06 Numbers 15-20 – Sojourn in the Wilderness
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy - Life in the DesertAll written materials for this series will be posted on this website, http://servingandsharing.com/, under the category, “Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy – Life in the Desert.” Here is my video presentation introducing this series – https://youtu.be/Lynx51p0tJA.
Watch this specific class presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKKB1uvyHFM. The entire series will be added to this playlist as they are recorded: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKKB1uvyHFM&list=PL7JRppjEn33bCHyqZFRQ2JDiJnGRnOYyR. Please use the “Contact” button to request corresponding handouts and outlines.
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As seen in the “Three Stages” below. this section falls within the forty-year period of wandering in the wilderness.
Numbers: Three Stages
1:1-10:10 Sinai: Preparation to Enter the Land Time: 20 days (Cf. 1:1; 10:11)
10:11-21:35 From Sinai to Moab: Failure and Delay Time: 38 years, 3 months, 10 days
22:1-36:13 Moab Plains: Preparing 2nd Generation Time: c. 5 months
Numbers 15: Sacrifices and the Sabbath-Breaker
Begins 40-year penalty. Laws at Kadesh after the spies’ expedition.
15:1-16 Flour, Oil, and Wine Amounts to Accompany Sacrifices
When (not if) you enter. Promise remains. Abundant crops in the land. One ephah = 1/2 bushel, about 8 quarts. One hin = about one quart.
Inclusion of and allowance for Gentile immigrants (aliens).
15:17-21 The Dough (Ground Meal) Offering
15:22–29 Penalties for Unintentional (Unpremeditated) Sins
15:22-26 Congregational Sin 15:27-29 Individual Sin
Are there degrees of sin? Pilate and Caiaphas (John 19:11)?
15:30-31 Penalty for Defiant (“With a High Hand”) Sins
In what sense is any defiant sin “blasphemy” against the LORD?
“Utterly cut off” – put to death. Note Heb 2:1-4; 10:26-31.
15:32-36 Stoning of a Sabbath Breaker
He was “only” gathering wood, right? Example of a high-handed sin.
Heavy price to pay. Powerful example and deterrent to others.
15:37-41 Tassels on Clothes, with Blue Cords Attached
Reminder to obey and not follow (same word, “spy”) their own hearts.
The “fringes” on Jesus’ clothes – same word (Matt 9:20; 14:36).
Numbers 16: Korah’s Rebellion
16:1-3 Korah’s Rebellious Coalition – Dathan & Abiram, 250 Chiefs
They accused Moses and Aaron of what? Why?
What lessons had they still not learned?
16:4-7 Moses’ Proposal: Priesthood Test
16:8-11 Moses’ Attempt to Reason with Korah
“Whom Yahweh chooses, not you! Your complaint is with Him!”
16:12-15 Dathan’s and Abiram’s Critical Refusal to Come
16:16-19 Censer-Bearing Group at Tent
All 250 with censers and fire, demanding their “right” to lead worship.
16:20-24 Moses’ & Aaron’s Attempt at Intercession
16:25-30 Moses’ Prediction of Rebels’ Fate
Test and confirmation of God’s having sent him.
16:31-35 Destruction by Earthquake, Sinkhole, and Fire
16:36-40 Consecration of Censers as Memorial
Now holy. To be hammered into covering for altar as reminder to all.
16:41–50 Plague on People; Aaron’s Intercession
Crowd blamed Moses and Aaron, not the rebels! NT warns Christians: Licentious heretics who arrogantly disregard apostolic authority will “perish in Korah’s rebellion” (Jude 11).
Numbers 17: Confirmation of Aaron vs. Rebels
17:1-3 Twelve Tribes’ Staffs; Aaron’s Name on Levi’s Staff
17:4-7 God’s Promise: His Chosen Staff to Sprout
17:8-11 Staff of Aaron (Tribe of Levi): Buds, Blossoms, Ripe Almonds
Kept as a sign, to stop their grumbling, so they will not die.
Heb 9:4 – Manna and Aaron’s staff placed in the ark of the covenant.
17:12-13 People’s Fear and Confession
“Yahweh means business. Serious stuff. We could all die! We’d better obey!”
Numbers 18: Duties and Privileges of Priests
18:1-7 Responsibilities of Priests and Levites
Bear the guilt = be held accountable for any offence re: holiness of tabernacle or violation of priestly rules. To prevent wrath and death.
18:8-20 Contributions as Income for Priests
Some for priests only. Others also for their clean family members.
18:19 “Covenant of salt” = preserved, everlasting, perpetual.
18:21-24 Tithes (Tenths) to Support Levites
For their work, service, and risk with holy things.
18:25-32 Levites to Give a Tithe of Their Tithe to Priests
It was to be the very best of what they received.
Numbers 19: Cleansing via the Red Heifer
In 38-1/2 years, 1.2 million-plus died. Contact with corpses: unclean.
19:1-10 Red Heifer’s Ashes, Water for Purification
Reddish-brown cow, no defect, slaughtered and burned. Ashes kept.
19:11-22 Application of This Water when Unclean
One who touched a corpse, to be sprinkled and purified with it.
Heb 9:13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God!
Numbers 20: The 40th Year at Last
37 years passed since Num 19:22. Now the 40th year. Num 33:38.
20:1 Death of Miriam
20:2-8 Complaint of Lack of Water Again – Cf. Ex 17.
20:9-13 Moses’ and Aaron’s Failure and Penalty
“Shall we …?” Both Moses and Aaron sinned here, by not believing in Yahweh and treating him as holy. Moses, “you rebelled” (Num 27:14).
“Meribah” = contention, quarreling. Same name as before (Ex 17:7).
20:14-21 Edom’s (Esau’s Descendants’) Refusal to Let Israel Pass
Forced to go south perhaps to Gulf of Aqabah. See next slide.
20:22-29 Aaron’s Death; the People’s Mourning
