Old Testament Scriptural Summaries and Commentary

Numbers, Chapters 11-14; 21 Gospel Doctrine Class

Sunday School Lesson 15 - "Look to God and live"

Book reference, The Old Testament Made Easier, Part 2, by David J. Ridges

Publisher Cedar Fort, Springville, Utah

The Fourth Book of Moses called Numbers, Chapters 1-21

Numbers 1- 4  The first census of Israel

The children of Israel were still in the area of Sinai in the second year when the LORD spoke to Moses telling him to number all the males “who [were] twenty years old and upward (v. 1:3) by their armies" [for military duty] by tribe, clan and extended family (vv. 1:1-46). 

The numbers were as follows:

The tribe of Reuben………………….. 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

The tribe of Ephraim (Joseph)……….. 40,500

The tribe of Manasseh (Joseph)……… 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

Grand Total…………….........................603,550

The LORD did not want Moses to take a census for the tribe of Levi at this time because they were not to be used as soldiers in war.  They were to be exclusive ministers of and caretakers of the “tabernacle of testimony” (vv. 1:49-50).  Then the camp was organized so the various tribes could protect the tabernacle on all four sides.  (See Numbers, chapter 2.)  

After the taking of the Egyptian first born in every family, the Lord claimed the Israelite firstborn as his own as they were "passed over" by the destroying angel.  Now the entire tribe of Levi was to take the place of the firstborn of all the tribes (vv. 3:12-13).  The LORD told Moses to count all the males in the tribe of Levi who were one month old or more (vv. 3:15, 40).  They numbered 22,000 (vv. 3:39).  All the sons of Aaron and their families are counted, named and duties assigned (vv. 3:17-38).

However, qualifications for service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation required that a Levite be “without blemish” and between the ages of 30 and 50 (vv. 4:30, 35, 39) although the age requirements changed as need occurred.  Out of the total of the male Levites, only 8,580 qualified to serve (vv. 4:47-48).  The Lord gave Aaron and his descendents duties of the rituals of the tabernacle, such as making sacrifices, burning incense and other duties of priests.  The rest of the tribe of Levi were given duties of caretakers and service to the priests (see chapter 4).

Numbers 5 – 9  The Nazarite vow; a blessing is given

Chapter 5 gives instructions on the prevention of the spread of leprosy (vv. 5:-1-4).  The Lord instructs Moses about confession, restitution and atonement for sins (vv. 5:5-10); and what to do if a man accuses his wife of adultery (vv. 5:11-31).

The Nazarite vow is to consecrate one’s life for a short or limited period of time for service, study and prayer by taking a vow of “separation” (v. 6:2).  This vow could be made by either a man or a woman.  The three requirements included: (1) drink no wine, strong drink, or grape juice and eat no grapes or raisins; (2) no haircuts (Samson was a Nazarite); and (3) no coming near to a dead body, not even a family member (vv. 6:1-13).

At the end of chapter 6, the Lord instructs Moses to have Aaron and his sons pronounce a blessing on the children of Israel:  “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” (vv. 6:24-26). 

The Tabernacle is dedicated.  And the LORD said to Moses, "They [the princes of each tribe of Israel] shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar” (v. 7:11).  Gold, silver and all manner of flocks were given in voluntary gratitude to the Lord.  Then the Levites were cleansed and consecrated for service in the tabernacle.  “[And] Aaron offered them [the Levites] as an offering before the LORD, and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them” (v. 8:21).

The second year of the Passover is observed (vv. 9:1-5).  Those who were unclean at the time were given a provision to observe it one month later (vv. 9:6-14).  The presence of the Lord was shown during the day by a cloud that rested on the tabernacle.  At night, the tabernacle had "the appearance of fire."  When the cloud lifted from the tabernacle, it was a signal for the Israelites to move.  When the cloud stopped, they pitched their tents for as long as the cloud rested on the tabernacle (Ridges, pt. 2, p. 178) (vv. 9:15-23).

