Numbers
Introduction
The Book of Numbers derives its name from the account of the two
censuses of the Hebrew people taken, one near the beginning and the other
toward the end of the journey in the desert (chapters 1 and 26). It continues
the story of that journey, begun in Exodus, and describes briefly the
experiences of the Israelites for a period of thirty-eight years, from the end
of their encampment at Sinai to their arrival at the border of the Promised
Land. Numerous legal ordinances are interspersed in the account, making the
book a combination of law and history.
The various events described clearly indicate the action of God, who punishes
the murmuring of the people by prolonging their stay in the desert, at the same
time preparing them by this discipline to be his witnesses among the nations.
In the New Testament Christ and the Apostles derive useful lessons from such
events in the Book of Numbers as the brazen serpent (John 3:14, 15), the sedition
of Korah and its consequences (1 Cor
10:10), the prophecies of Balaam (2 Peter 2:15, 16), and the
water gushing from the rock (1 Cor
10:4).
The chief divisions of the Book of Numbers are as follows:
- Preparation for the Departure from Sinai (Numbers 1:1-10:10)
- From Sinai to the Plains of Moab (Numbers 10:11-22:1)
- On the Plains of Moab (Numbers 22:2-36:13)
Table of Contents 
Leviticus: Chapter 27 Next Chapter
New American Bible Copyright © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
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