study

Numbers

Written by Moses in the wildernis and the plains of Moab. The writing was completed 1473 B.C.E. The time covered is from 1512 to 1473 B.C.E.

Numbers 1

Registration of men for the army (1-46)
The Levites exempted from the army (47-51)
Orderly arrangement of the camp (52-54)

Nu 1:2, 3​—What was the purpose of national registrations in Israel? (it-2 764)

An enrollment, usually by name and lineage according to tribe and household. It involved more than a simple census or count of heads. The national registrations referred to in the Bible served various purposes, such as taxation, assignments of military service, or (for those Levites included) appointments to duties at the sanctuary.

Jehovah Organizes His People

from workbook January-February 2021

North: Naphtali Dan Asher  (last 2:31) - Merarites
West:  Benjamin Ephraim Manasseh (3rd) - Gershonites
East:  Issachar Judah Zebulun    (1st) - Aaron
South: Gad Reuben Simeon         (2nd) - Kohathites

camp organisation

Numbers 2

Camp organized into three-tribe divisions (1-34)
  Judah’s division toward the east (3-9)
  Reuben’s division toward the south (10-16)
  Levi’s camp in the middle (17)
  Ephraim’s division toward the west (18-24)
  Dan’s division toward the north (25-31)
  Total number of registered males (32-34)

Numbers 3

Aaron’s sons (1-4)
The Levites chosen to minister (5-39)
Redemption of the firstborn (40-51)

The Service of the Levites

from workbook January-February 2021

The males in Aaron’s family performed priestly duties. The rest of the Levites assisted them. Likewise, in the Christian congregation today, some responsible men care for weighty spiritual concerns, while others care for necessary routine matters.

Firstborns numbers and redemption

There were 22,273 firstborn males by name from a month old and up in Israel (Nu 3:43). Yet Levi had only 22,000 males serving as priests. The 273 excess of the Levites (Nu 3:46) have to be bought in redemption. Price: 5 shekel (1 shekel is 20 gerah) per person. 273 x 5 = 1365 shekel. 1 shekel equals 11.4 g. Total weight: 15.5561 kg silver. Worth: 11360 USD (2023/07/03 0.7323 USD per gram). 5 shekels in 1990: $11 according to the Insight book - now $42.

Numbers 4

Service of the Kohathites (1-20)
Service of the Gershonites (21-28)
Service of the Merarites (29-33)
Summary of the census (34-49)

Nu 4:15​—What is one way to show fear of God? (w06 8/1 23 ¶13)

Experiencing Jehovah’s help during distress deepened David’s fear of God and strengthened his confidence in him. (Psalm 31:22-24) On three notable occasions, however, David’s fear of God lapsed, which led to serious consequences. The first involved his arranging for the ark of Jehovah’s covenant to be transported to Jerusalem on a wagon rather than on the shoulders of the Levites, as God’s Law directed. When Uzzah, who was leading the wagon, grabbed hold of the Ark to steady it, he died on the spot for his “irreverent act.” Yes, Uzzah sinned seriously, yet ultimately, it was David’s failure to maintain proper respect for God’s Law that brought about that tragic outcome. Fearing God means doing things according to his arrangement.​—2 Samuel 6:2-9; Numbers 4:15; 7:9.

Census result

Family of Gershon 2,630 male 30 to 50 years old, Merari 3,200 people and Kohatites 2,750 for a total of 8,580 registered Levites for the temple service. That is 39% of the total census for Levites with 22,000 in 1512 BCE (Nu 3:39) and 23,000 in 1483 BCE for all Levites from one month and older. Firstborns in Israel: 23,273 (Nu 3:43) and 300 firstborn in Levi.

Numbers 5

Quarantine of the unclean (1-4)
Confession and compensation (5-10)
Water test for suspected adultery (11-31)

Numbers 6

Vow of Naziriteship (1-21)
Priestly blessing (22-27)

Nu 6:6, 7​—How could Samson touch dead bodies that he had slain and still remain a Nazirite? (w05 1/15 30 ¶2)

Samson, though, was a Nazirite in a different sense. Before Samson’s birth, Jehovah’s angel told his mother: “Look! you will be pregnant, and you will certainly give birth to a son, and no razor should come upon his head, because a Nazirite of God is what the child will become on leaving the belly; and he it is who will take the lead in saving Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” (Judges 13:5) Samson took no vow of Naziriteship. He was a Nazirite by divine appointment, and his Naziriteship was for life. The restriction against touching a corpse could not apply in his case. If it did and he accidentally touched a dead body, how could he start over a lifelong Naziriteship that began with his birth? Evidently, then, the requirements for lifetime Nazirites differed in some ways from those for voluntary Nazirites.