Numbers 10 – 14  Wilderness; Murmuring and punishment; Moses sends spies into Canaan

Chapter 10

The Lord told Moses to make two silver trumpets to be used to call the children of Israel to assemblies and to warn in times of trouble (vv. 10:1-10).  When the cloud left the tabernacle of the testimony, Moses organized the people for the march away from Sinai according to the tribes. The Tabernacle was sent ahead so it could be set up and ready when the Ark of the Covenant arrived.  The brother-in-law of Moses, Hobab, returned to the Midianites like his father Jethro.  "And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day" as they traveled three days into the desert wilderness (10:11-35).

Chapter 11

And the people began to complain bitterly. The Lord was angered and burned by fire those in “the uttermost parts of the camp”—as far away from the tabernacle as possible (Ridges, pt. 2, p. 179).  Moses prayed to the LORD and the fire was quenched (vv. 11:1-2).  Now, "the mixt multitude [translated as rabble] that was among them fell a lusting"…and said, "Who shall give us flesh to eat?"— complaining about only having manna to eat (v. 11:4).

Both the Lord and Moses were angry with the ungrateful wretched people and Moses cried out to the Lord in anguish about having to bear the burden alone.  The Lord told Moses to gather seventy elders of Israel and to bring them to the tabernacle of the congregation to stand with him (v. 11:16).  And the LORD came down in a cloud and spoke to Moses and he "took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders:" and the spirit of the Lord came to them and they prophesied greatly (v. 11:25).  And so, Moses organized the council of the seventy righteous elders to help carry his burden.

Now, the angry Lord sent the people a great quantity of quail; and as they stuffed themselves the Lord sent a great plague and many of those who "lusted" [because of greed and overindulgence; SS Gospel Doctrine Manual, p. 68] died and were buried there (v. 11:31-34

Ridges comments: "Hordes of quail fall around the camp of the Israelites, piled about three feet deep and extending about a day's walk in every direction" (v. 11:31) (pt. 2, p. 184).

And, the children of Israel journeyed on from that place to Hazeroth [about 45 miles NE of Sinai: http://bibleatlas.org]  (vv. 11: 35). 

Chapter 12

The two older siblings of Moses, Miriam and Aaron, grow jealous of Moses and speak against him and accuse him because he had married an Ethiopian woman (v. 12-1). 

Ridges comments: "Miriam and Aaron seek to discredit Moses by bringing up the fact that he married an Ethiopian woman back when he was a prince and military leader in Egypt.

"Even though it was a political marriage only (according to Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, book 2, chapter 10, paragraph 1), contracted to cement a political alliance, Miriam and Aaron still try to make their younger brother look like a hypocrite for marrying someone outside of the covenant people" (Ridges, pt. 2, p. 185).

And they also said, "Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?"  The LORD heard their sayings and called suddenly to Moses, Aaron and Miriam to come to the tabernacle of the congregation; and they did. ("Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth") (v. 12:3). 

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Meekness implies a spirit of gratitude as opposed to an attitude of self-sufficiency, an acknowledgment of a greater power beyond oneself, a recognition of God, and an acceptance of his commandments” (“With All Thy Getting Get Understanding,” Ensign, Aug. 1988, 3–4).

The LORD came down in a pillar of the cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle.  He tells Aaron and Miriam "If there be a prophet among you, I will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream." But with Moses “I speak mouth to mouth;…not in dark speeches and the similitude of the LORD [in person] shall he behold" (vv. 12:1-8).

Elder James E. Faust said: “The prophets, seers, and revelators have had and still have the responsibility and privilege of receiving and declaring the word of God for the world. Individual members, parents, and leaders have the right to receive revelation for their own responsibility but have no duty nor right to declare the word of God beyond the limits of their own responsibility” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1989).

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them.  Miriam becomes leprous and Aaron appeals to Moses not to let her be punished for their sin.  So Moses cried to the LORD asking him to heal Miriam.  The LORD tells Moses to put her out of the camp for seven days after which she is to be brought back in.  So they wait seven days for Miriam's return before they leave Hazeroth, and go to the wilderness of Paran (12:9-16).

Chapter 13

As they near Canaan, Moses sends out twelve spies, one leader from each tribe, to find out about the land and the people.  And all that are sent from each tribe are named (vv. 13:1-16).  They went throughout the land of Canaan observing and searching for all they could discern (vv. 13:17-24).

