Because of their rebellion against the Lord, all the adults 20 and over (except Caleb and Joshua) were sentenced to die in the wilderness ( 14:26–38). However, when the people arrived at the southern edge of Canaan, they refused to enter the Land ( 14:1–10). This generation was numbered for the war of conquest in Canaan ( 1:1–46). 2:23 and continues through Leviticus and into the first 14 chapters of Numbers. The first generation participated in the Exodus from Egypt. Numbers chronicles the experiences of two generations of the nation of Israel. The lack of material devoted to this 37 year period, in comparison with the other years of the journey from Egypt to Canaan, communicates how wasted these years were because of Israel’s rebellion against the Lord and His consequent judgment. The laws and events found in 15:1–19:22 are undated, but probably all should be dated ca. 1406/1405 B.C., the 40th year after the Exodus.

Everything referred to after 20:1 is dated ca. All incidents recorded in 1:1–14:45 occur in 1444 B.C., the year after the Exodus. The book of Numbers concentrates on events that take place in the second and fortieth years after the Exodus. That plain was a flat and fertile piece of land in the middle of the wasteland ( 21:20 23:28 24:1). From 20:14–22:1, Israel traveled from Kadesh to the “plains of Moab.” All the events of 22:2–36:13 occurred while Israel was encamped in the plain to the N of Moab. In 13:1–20:13, the events took place in and around Kadesh, which was located in “the wilderness of Paran” ( 12:16 13:3, 26), “the wilderness of Zin” ( 13:21 20:1). From 10:11–12:16, Israel traveled from Sinai to Kadesh. In 1:1–10:10, Israel encamped in “the wilderness in Sinai.” It was at Sinai that the Lord had entered into the Mosaic Covenant with them ( Ex. This land is best used for tending flocks of animals. This term refers to land that contains little vegetation or trees, and because of a sparsity of rainfall, it cannot be cultivated. Most of the events of the book are set “in the wilderness.” The word “wilderness” is used 48 times in Numbers. 1405 B.C., since it is foundational to the book of Deuteronomy, and Deuteronomy is dated in the 11th month of the 40th year after the Exodus ( Deut. The account ends with Israel poised on the eastern side of the Jordan River across from Jericho ( 36:13), which is where the conquest of the land of Canaan began ( Josh. The events from 20:1 to the end occur in the 40th year after the Exodus. Numbers was written in the final year of Moses’ life. The book of Numbers itself refers to the writing of Moses in 33:2 and 36:13. The first 5 books of the Bible, called the Law, of which Numbers is the fourth, are ascribed to Moses throughout Scripture ( Josh. Another Hebrew title, favored by some early church Fathers, is based on the first word of the Hebrew text of 1:1, “and He spoke.” This designation emphasizes that the book records the Word of God to Israel. ” This name is much more descriptive of the total contents of the book, which recount the history of Israel during almost 39 years of wandering in the wilderness. The most common Hebrew title comes from the fifth word in the Hebrew text of 1:1, “in the wilderness. This designation is based on the numberings that are a major focus of chaps. The English title “Numbers” comes from the Greek (LXX) 1 and Latin (Vg.) versions.

Blue letter bible for mac