2. Prayer List Text

3. Announcements Text

4. Numbers WeekDateTopic 108 Dec10Numbers: An Introduction 215 Dec10Census and Organization: 1:1-4:49 322 Dec10Purity of the Camp: 5:1-6:27 429 Dec10Dedication of the Tabernacle: 7:1-9:23 505 Jan 11Failure of Israel: 10:1-12:16 612 Jan 11Pinnacle of Failure at Kadesh: 13:1-14:45 719 Jan 11Failure of Israel in the Wilderness: 15:1-19:22 826 Jan 11Failure of Israel enroot to Moab: 20:1-25:18 902 Feb 11Reorganization of Israel: 26:1-27:23 1009 Feb 11Regulations of Offerings and Vows: 28:1-30:16 1116 Feb 11Division of the Land: 31:1-33:49 1223 Feb 11Further Division of the Land: 33:50-36:13 1302 Mar 11Review

5. References Constable Notes - Primary Halley’s Bible Handbook JFB Bible Commentary ISBE (Encyclopedia)

6. Key Points for Today’s Lesson Review the supplementary laws of sacrifice Read about how those that actively defy God were destroyed Learn about Korah and those that followed him in his defiance of God Learn about the punishment of Korah Learn about the selection and confirmation of Aaron as the leader of Israel Learn about the water of cleansing

7. Last Week’s Lesson Events of Chapter 13 and 14 occurred in Kadesh The Team of 12 spies traveled through the promised land for 40 days The spies found that the land was filled with many natural resources Some spies reported that the land was occupied by very strong forces, prompting the Israelites to rebel God punishes those that rebel and declares that all older than 20 would die in the desert during their 40 year sojourn, except for Caleb and Joshua

8. Historical Background The book opens as the Israelites were in the second month of the second year after they departed Egypt (1:1) Chapters 7:1-10:10 occurred before the timeline of the events of the book of Numbers – Events occurred as Moses finished setting up the tabernacle – Tabernacle was set up on the 1 st day of the 1 st month of the 2 nd year; Numbers started on the 1 st day, 2 nd month, 2 nd year – Read Numbers 7:1, then Numbers 7:84, then Exodus 40:17, then Numbers 1:1 to better understand the timeline

9. Historical Background Continued Scholars determined the book had been written close to Moses’ death, around 1406 BC – Exodus happened around 1446 BC (1 Ki 6:1) – Israelites were in the wilderness 40 years (Num 32:13) – Moses died shortly before they entered the Promised Land (Deut 34:5) Numbers closes out when the Israelites were in the 10 th month of the 40 th year (see Deut 1:3) – The book of Numbers covers about 39 years

10. Hebrew Calendar

11. Timeline EventYearHebrewDayMonth Departure from Egypt1446Nisan15April Quail and Manna provided1446Iyyar15May Ten Commandments in the Sinai1446Sivan?Jun Tabernacle Built1445Iyyar1April Depart from Sinai1445Iyyar20May At Kadesh-Barnea – second time1406Nisan1March At Mt. Hor – Aaron Dies1406Ab1Jul Moses Death1406Shebat1Jan Cross Jordan1405Nisan10Apr Keep Passover and Manna ceases1405Nisan14Apr

12. Geographical Background Israelites traveled from Mt. Sinai to the plains of Moab – East of Jericho and the Jordan River However, not a direct route – Proceeded from Sinai to Kadesh Barnea – On Canaan’s southern border Failed to proceed to the Promised Land from Kadesh Barnea because of unbelief – Wondered 38 more years in the wilderness God finally brings them back to Kadesh, then led them to the Plains of Moab on Canaan’s eastern border

14. Key Lessons Of Numbers Show how God dealt with the Israelites as they anticipate entrance into the Promised Land Events that led to the destruction of the older generations of Israelites in the wilderness Preparation of the new generation for entrance into the Promised Land Provided a warning to younger members of the community of Israel about the wrath of God on their parents because of their failure to obey the covenant

16. The Tribes of Israel

17. Historical Interlude Egypt is still the primary power during the time (1445-1443 BC) Thutmose III is the pharaoh of Egypt from 1479-1425 BC, so many events of the 40 year wondering occurs during his reign and influence –For 22 years he was co-regent with Hatshepsut, stepmother and aunt Created the largest empire of the entire Egyptian dynasty

18. Offerings and Defiant Sin (15:1-31) God supplements and completes the laws of sacrifice provided already – related to life and land Provides seven laws –Connection between meat offering and drink offerings (vs. 1-16) –Required presentation of cake made from the first fruits of the land (vs. 17-21) –Sin offering, specifically sins of omission (vs. 22-29) –Offerings did not cover sins committed in defiance of God, death was the payment (vs. 30-31)

