Prayer List• Text

Announcements• Text

NumbersWeek Date Topic

1 08 Dec10 Numbers: An Introduction

2 15 Dec10 Census and Organization: 1:1-4:49

3 22 Dec10 Purity of the Camp: 5:1-6:27

4 29 Dec10 Dedication of the Tabernacle: 7:1-9:23

5 05 Jan 11 Failure of Israel: 10:1-12:16

6 12 Jan 11 Pinnacle of Failure at Kadesh: 13:1-14:45

7 19 Jan 11 Failure of Israel in the Wilderness: 15:1-19:22

8 26 Jan 11 Failure of Israel on the way to Moab: 20:1-25:18

9 02 Feb 11 Reorganization of Israel: 26:1-27:23

10 09 Feb 11 Snow Day

11 16 Feb 11 Regulations of Offerings and Vows: 28:1-30:16

12 23 Feb 11 Division of the Land: 31:1-33:49

13 02 Mar 11 Further Division of the Land: 33:50-36:13

References

• Constable Notes - Primary• Halley’s Bible Handbook• JFB Bible Commentary• ISBE (Encyclopedia)

Key Points for Today’s Lesson• Review last weeks lesson about offerings and

festivals as well as vows given by Israel’s daughters• Learn about last battle led by Moses against the

Midianites• Learn how the Israelites divide the plunder of

battle• Learn why Reuben and Gad want to remain on the

east side of the Jordan river as well as Moses’ intervention

• Trace the journey of Israel from Egypt to Moab

Previous Lesson• Two weeks ago, we discussed the second

census, inheritance, and Joshua’s selection to succeed Moses

• Covered the offerings that were given daily, weekly, and yearly to the Lord

• Discussed various festivals Israel celebrated and the required sacrifices and offerings during these festivals

• Took a look at rules regarding vows given by Israel’s daughters, women, and wives

TimelineEvent Year Hebrew Day Month

Departure from Egypt 1446 Nisan 15 April

Quail and Manna provided 1446 Iyyar 15 May

Ten Commandments in the Sinai 1446 Sivan ? Jun

Tabernacle Built 1445 Iyyar 1 April

Depart from Sinai 1445 Iyyar 20 May

At Kadesh-Barnea – second time 1406 Nisan 1 March

At Mt. Hor – Aaron Dies 1406 Ab 1 Jul

Moses Death 1406 Shebat 1 Jan

Cross Jordan 1405 Nisan 10 Apr

Keep Passover and Manna ceases 1405 Nisan 14 Apr

http://bibleatlas.org/full/abarim.htm

• Battle against the Midianites– God has directed this action in Num 25:16-18– Because of spiritual and sexual seduction which the

Midianites had enjoined the Moabites– Eventually led to the defeat of God’s people (Num 25)– Israel destroys the Midianites in the battle as a result

of God’s judgment

• Israelites kill every male Midianite encountered in the battle (31:7)– Burned towns and brought captured items to the

leaders of the congregation

Moses’ Last Campaign (31:1-24)

• Even the Midianite women were to be killed– They had actively solicited the Israelites to idolatry

through prostitution

• Idolatry– Idolatry is to do an act of worship toward any created

thing– To believe that a particular created thing is an

independent power– To make something a mediator between ourselves

and God

Moses’ Last Campaign (31:1-24)

• The soldiers shared the plunder equally with the Israelites who remained in camp– 1/500 went to the priests from the soldier’s share– 1/50 went to the Levites from the congregation’s

share (18:26)– Priests received 32 virgins

• Not one Israelite died in battle (v. 49)– Parallel with the conquest of Jericho in Joshua 6-7– Similar to Midian conquest in Judge 7, e.g. not really

Gideon, but the power of faith in God

• Gifts to God presented as atonement (vs. 50)

Dividing the Spoils (31:25-54)

• We see another example of incomplete obedience by Israel following a great victory delivered by God

• Leaders of Reuben and Gad decide that they wanted to settle in the pastureland of Jazer and Gilead– Perhaps thought that the remaining tribes could win

the battles across the Jordan without them– Moabite Stone records Gad’s habitation of the area

• Moses saw this request as discouraging to the other tribes and warned Reuben and Gad

Reuben and Gad (32:1-19)

Gilead

Moabite Stone

• Mesha, King of Moab• 850 BC• “And the men of Gad had

dwelt in the land of Ataroth from of old” (line 10)

• Gadites built up Ataroth as a fortified city, and built pens there for their flocks (Num. 32:34-36) (1400 BC)

• Moses directs Reuben and Gad to go into battle with the other Israelites– To avoid another Kadesh-barnea tragedy– If they did this, they could have the land the wanted– Would not constitute disobedience towards God as

long as they fulfilled the pledge to fight– Remember, the area east of the Jordan was also part

of the Promised Land (Gen 15:18-21)

• Moses instructs Joshua about the agreement– Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh would fight along

side their brethren

Moses Intervenes (32:20-32)

• Reuben, Gad, and part of Manasseh settled across the Jordan– Until called to take part in the conquest– Eastern territory of Manasseh similar to kingdom of

Og– Created the appearance that they were more

concerned about themselves– God’s concern was that they drive out the Canaanites– Area became frequently contested in later times

• Future Biblical mention of the cities allotted to Reuben are frequently controlled others

Settlement of the Land (32:33-42)

Reuben, Gad, Manasses

• Moses records the various stages and locations of the journey to the promised land– 42 locations appear in the list– 18 do not appear anywhere else in the record– Four mentioned previously are absent in this record– Why include some and not others?• Emerging patterns• Similar events recurred with regularity• Judgment by death, victory over enemies, provision of food

and water, and opposition from Israel• Meant to help Israel recognize their failure and God’s

continuing faithfulness

Israel’s Journey (33:1-49)

• Egypt to Mt. Sinai (vs. 1-15)– 12 locations from which Israel set out on their journey

• Mt. Sinai to Kadesh and from Kadesh back to Kadesh next (vs. 16-36)– Period of 38 years during which the older generation

died out

• Kadesh to the Plains of Moab (vs. 37-49)– Death of Aaron– Camped along the Jordan in preparation for carrying

out God’s command given through Moses

Israel’s Journey (33:1-49)

Review• Learned about last battle led by Moses against

the Midianites• Learned how the Israelites divide the plunder of

battle with priests and Levites• Learned why Reuben and Gad want to remain on

the east side of the Jordan river as well as Moses’ intervention

• Traced the journey of Israel from Egypt to Moab• Next week: Further Division of the Land: 33:50-

36:13