Numbers - At A Glance

Theme: The Lord told Moses to numbered the children of Israel for the purpose of organizing the people for war. After the spies came back from Canaan ten of them discouraged the people. God kept the children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years until the adults that came out of Egypt were gone, all except for Joshua and Caleb.

Numbers 1
At a Glance (54 V)
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1-19_The LORD told Moses to take a census of the tribes of Israel.

__20-31_The tribe of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, 46,500.
The tribe of Simeon, 59,300.
The tribe of Gad, 45,650.
The tribe of Judah, 74,600.
The tribe of Issachar, 54,400.
The tribe of Zebulun, 57,400.

__32-44_The tribe of Ephraim, the son of Joseph, 40,500.
The tribe of Manasseh, 32,200.
The tribe of Benjamin, 35,400.
The tribe of Dan, 62,700.
The tribe of Asher, 41,500.
The tribe of Naphtali, 53,400.

__45-54_The total number of the children of Israel twenty years old and upward was 603,550.

God told Moses not to number the Levites. Their work was with the tabernacle and its services rather than war.

Each of the children of Israel camped with his own tribe. The Levites camped around the tabernacle.

Numbers 2
At a Glance (34 V)
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1-9_God told Moses to have the children of Israel camp out away from the tabernacle, each by his own standard with the banners of their father's households. On the east side shall be Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. The total number for these three tribes was 186,400 men.

__10-16_On the south side shall be Reuben, Simeon and Gad. The total number for these three tribes was 151,450 men.

__17_The tent of meeting shall be with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps.

__18-24_On the west side shall be Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin. The total number for these three tribes was 108,100.

__25-31_On the north side shall be Dan, Asher and Naphtali. The total number for these three tribes was 157,600.

__32-34_The total of all the men of the children of Israel, minus the Levites, was 603,550. They did as the LORD had commanded Moses. They camped by their standards, everyone by his family, according to his father's household.

Numbers 3
At a Glance (51 V)
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1-13_God told Moses that the tribe of Levi was to serve Aaron performing all the duties required for him and the congregation.

__14-16_God said that He was having the firstborn's duties transferred to the Levites. He also told Moses to number the Levites.

__17-26_Gershon and the families with him camped to the west of the tabernacle had 7,500 males from a month old and upward. They took care of the tabernacle and the tent, its covering and the screen for the doorway of the tent of meeting, and the hangings of the court and the screen for the doorway of the court, and its cords.

__27-32_Kohath and the families associated with him numbered 8,600 males from a month old and upward. They camped to the south of the tabernacle. Their duties involved the ark, the table, the lampstand, the alters, and the utensils of the sanctuary.

__33-37_Merari and the families associated with him numbered 6,200 males a month old and upward. They camped on the north side of the tabernacle. Their appointed duties included the frames of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its equipment, the pillars around the court with their sockets and cords.

__38-39_Moses and Aaron and his sons camped to the east of the tabernacle. The total number of Levites from a month old and upward was 22,000.

__40-51_The LORD told Moses to number all the firstborn of the children of Israel a month old and upward. There were 22,273 names of firstborn from the children of Israel. There were 273 more firstborn then there were Levites. The LORD told Moses to pay a ransom for the 273 extra. Thus the LORD replaced the firstborn with the Levites.

Numbers 4
At a Glance (49 V)
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1-49_God gave Moses very detailed instructions as to which of the Levites were to take care of each part of the sanctuary. Only those from the age of thirty years up to fifty years were to do this work with the tabernacle.

Numbers 5
At a Glance (31 V)
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1-4_The LORD told Moses to send every leper away from camp, as well as those with a discharge or were unclean because they had touched a dead person. This was to be the case for men and women.

__5-10_When anyone sins he shall confess his sin and make restitution in full plus one fifth. If he is unable to make restitution and he has no relative to help him, the priest will come to his aid with what the people have given to him in the temple service.

__11-23_If any man suspects his wife of infidelity, but cannot prove it, he shall bring his wife with a fine barley meal offering to the priest. The priest shall take holy water mixed in some dust from the tabernacle floor. The curse is then written on a scroll and washed in the water with the dust in it.

__24-31_Then the priest shall make the woman drink this water of bitterness. He is to tell her that if she is guilty her belly will swell and her thigh will waste away. If she is innocent no harm will come to her. She will be free and able to conceive children.