19. Defiant Sabbath-breaker (15:32-36) Illustrates the fate of Israelites or foreigners who deliberately violate the law of the Sabbath – Clarifies the meaning of defiant sin – Clarifies what it meant to be cut off from the people – Unforgivable sin (read Lev 20:2, Matt 12:31) God’s will was not expressed in finality, Israel played a role in the process Eleven sins punishable by stoning according to Old Testament scripture

20. Offenses Punishable by Stoning Idolatry – Deut 17:2-7 Encouragement of Idolatry – Deut 13:6-10 Child sacrifice – Lev 20:2-5 Prophecy in the name of another god – Deut 13:1-5 Divination – Lev 20:27 Blasphemy – Lev 24:15-16 Breaking the Sabbath – Num 15:32-36 Murder of an ox – Ex 21:28-29 Adultery – Deut 22:22 Rebellion of a son – Deut 21:18 Violation of God’s ban on plunder – Josh 7:25

21. Visual Reminders (15:37-41) Israelites were to wear tassels on the four corners of their upper-outer garments (Deut 22:12) – Tassels were an extension of the hem – A hem made an important social statement – Usually very ornate as an individual grew in importance Made of blue cord as the tabernacle coverings used blue colors, symbolizing heavenly origin and royalty

22. Hebrew Tallit with Tassels Traditional Tallit

23. Rebellion (16:1-3) Leaders of the rebellion – Korah, a Levite of the Kohathite branch of the tribe and a kinsman of Moses and Aaron – Dathan, Abiram, and On, who were Reubenites – Along with 250 other men Intended to overthrow the laws God had handed down and replace it with their own – Actions based upon the truth that the whole congregation was holy (Ex 19:5-6 – Inferred that all Israelites could serve as priests – Also jealous of Moses and Aaron

24. Moses Intercedes (16:4-14) Moses is distressed and took the matter to God in prayer – Tested them by letting them offer incense Men had wanted to have a more important role in the tabernacle – They attributed the trials they had endured to Moses personally rather than to God – Their failure to perceive the will of God led them to regard Moses’ leadership as inadequate and unacceptable

25. Korah Korah is important because it became associated with Biblical villains and traitors for two reasons: – In the case of Korah son of Esau, both Esau and Korah waged war against Israel, and Esau was hated by God because of it (Malachi 1:3) – In the case of Korah son of Izhar (Numbers 16), he is remembered for the rebellious action together with Dathan and Abiram against Moses Jude 11 in the NT also references Korah

26. Judgment (16:15-35) God provides a graphic lesson to the rest of the nation concerning rebellion against His will – Sin always leads to death – Men of Korah would pay the price for their rebellion – Not all of his sons died (Num 26:58) Lists Korathites – 250 leaders destroyed with fire (see Lev 10:2) Nadab and Abihu

27. Reminders (16:36-50) God creates another reminder for the Israelites that the offering of incense was the ministry of the priests only – Priests overlaid the altar of burnt offering with a second layer of bronze hammered out of the rebels’ censers (Ex 27:2 as a reference) God’s judgment of Korah did not cause all to submit to God, some accused Moses and Aaron – Even though Moses had intervened on behalf of the people – God sends a plague upon the people; 14,700 die

28. Confirmation of Aaron (17:1-13) 12 Staffs – God directs Moses to obtain 12 staffs, one from each tribe of Israel – Aaron’s name would be on one of the staffs – They are placed in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony where God meets them – Staff of the one chosen to lead Israel would sprout The following day, the staff of Aaron, representing the house of Levi, sprouted, budded, and blossomed, producing almonds All Israel trembled and fear death for irreverence

29. Service and Income of Priests (18:1-32) Following Aaron’s confirmation, duties and revenues of the priesthood are explained – Describes a major institution of the OT – Describes the controls and direction God ordains – Provides general knowledge about the work of the priests – Provides insight into the work of Jesus Christ (see the book of Hebrews) Contrast with our lives today, priests with direct contact God

30. Instructions (18:1-32) Lines between Israelites, Levites, and priests Priests received all heave offerings brought to the tabernacle – gifts of the people to God Everything placed under ban and the first-born of man or beast redeemed or offered were holy Aaron, the high priest received a special portion Tithes of Israelites became Levite possessions Levites were to give a tithe of the tithe to the priests, including the best of what was given

31. Water of Cleansing (19:1-22) God gives this law so the nation might maintain purity as the older generation died off Purpose was not to remove sin itself, but to remove uncleanness that death represented Especially appropriate after the death of 15,000 (result of Korah’s rebellion in Num 16) Red heifer is burned – Ashes added to the water of purification – Symbolically strengthened the life of the living Israelites and removed the uncleaness

32. Review Reviewed the supplementary laws of sacrifice Read about how those that actively defy God were destroyed Learned about Korah and those that followed him in his defiance of God Learned about the punishment of Korah Learned about the selection and confirmation of Aaron as the leader of Israel Learned about the water of cleansing Next week: Israel to Moab: Numbers 20:1-25:18