03/04/2025 – Day 247 – Numbers 13 – 16 / Excerpts Summary to the book of Numbers / Verse commentary – The Apologetics Study Bible
NUMBERS Summary
“The book of Numbers is about faithfulness – portraying the faithfulness of God in dealing with the people who are often unfaithful. As a whole the book presents a challenge to the people of God to live holy and righteous lives according to the Word of God, and as a result enjoy the blessings and benefits of living in right relationship to Him.
The English title “Numbers” derives from the Septuagint name Arithmoi, based on the two censuses in Chapters 1 and 26, as well as other references to the twelve tribes of Israel. The Hebrew title, “B midyear– ‘In the Wilderness,’ describes the geographical setting of much of the book. After deliverance from bondage and oppression in Egypt, Israel would experience God’s faithfulness in the wilderness. There He provided for their needs and promised them a land of fulness and prosperity — ‘flowing with milk and honey’ (Numbers 14:8). The challenge for the people was to live faithful to God’s revelation and to receive their inheritance of the land promised to Abraham and the patriarchs in the past, and to their descendants in the present and future.
Traditionally, Christian scholars have held that Moses was the author of the Pentateuch, except the account of his death in Deuteronomy 34…. Ascribing the Pentateuch to Moses would place the book of Numbers in the late fifteenth century or late thirteenth century B.C. Based on ancient archaeological and historical evidence, several parallels to this era exist internally to the book of Numbers…
Verse Commentary in our reading:
I will share the commentary excerpts , without adding the actual verses referenced. It would be well worth reading the verses noted again in order to get a fuller understanding of the context. Let’s get started in chronological verse order:
“13: 28-29 Some commentators considered the list of peoples living in the land to be a later description of the population of Canaan, the Hittites being those living south of Hebron in the time of Ezekiel and the Amorites not residing in Canaan until the time of David. They reached these conclusions because those peoples were not mentioned in other sources dating from the time of Israel’s wilderness sojourn. Recent discoveries, however, confirm the biblical data, revealing that a mixture of ethnic groups occupied the land of Canaan during Late Bronze Age(1550 – 1200 B.C.) and Iron I (1200 – 1000 B.C. eras.”
“13: 30 – 33 – Some critics see in verse 32, which regards the land as foreboding, a contradiction of verse 27 with its description of a bountiful land. However, the point of the rebellion cycle narratives was to show the goodness of God in the gift off a fruitful land (10:29), as contrasted with the evil perspective of the rebellious people (11:1). The reference tying the Anakites to the Nephilim (Genesis 6:4), giants who perished in the flood, is an exaggeration by the fearful spies.”
“14: 10 Some critical interpreters view God’s dramatic intervention at crucial points in Israel’s journey as the creation of Priestly narrators. But here (as in Exodus 14:19; Numbers 12:5; 16:19; 17:7) the dynamic work of God is integral to the story. It affirms that God will, when necessary, intervene in history when the survival of His people is at stake.”
“14: 20-38 The Lord spares the present generation from the immediate judgment it deserves for the sake of the next generation which would inherit the promised land. The entire generation of men of military age would die during the wilderness sojourn (those age 60 or above), with the exception of the faithful spies Caleb and Joshua. Source critics see Caleb’s blessing as coming from the supposed Yahwist-Elohist tradition, and that of Joshua as derived from Priestly and Deuteronomic sources. Such an approach fragments the text and disrupts the flow of the Hebrew narrative.
Was God’s judgment on the people too severe? The text emphasizes their repeated rebellion against God (10 times) to which He has now responded. In rejecting entry into the promised land, they were rejecting an essential part of the convenant with Yahweh, which was in turn founded in His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1 – 3:7; 13: 14-18; 15: 18-21; 17: 7-8).”
“15: 32-36 The Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel. Violation of its sanctity was an especially heinous offense, punishable by execution at the hand of the members of the community of faith. The penalty may seem inordinately sever by modern standards, especially in light of Jesus’ teaching about the Sabbath in relationship to human well being (Mark 2:27). But this is a pivotal occasion in Israel’s history, during which the Lord is laying a foundation for Israel’s understanding of itself as a faithful people. He could permit no doubt about the seriousness of His purpose.”
“15: 37-41 The blue corded tassels attached to the corners of the Israelite’s garment (Deuteronomy 22:12) were a reminder of each person’s fidelity to the Lord’s covenant. This practice was followed in the time of Jesus and continues among Orthodox Jews today. Verse 41 reiterates the heart of Yahweh’s covenant declaration — that He is bound to his people as their God. It echoes His introduction to the covenant in Exodus 20:2, and His words to Moses in Exodus 6: 2-8 in calling him to deliver the people from their Egyptian slavery.”
Soli Deo Gloria!
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Questions for fellowship generation, the lifelong sanctification process:
- What does the text reveal about God’s character?
- How has this reading generated prayer for you and/or us?
- What themes stand out to you in this bible study?
- How does our reading fit into the bigger picture (creation, the fall, restoration, etc.)?
- What verse(s) jumped out at you like never before? Is it explainable at this point?
- Do you have any questions you would like to put before the group as to how to interpret any particular verse(s) in our reading. Let scripture testify to scripture: Share with us where you sense contradiction between passages elsewhere.
- What did you find convicting and inspiring at the same time? Share with us how the Spirit of God is working within you as a messenger, both within and outside of our fellowship group.
- Share with the group how our study is calling or confirming to you a new mission to glorify God in our times.