The fourth book of Moses. This deals with the wilderness wanderings of the children of Israel. The name of the book, is taken from the two numberings of the nation: one at Mount Sinai ( Ch.1) and the second after the wanderings, after the present generation had perished.(Ch.26). The Hebrew Bible has as its title ” In the Wilderness.”
The book can be divided into three sections: The journey to Kadesh; failure in the wilderness and preparing for the promised land.
Chapter Outline
| Section | Subsection | Chapters | Notes |
| Sinai to Kadesh | |||
| The first numbering | 1- 4 | The numberings were to set the camp in an orderly way. | |
| More legislation | 5- 10 | This was the twentieth day since the first numbering. Ch. 1:1and 10:11 | |
| Failure in the wilderness | |||
| Murmurings before Kadesh | 11-12 | Here the Israelites complain about the way, the food and the leaders. | |
| Unbelief at Kadesh | 13-14 | see also Dt.1:19-46and Heb. 3 -4 | |
| The offerings restated. | 15 | ||
| Murmerings against the appointed priests | 16- 17 | ||
| The High priest and sons | 18 | ||
| The red heifer | 19 | ||
| Murmurings for water | 20 | note: Miriam’s death and Moses’ and Aaron’s disobedience and the latter’s death. | |
| Murmurings about the way | 21:4-9 | The serpent of brass | |
| Victory in the wilderness | Over Arad , Sihon and Og | 21 | |
| Baalim and Barak | 22-25 | see Ch.31:13-20;IIPet.2:15; Rev.2:14 | |
| The second numbering | 26 | ||
| The law of inheritance | 27 | Joshua appointed successor | |
| Various laws | 28-30 | ||
| Victory over the Midianites | 31 | ||
| Preparations to enter Cannan | 32-36 |
The Numberings
These were the totals of those men 20 yrs. upward, who were eligible for war.
| The Numberings | ||
| Tribe | The First Ch.1 | The Second Ch.26 |
| Reuben | 46,500 | 43,730 |
| Simeon | 59,300 | 22,200 |
| Gad | 45,650 | 40,500 |
| Judah | 74,600 | 76,500 |
| Issachar | 54,400 | 64,300 |
| Zebulun | 57,400 | 60,500 |
| Joseph/Ephraim | 40,500 | 52,700 |
| Manasseh | 32,200 | 32,500 |
| Benjamin | 35,400 | 45,600 |
| Dan | 62,700 | 64,400 |
| Asher | 41,500 | 53,400 |
| Naphtali | 53,400 | 45,400 |
| TOTALS | 603,550 | 601,730 |