The title of the book in English comes through the Latin Vulgate (Numeri) from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (Arithmoi), titles that reflect the two censes in chapters 1 and 26. The Hebrew title, however, better describes the book’s contents: Bemidbar, “In the wilderness.”
Recall that in Exodus God moves his people out of Egypt, reaffirms his covenant, and provides them with two great gifts: the Law and the Tabernacle. In Leviticus, he teaches his people how to apply the Law and use the Tabernacle. At this stage in our narrative, the Israelites are little more than a mob of ex-slaves camped in the Sinai. In Numbers, God organizes his people and he moves them out toward the Promised Land. In Exodus, the narrative spans one year; in Leviticus, one month: in Numbers, the narrative sprawls across thirty-nine years, bringing...
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Introduction, Outline, Bibliography