How Can You Imitate the Nazirites?

from workbook January-February 2021

Full-time servants today show a spirit of self-sacrifice and submission to Jehovah and his arrangements.

Numbers 7

Tabernacle inauguration offerings (1-89)

Lessons From the Camp of Israel

from workbook March-April 2021

Just as Jehovah organized Israel, he has organized his people today. However, he still sees each one of us and takes note of our individual efforts to serve him.

Numbers 8

Aaron lights the seven lamps (1-4)
Levites cleansed, begin to serve (5-22)
Age restrictions for Levitical service (23-26)

Nu 8:17​—How did Jehovah consider the firstborn males in Israel? (it-1 835)

Since the firstborn sons among the Israelites were those in line to become the heads of the various households, they represented the entire nation. Jehovah, in fact, referred to the whole nation as his “firstborn,” it being his firstborn nation because of the Abrahamic covenant. (Ex 4:22) In view of his having preserved their lives, Jehovah commanded that “every male firstborn that opens each womb among the sons of Israel, among men and beasts,” be sanctified to him. (Ex 13:2) Thus, the firstborn sons were devoted to God.

Numbers 9

Provision for late Passover (1-14)
Cloud and fire above the tabernacle (15-23)

Nu 9:13​—What lesson can Christians learn from this direction to Israel? (it-1 199 ¶3)

Importance of Assembling. The importance of taking full advantage of Jehovah’s provisions for assembling to gain spiritual benefits is emphasized in connection with the annual Passover observance. Any male who was clean and was not on a journey but who neglected to keep the Passover was to be cut off in death. (Nu 9:9-14) When King Hezekiah called inhabitants of Judah and Israel to Jerusalem for a Passover celebration, his message was, in part: “You sons of Israel, return to Jehovah . . . do not stiffen your neck as your forefathers did. Give place to Jehovah and come to his sanctuary that he has sanctified to time indefinite and serve Jehovah your God, that his burning anger may turn back from you. . . . Jehovah your God is gracious and merciful, and he will not turn away the face from you if you return to him.” (2Ch 30:6-9) Willful failure to attend would certainly have indicated a forsaking of God. And, while such festivals as the Passover are not observed by Christians, Paul fittingly urged them not to abandon regular assemblies of God’s people, stating: “Let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near.”​—Heb 10:24, 25; see CONGREGATION.

How Jehovah Leads His People

from workbook March-April 2021

When we obey those taking the lead, we demonstrate obedience to Jehovah.

Numbers 10

The silver trumpets (1-10)
Departure from Sinai (11-13)
Order of marching (14-28)
Hobab asked to guide Israel (29-34)
Moses’ prayer when breaking camp (35, 36)

Numbers 11

Complaining brings fire from God (1-3)
People cry for meat (4-9)
Moses’ feelings of inadequacy (10-15)
Jehovah gives spirit to 70 elders (16-25)
Eldad and Medad; Joshua jealous for Moses (26-30)
Quail sent; people punished for greed (31-35)

Nu 11:7, 8​—How did the appearance and taste of the manna demonstrate Jehovah’s goodness? (it-2 309)

Manna was “white like coriander seed” and had the “look” of bdellium gum, a waxlike and transparent substance having a form that resembles a pearl. Its taste was comparable to “that of flat cakes with honey” or “an oiled sweet cake.” After being ground in a hand mill or pounded in a mortar, manna was boiled or made into cakes and baked.​—Ex 16:23, 31; Nu 11:7, 8.

Why Avoid a Complaining Spirit?

from workbook March-April 2021

Although the Israelites experienced many hardships in the wilderness, they still had much to be thankful for. If we regularly count our blessings, we will be less inclined to complain.

Numbers 12

Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses (1-3)
  Moses the meekest of all (3)
Jehovah defends Moses (4-8)
Miriam struck with leprosy (9-16)

Numbers 13

The 12 spies sent into Canaan (1-24)
Bad report from ten spies (25-33)

Nu 13:27​—What did the spies report that should have strengthened Israel’s faith in Jehovah? (Le 20:24; it-1 740)

THE land that God gave to Israel was indeed a good land. When Moses sent spies ahead of the nation to explore the Promised Land and to obtain samples of its produce, they brought back figs, pomegranates, and a cluster of grapes that was so large that two men carried it between them on a bar! Though they drew back in fear because of lack of faith, they did report: The land “is indeed flowing with milk and honey.”​—Nu 13:23, 27.