This is the law concerning jealousy.

Numbers 6
At a Glance (27 V)
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1-21_When a man or woman takes a Nazarite vow to dedicate himself to the LORD, he shall abstain from wine and strong drink. Neither shall he drink vinegar or anything made from the grape. All the days of the vow no razor shall pass over his head. All the days of his vow he shall not go near a dead person.

__22-27_A blessing for Aaron and his sons to say to the people:
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Numbers 7
At a Glance (89 V)
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1-89_On the day that Moses finished setting up the tabernacle he anointed it and consecrated all its furnishings. The leaders of Israel made an offerings to the LORD over a period of twelve days. The offerings included expensive silver dishes, gold pans for incense and animals for sacrifice.

Numbers 8
At a Glance (26 V)
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1-26_The LORD talked to Moses about the Levites and their special relationship with Him.

Numbers 9
At a Glance (23 V)
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1-14_God told Moses to instruct the Children of Israel to observe the Passover at its appointed time each year on the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight. A person would be excluded if he was unclean because he touched a dead person, in which case he could celebrate it on the second month.

__15-23_As long as the cloud covered the tabernacle during the day and had the appearance of fire at night, the camp remained around the tabernacle.

When the cloud lifted up from over the tent, the children of Israel would set out and follow it.

Numbers 10
At a Glance (36 V)
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1-10_God told Moses to make two silver trumpets. Various patterns of blowing them were established for such things as:
Assembling all the people
Assembling the leaders
As a warning
And when it is time to move out.

__11-28_In the second year on 20th day of the second month, the cloud lifted up from the tabernacle of testimony. The Levites took the tabernacle down and prepared to move.

__29-36_Moses entreated his father-in-law to accompany them to the promised land that God had promised. The children of Israel followed the cloud three days journey in the wilderness.

Numbers 11
At a Glance (35 V)
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1-3_The people complained and the LORD was angry and burned the edges of the camp. The people cried out to Moses and he prayed for them. Then the fire died out.

__4-15_The people were crying for meat to eat. They were tired of the manna they ate every day. They complained to Moses and he asked the LORD to carry this burden for him.

__16-35_The LORD told Moses to gather seventy of the elders of the people. He said He would place His spirit on these men to help Moses with the leadership of the camp.

The next day the LORD brought quail in a wind from the sea and the people ate until they were sick.

Numbers 12
At a Glance (16 V)
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1-16_Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses' wife. The anger of the LORD burned against them. Miriam became leprous. Aaron pleaded for Miriam and himself. Moses prayed to God and Miriam was healed. However, she did have to stay outside the camp for a week.

Numbers 13
At a Glance (33 V)
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1-33_God told Moses to send twelve men as spies into Canaan. They returned after forty days bringing a fantastic report of wonderful things. They also reported that the land had many giants and well fortified cities. Ten of the spies discouraged the people. Caleb tried to encourage them but they would not listen.

Numbers 14
At a Glance (45 V)
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1-31_The people were so disheartened that they said the best course of action would be to return to Egypt. Joshua and Caleb tried to discourage this idea and were then threatened with stoning.

The LORD was angry. He said that except for Joshua and Caleb, none of these people would see the Promised Land.

__32-45_The LORD said the people would wander in the wilderness for forty years, according to the number of days they had spied out the good land.

The people were sorry for the way they had acted and decided to go fight the Amalekites and the Canaanites. They went against Moses' advice and were severely beaten.

Numbers 15
At a Glance (41 V)
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1-41_The LORD gave Moses more information about offerings for when they reached the promised land.

A man gathered wood on the Sabbath day so the LORD told Moses that the man must be stoned.

The LORD told the people to make tassels for the corners of their garments to remind them of the commandments.

Numbers 16
At a Glance (50 V)
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1-7_Korah, along with Dathan and Abiram, rose up before Moses with 250 leaders of the congregation. They assembled together against Moses and Aaron saying that they were taking on themselves responsibility that should be shared. Moses said, tomorrow the LORD will show who is His and who is holy. Tomorrow you will bring fire in a censor before the LORD.

__8-40_Moses said to Korah, isn't it enough what the LORD has given you to do? Now you are seeking the priesthood. Dathan and Abiram would not come to meet Moses.

The LORD had Moses warn everyone away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Then the LORD split open the ground under them and they and their families and tents went into the pit.

__41-50_The next day the people grumbled against Moses and Aaron saying that they had caused the death of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. The LORD told Moses He was going to destroy these people. Moses had Aaron fill his censor and run among the people. The plague was checked but 14,700 people died besides Korah and those with him.

Numbers 17
At a Glance (13 V)
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1-8_The LORD had Moses ask for a rod from the heads of the twelve tribes: twelve rods, one from each tribes. Each leader was to put his name on his rod. They wrote Aaron's name on the rod for Levi. The rods were placed in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of testimony. God said, the rod of the man I have chosen will sprout growth.

__9-13_The next day all the rods were brought out of the tent of meeting. Aaron's rod had budded. The LORD said to put Aaron's rod back before the ark of testimony to be kept as a sign against rebels.

The people were concerned for their safety, knowing they had done wrong.

Numbers 18
At a Glance (32 V)
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1-32_God gave instruction to Aaron, his sons, his family and the tribe of Levi concerning their service in the tabernacle.

All the tithe was to be for the Levites. And the Levites were to pay tithe on what they received.

Numbers 19
At a Glance (22 V)
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1-10_A red heifer that had never been yoked was sacrificed outside of the camp of Israel. This was for purification.

__11-22_Anyone touching a dead person shall be unclean for seven days. He shall bath on the third and the seventh day and then be clean. He shall remain unclean until he has bathed as specified.

Numbers 20
At a Glance (29 V)
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1-13_Miriam died and was buried.

There was no water so the people contended with Moses. The LORD told Moses to take the rod with him and speak to the rock. But Moses struck the rock. God was unhappy about this and told Moses and Aaron that they would not be able to bring the children of Israel into the Promised Land.

__14-21_At Kadesh Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom asking permission to pass through their territory. He was refused.

__22-29_Aaron died on Mount Hor after his high priestly garments had been transferred to his son Eleazar. When Israel learned of Aaron's death, they mourned for 30 days.

Numbers 21
At a Glance (35 V)
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1-3_The Canaanite king Arad lived in the Negev. He came out to fight against Israel and some of the children of Israel were taken captive. Israel promised God that they would utterly destroy Arad if God gave them the victory over the Canaanites. God did help them and they kept their promise.

__4-7_Then Israel set out for Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea so as to go around Edom. They had tired of their food and they complained that there was no water. The LORD sent fiery serpents to bite the people. Many began to die. The people came to Moses and admitted their sin.

__8-9_The LORD told Moses to make a fiery serpent of bronze and hang it on a high pole so that the people could look at it and live. Those who looked at it got well.

__10-20_Various places are mentioned on their travel toward the land the LORD had promised to them.

__21-35_Moses asked permission of the Amorites to pass through their land. The Amorites refused and prepared to strike Israel with the sword. Then Israel struck down the Amorites and took all their land.

Then they took the land of Bashan killing all its people.

Numbers 22
At a Glance (41 V)
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1-6_The children of Israel journeyed and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho. Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab and was afraid because he had seen what Israel had done to the Amorites. He sent for Balaam, a prophet of God, to curse Israel.

__7-30_Balak had offered to pay Balaam to curse Israel, but only blessings would come out of the prophet's mouth. Early in the morning Balaam saddled his donkey and started out to go to the leaders of Moab. The donkey didn't do what he wanted, so he beat it. Then the donkey talked to Balaam, saying, why do you beat me? Haven't I always been faithful to you?

__31-41_Then Balaam's eyes were opened and he saw the angel of the LORD with a drawn sword. Balaam acknowledged his sin.

The angel of the LORD told Balaam to go to Balak but only to speak the words He gave him. The next day Balak took Balaam to a high place overlooking some of the children of Israel and begged him to curse them.

Numbers 23
At a Glance (30 V)
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1-30_Balaam instructed Balak to build seven alters and offer a bull and a ram on each alter. But Balaam could not curse Israel. Only blessing came out of his mouth. Balak was very unhappy but Balaam's only reply was that he must speak what the LORD told him to speak. They tried other vantage points with the same result.

Numbers 24
At a Glance (25 V)
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1-25_Balaam saw that he could not curse Israel and he tried no more. He then prophesied in Israel's favor. Balak was very angry with Balaam but Balaam told him he had warned him that he could only say what the LORD gave him to say. Then he prophesied yet again in Israel's favor before returning to his home.

