Book of Numbers
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Numbers is a book of wanderings. It takes its name from the two numberings of the Israelites -- the first at Mount Sinai and the second on the plains of Moab. Most of the book, however, describes Israel's experiences as they wander in the wilderness. The lesson of Numbers is clear. While it may be necessary to pass through wilderness experiences, one does not have to live there. For Israel, an eleven-day journey became a forty-year agony. God's people must walk by faith, trusting His promises, if they are to move forward. In reinforcing this theme, the book recounts the unbelief and discontent of the people in general, 11:1, and of Miriam and Aaron, 12:1, the refusal at Kadesh-barnea to enter the promised land, 14:2, Moses' own failure, 20:12, and the idolatrous worship, 25:3. Yet, in spite of the repeated failure, the Israelites' covenant-keeping God miraculously supported them during those years of rebellion and wandering and finally brought them to the promised land. The New Testament uses several of the events in Numbers to remind believers of the seriousness of sin (compare John 3:14 and Numbers 21:9; 1 Corinthians 10:5-11 and Numbers 14:29-35, 16:41-50, 20:1-13; 2 Peter 2:15 & 16, Revelation 2:14 and Numbers 22-24; Jude 11 and Numbers 16, 27:3). The lessons should not be lost on us.
The title of Numbers comes from the first word in the Hebrew text, Wayyedabber, "And He Said." Jewish writings, however, usually refer to it by the fifth Hebrew word in Numbers 1:1, Bemibar, "In the Wilderness," which more nearly indicates the content of the book. The Greek title in the Septuagint is Arithmoi, "Numbers." The Latin Vulgate follwed this title and translated it Liber Numeri, "Book of Numbers." These titles are based on two numberings: the generation of Exodus (Numbers 1) and the generation that grew up in the wilderness and conquered Canaan (Numbers 26). Numbers has also been called the "Book of the Journeyings," the "Book of the Murmurings," and the "Fourth Book of Moses."
 Numbers in a nutshell:
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