Just before they finally entered the land, Jehovah’s spokesman assured the people: “Jehovah your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of torrent valleys of water, springs and watery deeps issuing forth in the valley plain and in the mountainous region, a land of wheat and barley and vines and figs and pomegranates, a land of oil olives and honey . . . in which you will lack nothing, a land the stones of which are iron and out of the mountains of which you will mine copper.” (De 8:7-9) To this day, the land continues to yield abundantly.

The beauty and splendor of that ancient land of promise is of keen interest to us today. Why? Because Messianic prophecies use the abundance with which Jehovah blessed ancient Israel to illustrate what God will do for all mankind under the rule of Jesus Christ, the “Prince of Peace.”​—Isa 9:6; Ps 67:4-7; 72:16.

How Faith Makes Us Courageous

from workbook March-April 2021

The Israelites had already witnessed Jehovah’s saving acts in their behalf. This should have strengthened their faith that he would help them conquer Canaan.

Numbers 14

People want to return to Egypt (1-10)
  Joshua and Caleb’s good report (6-9)
Jehovah angry; Moses intercedes (11-19)
Punishment: 40 years in the wilderness (20-38)
Israel defeated by the Amalekites (39-45)

Numbers 15

Laws about offerings (1-21)
  Same law for natives and foreign residents (15, 16)
Offerings for unintentional sins (22-29)
Punishment for deliberate sins (30, 31)
A Sabbathbreaker put to death (32-36)
Garments to have fringed edges (37-41)

Nu 15:32-35​—What lesson does this account teach? (w98 9/1 20 ¶1-2)

Jehovah viewed the case more seriously. “In time,” the Bible states, “Jehovah said to Moses: ‘Without fail the man should be put to death.’” (Numbers 15:35) Why did Jehovah feel so strongly about what the man did?

The people had six days to gather wood as well as to handle their needs regarding food, clothing, and shelter. The seventh day was to be devoted to their spiritual needs. While it was not wrong to gather wood, it was wrong to use time that should have been set aside to worship Jehovah to do so. Although Christians are not under the Mosaic Law, does this incident not teach us a lesson in properly setting our priorities today?—Philippians 1:10.

Numbers 16

Rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (1-19)
Judgment on the rebels (20-50)

Beware of Pride and Overconfidence

from workbook March-April 2021

We must not allow our achievements in Jehovah’s service to cause us to develop pride and overconfidence. The longer we have been in the truth or the weightier our responsibilities, the more humble we need to be.

Numbers 17

Aaron’s budded rod a sign (1-13)

Numbers 18

Duties of priests and Levites (1-7)
Priestly allowances (8-19)
  Covenant of salt (19)
Levites to receive and to give a tenth (20-32)

Nu 18:19​—What is the meaning of the expression “a lasting covenant of salt”? (g02 6/8 14 ¶2)

Salt also became a symbol of stability and permanence. Therefore, in the Bible a binding covenant was called “a covenant of salt,” the parties often eating a meal together, with salt, to seal it. (Numbers 18:19) Under Mosaic Law, salt was to be added to sacrifices offered on the altar, doubtless denoting freedom from corruption or decay.

“I Am . . . Your Inheritance”

from workbook March-April 2021

Jehovah promised the priests and the Levites that he would care for their basic material needs. We can be confident that Jehovah will support us if we make sacrifices to serve him.

Numbers 19

The red cow and the cleansing water (1-22)

Numbers 20

Miriam dies at Kadesh (1)
Moses strikes the rock and sins (2-13)
Edom denies Israel passage (14-21)
The death of Aaron (22-29)

Nu 20:23-27​—What lessons can we learn from the way that Aaron reacted to discipline and from the way that Jehovah viewed him despite his mistakes? (w14 6/15 26 ¶12)

In each of these situations, Jehovah could have punished Aaron on the spot. But He discerned that Aaron was not a bad person or gravely at fault. It seems that Aaron allowed circumstances or the influence of others to turn him away from the right course. Yet, when he was confronted with his own mistakes, he readily admitted them and supported Jehovah’s judgments. (Ex. 32:26; Num. 12:11; 20:23-27) Jehovah chose to focus on Aaron’s faith and repentant attitude. Centuries later, Aaron and his descendants were still remembered as fearers of Jehovah.—Ps. 115:10-12; 135:19, 20.