Numbers 25
At a Glance (18 V)
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1-8_While Israel remained at Shittim some of the people played the harlot with daughters of Moab. Some of Israel went to the Moabite sacrifices. God was angry and told Moses to kill the offenders and Moses did this. One of the children of Israel brought a Midianite woman into his tent. Phinehas, Eleazar's son ran his spear through both of them.

__9-18_God sent a plague and killed 24,000. God said that because Phinehas had been jealous for Him, the priesthood would always belong to him and his descendants.

Numbers 26
At a Glance (65 V)
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1-27_After the plague God told Moses to take another census of the people 20 years old and upward.
Reuben: 43,730
Simeon 22,200
Gad 40,500
Judah 76,500
Issachar 64,300
Zebulun 60,500.

__28-51_Manasseh 52,700
Ephraim 32,500
Benjamin 45,600
Dan 64,400
Asher 53,400
Naphtali 45,400

The total number of the census was 601,730.

__52-65_God told Moses to divide the inheritance in the promised land according to the size of each tribe.

There were 23,000 males a month old and upward in the tribe of Levi.

There were none left of all the children of Israel who had been numbered in the wilderness of Sinai that God had said must not enter Canaan except Joshua and Caleb.

Numbers 27
At a Glance (23 V)
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1-11_The five daughters of Zelophedad, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah had no brothers. They ask Moses why they should be overlooked. Their father had died and no land was assigned to him. Moses asked God and He made a statute that if a man dies without sons his inheritance shall go to his daughters.

__12-23_God told Moses to go up on the mountain in order to view the promised land that He was giving to the children of Israel. When you have seen it you will go to your grave as Aaron did. Moses asked God to appoint someone to lead the congregation. God said that Joshua would take his place as the leader of Israel.

Numbers 28
At a Glance (31 V)
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1-31_God told Moses to command the children of Israel to be careful to present all the offerings He had specified. There were daily, weekly, monthly and yearly offerings. Special mention was made of the LORD's Passover, the day of First Fruits and the Feast of Weeks.

Numbers 29
At a Glance (40 V)
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1-40_The first day of the seventh month is a holy convocation with no work. It is a day for blowing of trumpets. You shall offer burnt offerings. The tenth day of the seventh month is also a holy convocation. On the fifteenth day of the seventh month more offerings and no work. During this time many bulls, rams and lambs are to be sacrificed.

Numbers 30
At a Glance (16 V)
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1-16_If a man or woman makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath binding himself to some obligation, he shall keep his vow. Only husbands and fathers are allowed to nullify a woman's vow, if they are careful not to nullify a vow she understood and agreed to.

Numbers 31
At a Glance (54 V)
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1-24_The LORD told Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites. After this he would go to his grave. The soldiers brought women and children back as captives. Moses was angry because the women had caused Israel to sin. They were to kill every male and keep only the women who were virgins. The booty must be able to go through the fire, that is the metals.

__25-54_They then counted and divided the captured animals between the soldiers. Some of everything belonged to the LORD. Some was also appointed to those who had not gone to war. The men of war brought an additional offering to the LORD.

Numbers 32
At a Glance (42 V)
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1-27_The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had a very great amount of livestock. They asked permission to settle on the east side of Jordan and then help their brothers capture the land west of the Jordan. So Moses agreed and included the half tribe of Manasseh among those whose inheritance was to be east of the Jordan River.

Numbers 33
At a Glance (56 V)
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1-56_A detailed listing is given of all the journeys of the children of Israel after they came out of Egypt until they reached the Jordan River.

God said that when they entered the land of Canaan they must utterly destroy the inhabitants statues, molten images and high places.

And you shall divide the land by lot.

Numbers 34
At a Glance (29 V)
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1-29_The LORD spoke to Moses specifying the division of the land. The LORD gave very specific instructions as to who would be in charge of seeing that the land was properly distributed to each tribe.

Numbers 35
At a Glance (34 V)
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1-34_The LORD spoke to Moses about the inheritance of the Levites. They were to be given cities with surrounding pasture land. These cities were called cities of refuge. The purpose of these cities and who could flee to them was explained in detail.

Numbers 36
At a Glance (13 V)
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1-13_Instruction is given concerning land transfer and the returning of the land at the year of Jubilee. Marrying within one's own tribe is the best safe guard to holding that land at all times.

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36