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Numbers
Many people have found The People’s Bible to be the most reliable Bible commentary series published. It’s the laypeople’s Bible—down to earth, clearly written, easy to read and understand, filled with practical and contemporary applications. Each volume includes that book’s complete text from the NIV Bible. The Christ-centered commentaries following the Scripture sections contain explanations of the text, historical background, maps, illustrations, and archaeological information. The People’s Bible commentaries are great for personal or group study.Numbers tells the story of God's people in the wilderness after they left Mount Sinai. One generation refused to enter the Promised Land and spent the remainder of their lives wandering in the wilderness. But during those years, a new generation arose, which stood at the Jordan River ready to inherit what God had promised. Numbers is the fourth book written by God's great leader Moses.
247 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1990
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March 8, 2021
Numbers by Paul Kuske (1990) review
The People’s Bible Commentary volumes are unique in that they include the text and have a brief commentary on each section in layperson's language. There is also an introduction which includes an outline of the book, a map, and some diagrams, for example, a diagram of the camp showing each tribe’s position in relation to the Tent of Meeting. The reader needs to know that all the volumes are written by clergymen of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). The books were reprinted by Concordia Publishing House, which is a division of Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). These are both conservative Lutheran denominations. The commentaries are written using their unique theological positions, which are different from other denominations and even different from the liberal Lutheran denomination, the ELCA. In general, conservative Christians will agree with almost everything in these volumes. However, there are some references to the Divine Service form of worship or to close communion (meaning only members of that denomination can have communion in that church).
Another positive aspect of the Old Testament commentaries for any Christians is their comparison of passages with New Testament passages having to do with the same subject or even quoting the passage being discussed. For example, in the discussion about the first census on page 46, the author says, “In examining God’s purposes it is very evident that he is a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:40).” In the discussion about 3:5-11 on “The Levites Belong Wholly to the Lord,” the author discusses Mary and Joseph bringing the prescribed sacrifice when Jesus was born in Luke 2:22-24.
The authors also attempt to give practical applications to modern readers or emphasize aspects of God that we need to remember today. For example, on page 97 in the discussion of 11:23, the author says, “What a pointed reminder that we should not underestimate the Lord and his power….Moses was to experience - once again - that the Lord will keep his Word…”
In general, even though I am not WELS or LCMS, I thought this volume was pretty good. Sometimes his arguments aren’t convincing if you don’t already hold his positions. For example, on page 163, in the discussion of Aaron’s death, there is a discussion of the sentence “Aaron will be gathered to his people” in 20:24. The author says, “As far as Aaron was concerned, ‘his people’ who had died before were still alive and he could go and join them. The comfort in the resurrection of the dead and knowledge of continued existence in heaven existed already for the people of the Old Testament.” I didn’t think that argument was very convincing. There is the possibility that “gathered to his people” was an ancient way of saying “died.”
Another unconvincing argument was when he said on page 197 in his discussion of chapter 26 that “not one person who was alive when the Israelites were counted at Sinai was still living.” Since the census only included men,some women of that generation could have been alive. The author never supports his assertion that no women of the earlier generation entered the Promised Land.
The author shares the viewpoint of many conservative Christians that married women should submit to the husband in everything. That comes up in the section about making vows in chapter 30, on page 216. He writes quite a bit about this, concluding with, “How carefully the divine directives provide for good order in families. How clearly he preserves the power of superiors and defines the duty and reverence due from those under authority!”
One more example of a disagreement I had was from the discussion on page 190 on chapter 25 about the seduction of Israel by Moab. The author writes, “But God will not be mocked. He will not share the honor that he alone deserves. He is offended even when people claim to worship him under man-made names.” The word “God” itself is a man-made name. (Look up God (word) in Wikipedia.) We do not use Yahweh to refer to the Trinity. Perhaps the author objects to the use of the word “Allah” for God or something like that.
