Numbers

Bible #4

by Anonymous

The Book of Numbers is the fourth book of the Hebrew Bible, and the fourth of five books of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch.

Genres: Religion, Christian, Nonfiction, Classics, History, Christianity, Scripture

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 701

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:

* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author

Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.

See also: Anonymous

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much of Numbers is hard to get through: long lists of sacrifices and people, now-defunct laws, etc. However, unlike Leviticus, this does have one very good story: Balaam and the talking donkey.

Like the previous book, for those who are reading the Bible from cover to cover, there are parts that may make you want to stop reading...but, don't let that happen. From Joshua through 2 Kings, and even in the books of Chronicles and Esther, there are several stories that have enough action, romance and/or drama to rival a Hollywood film.

[Arman]

کتاب چهارم تنخ یا شریعت، امروزه به تبعیت از عنوانی که ترجمه‌های یونانی برای آن انتخاب کرده بودند، «کتاب اعداد» می‌نامند. و این نام به دوبار سرشماری افراد بالغ مذکر در اسباط اسرائیلیان باز می‌گردد؛ یک بار به هنگام عزیمت از کوه سینا در ابتدای کتاب و بار دوم در انتهای کتاب.
کتاب اعداد، از نظر فرم و ساختار و تاریخچه شکل‌گیری، یکی از پیچیده‌ترین کتاب‌های عهد عتیق می باشد. کتاب فاصله‌ی زمانیِ بین فرود موسی از کوه سینا تا رسیدن قوم اسرائیل به حاشیه رود اردن را پوشش می دهد؛ از نظر زمانی، تقریبا با «کتاب لاویان» همپوشانی دارد.
اما در حالی که در لاویان با حجم یکدستِ انبوه و فشرده‌ای از قوانین شرعی روبرو بودیم، کتاب اعداد از قطعاتی پراکنده و در هم پیچیده از ژانرهای مختلف تشکیل شده است: مجموعه‌ای از روایات تاریخی (جنگ با موابیان و مِدیان، درگذشت هارون و ...)، قوانین شرعی (میراث زنان شوهردار و اعیاد)، دستورات و قوانین مربوط به مناسک (قوانین نذورات و ...)، و اشعار فولکلوریک (مکالمه بین بِلعام و بالاقِ موابی).
همین ساختارِ پیچیده و رنگارنگِ کتاب موجب شده است که محققان نتوانند بر روی مرزهای بین سنت‌های مختلفی که به کتاب شکل داده‌اند، به یک تفاهم نسبی برسند. برای مدت‌ها تصور بر این بود که کلِ کتاب اعداد، محصولِ دورانی متأخر (دورانِ تبعید و پساتبعید)، و نشان دهنده‌ی وسواسِ فکری حلقه‌های کهانتی نسبت به رعایت کامل شریعت و پرهیز خشم مجدد یهوه (که پیش‌تر موجب تنبیه و تبعید آن ها شده بود) می‌باشد؛ در واقع این قوانین سفت و سخت را نه به دورانِ کوچ‌گردی و قوم محوریِ اسرائیلیان، بلکه به دورانِ شهرنشینیِ اسرائیل و انگیزه‌های هویت‌گرایانه‌ی کاهنین مربوط می‌‌شوند.
امروزه گرچه همه توافق دارند که ‌تدوینِ نهایی کتاب اعداد، به همین دوران باز می‌گردد، اما به سختی می‌توان آن سلسله مراتبِ بین سنت های روایی و سیرِ خطیِ پیشرفت‌شان را (که پیش‌فرضِ نظرات بالاست) قبول داشت. بسیار از محققانِ انتقادی بر این باورند که نمی‌توان بین سنت‌های شکل‌دهنده‌ی کتاب، خط و مرزی ترسیم کرد؛ زیرا همه‌ی آن‌ها (کهانتی، تثنیه‌گرا، و الوهیمی-یهوه‌گرا) بطور همزمان نفس می‌کشیده، در طی قرون تکامل و تغییر شکل پیدا کرده اند. هر کدام از این سنت‌ها، تأکیدات، زاویه‌دیدها و موضوعاتِ مورد علاقه خود را در متن کتاب برجای گذاشته‌اند، بدون اینکه مصحح‌های نهایی دغدغه این را داشته باشند که این مطالب متنوع (که گاهاً متناقض یکدیگر بودند) را بصورت متنی یکدست در آورند.


عنوان عبری کتاب اعداد، "بمیدبار" به معنی «در بیابان» می‌باشد. همانطور که از این عنوان بر‌می آید، این کتاب روایت‌گر چهل سال آوارگیِ قوم اسرائیل در بیابان سینا، از لحظه فرود موسی از کوه سینا تا رسیدن به کرانه‌ی سرزمین موعود در ساحل رود اردن می‌باشد.
در این مسیر، این قوم برگزیده بارها بارها با ناسپاسی، نابردباری و از روی بی‌ایمانی به شکایت از موسی می‌پردازند و موجب خشم یهوه می‌گردند؛ و چندین بار یهوه آن‌ها را با عذاب‌های متعددی روبرو می‌کند (از جمله فرستادن مارهای سمی و باز شدنِ دهان زمین). در واقع روایت، به تبیین شک و بی‌ایمانی نسبت به وعده‌های یهوه و عواقبِ الوهی آن‌ می‌پردازد. شکی که دامنگیرِ افراد تقدیس شده‌ای مانند مریم و هارون، و حتی نمونه مثالین پیامبران اسرائیل، موسی نیز می‌شود؛ بخاطر همین است که یهوه اسرائیلیان را آنقدر در صحرای سینا می‌چرخاند تا زمان که همه افرادی که مصر را ترک کرده‌اند (بجز یوشع پسر نون و کالیب)، بمیرند... و پس از آن است که آن‌ها را به سرزمین موعود می‌رساند.


همانطور که اشاره شد، موسی نمونه‌ی مثالین و کلاسیکی برای پیامبرانِ اسرائیل می باشد؛ او در کنارِ سرزنش کردن و ملامت‌گریِ قوم‌ش بخاطر گناهان و طغیان‌هاشان (مثلا در ماجرای جاسوسان فرستاده شده به قادش، و یا فحشای مردان با دختران مدیانی)، بایستی به هنگام خشم و غضبِ یهوه، شفاعتِ قومش را در پیشگاه او به جای آورده و جلوی خشم و عقوبتِ وی را بگیرد (مثلا در مورد مارهای سمی، یا طغیان مریم و هارون). موسی اگرچه یک بار از بار سنگینی که بر دوشش گذارده شده، با نومیدی به پیشگاه یهوه شکایت می‌برد، اما قوم برگزیده‌ی او را در پایان، به سلامت به سرزمین موعود رسانده و وعده‌ی الوهی به اسرائیلیان را محقق می‌سازد.

[Lizzy (Elizabeth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yayyy! I loved reading this! It was so good!

This is book 6/73 for m challenge of reading the whole Bible this year!

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Previously the book of Numbers has been a difficult read for me. However this time round I really enjoyed it. From chapter fourteen I loved the narratives that were included because they were very thought provoking. My eyes have been opened to a side of God that i was not fully aware of. This book has caused me to examine if I take Grace for granted.

Definitely one of my favourite Old Testament books.

Recommended for those who want to know more about Gods law for Israel and for narratives regarding the Israelites journey in the wilderness.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will say that Numbers is not the most immersive read in the Bible. It is quite literally a bunch of numbers; however, it clarified the 12 tribes of Israel, which is why it gets four stars. Here's a quick note about lineage to help with my thoughts below: Jacob is essentially the father of the 12 tribes of Israel because each of the tribes comes from his sons' lineages. Jacob is also known as Israel because his name was changed due to his faithfulness to God (Genesis 35).

I wondered why the two sons of Joseph (a son of Jacob), Ephraim and Manasseh, had their tribes rather than just being the 12 sons of Jacob. I concluded that the Levites were not included in the 12 tribes. After all, they were a part of the priestly line. I got some info to back that up too. In Genesis, "Jacob claimed both Ephraim and Manasseh as part of the great nation that God had promised him. They became the heads of two of the twelve tribes of Israel. One took the place of Joseph and the other the place of Levi, whose tribe became the priestly line and was not reckoned as one of the twelve tribes during the organization of the nation."

I'll link my source at the bottom!

But yeah. Although Numbers isn't my favorite (and I'm looking forward to other books), I'm glad I could piece some things together.

https://ebible.com/questions/100-who-... (Where I researched).

[F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading the Bible through every year since 1974 and I can testify it is fresh every time. I was amazed, once again, at the details the Holy Spirit included. Every year I find more reason to believe that Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is the very Word of the living God. I understand more each year and yet have so much more to take in [it can never, this side of glory, be exhausted]. If you find something in the Bible you don't understand don't assume the Bible is wrong, assume that YOU don't understand ... yet. There are many people even in their reviews here that testify they once had a hard time even reading this book but now experience a blessing when they do. Grant God the honor of being God and knowing more than us.
On a side note: the idea of having individual copies of each book of the Bible is a good one... kind of pricy but good nonetheless. [this review only refers to the Bible text - NOT any preface, comment or additional information.]

[Ella あいみ M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

24 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24–26

[Sid · Rating 1 out of 5]

numbers and leviticus competing for most boring book ever i see.

