Opening Comments-Numbers

Numbers 1:2 "Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls;

v3 "From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies."

The Book of Numbers sounds like only an accountant could find interest according to the title, but that is far from accurate. Numbers is a book of action. It is a time for getting ready for war.

Genesis was where creation, sin and the promise took place. Exodus was the redemption from Egypt. Leviticus was about the fine details of the law. Now we have Numbers and it is time to prepare to take the promised land.

Moses is instructed to number the people. It is a long way from Abraham and Issac alone on the mountain where a Ram replaced Issac in the sacrifice. Now, the people are many. Each family has grown tremendously.

Moses talks directly to God and passes the information to Aaron and the people. Reorganization takes place in this book.

CI Scofield divides the book into five chief divisions: The Order of the Host, From Sinai to Kadesh-barnea, Israel at Kadesh-barnea, The Wilderness Wanderings, Closing instructions.

So we finally leave mount Sinai and go to take the promised land but something happens at Kadesh-barnea that sends Israel into the wilderness to wonder.

Numbers 1:46 "Even all they that were numbers were six hundred and three thousand and five hundred and fifty (603,550). v47 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them v48 For the Lord had spoken unto Moses saying v49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:"

Psalm 105:8 "He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations."