Schoolmaster to Christ
NUMBERS INTRODUCTION
Schoolmaster to Christ
NUMBERS INTRODUCTION
Styled in the Hebrew Bible, "And he spake," or "in the wilderness" from the 5th word in 1:1 perhaps because of recording the fortunes of Israel in the Sinaitic desert. The LXX gave the 4th book of the Pentateuch its title, "Numbers" (arithmoi), and this is followed by Numeri in the Vulgate. The book of Numbers follows the legislation of Leviticus. The priestly laws have been revealed, and the nation is now ready to continue its march to the land of promise. Therefore, Numbers first relates the preparations that were made for the departure from Sinai. It then narrates the departure of the Israelites from Sinai until they come to the plains of Moab, and then closes with the recital of certain events that occurred there, together with instructions for the conquest and division of the land. The book falls into three principal divisions: Preparations for the departure from Sinai (1:1–10:10); Journey from Sinai to the plains of Moab (10:11–21:35); Events in the plains of Moab (22:1–36:13).
