2.  Vows and tithes, Ch. 27.  For Study and Discussion. (1) Make a list of the several offerings and become familiar with what is offered, how it is offered, the result to be attained in each case. (2) The laws (a) for the consecration and purity of the priests (Chs. 8-10 and 21-22), (b) governing marriages (Ch. 18), (c) concerning clean animals and what may be used for food (Ch, 11), (d) governing vows and tithes (Ch. 37). (3) The sacrifice of the two goats and two birds, (a) the details of what is done with each goat and each bird, (b) the lessons or truths typified by each goat and bird. (4) The name, occasion, purpose, time and manner of observing each of the feasts. (5) Redemption as seen in Leviticus, (a) the place of the priest, (b) of substitution, (c) of imputation, (d) of sacrifice and blood in redemption. (5) The nature of sin as seen in Leviticus, (a) its effect on man’s nature, (b) its effect on his relation to God.

* * * * *

Chapter IV.

Numbers.

Name.  It is named from the two enumerations of the people, at Sinai,
Ch. 1. and at Moab, Ch. 26.

Connection with Former Books.  Genesis tells of Creation, Exodus of redemption, Leviticus of worship and fellowship, and Numbers of service and work.  In Leviticus Israel is assigned a lesson and in Numbers she is getting that lesson.  In this book as in Exodus and Leviticus Moses is the central figure.

Central Thought.  Service which involves journeying, which in turn implies walk as a secondary thought.  All the types of the books bear upon this two-fold idea of service and walk.

Key-Phrase.  “All that are able to go forth to war” occurs fourteen times in the first chapter.  There was fighting ahead and all who could fight must muster in.

The History Covered is a period of a little more than thirty-eight years (Num. 1:1; Deut. 1:3) and is a record (1) of how Israel marched to the border of Canaan, (2) wandered thirty-eight years in the wilderness while the old nation died and a new nation was trained in obedience to God, (3) then returned to the border of the promised land.

Analysis.

I. The Preparation at Sinai, 1:1-10:10.

  1.  The number and arrangement of the tribes, Chs. 1-2.

  2.  The choice and assignment of the Levites, Chs. 3-4.

  3.  Laws for the purity of the camp, Chs. 5-6.

  4.  Laws concerning the offerings for worship, Chs. 7-8.

  5.  Laws concerning the passover and cloud, 9:1-14.

  6.  Signals for marching and assembling 9:15-10:10.

 II.  The Journey to Moab, 10:11-22:1.

  1.  From Sinai to Kadesh, 10:11-14 end.

  2.  From Kadesh to Kadesh (the wilderness wanderings), 19:1-20:21.

  3.  From Kadesh to Moab, 20:22-22:1.

III.  The Sojourn at Moab, 22:2-36 end.

  1.  Balak and Balaam, 22:2-25 end.

  2.  The sum of the people, Ch. 26.