Numbers 1:1-51
The Book of Numbers was originally named "Arithmoi" in the Greek and "Bəmiḏbar" in the Hebrew, meaning: In the wilderness (a much more adventurous name!). It is the fourth book of the Bible and the continuation of the children of Israel's journey out of enslavement.
1:1-4 Numbers begins and ends with a census. This large group needs organization and recolonization, after all, they are embarking on a massive journey -- confronting obstacle and enemy and other challenges along the terrain. They do not need to organize for God's benefit because He knows who we each are, Luke 12:7 and Psalm 139.
1:5-46 Census is taken of the families and ancestry of individuals.
1:47-50 The Levites (of the tribe of Levi) were not counted. This is a pattern in the Bible: those most committed to God are never assigned any specific portion of land because God is their (our) home: Deuteronomy 18:2 and Joshua 13:38 for example.
1:51 The children of Israel are still listening to God... and therefore, they are prospering. The children of Israel, however, have wavered in faith before (remember their moaning and complaining during the Exodus out of Egypt?) and will again.
1:5-46 Census is taken of the families and ancestry of individuals.
1:47-50 The Levites (of the tribe of Levi) were not counted. This is a pattern in the Bible: those most committed to God are never assigned any specific portion of land because God is their (our) home: Deuteronomy 18:2 and Joshua 13:38 for example.
1:51 The children of Israel are still listening to God... and therefore, they are prospering. The children of Israel, however, have wavered in faith before (remember their moaning and complaining during the Exodus out of Egypt?) and will again.
Numbers, Chapters 1-4, are composed of the organization of the tribes within the group known as the children of Israel. Do not forget that "the children of Israel" are the generations born of Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah. God changed Jacob's name to Israel.
For an outline of the chapter we are about to begin, watch this illustration by The Bible Project. The Bible Project is a great supplementary resource to any Bible Study journey. One can never have too many biblical resources as long as they are rooted in truth and the word.
