Numbers Study Resources

Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Numbers.

Numbers tells of Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai to the borders of the Promised Land, summarizing some 40 years of the nation’s history

Jump to: Background; ** Maps; ** Encyclopedias; ** Key Words; ** Commentaries; ** Articles; ** GotQuestions ** History ** Next **

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Numbers Basics

• Setting: 40 years in the wilderness; Sinai to the edge of the promised land
• Themes: Spiritual pilgrimage; “murmurrings” in the wilderness; lost opportunities due to lack of faith and warnings against disobedience; reality of divine holiness, guidance and judgment.
• Theological significance: The holiness and faithfulness of covenant-keeping God, who judges sin and unbelief while rewarding faith and obedience. Importance of wholehearted faith expressed in action.

Geographical Markers

• Numbers 1:1-10:10 – at Mount Sinai
• Numbers 10:11-21:31 – in the wilderness
• Numbers 22:1-36:13 – on the plains of Moab (the transjordan)

Genre: Understanding Narrative

Section 1: Background

Background & Outlines

• Chart: Bible History at a glance
• Blue Letter Bible: Old Testament Timeline
• Jensen’s Survey of the Old Testament
• What was the Canaanite religion?
• Bible Atlas: Egypt
• Bible Atlas: Sinai
• Bible Atlas: Mount Horeb/Sinai
• Ray C. Stedman: Overview of the Book
• John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background
• ESV: Introduction to Numbers
• ESV: The Global Message of Numbers
• NIV: Introduction to Numbers
• Biblehub: Timeline of Numbers
• Hebrew Calendar
• Exodus-Numbers Parallels
• Numbers quotes in the NT
• Pentateuch at a glance
• James van Dine:
• David Malick (Bible.org): Introduction to the Book of Numbers
• David Malick: Argument of the Book of Numbers

Section 2: Maps

Maps from Bible-History.com

• Israel in OT Times
• The Exodus from Egypt
• Map of the Exodus
• Map of the Exodus (2)
• Mount Horeb or Mount Sinai
• Red Sea at the time of Moses

Maps from Studylight.org

• Events during the Sojourn at Kadesh-Barnea
• Journey of the Spies
• The Journey from Kadesh-Barnea to the Plains of Moab
• Canaan in the 14th Century: The Tell el-Amarna Tablets
• The Egyptian Empire and the Hittites
• Egyptian Empire and Balance of Power, ca. 1400 BCE
• The Route of the Exodus
• Ancient Near East from 1200-100 BCE

More Maps

• See also Google Images
• Maps related to Book of Numbers
• Barrow: Tabernacle Schematic

Section 4: Key Words

Key Words

• offering (162v) – Num 4:7; Num 4:16; Num 5:15; Num 5:18; Num 5:25; Num 5:26; Num 6:11; Num 6:12; Num 6:13; Num 6:14; Num 6:15; Num 6:16; Num 6:17; Num 6:20; Num 6:21; Num 7:2; Num 7:3; Num 7:10; Num 7:11; Num 7:12; Num 7:13; Num 7:15; Num 7:16; Num 7:17; Num 7:18; Num 7:19; Num 7:21; Num 7:22; Num 7:23; Num 7:25; Num 7:27; Num 7:28; Num 7:29; Num 7:31; Num 7:33; Num 7:34; Num 7:35; Num 7:37; Num 7:39; Num 7:40; Num 7:41; Num 7:43; Num 7:45; Num 7:46; Num 7:47; Num 7:49; Num 7:51; Num 7:52; Num 7:53; Num 7:55; Num 7:57; Num 7:58; Num 7:59; Num 7:61; Num 7:63; Num 7:64; Num 7:65; Num 7:67; Num 7:69; Num 7:70; Num 7:71; Num 7:73; Num 7:75; Num 7:76; Num 7:77; Num 7:79; Num 7:81; Num 7:82; Num 7:83; Num 7:84; Num 7:87; Num 7:88; Num 8:8; Num 8:11; Num 8:12; Num 8:13; Num 8:15; Num 8:21; Num 9:7; Num 9:13; Num 15:3; Num 15:4; Num 15:5; Num 15:6; Num 15:7; Num 15:8; Num 15:9; Num 15:10; Num 15:13; Num 15:14; Num 15:19; Num 15:20; Num 15:21; Num 15:24; Num 15:25; Num 15:27; Num 16:15; Num 16:35; Num 18:9; Num 18:11; Num 18:17; Num 18:18; Num 18:24; Num 18:26; Num 18:27; Num 18:28; Num 18:29; Num 23:3; Num 23:6; Num 23:15; Num 23:17; Num 28:2; Num 28:3; Num 28:5; Num 28:6; Num 28:7; Num 28:8; Num 28:9; Num 28:10; Num 28:11; Num 28:12; Num 28:13; Num 28:14; Num 28:15; Num 28:19; Num 28:20; Num 28:22; Num 28:23; Num 28:24; Num 28:26; Num 28:27; Num 28:28; Num 28:31; Num 29:2; Num 29:3; Num 29:5; Num 29:6; Num 29:8; Num 29:9; Num 29:11; Num 29:13; Num 29:14; Num 29:16; Num 29:18; Num 29:19; Num 29:21; Num 29:22; Num 29:24; Num 29:25; Num 29:27; Num 29:28; Num 29:30; Num 29:31; Num 29:33; Num 29:34; Num 29:36; Num 29:37; Num 29:38; Num 31:29; Num 31:41; Num 31:50; Num 31:52; offerings (35v) – Num 6:17; Num 6:18; Num 7:17; Num 7:23; Num 7:29; Num 7:35; Num 7:41; Num 7:47; Num 7:53; Num 7:59; Num 7:65; Num 7:71; Num 7:77; Num 7:83; Num 7:88; Num 10:10; Num 15:8; Num 18:8; Num 18:11; Num 18:19; Num 28:2; Num 28:14; Num 28:31; Num 29:6; Num 29:11; Num 29:18; Num 29:19; Num 29:21; Num 29:24; Num 29:27; Num 29:30; Num 29:31; Num 29:33; Num 29:37; Num 29:39
• service (41x/37v) – Num 3:7; Num 3:8; Num 3:26; Num 3:31; Num 3:36; Num 4:3; Num 4:12; Num 4:23; Num 4:24; Num 4:26; Num 4:27; Num 4:28; Num 4:30; Num 4:31; Num 4:32; Num 4:33; Num 4:35; Num 4:39; Num 4:43; Num 4:47; Num 7:5; Num 7:7; Num 7:8; Num 7:9; Num 8:11; Num 8:19; Num 8:22; Num 8:24; Num 8:25; Num 16:9; Num 18:4; Num 18:6; Num 18:7; Num 18:21; Num 18:23; Num 18:31; Num 31:14
• sin (49x/46v) – Num 6:11; Num 6:14; Num 6:16; Num 7:16; Num 7:22; Num 7:28; Num 7:34; Num 7:40; Num 7:46; Num 7:52; Num 7:58; Num 7:64; Num 7:70; Num 7:76; Num 7:82; Num 7:87; Num 8:8; Num 8:12; Num 8:21; Num 9:13; Num 12:11; Num 15:24; Num 15:25; Num 15:27; Num 16:26; Num 18:9; Num 18:22; Num 18:32; Num 19:9; Num 19:17; Num 27:3; Num 28:15; Num 28:22; Num 29:5; Num 29:11; Num 29:16; Num 29:19; Num 29:22; Num 29:25; Num 29:28; Num 29:31; Num 29:34; Num 29:38; Num 32:23; Num 33:11; Num 33:12; Num 5:6; Num 5:7; Num 15:27; Num 15:28; Num 16:22; sins (5x) – Num 5:6; Num 5:7; Num 15:27; Num 15:28; Num 16:22
• holy (38x/35v) – Num 4:4; Num 4:15; Num 4:19; Num 4:20; Num 5:9; Num 5:10; Num 5:17; Num 6:5; Num 6:8; Num 6:20; Num 7:9; Num 10:21; Num 15:40; Num 16:3; Num 16:5; Num 16:7; Num 16:37; Num 16:38; Num 18:8; Num 18:9; Num 18:10; Num 18:17; Num 18:19; Num 20:12; Num 20:13; Num 27:14; Num 28:7; Num 28:18; Num 28:25; Num 28:26; Num 29:1; Num 29:7; Num 29:12; Num 31:6; Num 35:25
