Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion you should be able to:

• Describe the literary features and major themes found in the book of Numbers

• Discuss the issue of big numbers in the book of Numbers and provide possible explanations

• Trace the basic route that Israel journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land

• Compare and contrast the first and second generations as well as the two censuses found in the book

• Articulate the reason for many of the cultic laws prescribed by Moses in the wilderness

• Explain the unique role of the Levites and priests with regard to the tabernacle, Israel’s camp, traveling, and tribal allotments

• Summarize the major events in Israel’s wilderness wanderings and provide theological reflections on them

• Discuss how to read the book of Numbers through Christological fulfillment

Course Outline

Introduction

• Introducing the Speaker and Course

Unit 1: Introducing Numbers

• Author, Date, and Audience

• Literary Features

• Themes

• Big Numbers in Numbers

• Big Numbers: Rhetorical Solutions

• Big Numbers: Editorial Mistakes as a Solution

• The Big Picture

Unit 2: At Sinai (Numbers 1:1–10:10)

• Military Headcount (Num 1)

• Principle of Holiness Reflected in the New Testament

• Arranging the Camp (Num 2)

• Appointing the Levites—Part 1 (Num 3:1–10)

• Appointing the Levites—Part 2 (Num 3:11–51)

• Mustering the Levites (Num 4:1–49)

• Ritual and Sinful Impurity (Num 5:1–10)

• Marital Purity—Part 1 (Num 5:11–31)

• Marital Purity—Part 2 (Num 5:11–31)

• Nazirite Vow—Part 1 (Num 6:1–21)

• Nazirite Vow—Part 2 (Num 6:1–21)

• Priestly Blessing (Num 6:22–27)

• Dedicating the Altar (Num 7)

• Dedicating the Levites (Num 8)

• The Second Passover (Num 9:1–14)

• Marching Orders (Num 9:15–10:10)

Unit 3: In the Wilderness—Part 1 (Numbers 10:11–15:41)

• Departure in Battle Order—Part 1 (Num 10:11–28)

• Departure in Battle Order—Part 2 (Num 10:29–36)

• Initial Complaints: The People (Num 11:1–9)

• Initial Complaints: Moses—Part 1 (Num 11:10–17)

• Initial Complaints: Moses—Part 2 (Num 11:18–35)

• Miriam and Aaron’s Complaint (Num 12)

• Rebellion of the Scouts—Part 1 (Num 13:1–24)

• Rebellion of the Scouts—Part 2 (Num 13:25–33)

• Rebellion Over the Spies’ Report—Part 1 (Num 14:1–9)

• Rebellion Over the Spies’ Report—Part 2 (Num 14:10–19)

• God’s Judgment on the First Generation—Part 1 (Num 14:20–35)

• God’s Judgment on the First Generation—Part 2 (Num 14:36–45)

• Cultic Laws—Part 1 (Num 15:1–21)

• Cultic Laws—Part 2 (Num 15:22–31)

• Cultic Laws—Part 3 (Num 15:32–41)

Unit 4: In the Wilderness—Part 2 (Numbers 16–21)

• Korah’s Rebellion—Part 1 (Num 16:1–14)

• Korah’s Rebellion—Part 2 (Num 16:15–27)

• Korah’s Rebellion—Part 3 (Num 16:28–35)

• Korah’s Rebellion—Part 4 (Num 16:36–50)

• Budding of Aaron’s Rod (Num 17)

• Priestly Regulations—Part 1 (Num 18:1–7)

• Priestly Regulations—Part 2 (Num 18:8–19)

• Priestly Regulations—Part 3 (Num 18:20–32)

• Water of Purification—Part 1 (Num 19:1–10)

• Water of Purification—Part 2 (Num 19:11–22)

• Leadership Problems—Part 1 (Num 20:1–8)

• Leadership Problems—Part 2 (Num 20:9–13)

• Leadership Problems—Part 3 (Num 20:14–21)

• Leadership Problems—Part 4 (Num 20:22–29)

• Trouble on the Way to Moab—Part 1 (Num 21:1–6)

• Trouble on the Way to Moab—Part 2 (Num 21:7–9)

• Trouble on the Way to Moab—Part 3 (Num 21:10–20)

• Trouble on the Way to Moab—Part 4 (Num 21:21–35)

Unit 5: On the Plains of Moab (Numbers 22–25)

• Excursus: Balaam the Curse Expert

• Balak Sends for Balaam the Curse Expert—Part 1 (Num 22:1–7)

• Balak Sends for Balaam the Curse Expert—Part 2 (Num 22:8–20)

• Balaam Goes to Balak—Part 1 (Num 22:21–30)

• Balaam Goes to Balak—Part 2 (Num 22:31–41)

• Balaam Blessings Despite Sorcery—Part 1 (Num 23:1–12)

• Balaam Blessings Despite Sorcery—Part 2 (Num 23:13–26)

• Balaam’s Blessings Without Sorcery—Part 1 (Num 23:27–24:9)

• Balaam’s Blessings Without Sorcery—Part 2 (Num 24:10–19)

• Balaam’s Blessings Without Sorcery—Part 3 (Num 24:20–25)

• National Apostasy and Divine Punishment—Part 1 (Num 25:1–3)

• National Apostasy and Divine Punishment—Part 2 (Num 25:4–9)

• National Apostasy and Divine Punishment—Part 3 (Num 25:10–18)

Unit 6: Census Figures: Before and After (Numbers 26:1–65 versus 1:1–4:49)

• Second Generation’s Census—Part 1 (Num 26:1–22)

• Second Generation’s Census—Part 2 (Num 26:23–51)

• Division of the Land and Counting the Levites (Num 26:52–65)

Unit 7: Land, Offerings, and Vows (Numbers 27–30)

• Inheritance of Zelophehad’s Daughters—Part 1 (Num 27:1–11)

• Commissioning Joshua (Num 27:12–23)

• Regulations for Offerings (Num 28–29)

• Regulations for Vows (Num 30)

Unit 8: Settling the Transjordan (Numbers 31:1–33:49)

• Defeating Midian—Part 1 (Num 31:1–18)

• Defeating Midian—Part 2 (Num 31:19–54)

• Transjordan Tribes (Num 32)

• Reprise of the Wilderness Journey—Part 1 (Num 33:1–15)

• Reprise of the Wilderness Journey—Part 2 (Num 33:16–36)

• Kadesh to Moab (Num 33:37–49)

Unit 9: Occupying the Land (Numbers 33:50–36:13)

• Orders for Occupying the Promise Land (Num 33:50–56)

• Allotment (Num 34)

• Levitical Holdings (Num 35:1–15)

• Case Laws about Murder and Accidental Killing (Num 35:16–34)

• Inheritance of Zeophehad’s Daughters—Part 2 (Num 36)

Conclusion

• Christological Reading of Numbers

Details

• Title: OT310 Book Study: Numbers

• Instructor: Dale A. Brueggemann

• Publisher: Lexham Press

• Publication Date: 2019

• Product Type: Logos Mobile Education

• Resource Type: Courseware, including transcripts, audio, and video resources

• Courses: 1

• Video Hours: 11