Numbers might be a bleak account of the israelites stubbornness if it were not outweighed by gods faithfulness and protection. It is the story of the people whom moses led through the desert. Even in their rebellion, god continues to show his incredible love and provision for them. The 2011 edition of the niv mistakenly states that the drink will cause miscarriage in numbers 5. The bibliography for this study of numbers is presented at the end of the article, introduction to the pentateuch. The book of numbers becomes a warning and encouragement for us to follow god and trust his good plan for his people. Saul, david, and solomon each reigned as king for 40 years. The number seven is also the most common in biblical prophecy, occurring 42 times in daniel and revelation alone.
This is the exact same place where the israelites have been hanging out since god freed them from slavery back in exodus. Bullinger observes that these three symbols correspond to first and last letters of the greek word for christ christos. It has been dealt with, for the most part, in a fragmentary way. Remember, the meaning of numbers in the bible is not perfect, but the meaning of the written word is always perfect. Bullingers twofold approach to the subject first examines the supernatural design of the bible. The book of numbers is the fourth book of the hebrew bible, and the fourth of five books of the jewish torah.
This is the holy book of numbers, known as the fourth book of moses called numbers. Take a census of all the males of the congregation of the israelites by families, by their fathers houses, according to the number of names, head by head. Browse all courses logos mobile education certificate programs course catalog topics courses for congregations access my courses. Bullinger 183719, published by kregel publications, p.
Philologos religious online books number in scripture. Fire from the lord now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. The book of numbers was named after the first key word bemidbar in hebrew scripture, which appropriately means in the desert, the place where the israelites. In other words, the number and order of the books of the bible come to us on. Take a census of the whole israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.
Key personalities include moses, aaron, miriam, joshua, caleb, eleazar, korah, and balaam. The book of numbers derives its name from the account of the two censuses taken of the hebrew people, one near the beginning and the other toward the end of the journey in the wilderness chaps. Moses is the central figure within the book, and in at least two instances numbers mentions him recording events by the lords commands numbers 33. The book of numbers was named after the first key word bemidbar in hebrew scripture, which appropriately means in the desert, the place where the israelites spent forty years following the exodus. Nov, 2019 while it is a fairly short distance from egypt to israel, it took the ancient jews 40 years to get there. This summary of the book of numbers provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of numbers. Numbers 11 niv fire from the lord now the people bible. The prince of bible numbers, it is used 562 times, including its derivatives e.
Most of the events of the book are set in the wilderness. The significance of numbers in scripture agape bible study. An example is the number seven or the use of 666 in the book of revelation. Then fire from the lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. With its mix of genres and its challenging theological perspectives, numbers offers a range of difficult cases for traditional christian hermeneutics. The bronze serpent 5 and spoke against god and against moses. Its a historical account but also teaches important lessons about god. But numbers and the rest of the pentateuch were cast in the form of a unified, fivevolume book sometime between the days of joshua and the elders of israel josh. The number 40 seems to be a round number in scripture denoting a generation. Many writers, from the earliest times, have called attention to the importance of the great subject of number in scripture. Feb 05, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of numbers, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
The recording is dramatized, from the king james bible. He notes the amazing patterns of numbers and numerical features of the scriptures that give evidence of their designer. These symbolic meanings of numbers in the bible are different from numerology, which involves looking for an occult meaning in numbers. Numbers, hebrew bemidbar in the wilderness, also called the fourth book of moses, the fourth book of the bible. Numbers in scripture numbers are the language of all nature and scientific study. Bullingers twofold approach to the subject of biblical numbers first examines the supernatural design of the bible. Certain prophetic books of the bible, such as daniel and revelation, introduce a complex, interrelated system of numerology which exhibits definite patterns. When the people cried out to moses, he prayed to the lord and the fire died down. Watch our overview video on the book of numbers, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The english name of the book comes from the septuagint the prechristian greek translation of the ot and is based on the census lists found in. It continues the story of that journey begun in exodus, and describes briefly the experiences of the israelites for a period of thirtyeight years, from the end of their encampment at.
How to prepare a sermon how to learn biblical hebrew how to learn biblical greek how to do inductive bible study see all guides. Much of its legislation for people and priests is similar. For the 1973 american crime film, see book of numbers film. The book is called numbers because of the two censuses taken of the twelve tribes of israel during their journey towards the promised land, following the exodus from egypt. These symbolic meanings of numbers in the bible are different from numerology, which involves looking for an occult meaning in numbers, their combinations, and numerical totals. Numbers in scripture is an intellectually stimulating yet readable source of reference, examining in a variety of contexts from the bible, the significance of numbers, their patterns and their symbolism.
It reminds believers of the spiritual warfare in which they are engaged, for numbers is the book of the service and walk of gods people. We thought you might find it interesting to also see some more facts and figures about the bible s 66 different books. One has dealt with some particular number, such as seven. Numbers 11 new international version niv fire from the lord. In fact, the book is traditionally called numbers because it is divided into parts around the two censuses numberings of these two generations. Here is yet another great book by the insightful e. Its supernatural design and spiritual significance. Each bible will have a different number as the translators try to accurately communicate the sense of the original hebrew, aramaic and greek, but the differences should be small. In numbers, israel travels through the wilderness on the way to the land. Scripture pictures from the book of numbers amazing facts. The law includes the books of genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy. It continues the story of that journey begun in exodus, and describes briefly the experiences of the israelites for a. The message of the book of numbers is universal and timeless. The purpose of the book of numbers is to tell about how israel prepared to enter the promise land, but sinned and was punished.
