vow of purity. This vow was to be taken seriously and included: abstaining from wine and grape products (6.3-4), keeping oneself from contact with dead bodies (6.6-8), and not cutting one’s hair (6.5).
The initial scenes of the book of Numbers records that as Israel sojourned to Canaan they were to be organized in such a way that they could remember God’s special presence among them. The prayer Aaron and his sons were commanded to perform provides an apt summary of the theme: “The LORD bless you and protect you; the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the LORD look with favor on you and give you peace” (6.24-26). In this the priests would put God’s name on the Israelites as they set out for Canaan, and He promised to bless them (6.27).
As Israel set out for the Promised Land God arranged them so that they would not forget His presence among them. This prefigures a later episode of the storyline of Scripture; just as God’s presence with Israel was intended for their encouragement as they prepared for the conquest of Canaan, Jesus’ presence has given the church great strength for the offensive of building His kingdom around the world. In the closing words of Matthew’s Gospel He declared:
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt. 28.18-20).
Likewise, as God organized Israel in their movement toward Canaan, He has organized the church as a body of individuals, gifted for service:
“Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God is active in everyone and everything. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial…
God has placed the parts, each one of them, in the body just as He wanted” (1 Cor 12.4-7, 18).
*For a complete list of references, please see scripturestoryline.com