Maintain Your Meekness When Under Pressure

from workbook March-April 2021

Meekness is a mildness of temper, without haughtiness or vanity. It enables one to endure injury with patience and without irritation, resentment, or retaliation.

Numbers 21

King of Arad defeated (1-3)
Copper serpent (4-9)
Israel’s march around Moab (10-20)
Amorite King Sihon defeated (21-30)
Amorite King Og defeated (31-35)

Numbers 22

Balak hires Balaam (1-21)
Balaam’s donkey speaks (22-41)

Nu 22:20-22​—Why did Jehovah’s anger blaze against Balaam? (w04 8/1 27 ¶2)

Jehovah had told the prophet Balaam that he should not curse the Israelites. (Numbers 22:12) However, the prophet went with Balak’s men with the full intention of cursing Israel. Balaam wanted to please the Moabite king and receive a reward from him. (2 Peter 2:15, 16; Jude 11) Even when Balaam was forced to bless rather than curse Israel, he sought the king’s favor by suggesting that Baal-worshiping women be used to seduce Israelite men. (Numbers 31:15, 16) Thus, the reason for God’s anger against Balaam was the prophet’s unscrupulous greed.

Jehovah Turns a Curse Into a Blessing

from workbook March-April 2021

Nothing, including persecution or disasters, can prevent the good news from being preached according to God’s will. When we experience personal hardships, do we rely on our heavenly Father and keep his worship our priority?

Numbers 23

Balaam’s 1st proverbial saying (1-12)
Balaam’s 2nd proverbial saying (13-30)

Numbers 24

Balaam’s 3rd proverbial saying (1-11)
Balaam’s 4th proverbial saying (12-25)

Numbers 25

Israel’s sin with Moabite women (1-5)
Phinehas takes action (6-18)

Can One Person Make a Difference?

from workbook March-April 2021

ASK YOURSELF, ‘In what situations do I need courage to stand out as different?’

Numbers 26

Second census of Israel’s tribes (1-65)

Nu 26:55, 56​—How did Jehovah demonstrate wisdom when distributing the land inheritance among the tribes? (it-1 359 ¶1-2)

It thus appears that the distribution of the land among the tribes was governed by two factors: the result of the casting of the lot, and the size of the tribe. The lot may have established only the approximate location of the land inheritance each tribe would have, thus designating an inheritance in one section or another of the land, such as to the N or S, E or W, along the coastal plain, or in the mountainous region. The decision of the lot proceeded from Jehovah and hence would serve to prevent jealousy or quarreling among the tribes. (Pr 16:33) By this means God would also guide matters so that the situation of each tribe would fall in accordance with the inspired deathbed prophecy of the patriarch Jacob recorded at Genesis 49:1-33.

After the casting of the lot had determined the geographic location of a tribe, it would then be necessary to determine the extent of its territory on the basis of the second factor: its proportionate size. “You must apportion the land to yourselves as a possession by lot according to your families. To the populous one you should increase his inheritance, and to the sparse one you should reduce his inheritance. To where the lot will come out for him, there it will become his.” (Nu 33:54) The decision of the lot as to the basic geographic location would stand, but adjustment could be made as to the size of the inheritance. Thus, when Judah’s territory was found to be too large, its land area was reduced by assigning portions of it to the tribe of Simeon.​—Jos 19:9.

Numbers 27

Daughters of Zelophehad (1-11)
Joshua commissioned to succeed Moses (12-23)

Imitate Jehovah’s Impartiality

from workbook May-June 2021

We imitate Jehovah’s impartiality by treating fellow believers with dignity and loyal love and by preaching to people of all backgrounds.