[Cristina Rodríguez]

Duro de leer, muy en la linea del resto del antiguo testamento.
Sobre todo son el pueblo quejándose, leyes y como repartir la tierra/temas de herencia

[Huyền Trang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Có vẻ vay hơn quyển số #3 nhiều. Nhưng tại sao người Israel lại bướng bỉnh như vậy? Đọc mà cáu thật đấy

[Beth Ammons]

Slogged my way through this one. Onward!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

My reply to a GR friend a couple of weeks ago, who asked me what I thought of the biblical book "Numbers":
"...I haven't finished Numbers yet, but so far it's basically a census record along with divine threats and punishments against an apparently ungrateful mob, in the divine view, whose leaders have amassed (over 40 years) thousands of former Hebrew slaves, now bedouin, for an eventual invasion of the desirable land already occupied by strong tribes who had been there for quite awhile. I was raised on this stuff and glad that I was, but now I'm reading all the Bible again for nostalgic reasons, also for historic perspective and searching for pearls of wisdom that I missed in my youth or should have absorbed, but alas. There seems to be a parallel between then and now with what is going on in ancient Palestine/Canaan/Israel and the modern state of Israel and a new hoard of Hebrews from a completely new direction."

Well, that was around chapter 16 of Numbers. Meanwhile, the Hebrews/Israelites are getting fed up with the leadership of Moses and Aaron, and they complain about their lot in life which is understandable. And, if you have ever spent several years and hot months in Arabian deserts, you will agree wth those discontented, especially without air conditioning and sparse sources of water. Moreover, you can hardly blame most Israelites for not having given up their old ingrained superstitions about who is God and wh0 is not, and why not several gods instead of just one, especially one that doesn't hesitate from making you sick and eventually killing you because of infractions of his law. It was enough to make many of Yahweh's followers consider that after all this time the prospect of going back to Egypt whence they had escaped a generation before might not be a bad idea. And, as I understood it, none of them would be able to enter the "promised land", an idea and goal that had kept them marching around practically in a circle in the inhospitable Sinai. Yahweh and Moses' captains were harsh in their duty to keep the twelve tribes intact until they had the 'number' to invade Caanan, the place that Abraham had led them to from today's Iraqi/Iranian border to their place between two seas, the Mediterranean and the Red. (Israel had two other "seas" also--Galilee and the Dead Sea.). At this point, two Biblical heroes of mine from childhood appear: Joshua, who had appeared earlier, and Caleb.

Since the initial names of the books in the Old Testament are Greek, what's going on with "Numbers", since the Greek word for that was and still is Arithmoi (-oi) is pronounced(-ee), not (-oy) as in oy-vey or goy or boy or Roy Rogers? My unprofessional view is that (-oy) sounded too Slavic or Cyrillic for translators in King James' court and -ee too outlandish, so the easy way to get around it was to cave to Latin, then to pronounceable and familiar Anglo-Saxon /number/ plain and simple.

So, at the end, this huge number of migrants from the Wilderness of Zin are perched on the border of Moab, south of Jericho and east of the Jordan River ready to pounce on the plains of Canaan.

[Pablo (Cicatricesdelibros) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Después de dar en detalle instrucciones y normativas para que Israel sea merecedor de las bendiciones de Dios en el libro anterior, en Números llega de nuevo la acción y con ella un nuevo escenario y oportunidad para este pueblo.

Se llama número por los sensos realizados acá, pero en el idioma original, el libro se llama algo parecido a En El Desierto, ya que aquí se centra toda la peregrinación de Egipto a la Tierra Prometida.

Este libro es un primer vistazo o preview de una especie de Game of thrones o más específicamente Game of rebellions donde desatan un espiral de castigo y perdón dónde el primero ascendía y el segundo descendía pero ambos se mantenían para hacer cumplir las promesas hechas a Abraham en Génesis.

El libro termina con un cambio de líder y un Moisés ya listo para morir pero con una última tarea que hacer: últimas palabras, deseos e instrucciones para que el pueblo siga con Dios... Cosa que continuará en el siguiente libro.

[alittlebitbookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bible reading challenge

The book of Numbers

Start date: January 29th

Finish date: February 6th

Number of chapters: 36

[Andy Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book of Numbers begins and ends with a census. If that seems odd, you're right. Why?

God ordered Moses to take a census of Israel to organize them into camps for a military invasion of the Promised Land. This includes not just today's Israel, but also part of the Sinai, a lot of Jordan and Syria and part of Iraq.

Naturally, things go wrong. After they spy out the land for 40 days, 10/12 spies give a bad report and scare the nation into returning to Egypt. Only God's appearance stopped them from killing Moses and doing that. Then, only Moses' prayer stopped God from destroying Israel right there.

Instead, God decided they'd all die in the wilderness after 40 years of wandering and their children would inherit the Promised Land. After they were all dead, God had another census. The numbers were very close.

There are some cool stories in here. Number one must be the talking donkey. Don't miss it!

