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
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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
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: The Global Message of Numbers
Ligonier: Introduction to Numbers
Ligonier: Introduction to the Pentateuch
Biblehub: Timeline of Numbers
James van Dine:
David Malick (Bible.org): Introduction to the Book of Numbers
David Malick: Argument of the Book of Numbers
Maps – Route of the Exodus
Route of the Exodus – Studylight.org
Route of Exodus from Egypt – Insight for Living
Route of Exodus – Holman Bible Atlas
Route of the Exodus – Bible-History online
Tabernacle Diagram – source unknown
Expulsion of the Hyksos – Holman Bible Atlas
Egypt and Palestine in the Late Bronze Age – Holman Bible Atlas
Sites in the Amarna Archive (Akhetaton; Tell el-Amarna) – Holman Bible Atlas
Campaigns of Thutmose III and Amenhotep II – Holman Bible Atlas
Canaan in the 14th Century: The Tell el-Amarna Tablets – Holman Bible Atlas
The Egyptian Empire and the Hittites – Holman Bible Atlas
Egyptian Empire and Balance of Power, ca. 1400 BCE – Holman Bible Atlas
The Route of the Exodus – Holman Bible Atlas
Events during the Sojourn at Kadesh-Barnea – Holman Bible Atlas
Journey of the Spies – Holman Bible Atlas
The Journey from Kadesh-Barnea to the Plains of Moab – Holman Bible Atlas
Exodus from Egypt (Map 3) – English Standard Version Bible
Maps related to Book of Numbers
Barrow: Tabernacle Schematic
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
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
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
American Tract Soceity Dictionary: Balaam
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Balaam
Holman Bible Dictionary: Balaam
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Balaam
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Balaam
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Balaam
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Balaam
The Jewish Encyclopedia: Balaam
Strong’s #1109 – בִּלְעָם – Balaam, Balaam’s, Bileam – Hebrew Lexicon
Strong’s #903 – Βαλαμ – Balaam – Greek – Thayer’s Expanded
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
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
Preston. L. Mayes, “Cities of Refuge,” Calvary Baptist Theological Journal 14.1 (Spring 1998) 1-25
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
Is there any Evidence to Prove the Existence of the Prophet, Balaam? (Bryant G. Wood)
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
Got Questions.org
Book of Numbers – Bible Survey
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?
Is Numbers 5:11-31 referring to God causing an abortion?
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?
Who was Moses’ wife? Did Moses have more than one wife?
What was the significance of the rebellion of Korah?
What was the significance of Aaron’s rod?
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?
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?
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?
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