Numbers 28

Procedures for various offerings (1-31)
  Daily offerings (1-8)
  For the Sabbath (9, 10)
  Monthly offerings (11-15)
  For the Passover (16-25)
  For the Festival of Weeks (26-31)

Nu 28:7, 14​—What were drink offerings? (it-2 528 ¶5)

Drink offerings were presented along with most of the other offerings, especially after the Israelites had settled in the Promised Land. (Nu 15:2, 5, 8-10) This consisted of wine (“intoxicating liquor”) and was poured out on the altar. (Nu 28:7, 14; compare Ex 30:9; Nu 15:10.) The apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Philippi: “If I am being poured out like a drink offering upon the sacrifice and public service to which faith has led you, I am glad.” Here he used the figure of a drink offering, expressing his willingness to expend himself in behalf of fellow Christians. (Php 2:17) Shortly before his death, he wrote to Timothy: “I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the due time for my releasing is imminent.”​—2Ti 4:6.

Numbers 29

Procedures for various offerings (1-40)
  Day of trumpet blast (1-6)
  Day of Atonement (7-11)
  Festival of Booths (12-38)

Numbers 30

Vows of men (1, 2)
Vows of women and daughters (3-16)

Nu 30:10-12​—How do we know that Elkanah approved of Hannah’s vow to offer Samuel to Jehovah’s service? (1Sa 1:11; it-2 28 ¶1)

Persons could be devoted to Jehovah’s exclusive service in connection with the sanctuary. It was a right that parents could exercise. Samuel was one such person, promised to tabernacle service by a vow of his mother Hannah before his birth. This vow was approved by her husband Elkanah. As soon as Samuel was weaned, Hannah offered him at the sanctuary. Along with him, Hannah brought an animal sacrifice. (1Sa 1:11, 22-28; 2:11) Samson was another child specially devoted to God’s service as a Nazirite.​—Jg 13:2-5, 11-14; compare the father’s authority over a daughter as outlined in Nu 30:3-5, 16.

Pay Your Vows

from workbook May-June 2021

The two most important vows a Christian can make today are the dedication vow and the marriage vow.

Numbers 31

Vengeance on Midian (1-12)
  Balaam killed (8)
Instruction for spoils of war (13-54)

Numbers 32

Settlements east of the Jordan (1-42)

Nu 33:54​—How was land distributed to the tribes of Israel? (it-1 359 ¶2)

After the casting of the lot had determined the geographic location of a tribe, it would then be necessary to determine the extent of its territory on the basis of the second factor: its proportionate size. “You must apportion the land to yourselves as a possession by lot according to your families. To the populous one you should increase his inheritance, and to the sparse one you should reduce his inheritance. To where the lot will come out for him, there it will become his.” (Nu 33:54) The decision of the lot as to the basic geographic location would stand, but adjustment could be made as to the size of the inheritance. Thus, when Judah’s territory was found to be too large, its land area was reduced by assigning portions of it to the tribe of Simeon.​—Jos 19:9.

“Drive Away All the Inhabitants of the Land”

from workbook May-June 2021

To please Jehovah, we must eliminate from our life all morally and spiritually defiling practices. (Jas 1:21) Jehovah gives us the strength to combat sinful tendencies and resist the contaminating influences of this world.

Numbers 33

Stages of Israel’s wilderness journey (1-49)
Instructions for conquering Canaan (50-56)

Numbers 34

Boundaries of Canaan (1-15)
Men assigned to divide the land (16-29)

Numbers 35

Cities for the Levites (1-8)
Cities of refuge (9-34)

Nu 35:31​—Why will Adam and Eve not benefit from the ransom sacrifice of Jesus? (w91 2/15 13 ¶13)

Neither Adam nor Eve, however, benefit from the ransom. The Mosaic Law contained this principle: “You must take no ransom for the soul of a murderer who is deserving to die.” (Numbers 35:31) Adam was not deceived, so his sin was willful, deliberate. (1 Timothy 2:14) It amounted to the murder of his offspring, for they now inherited his imperfection, thus coming under sentence of death. Clearly, Adam deserved to die, for as a perfect man, he had willfully chosen to disobey God’s law. It would have been contrary to Jehovah’s righteous principles for him to apply the ransom in Adam’s behalf. Paying the wage for Adam’s sin, however, does provide for the nullifying of the death sentence upon Adam’s offspring! (Romans 5:16) In a legal sense, the destructive power of sin is cut off right at its source. The ransomer ‘tastes death for every man,’ bearing the consequences of sin for all of Adam’s children.​—Hebrews 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24.

Take Refuge in Jehovah

from workbook May-June 2021

Just as the unintentional manslayer had to make sacrifices in order to enjoy the protection of the cities of refuge, we make sacrifices in order to benefit from God’s mercy and forgiveness.

Numbers 36

Law on marriage of female heirs (1-13)
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