• tabernacle (32v) – Num 1:50; Num 1:51; Num 1:53; Num 3:7; Num 3:8; Num 3:23; Num 3:25; Num 3:26; Num 3:29; Num 3:35; Num 3:36; Num 3:38; Num 4:16; Num 4:25; Num 4:26; Num 4:31; Num 5:17; Num 7:1; Num 7:3; Num 9:15; Num 9:18; Num 9:19; Num 9:20; Num 9:22; Num 10:11; Num 10:17; Num 10:21; Num 16:9; Num 17:13; Num 19:13; Num 31:30; Num 31:47
• tent (86v) – Num 1:1; Num 2:2; Num 2:17; Num 3:7; Num 3:8; Num 3:25; Num 3:38; Num 4:3; Num 4:4; Num 4:15; Num 4:23; Num 4:25; Num 4:28; Num 4:30; Num 4:31; Num 4:33; Num 4:35; Num 4:37; Num 4:39; Num 4:41; Num 4:43; Num 4:47; Num 6:10; Num 6:13; Num 6:18; Num 7:5; Num 7:89; Num 8:9; Num 8:15; Num 8:19; Num 8:22; Num 8:24; Num 8:26; Num 9:15; Num 9:17; Num 10:3; Num 11:10; Num 11:16; Num 11:24; Num 11:26; Num 12:4; Num 12:5; Num 12:10; Num 14:10; Num 16:18; Num 16:19; Num 16:42; Num 16:43; Num 16:50; Num 17:4; Num 17:7; Num 17:8; Num 18:2; Num 18:3; Num 18:4; Num 18:6; Num 18:21; Num 18:22; Num 18:23; Num 18:31; Num 19:4; Num 19:14; Num 19:18; Num 20:6; Num 25:6; Num 25:8; Num 27:2; Num 31:54
• “the LORD spoke” (58v) – Num 1:1; Num 2:1; Num 3:1; Num 3:5; Num 3:11; Num 3:14; Num 3:44; Num 4:1; Num 4:17; Num 4:21; Num 5:1; Num 5:5; Num 5:11; Num 6:1; Num 6:22; Num 7:4; Num 8:1; Num 8:5; Num 8:23; Num 9:1; Num 9:9; Num 10:1; Num 11:25; Num 13:1; Num 14:26; Num 15:1; Num 15:17; Num 15:37; Num 16:5; Num 16:20; Num 16:23; Num 16:36; Num 16:44; Num 17:1; Num 18:8; Num 18:25; Num 19:1; Num 20:3; Num 20:7; Num 20:23; Num 25:10; Num 25:16; Num 26:1; Num 26:52; Num 27:6; Num 27:15; Num 28:1; Num 29:40; Num 30:1; Num 31:1; Num 31:3; Num 31:25; Num 32:25; Num 33:50; Num 34:1; Num 34:16; Num 35:1; Num 35:9
• war (32v) – Num 1:3; Num 1:20; Num 1:22; Num 1:24; Num 1:26; Num 1:28; Num 1:30; Num 1:32; Num 1:34; Num 1:36; Num 1:38; Num 1:40; Num 1:42; Num 1:45; Num 10:9; Num 26:2; Num 31:3; Num 31:4; Num 31:5; Num 31:6; Num 31:7; Num 31:14; Num 31:21; Num 31:28; Num 31:32; Num 31:36; Num 31:42; Num 31:49; Num 31:53; Num 32:6; Num 32:20; Num 32:27
• wilderness (48x/44v) – Num 1:1; Num 1:19; Num 3:4; Num 3:14; Num 9:1; Num 9:5; Num 10:12; Num 10:31; Num 12:16; Num 13:3; Num 13:21; Num 13:26; Num 14:2; Num 14:16; Num 14:22; Num 14:25; Num 14:29; Num 14:32; Num 14:33; Num 14:35; Num 15:32; Num 16:13; Num 20:1; Num 20:4; Num 21:5; Num 21:11; Num 21:13; Num 21:18; Num 21:23; Num 24:1; Num 26:64; Num 26:65; Num 27:3; Num 27:14; Num 32:13; Num 32:15; Num 33:6; Num 33:8; Num 33:11; Num 33:12; Num 33:15; Num 33:16; Num 33:36; Num 34:3
• cloud (20x/16v) – Num 9:15; Num 9:16; Num 9:17; Num 9:18; Num 9:19; Num 9:20; Num 9:21; Num 9:22; Num 10:11; Num 10:12; Num 10:34; Num 11:25; Num 12:5; Num 12:10; Num 14:14; Num 16:42
• curse (17v) – Num 5:18; Num 5:19; Num 5:21; Num 5:22; Num 5:24; Num 5:27; Num 22:6; Num 22:11; Num 22:12; Num 22:17; Num 23:7; Num 23:8; Num 23:11; Num 23:13; Num 23:25; Num 23:27; Num 24:10; curses (2x) – Num 5:23; Num 24:9
• atonement (17x/15v) – Num 5:8; Num 6:11; Num 8:12; Num 8:19; Num 8:21; Num 15:25; Num 15:28; Num 16:46; Num 16:47; Num 25:13; Num 28:22; Num 28:30; Num 29:5; Num 29:11; Num 31:50
• Passover (11x/10v) – Num 9:2; Num 9:4; Num 9:5; Num 9:6; Num 9:10; Num 9:12; Num 9:13; Num 9:14; Num 28:16; Num 33:3
• covenant (5x) – Num 10:33; Num 14:44; Num 18:19; Num 25:12; Num 25:13

