July 19, 2025
Before concluding our trip through the book of Numbers, it’s worth stopping to reflect. The stories of rebellion seem to be without end. No matter what God did, whining and complaining and open rebellion were not far behind. There were times of judgment, but even in those moments, God remained faithful – he led them – he fed them – he provided water for them – he gave them victory over their enemies.
Last week, God’s grace and mercy were on full display in the story of Balaam. While Israel was below grumbling and rebelling, God was in the hills, protecting and blessing them.
This contrast between Israel’s rebellion and God’s faithfulness is what make this book so important. The stories, which would be retold by the likes of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Paul were seen as warnings. God is faithful to his covenant promises and he will judge wickedness and rebellion when necessary – actions have consequences.
The remaining chapters focus on the wilderness generation as they prepare to inherit the promised land.
After the judgment at Baal Peor, God called for another census to be taken.
Males 20 yrs and older who are able to serve in the army:
• 1st census – 603,550
• 2nd census – 601,730
The Levites – all males 1 month and older.
• 1st census – 22,273
• 2nd census – 23,000
Numbers 26:64-65 - Not one of them was among those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. For the LORD had told those Israelites they would surely die in the desert, and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
During the taking of the census, it was noted that Zelophehad, who belonged to the clan of Manasseh, had died, having no sons – only 5 daughters. Under normal circumstance, these girls would have had no right to their father’s share of Manasseh’s inheritance.
However, these girls, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah did not accept tradition and instead went to Moses:
Numbers 27:3-4 - "Our father died in the desert. He was not among Korah's followers, who banded together against the LORD, but he died for his own sin and left no sons. Why should our father's name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father's relatives."
Moses agreed to take their case to Yahweh.
Yahweh: These girls are right. You are to give them their father’s inheritance. Furthermore, from now on, if a man dies leaving no sons, his inheritance shall be transferred to his daughter(s)…. This is legally binding. ***
***Numbers 36:6-9 - They may marry anyone they please as long as they marry within the tribal clan of their father. No inheritance in Israel is to pass from tribe to tribe, for every Israelite shall keep the tribal land inherited from his forefathers. Every daughter who inherits land in any Israelite tribe must marry someone in her father's tribal clan, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of his fathers. No inheritance may pass from tribe to tribe, for each Israelite tribe is to keep the land it inherits."
Moses already knew that he would not be allowed to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land – he knew he was running out of time. Yahweh told him that he was to climb the nearby mountain (Nebo) and survey the Promised Land. After that he would be “gathered to his people.”
Not wanting to leave the people without a shepherd, Moses asked Yahweh to selected someone to replace him.
Joshua was selected and he was commissioned in the presence of the entire community.
God had a few more things for Moses to do…..
Chapters 28-30 repeat instructions regarding sacrifices, feasts and making vows to the Lord.
As we noted last week, the Midianites had taken an active role in the Great Apostasy. Moses was instructed to gather an army – 1000 men from each tribe – and go to war against them.
Many Midianites were killed including all 5 kings as well as Balaam. Cities were burned. Plunder was taken.
The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large flocks and herds, saw that the land was good for livestock. They went to Moses and, in front of Eleazar the priest and the leaders of the people, requested the land be given to them as their inheritance. “Do not make us cross the Jordan," they said.
Moses was concerned on 2 fronts:
• By not crossing the Jordan, Reubenites and Gadites would be at peace while their “brothers” went to war.
• Their actions would discourage the rest of Israel from crossing the Jordan. Very much a repeat of the 12-spies incident of 40 years before.
Moses questioned their motives, “Are you sinful men too?”
In response, the Reubenites & Gadites promised that they would not fully receive their Inheritance until the rest of Israel had received their inheritance across the Jordan: “Let us build sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our families and we will go with the sons of Israel and fight with them until the land is secured. We will not return home until they have received their inheritance.”
So Moses gave the Gadites, the Reubenites and the half-tribe of Manasseh the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan – the whole land with its cities and the territory around them.
Apparently, Moses had been keeping a diary of the 40-year journey from Egypt to Canaan. Now, in front of the community He presented a retrospective (ch. 33):
This was Israel’s journey by stages:
• They set out from Rameses on the 15th day of the 1st month - the day after the Passover. They marched out boldly in full view of all the Egyptians and came to Succoth.