When the men return after forty days, they report they found a land of "milk and honey."  However, all but Caleb and Joshua are fearful in their reports to Moses.  The ten report that the people are strong and the cities are walled and very great.  And the Amalekites dwell in the south; the Hittites and Jebusites and Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and the coast of Jordan.  And Caleb stilled the people and said, "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it."  But the others say that the people are stronger than they, and spoke of their fear of giants, the sons of Anak, that they saw (vv. 13:25-33).

Chapter 14

Once again the people murmur against Moses and Aaron and said among themselves, let us choose a new leader and "return to Egypt." And, Moses and Aaron "fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel." Then Joshua and Caleb, who went into Canaan, rent their clothes and Caleb said, "The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.  If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey."  And they implored the people not to rebel against the LORD and not to fear the people of the land (vv. 14:1-9).

But the Israelites have no faith that the Lord will help them possess the promised land and seek  to stone Caleb and Joshua.  "And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel."  The LORD tells Moses he is provoked by this people and that he wants to "smite them with pestilence, and disinherit them" [in other words kill them] and start over with a greater nation and mightier people than they.  Moses beseeches the LORD to pardon their iniquity "according to the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now."  Moses again pleads with the Lord for mercy and they are saved.  And the LORD said, "I have pardoned according to thy word." (vv. 14:10-20). 

Instead, the Lord’s punishment by oath is that all Israelites age twenty and over will spend the next forty years in the wilderness where the present generation will die (except for Caleb and Joshua).  The ten spies who gave the "evil report" died of the plague before the LORD.  And the LORD tells Moses to turn back into the wilderness by way of the Red sea (v. 14:25).  But [some of] the people disobey and go up into the top of the mountain [into Canaan] "which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned"—to atone for their sin.  Moses tells them not to go, as they will "fall by the sword" because the LORD is not with them. They go anyway and are attacked by the Amalekites and the Canaanites and are killed (vv. 14:21-45).

Numbers 15 -16  Atonement offerings; Levite rebellion and punishments

Chapter 15

The Lord gives instructions to Moses concerning making offerings for atonement of sin by the children of Israel.  There are two kinds of sin:  sin done through ignorance and sin done “presumptuously” (v. 15:30), meaning knowingly.  The forgiveness and penalty is given for both types of sin.

Chapter 16

Some time later in the wilderness another rebellion happens among the Levites.  Korah, Dathan and Abiram, along with 250 “princes of the assembly famous in the congregation, men of renown,” (v. 16:2 ) go against Moses and Aaron because they are not allowed to perform ordinances of the higher priesthood in the Holy of Holies. And they said to Moses, "Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?" (v. 16:3).

Ridges comments:  "Did you notice what they said to the prophet about the wicked people they were representing?  They claimed that the wicked [rebellious] people were righteous!  Don't be deceived when the wicked persuade many to believe that wickedness is good and righteousness is evil" (pt. 2, p. 196).

Moses tells Korah and all his company to meet him the following day at the Tabernacle with a censer, lighted with fire, to see whose offering would be accepted by the Lord.  But Dathan and Abiram said, "We will not come;" and they make unfounded accusations against Moses (vv. 16:5-16).  The Lord tells Moses to separate everyone whose tent is close to the rebellious leaders.  Then Moses informs the people that the earth is about to open up and swallow all the dwelling places and all the followers of Korah, Dathan and Abiram because they had provoked the Lord.  Instantly, an earthquake shook the camp and all who stood with Korah and all their houses and goods were taken in an earthquake as Moses prophesied (vv. 16:21-34).  

Meanwhile, there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty princes who stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation that offered incense.  All the brass censers (incense burners) were gathered up and made into plates used to cover the altar of sacrifice as a memorial of the fate of those who rebelled against God (vv. 16:35-40).

The next day, the congregation gathered against Moses and Aaron accusing them of killing the people of the LORD.  As they looked toward the tabernacle they beheld a cloud covering it, "and the glory of the LORD appeared."  The LORD told Moses and Aaron to get away from the congregation as he was going to "consume" the people.  Moses told Aaron to go quickly into the congregation and make an atonement for them for the consuming plague had already begun.  Aaron did as Moses commanded and stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was stayed.  The number that died in the plague that day was 14,700 beside those who died in the earthquake in the matter of Korah (vv. 16:41-50).