Though the reader will find reading number in scripture from cover to cover satisfying, it is in many respects a reference book. Bullingers classic work, number in scripture, is an invaluable guide to the study of bible numerics. Numbers with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. In the same way, you can study numbers in scripture and arrive at an understanding of their meanings. Since the patterns vary, some numbers are not as clearly defined as others. Bullingers reseach and insight into this topic is excellent. A pagan prophet is hired to curse israel, but he only hears words of blessing from god. Given the elaborate nature of prophetic numerology, this study will deal only with the meaning of individual numbers in the bible. Theyve been in this same spot for about a year and now theyre getting ready to start out on their journey to this land flowing.
Theyve been in this same spot for about a year and now theyre getting ready to start out on their journey to this land flowing with milk and honey that god keeps talking about. The bible would look very different were all the apocrypha included in the book. Book of numbers overview insight for living ministries. Here are some scripture pictures from the book of numbers that you will prayerfully be blessed by. The book of numbers is largely narrative history as far as its genre. Throughout the scriptures there are obvious references to specific numbers that were undeniably placed there by the holy spirit because of some special significance. Only to the students of the word, those to whom gods spirit has given spiritual insight, will the code be plain. This is the fourth book in the pentateuch, the first five books of the bible. Chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36. Biblical numbers are inspired the word of god is divinely inspired. Learn about faith and rebellion in the book of numbers. In scripture the number fortytwo, or the relationship between fortytwo months and three and. Table of contents preface part i supernatural design. The english title is a translation of the septuagint greek title referring to the numbering of the tribes of israel in chapters 14.
The book of numbers is the fourth book of the law of moses, also known as the torah or pentateuch. The symbolism of numbers 1, 3 and 7 are most agreed upon, while variations may occur with others. The scriptures exhibit a numerical design that can only be explained by the direct inspiration of a creator. The use of numbers in scripture is a fascinating study all its own, not only because certain words and phrases do in fact occur mathematically consistent numbers of times, but the numerical values of words and phrases gematria themselves is significant. The book of leviticus as well as the book of numbers follow immediately after the book of exodus. Moses counted the people in numbers 1 and numbers 26. Bullingers number in scripture remains a firstrate scholarly study of the importance of numbers in.
So that place was called taberah, because fire from the lord had burned among. There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food. Everything in the bible has a meaning, numbers included. How many words in each book of the bible the holy word. A perennial bestseller and the definitive guide to the study of bible numerics. There would also be very different portrayals of christ found in the bible s pages if texts such as the infancy. You can take a word, such as love, study every place in the bible where it is found, and come to a spiritual understanding of its meaning. Jul, 2018 the book of numbers is the story of these two generations. How many chapters, verses, and words are in the bible. The book of numbers was written between 1440 and 1400 b. Introduction to the book of numbers learn religions. Some of the judges judged for 40 years othniel, deborah, barak, and gideon. Theological hermeneutics and the book of numbers as christian. Numbers relates the story of israels journey from mount sinai to the plains of moab on the border of canaan.
Summary of the book of numbers the story of the bible. In the jewish mind the subject of numbers is very significant. The israelites disobedience and lack of faith caused god to make them wander in the desert until all the people of that generation had diedwith a few important exceptions. The book focuses on the main narrative elements of numbers 1125, although other passages are included numbers 5, 6, 33. Number in scripture its supernatural design and spiritual significance by e. In march, 1991, i came across an excellent book dealing with these facts in a manner that far expands the short study i originally presented in my revelation notes. For example, jewish cabalists have analyzed the hebrew scriptures using a technique called gematria, which looks for a hidden code in the numerical equivalents of letters. The book of numbers is traditionally ascribed to moses though little in the book explicitly confirms it see, for example, however, 33. The name numbers is a translation of arithmoi, from the septuagint, titled thus because the book contains many statistics, population counts, tribal and priestly figures, and. It continues the story of that journey begun in exodus, and describes briefly the experiences of the israelites for a period of thirtyeight. These are the books of the king james version of the bible along with the names and. The book of numbers is the fourth of five parts which comprise what scripture calls the book of moses.
This study will provide a treasure trove of insights and practical applications for. The book of numbers is a law book in the old testament section of the bible. Vallowe, in his book entitled biblical mathematics, writes the following. Number is scripture is fascinating and shocking, as it sheds light on the hidden footprints of the holy spirit in the scripture. Readers learn about the significance of what previously seemed like meaningless numbers. Number in scripture kindle edition by bullinger, e. The number of chapters, verses and words in the old testament, new testament and entire bible depends upon the bible translation. The book has a long and complex history, but its final form is. Numbers is the 4th book of the bible and can be found in the old testament.
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