At times, I thought there were too many exclamation points. Perhaps the author was trying to convert his preaching style to the written word. On page 149, there are three sentences in a row with exclamation marks.
My mom, sister, and I are doing a program where we read through the Bible in a year. My mom is LCMS and already has many of these volumes. They are handy references that add to our understanding and enjoyment of the texts, which are often hard to apply to our own lives.
The People’s Bible Commentary volumes are unique in that they include the text and have a brief commentary on each section in layperson's language. There is also an introduction which includes an outline of the book, a map, and some diagrams, for example, a diagram of the camp showing each tribe’s position in relation to the Tent of Meeting. The reader needs to know that all the volumes are written by clergymen of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). The books were reprinted by Concordia Publishing House, which is a division of Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). These are both conservative Lutheran denominations. The commentaries are written using their unique theological positions, which are different from other denominations and even different from the liberal Lutheran denomination, the ELCA. In general, conservative Christians will agree with almost everything in these volumes. However, there are some references to the Divine Service form of worship or to close communion (meaning only members of that denomination can have communion in that church).
Another positive aspect of the Old Testament commentaries for any Christians is their comparison of passages with New Testament passages having to do with the same subject or even quoting the passage being discussed. For example, in the discussion about the first census on page 46, the author says, “In examining God’s purposes it is very evident that he is a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:40).” In the discussion about 3:5-11 on “The Levites Belong Wholly to the Lord,” the author discusses Mary and Joseph bringing the prescribed sacrifice when Jesus was born in Luke 2:22-24.
The authors also attempt to give practical applications to modern readers or emphasize aspects of God that we need to remember today. For example, on page 97 in the discussion of 11:23, the author says, “What a pointed reminder that we should not underestimate the Lord and his power….Moses was to experience - once again - that the Lord will keep his Word…”
In general, even though I am not WELS or LCMS, I thought this volume was pretty good. Sometimes his arguments aren’t convincing if you don’t already hold his positions. For example, on page 163, in the discussion of Aaron’s death, there is a discussion of the sentence “Aaron will be gathered to his people” in 20:24. The author says, “As far as Aaron was concerned, ‘his people’ who had died before were still alive and he could go and join them. The comfort in the resurrection of the dead and knowledge of continued existence in heaven existed already for the people of the Old Testament.” I didn’t think that argument was very convincing. There is the possibility that “gathered to his people” was an ancient way of saying “died.”
Another unconvincing argument was when he said on page 197 in his discussion of chapter 26 that “not one person who was alive when the Israelites were counted at Sinai was still living.” Since the census only included men,some women of that generation could have been alive. The author never supports his assertion that no women of the earlier generation entered the Promised Land.
The author shares the viewpoint of many conservative Christians that married women should submit to the husband in everything. That comes up in the section about making vows in chapter 30, on page 216. He writes quite a bit about this, concluding with, “How carefully the divine directives provide for good order in families. How clearly he preserves the power of superiors and defines the duty and reverence due from those under authority!”
One more example of a disagreement I had was from the discussion on page 190 on chapter 25 about the seduction of Israel by Moab. The author writes, “But God will not be mocked. He will not share the honor that he alone deserves. He is offended even when people claim to worship him under man-made names.” The word “God” itself is a man-made name. (Look up God (word) in Wikipedia.) We do not use Yahweh to refer to the Trinity. Perhaps the author objects to the use of the word “Allah” for God or something like that.
At times, I thought there were too many exclamation points. Perhaps the author was trying to convert his preaching style to the written word. On page 149, there are three sentences in a row with exclamation marks.
My mom, sister, and I are doing a program where we read through the Bible in a year. My mom is LCMS and already has many of these volumes. They are handy references that add to our understanding and enjoyment of the texts, which are often hard to apply to our own lives.
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February 15, 2016Numbers is one of the books that often foils people trying to read the Bible. There is actually a bunch of story in the Numbers but also two censuses. This commentary will help make sense of it all.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews