Numbers

Numbers, fourth book of the Old Testament, so named because the opening chapters concern the census, or numbering, of the Israelite tribes. The English title is derived from the title of the book in the Vulgate, Numeri (Latin, “Numbers”). Numeri is in turn a translation of the title of the book in the Greek-language version called the Septuagint. The Jews, who have named each of the five books constituting the Pentateuch after the first word or first significant word of the Hebrew text, refer to Numbers as Be-Midbar (Heb. “In the Wilderness”). The book continues the account of the origins and early history of the Jewish people begun in the books of Genesis and Exodus.

“In the Wilderness” is a far more appropriate title than “Numbers”, because the book is concerned chiefly with the desert wanderings of the Israelites under the leadership of Moses. It records the events from their final days at Mount Sinai until their arrival, nearly 40 years later, at the plains of Moab, close to the Promised Land of Canaan. The book may be divided into three sections: (1) the final days at Mount Sinai (1:1-10:10); (2) a period of approximately 38 years of wandering in the desert south of the Promised Land (10:11-20:13 or, as some scholars prefer, 10:11-21:13); (3) the final approach to the border of Canaan from the east.

The first section almost exclusively concerns statistical and legal matters. The second section begins with an account of the Israelites' departure from Sinai. It relates, among other stories, that of the sedition of Aaron and Miriam, the brother and sister of Moses (chap. 12); and that of the sending out of Israelite spies into Canaan, their conflicting reports, and the Israelites' condemnation to 40 years in the wilderness (chap. 13-14). Chapter 17 tells of the miraculous budding of Aaron's rod, a sign that the priestly tribe of Levites was divinely appointed.

The third section of Numbers tells of the Israelites' unsuccessful attempt to enter Canaan through the land of Edom, and of Aaron's death (20:14-29); relates the selection of the Hebrew leader Joshua as successor to Moses (27:12-23); and tells (chap. 32) of the distribution of land east of the Jordan River to the tribes of Gad and Reuben. A résumé of the stages of Israel's journey from Egypt to the border of Canaan (33:1-49) is followed by a description of the ideal boundaries of Canaan. The book closes with provisions for the apportionment of the land, the establishment of Levitical cities and cities of refuge for murderers, and rules for marriage to keep the lands of Israel intact (chap. 34-36). Notable throughout is the emphasis on matters of interest to the priests of Israel, indicating the probable main source of the subject matter of the Book of Numbers, the so-called P source, dating from about the 6th century bc.

For a discussion of the documentary hypothesis, see Bible.