Section 9: History

Alfred Edersheim Old Testament History

• Chapter 1 – Israel about to take possessi0n of the Land; Numbers 22
• Chapter 2 – The Prophecies of Balaam Numbers (22-31)
• Chapter 3 – The Second Census of Israel (Numbers 26-36)
• Chapter 4 – Death and Burial of Moses (Numbers 27)
• Chapter 15 – Analysis Of The Book Of Numbers; Numbers 1-4; 10:1-11
• Chapter 16 – The Offerings Of The Princes – The Setting Apart Of The Levites – Second Observance Of The Passover; Numbers 7-9
• Chapter 17 – Departure from Sinai; Numbers 10:19-11
• Chapter 18 – Murmuring Of Miriam And Aaron – The Spies Sent To Canaan – Their “Evil Report” – Rebellion Of The People, And Judgment Pronounced Upon Them – The Defeat Of Israel – “Unto Hormah”; Numbers 12-14
• Chapter 19 – The Thirty-Eight Years In The Wilderness; Numbers 33:19-37
• Chapter 20 – The Second Gathering Of Israel In Kadesh; Numbers 20-21:3
• Chapter 21 -Journey Of Children Of Israel In “Compassing” Land Of Edom; Numbers 21

Section 3: Encyclopedias

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

• Book of Numbers – Bible Survey
• Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology Theology of Numbers
• American Tract Society Numbers, the Book of
• Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Numbers, book of
• Easton’s Bible Dictionary Numbers, Book of
• Fausset Bible Dictionary Numbers, the Book of
• Holman Bible Dictionary Numbers, Book of
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Numbers, Book of
• Morrish Bible Dictionary Numbers, Book of
• International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Numbers, Book of 
• McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia Numbers, Book Of, 
• The Nuttall Encyclopedia Numbers, Book of 
• The Jewish Encyclopedia Numbers, Book of
• Freeman: Bible Manners and Customs – Numbers

Balaam

• Balaam – American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
• Balaam – Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
• Balaam – Holman Bible Dictionary
• Balaam – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
• Balaam – Hastings’ Dictionary of the New Testament
• Balaam – Morrish Bible Dictionary
• Balaam – The Hawker’s Poor Man’s Concordance And Dictionary
• Balaam – Watson’s Biblical & Theological Dictionary
• Balaam – 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
• Balaam – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Balaam – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
• Balaam – The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia
• Strong’s #1109 – בִּלְעָם – Balaam, Balaam’s, Bileam – Hebrew Lexicon
• Strong’s #903 – Βαλαμ – Balaam – Greek – Thayer’s Expanded

