Numbers - The Fourth book of Moses

Chapter 1

This is the numbering of the Israelites for war. All the tribes were numbered, except for levites who did not go to war. They were to remain to protect and take charge of the tabernacle. Here are the 12 tribes and thier numbers.

Reuben - 46,500	Issachar - 54,400
Simeon - 59,000	Zebulun - 57,400
Gad - 45,650	Joseph - 40,000
Judah - 74,600	Manasseh - 32,000
Benjamin - 35,000	Dan - 62,700
Asher - 41,500	Naphtali - 53,400

Chapter 2

Now came the layout of the camp. The tabernacle was set in the middle with the tribes encamped about it. The total number of people is 603,350.

Chapter 3

The numbering of the Levites and thier dispursion around the tabernacle. The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The numbers of these tribes were: Gershonites - 7,500
Kohathites - 8,600
Merarites - 6,200
Total Levites were 22,273

Chapter 4

Tasks are divided up and assigned to various members and tribes of Levi. They are told to do certain things in the tabernacle. The site of this whole thing must have been incredible. Its hard to imagine 22,000 plus people taking care of one structure.

Chapter 5

Deals with the unclean in the camp - mainly driving them out of it. The majority of the chapter deals with adulturous behavior, and how to test for it. It reminds of the witch trials.

Chapter 6

This is a chapter about the vow of the Nazirite, and the rules to follow while being separated from others. The end of the chapter has these famous words. (Benediction)

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up his countanance upon you,
And give you peace

Chapter 7

This chapter describes the offerings of the twelve tribes of Israel to dedicate to the altar.

Chapter 8

Here the Levites are cleansed and they are assigned more duties. They are expected to work for 25 years.

Chapter 9

Mainly about passover and a cloud of fire over the tabernacle. As long as this phenomenon happened, teh people did not set out. The chapter also talks about what to do if you are unclean or traveling during passover.

Chapter 10

Moving day for the tabernacle. The first part of the chapter talks about silver trumpets which were to be used as a call to worship or to dispatch armies. The cloud which was over the tabernacle left the wilderness of Sanai and settled in Paran. Everything moved for three days to make the journey.

Chapter 11

I'm hungry! Everyone starts to complain about not eating meat. They were still eating mana all this time. So, God said that He would give them meat for a month, so much that they would be sick of it. God also picked 70 elders to help Moses with the burden of the people. At the end of the chapter, God strikes those that had the craving for meat with a plague. Once dead, they were burried.

Chapter 12

Jealousy in the ranks. Aaron and Miriam felt that Moses married the wrong person. They said that Moses is not the only one the Lord spoke to. This made the Lord angry. He came down and explained that Moses was the only one He spoke to. When he was done Mariam was left a lepper - white as snow. She was cast out of camp for seven days, then the people began thier journey again.

Chapter 13

Moses sends out spies to survey the promised land of Canaan. They went out and saw that the land was friutfull and flowed with milk and honey. The people who lived there were strong and lived in well fortified cities. Fearing that they would not be able to overtake them, they gave a false report, saying that they were like grashoppers to them.

Chapter 14

Everyone really began to despise Moses and the Lord for taking them from Egypt. This made God angry and he said that all of those who murmer against Him shall die in the wilderness. The end of the chapter has those who distrust what Moses says, going on to Canaan only to be killed by the Canaanites and the Amalekites.

Chapter 15

More rules on sacrifices and the like once the Israelites get to thier promised land. Basically like the rules previous. Toward the end of the chapter they find a man gathering sticks on the sabbath day. He was stoned to death for doing this. Also it is said that blue tassles and a cord should be worn, as a reminder of the commandments.

Chapter 16

There was basically a mutiny in the ranks. The sons of Levi felt that thier duties were not enough, and did not like Aarons' and Moses' rule. They questioned Moses' authority and the Lord destroyed them all. Each time someone disagreed with Moses, the Lord got angry and destroyed them. The last time however, Moses tried to step in and keep the plague from killing everyone. This chapter also mentions "sheol" which I am guessing is hell.

Chapter 17

God proves to everyone that Aaron is the chosen one to lead by making his rod sprout buds and flowers and almonds. No one elses rod did this, so he was accepted as leader. This stopped the murmuring.

Chapter 18

This chapter says that what the people tithe and offer to the Lord is to be used as payment to the Levites for thier services to the Lord. There is also mention that the Levites must also tithe the tithe. This is for the Levites, a compensation to the Lord for the duties they do for the Lord.

Chapter 19

More laws. First an order for a sacrifice, then rules for cleanliness and uncleanliness, with regards to the water for impurity.

Chapter 20

Here again rises a shortage of water. The people again get angry. The Lord commands Moses to strike a rock twice, and water comes out for everyone. They continue on. They come to Edom, but are not allowed to pass. So they go around, stopping at Mount Hor where, for his doubt, Aaron is stripped of his robes and dies there on the mountain. Israel wept for 36 days.

Chapter 21

As people set out they again begin to murmer. So the Lord sent out fiery serpents, they bit the people and those who were bitten died. Fearing their lives, the remaining prayed for forgivesness. Moses made a snake for all to see as the Lord commanded and those who see the snake would not die. They then came upon another town, Sihon, but were not allowed to pass through. So they went to Jahaz, where they fought and took over those who lived there. They overtook several other cities as well.

Chapter 22

This is the first part three telling about Balaks plea for help to Balaam to defeat the Israelites. Balaam speaks with God, and God says not to join with Balak, for the Israelites were blessed. So they said no, and Balak asked a second time. Balaam still said no, but went to speak with Balak, against Gods will. An angel of the Lord stepped in his way three times before God revieled Himself to Balaam. The angel, now able to be seen, said that it was ok to continue, only if speaks the word of God.

Chapter 23

Balaam asked Balak to build seven altars to sacrifice seven bulls and seven rams and he would speak with God and see, and Balaam said nothing but good things about the Israelites. So, Balak said come to another place and curse the Israelites there. So they went to another place and built altars and made sacrifices, but Balaam did not curse the people still. So Balak asked to go to another place, and the same was asked of him.

Chapter 24

This time Balaam does not wander off, but the Lord comes to him and again Balaam blesses the Israelites. Balak is disapointed and after a bit of revelation, the both leave the last place.

Chapter 25

As the Israelites dwelt in Shittim, they began to mingle with the people of Moab. They slept with their daughter and bowed to their gods. God was mad at this and killed those who offended Him. Another large plague happened. Eventually the plague was ended by killing Zimri and Cozbi, a Medianite woman, while they slept together. The chapter ends with God asking Moses to haras and smithe the Medianites.

Chapter 26

Its census time agian:

The numbers of Rueben - 43,730	The numbers of Simeon - 22,200
The numbers of Gad - 40,500	The numbers of Judah - 76,500
The numbers of Issachar - 64,300	The numbers of Manasseh - 52,700
The numbers of Joseph - 32,500	The numbers of Benjamin - 45,600
The numbers of Dan - 64,000	The numbers of Asher - 53,400
The numbers of Naphtali - 45,400	The numbers of Zebulun - 60,500

The total number of people were 601,730. The Lord asked Moses to divide the land accordingly to them, large inheritance to large clans, small for small. Each was to be numbered and given lots. All were numbered except two men, Caleb and Joshua.