• They left Succoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the desert.
• They left Etham, turned back to Pi Hahiroth and camped near Migdol.
• They left Pi Hahiroth and passed through the sea into the desert. They traveled for 3 days in the Desert of Etham and camped at Marah. (Ex. 15:22-25)
• They left Marah and went to Elim, where there were 12 springs and 70 palm trees. (Ex. 15:27)
• They left Elim and camped by the Red Sea.
• They left the Red Sea and camped in the Desert of Sin.
• They left the Desert of Sin and camped at Dophkah.
• They left Dophkah and camped at Alush.
• They left Alush and camped at Rephidim - there was no water for the people to drink. (Ex. 17:1-6)
• They left Rephidim and camped in the Desert of Sinai. (Ex. 19:1-2)
• They left the Desert of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah. (Num. 10:11-11:34)
• They left Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.
• They left Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.
• They left Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez.
• They left Rimmon Perez and camped at Libnah.
• They left Libnah and camped at Rissah.
• They left Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.
• They left Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.
• They left Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.
• They left Haradah and camped at Makheloth.
• They left Makheloth and camped at Tahath.
• They left Tahath and camped at Terah.
• They left Terah and camped at Mithcah.
• They left Mithcah and camped at Hashmonah.
• They left Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.
• They left Moseroth and camped at Bene Jaakan.
• They left Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Haggidgad.
• They left Hor Haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.
• They left Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.
• They left Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber.
• They left Ezion Geber and camped at Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.
• They left Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the border of Edom:
Aaron died on the 1st day of the 5th month of the 40th year after the Israelites came out of Egypt - He was 123 years old.
• They left Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.
• They left Zalmonah and camped at Punon.
• They left Punon and camped at Oboth.
• They left Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim, on the border of Moab.
• They left Iye Abarim and camped at Dibon Gad.
• They left Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim.
• They left Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, near Nebo.
• They left the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab …. from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Shittim.
Next Yahweh gave instructions regarding taking Canaan:
Numbers 33:51-56 - "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you cross the Jordan into Canaan
• Drive out all those who currently inhabit the land
• Destroy all the idols, both wood and metal and all the high places
• Take possession of the land because I have given it to you.
• Distribute the land by casting lots according to the clans of Israel. Larger groups get a larger inheritance and smaller groups will receive a smaller inheritance.
“But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.”
Then He set the Borders of the Promised Land:
• Southern Border will include some of the Desert of Zin along the border of Edom – from the end of the Salt Sea to the Great Sea (Mediterranean)
• Western Border will be the coast of the Great Sea.
• Northern Border will run from the Great Sea to Hazar Enan.
• Eastern Border will run from Hazar Enan along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea.
“This will be your land… It is to be given to the 9 ½ tribes, because the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the ½ -tribe of Manasseh received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan….”
Then He gave instructions regarding the cities that were to be given to the Levites – 48 cities in total to be spread throughout the land – including 6 Cities of Refuge.
The Cities of Refuge were designed for one purpose only – to protect the one who had killed another accidently.
For that person God provided a place of refuge from the avenger until a trial when the elders would determine if the incident was really an accident.
If determined to be an accident the person had to remain in the city until the High Priest died, then he was free to go without fear of the avenger. If he chose to leave early he was fair game. If the avenger found and killed the man, the avenger would not be guilty of shedding innocent blood.
Unintentional Killing defined as:
• Pushing suddenly without hatred
• Throwing something without lying in wait
• Dropping something that unintentionally kills someone
The Cities of Refuge were not available to those who had committed murder:
Numbers 35:30 - Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
Murder defined as:
• The use of a weapon (metal, stone, wood)
• Pushing in hatred that causes death
• Throwing something while lying in wait that causes death
• Striking with the hand in hatred that causes death
Numbers 35:33-34 - "'Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.'"
We have come to the end of the book of Numbers. A new generation of Israelites is ready to enter the Promised
Land. It has been a long and often painful journey. God has kept His promises even though the people fought Him nearly every step of the way.
What does the future hold?
Will this generation finally heed God’s warnings and instructions?
Will they prove faithful to the Covenant and do the job God has for them to do?
Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, before Moses makes his way up Mount Nebo, he will deliver his final message – which we will find in the book of Deuteronomy.
Until Next Time …………………