Section 6: Articles

Journal Articles

• Bible.org – Articles on Numbers
• Short Study Why Did Moses Strike Out?…Numbers 20:1-13 – John A Beck
• The Book Called “Numbers” – Allan MacRae
• The Release of Homicides from the Cities of Refuge A Critical Monograph on Nu 35:25-Warren Driver
• Does God “Change His Mind”? – Nu 23;19 – Robert B Chisholm
• Identifying the Angel of the Lord in the Book of Judges – Rene Lopez
• Ronald B. Allen, The Theology of the Balaam Oracles: A Pagan Diviners and the Word of God. Th.D. dissertation, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1973
• J. A. Beck, “Geography and the Narrative Shape of Numbers 13,”Bibliotheca Sacra 157 (July-Sept. 2000) 271-80
• Martin Emmrich, “The Case Against Moses Reopened,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 46.1 (2003): 53-62
• David M. Fouts, “A Defense of the Hyperbolic Interpretation of Large Numbers in the Old Testament,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 40.3 (1997): 377-387
• M. M. Kalish, Bible Studies: The Prophecies of Balaam (Numbers XXII- XXIV). London: Longmans, Green & C. 1877
• Keith Mattingly, “The significance of Joshua’s reception of the laying on of hands in Numbers 27:12-23,”
• Preston. L. Mayes, “Cities of Refuge,” Calvary Baptist Theological Journal 14.1 (Spring 1998) 1-25
• Georges Chawkat Moucarry, “The Alien According to the Torah,” Themelios 14.1 (October / November 1988): 17-20,”
• John Rea, “New Light on the Wilderness Journey and the Conquest,” Grace Journal 2.2 (Spring, 1961) 5-13
• John H. Sailhammer, .”The Mosaic Law and the Theology of the Pentateuch,” Westminster Theological Journal 53 (1991) 241-61
• George Adam Smith, “The Experience of Balaam as Symbolic of the Origins of Prophecy,” The Expositor, 8th series, V (1913) 1-11
• John Wilkinson, “The Quail Epidemic of Numbers 11.31-34,” The Evangelical Quarterly 71.3 (Jul.-Sept. 1999): 195-208
• Is there any Evidence to Prove the Existence of the Prophet, Balaam? (Bryant G. Wood)

Section 5: Commentaries

Commentaries

• Ligionier.org Top 5 Commentaries: Numbers
• Tim Challies Best Commentaries: Numbers
• Commentary Reviews: Numbers
• Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Numbers
• Matthew Henry: Numbers
• Albert Barnes Notes: Numbers
• Reformation Study Bible Notes: Numbers
• Geneva Study Bible: Numbers
• Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Numbers

Section 7: Got Questions

Got Questions.org

• Book of Numbers – Bible Survey
• Who was Aaron in the Bible?
• Who was Moses in the Bible?
• Why did God order a census in the book of Numbers?
• Are the numbers in the Bible accurate? In Numbers 1:45–46, how could Israel have an army this size?
• What is the difference between the ceremonial law, the moral law, and the judicial law in the Old Testament?
• Is Numbers 5:11-31 referring to God causing an abortion?
• What is the Aaronic Blessing?
• Why did God restrict the age that a priest could serve (Numbers 8:24–26)?
• What is the story of Joshua and Caleb in the Bible?
• Why did Moses send twelve spies into the Promised Land?
• What is a drink offering?
• What is a sin offering?
• Who was Moses’ wife? Did Moses have more than one wife?
• Who were Eldad and Medad?
• What was the significance of the rebellion of Korah?
• What was the significance of Aaron’s rod?
• Who was Korah in the Bible?
• Who were the sons of Korah in the Old Testament?
• Why was Israel cursed with forty years of wilderness wandering?
• Why should we care about how the Israelites camped and traveled?
• Why were non-Israelites allowed to participate in the sacrificial system?
• Why is a bronze serpent used to save the Israelites in Numbers 21:8-9?
• Who were the daughters of Zelophehad?
• Why was Moses not allowed to enter the Promised Land?
• What is the Nazirite/Nazarite vow?
• What is the significance of a red heifer in the Bible? Is a red heifer a sign of the end times?
• Who was Balaam in the Bible?
• Who was Balak in the Bible?
• Did Balaam’s donkey really talk to him?
• How can Jesus be God, when Numbers 23:19 says that God is not a man or a son of man?
• Who was Og king of Bashan?
• What is an avenger of blood in the Bible?
• What were the Urim and Thummim?
• Why did God command the Israelites to completely destroy the Midianites in Numbers 31:17?
• What does Numbers 32:23 mean when it says, “be sure your sin will find you out”?
• Who were the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites?
• Why did Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh want to live on the east of the Jordan?

Bible Study Helps

• Bible Study 101
• Interpreting Narratives
• Study Software & websites
• More Maps & Charts
• Hebrew word studies by Precepts Austin

Section 8: Next

Next: Deuteronomy

Previous: Leviticus

Series: Resources by Book

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