Numbers 17 - 19 Aaron’s rod; the duties of the Tribe of Levi; the ordinance of the red heifer

Chapter 17 

As a test, the Lord tells Moses to take twelve rods, one from each tribe, including Aaron’s rod from the tribe of Levi, and place them in the Holy of Holies before the Ark of the Covenant.  They are to remain there until the next day.  The man’s rod that the Lord chooses (for the head of the house of their fathers) will blossom. The next day Moses brought out the rods with the names of each tribe inscribed on them and only Aaron’s rod had burst into a live growth of green leaves, blossoms and almonds.  Aaron’s rod was then placed in the Ark of the Covenant as a witness against the rebels “and [the Lord said] thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not” (vv. 17:1-10). 

Chapter 18

Now the Lord declares the status of Aaron and his sons as the priests who minister the ordinances in the sanctuary.  The tribe of Levi is to minister (give assistance) to the priests and help in service of the duties of the tabernacle (putting it up, taking it down and transporting it).  The tribe of Levi does not have a land of inheritance but will receive the tithes of the children of Israel (vv. 18:1-21). 

Chapter 19

The ordinance of the red heifer is added to the carnal commandments. This is for "a water of separation: it is a purification for sin." The heifer without spot or blemish is sacrificed outside the camp and the blood sprinkled in the direction of the sanctuary seven times.  When the carcass is totally consumed the ashes are gathered and placed in a “clean place” and added to water to be sprinkled around where a person died. (vv. 19:1-10).

"He that toucheth the dead body of any man  shall be unclean seven days" and must purify himself (vv. 19:11).  This ordinance was for those who became “unclean” by being involved in disposal of the dead (see chapter 19:11-22).

Numbers 20 – 21 Miriam and Aaron die; more rebellion

Chapter 20

After thirty-nine years of wandering in the wilderness, Miriam, Moses’ sister, dies in Kadesh and was buried there.  There was no water there in the desert and the Lord spoke to Moses that he should strike the rock twice with his rod.  And abundant water came out of the rock and all the children of Israel drank and their animals also (vv. 20: 2-13).  And Moses displeased the Lord by boasting about his part in getting water out of the rock.

The whole congregation went from Kadesh to mount Hor.  Then Moses and Eleazar (Aaron’s son) were instructed to take Aaron into the mount “and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there” (v. 20:26).  He was 123 years old (vv. 20:33-39).  And Aaron’s priestly garments were put on Eleazar, his son.  All the congregation of the children of Israel mourned for Aaron for thirty days.

 

Chapter 21

Now, Arad, king of the Canaanites began a war against Israel and the Lord delivered up the Canaanites and they and their cities were utterly destroyed (v. 21:2).
 

The Israelites journeyed from Hor and the people began to be discouraged and complain against God and Moses.  “And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died” (v. 21:6).  The people repent saying, "we have sinned" and come to Moses asking him to pray to the LORD to take away the serpents. The LORD tells  Moses to make a fiery serpent and put it on a pole: “that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live” (v. 21:8).  So Moses made a serpent out of brass and those who are bitten who look upon the brass serpent live and are healed (vv. 21:4-9).

The camp moved many times in the wilderness which was written in the [lost] book of the wars of the LORD (v. 21:14).  And the LORD again provided water for them at Beer (vv. 21:16-18).

Now, with the LORD’s help, Israel's army took all the land of the Amorites and they "dwelt" in the cities and villages of the Amorites.  And when they went to battle in the land of Bashan, the LORD said to Moses of their king, "Fear him not; for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land" (vv. 21:21-35).

Amorites - "A people descended from Emer, the fourth son of Canaan, (see Genesis 10:16). They first peopled the mountains west of the Dead sea, near Hebron; but afterwards extended their limits, and took possession of the finest provinces of Moab and Ammon, on the east between the brooks Jabbok and Arnon, (see Numbers 13:29 21:21-31; Joshua 5:1; Judges 11:13).  Moses took this country from their king, Sihon.

"The lands which the Amorites possessed on this side Jordan were given to the tribe of Judah, and those beyond the Jordan to the tribes of Reuben and Gad. The name Amorite is often taken in Scripture for Canaanite, in general" (see Genesis 15:16) (http://biblehub.com).