But I can't do it justice in a review. Read it for yourself. The book is embedded in our culture.

[Catie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We begin with a census and end with another, marking the death of the generation who refused to enter the promised land the first time they came near. They stand now on the east side of the Jordan, poised to cross and begin claiming the land as their own; but there is business to take care of. Land is distributed, “final” instructions delivered for the Levites and what they will receive for their inheritance (48 cities, with pasture land surrounding each). It took me a long time to get through this book (distractions), so I’m struggling to give an emotional or spiritual response to it.

[Phoebe Chartowich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like it's name suggests, this book involved the censuses taken of Israel. But unlike what I thought, there was more story then actual numbers. A lot of what you hear in kids' stories happened in this book. Much better than Leviticus and its laws.

[Clarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m sorry but this book was so boring

[Grace Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a lot more out of this this time around (I believe it's my 3rd time through)

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In reading Numbers this quickly after the first 3 books of the Bible (and Job), I was able to follow the generations and the importance of the data kept throughout this book better than I have before. And I actually appreciated it more than I ever have too.

Numbers always felt like an info-dump to me, but this time, that wasn't the case. I understand so much more of Israel's customs than I did before, and in seeing the amount of effort God put in to be able to establish His covenant and Promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Genesis with a people who continually rejected Him, it just reminded me of how faithful He is in His promises.

My biggest takeaway from Numbers, however, is the reminder that God is Holy. I think, many times, we like to focus on the "God is love" part, and forget that He is also perfect in His holiness and that we are unable to be in His presence without the atonement of our uncleanliness and sins. This gave me a renewed appreciation for Jesus and a more reverent way of viewing our Creator.

I really enjoyed reading through Numbers!

[Sean Chick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part of a series where I am reading the Bible in chronological order. I am not doing this for reasons of faith, as I am agnostic, but because of my interest in mythology, ancient literature, and history. I chose the NRSV because I used to be Catholic and still have sympathies there. More importantly, this version seeks a balance between an accurate translation and the literary qualities of the King James Bible. So it seems you get the best of two worlds.

Numbers is an odd book. It does not have as many famous incidents as Genesis and Exodus. Much of it is census data with more laws thrown in. The story though is a bleak one of punishment, mass death, and nomadic warfare. God once again almost annihilates the Israelites. The genocide of tribes and minor kingdoms occurs in only a few lines. The fate of the Midianites is blood chilling. Genghis Khan would have liked this book.

[Autumn Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

NUMBERS:

- Our walk with God often looks like following the cloud like the Israelites did. Journey for a couple of days, linger for even longer, wait a little bit yet, stay awhile, then go for a few miles, and repeat. God only shows us the step right in front of us and we have to trust Him with the rest
- Its not that the Lord has learned to "control" His anger towards sin (it's a perfect, righteous, holy anger!!), it's that Christ has taken that wrath upon himself and paid for our sins
- A serpent was a symbol of evil and sin. Moses put a serpent on a pole as a picture of Christ becoming sin for us. We have only to turn, look, and believe on Him to be saved from our sin.


The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

[aleximou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ignore how long that took me. please.

There are emotions I have that disallow me from giving a book of the bible an outright negative rating, but this is certainly the worst of the books of Moses I have read so far. Why is it so difficult to get through, and honestly not nearly as rewarding as Leviticus? because instead of a directory of rules, it is errant rules, mixed with difficult to follow conflicts, followed by paragraphs of naming, followed by The rites of Rosh Hashanah (happy Jewish New Year!), and concluding with the journey from Egypt. Line after line of tribes and locations that I cannot imagine. Its necessary, its a book of Moses, but man is it dry and slow. Not wholly useless though, for some interesting perspective on the formation of Judaism, Christianity, and an entertaining argument between an Ass and Balaam.

[Anna McFarland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 25 I think the book of Numbers Book 4 of the bible. This has been a really hard yet encouraging journey going through the old testament. Ive read books I never bothered to look at before. Numbers is one of them. The cenus is not fun but there is a lot of good stuff in between if you keep looking for God and pressing on!

[Gabby Goshorn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The census portion is interesting. Still weirded out by these Old Testament sacrifices. Also, God is gaslighting Moses into convincing the Jews that everything is fine - when things are in fact not fine. -2 pts. for names.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things get going again as the Israelites continue their journey to Canaan.

[Graeme Rockerbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I was reading the Bible in order, I would be quitting right here. The thrill of reading rules and a census

[Brian O'Connor]

You know you’re in for a wild ride when God starts counting his armies.

[Bobby Daugherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mainly more rules laid out to remain in good standing.

[Lacy]

Moses (in the midst of sweating from carrying the stone slabs down Mt. Sinai and swearing at the Israelites): “What now?”

God: “So I’m gonna need you to open an Excel sheet”