Besides all this Moses had no end of trouble with his own trusted leaders. Aaron made the golden calf at Sinai. Miriam and Aaron tried to usurp his authority (chapter. 12). 10 of the 12 Spies led the people in their refusal to enter Canaan. They were ready to stone Moses (14:10; Exodus 17:4).

    And, last of all, Moses was not permitted to enter the Promised Land, the one lifetime dream of his heart.

    Except  for the Miraculous Grace of God, we do not see how he could have borne up under it all. But when, on the banks of the Jordan, God took him to the Upper Land, then he understood.

Chapter 2O. Final Start for Canaan

    There seems to be a gap of 38 years between the 19th and 20th chapter, covering the internal between the first arrival at Kadesh (13:26), and the final departure from Kadesh for Canaan. In the 33rd chapter there is a list of encampments, 40 in all, from Egypt to the Plains of Moab. Of these, 18 were between Rithmah and Kadesh. Rithmah may be another name for Kadesh.

    We judge, from the expression, "many days at Kadesh" (Deuteronomy 1:46), and the mention of these 18 camping stations between the first and second arrivals at Kadesh, that,  possibly, Kadesh may have been a sort of general headquarters, with these other encampments as God directed. Remaining for some time at one spot, with their flocks and herds on surrounding hills and valleys. Then moving on at signal from the Tent.

    Moses' Sin, which cost him the Promised Land, seems to have been his failure to Give God Credit for the Miracle of Water (10: 12).

    Miriam, Aaron and Moses Died, all three, in the same year. Miriam, at Kadesh (1), Aaron, at Mt. Hor (28). Moses, in Mt. Nebo (Deuteronomy  32:50; 34:1, 5). Miriam, about 130. Aaron, 123. Moses, 120.

    "Gathered to his people" (24), is a beautiful Old Testament expression for Death, hinting Reunion with Loved Ones beyond the grave.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL NOTE: Kadesh-barnea (20:1; Deuteronomy 1:19). is now generally identified as 'Ain Kadees, a "strangely beautiful" oasis, fed by Two springs flowing from beneath a Rock cliff. Alongside is a dry spring. Cobern thinks that Moses must have struck the Rock above the Dry Spring. He struck "twice" (Numbers 20:11); and these Two new springs burst forth; and are still flowing. 

Chapter 21. From Kadesh to the Jordan

    Perhaps the coalition of Amalekites and Canaanites just to the north of Kadesh seemed too strong for Israel to attempt the direct route to Hebron. At any rate, God had other plans.

    They started eastward, to go up the east shore of the Dead See, through Edom's territory. But Edom refused permission.

    Then Moses turned southward, down the Araba, the desolate valley extending from Dead Sea to Red Sea, "a great and terrible wilderness," for the long, and circuitous, and hazardous route, around Edom and Moab, and then northward, along the borders of Arabia, as far as to Bashan, east of the Sea of Galilee, and then southwestward to the

Plains of Moab, opposite Jericho. God commanded Moses not to molest the Edomites, Moabites or Ammonites, even though they tried to stop Israel.

    The Fiery Serpent (6-9). An historical fore-picture of the Gospel. As those who were bitten by poisonous serpents looked to the Brazen Serpent, and were healed; so, if we, who have been wounded by Sin, Look to Jesus, we Live (John 1:14).

    The Israelites afterward made an Idol of the Brazen Serpent, called it Nehushtan, and burned incense to it, till 700 years later, Hezekiah destroyed it (2 Kings 18:4).

    Conquest of Gilead and Bashan (21-35). The Amorites, who had crossed to the east of the Jordan, attacked Israel. Moses had refrained from attacking any of the nations through whose country he marched. But now that the Amorites attacked, he fought back, and took their country. Then Bashan attacked; and he defeated them; and the region east of the Jordan was his.

How Could the Wilderness Support 3,000,000 tor 40 Years?

    By the DIRECT MIRACULOUS HELP OF GOD. The Miracles were so Continuous and so Stupendous that the evident intention of the record is that it Could Not Have Been Done Except by the Hand of God. To those who find it difficult to believe these things, we

answer: for some of us, it is easier to believe them, exactly as they are recorded, than it is to believe the Strange and Fanciful Theories invented to discredit them. They are in accord whit the entire Bible story. The numbers recorded may be a misreading of the text. Perhaps the "thousands" were "clan groups." If so, it might be possible drastically to reduce the totals without doing despite- to the text.

    The Purpose of the Wilderness Miracles, we may think, was: 1. To Preserve the Nation. In God's plan a Messianic Nation had been devised to pave the way for a Coming Messiah. 2. To build in the nation, which had been nurtured in Egyptian Idolatry, Faith in

GOD, the One True God; and to be en Example, for all time to come, that God can be Trusted in all the exigencies of life. 3. For effect on surrounding nations, particularly Canaanites; that they might understand that the movement of Israel toward Canaan was of God, and that it would be with God that they would have to reckon.

    Aside from various accompanying miracles, the Transplanting of a Whole Great Nation, bodily, from one land to another' meanwhile maintaining  it 40 years in a Desert, was in itself one of the most Stupendous Miracles to the ages.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL NOTE: Israel's Route. Recent excavations have revealed the ruins of hundreds of fortified cities that once covered the hills of Moab, Ammon and Gilead, indicating dense populations, and powerful peoples, of the time of Moses.  

Chapters 22 to 25 Balaam

    His prophecies were a remarkable prediction of Israel's influential place in history, through a "Star," to arise out of Jacob (24:17). Though God used him to utter correct prophecy, yet, Balaam, for money, was instigator of Israel's shameful Sin with Moabite and Midianite Women, for which Balaam was slain, and 24,000 Israelites perished (31:8, 16; 25:9). And Balaam's name became a synonym (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14).

Chapter 26. 2nd Census

    Wilderness life must have been hard, for, of 600,000 above 20, at the first census (chapter 1), only 2 beyond 60 survived. The younger generation inured to, and hardened by, the desert, were a different class of  men from what their fathers had been as slaves freshly freed from the fleshpots of Egypt. The book of NUMBERS is named from these Censuses.   

Chapters 27 to 36. Various Regulations and Events

    Brotherless Daughters (27). Feasts and Offerings (28, 29). Vows (30). Slaughter of Midianites (11). Two Tribes and a Half settled east of Jordan (32). Summarized Diary of the 40 Years (31), Directions for the Division of the Land (34; see on Joshua 13). Levitical Cities (35: see on Joshua 21). Brotherless Daughters (36, also 27).

The Jewish Calendar

    There was a Sacred year, and a Civil year. The Sacred year began in the Spring. The Civil year began in the Fall. The 7th Sacred month was the 1st Civil month. The Year was divided into 12 Lunar Months, with a 13th Month 7 times in every 19 years.

    The Natural Day was from sunrise to sunset. The Natural Night, from sunset to sunrise. The Civil Day was from sunset to sunset.

    Hours were counted from 6 in the morning, and 6 in the evening. The First Watch, in the evening, was from 6 to 9; Second Watch,

9 to 12; Third Watch, 12 to 3; Fourth Watch, 1 to 6.