Numbers Summary

I get the impression that a lot of people tend to skip over the book of Numbers, or just skim through it, when they’re reading through the Bible. Based on the name, I think they assume that it’s full of censuses (censii?), and, as it turns out, a lot of the material that isn’t related to a census is related to laws, which most of us find pretty boring.

However, there’s a lot of other stuff that happens as well: the Israelites finally make it to the border of the Promised Land, only to chicken out and refuse to go in; Korah leads a rebellion against Moses, and the LORD puts it down harshly; Moses and Aaron are told they won’t be allowed to enter the Promised Land; Balak summons Balaam to curse the Israelites, and Balaam’s donkey tries to talk some sense into him—all of these stories are in the book of Numbers.

If you’re worried about long lists of names, because the book is named “Numbers,” there are actually only two: one census, near the beginning of the book, lists the Israelites who could have entered the Promised Land, if only they’d had faith in God; the second census, near the end of the book, lists the next generation of Israelites, who would enter the Promised Land.

And if you’re worried about having to slog through chapters and chapters of rules, regulations, and laws, all I can say is that if you’re trying to be more like the LORD, reading His commandments to the Israelites is a great way to get to know His character.

Numbers 1: A Census Numbers 2: The Arrangement of Tribal Camps Numbers 3: A census of the Levites Numbers 4: Tasks assigned to the Levites Numbers 5: Purity of the camp; restitution for wrongs; test for an unfaithful wife Numbers 6: Rules for becoming a Nazirite; the Priestly Blessing Numbers 7: The dedication of the Tabernacle Numbers 8:Setting up the lamps; the Levites are set apart to the LORD Numbers 9: The Passover is celebrated; The LORD’s presence over the Tabernacle Numbers 10: The silver trumpets; the Israelites break camp Numbers 11: Fire and quail from the LORD Numbers 12: Miriam and Aaron get jealous Numbers 13: The Israelites reach the border of the Promised Land, and send in spies to check it out Numbers 14: The people are afraid to go into the Promised Land Numbers 15: Additional rules; a man is stoned for breaking the Sabbath; more additional rules Numbers 16: Korah’s Rebellion Numbers 17: The budding of Aaron’s staff Numbers 18: Duties and offerings for Levites and Priests Numbers 19: The Water of Cleansing Numbers 20:1–13: Water from the Rock Numbers 20:14–21: Edom denies Israel passage through their territory Numbers 20:22–29: Aaron dies

Numbers 21:1–9: Arad destroyed; the bronze snake Numbers 21:10–35: Further journeys, and battles Numbers 22:1–20: Balak and Balaam—Balak Summons Balaam Numbers 22:21–41: Balak and Balaam—Balaam’s Donkey Numbers 23:1–12: Balak and Balaam—Balaam’s First Oracle Numbers 23:13–26: Balak and Balaam—Balaam’s Second Oracle Numbers 23:27–24:14: Balak and Balaam—Balaam’s Third Oracle Numbers 24:14–19: Balak and Balaam—Balaam’s Fourth Oracle Numbers 24:20–25: Balak and Balaam—Balaam’s Final Oracles Numbers 25: Israel is Seduced Numbers 26: The Second Census Numbers 27:1–11: Zelophehad’s Daughters Numbers 27:12–23: The LORD Appoints Joshua to Succeed Moses Numbers 28: Various types of offerings Numbers 29: Rules for Special Days Numbers 30: Rules for Vows Numbers 31: Revenge Against the Midianites Numbers 32: The “Transjordan” Tribes Numbers 33: Stages in Israel’s Journey Numbers 34: Dividing up the Land Numbers 35: Towns for the Levites, and Cities of Refuge Numbers 36: Zelophehad’s Daughters Revisited