The Book Of NUMBERS
Numbers 21:8 "And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole:
and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live."
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In this chapter, God revisits the topic of uncleanness due to contact with corpses. Because of the punishment for their disobedience in chapter 14, the Israelites would be burying many dead over the next four decades as they waited for all of the first generation to pass away before entering the promised land. Because of this, God graciously allows another way for someone to purify him/herself after coming into contact with a corpse. Leviticus 11 and 15 spell out the required rituals and sacrifices that must be done to cleanse one of uncleanness, but at the rate that the Israelites would be preparing and burying their loved ones over the next forty years those standard cleansing rituals and animals sacrifices would be very time consuming and costly for the people. Therefore, God creates a new addition to the laws of purity here in chapter 19.
Verses 1-10: Once again, the Lord speaks to Moses and Aaron, telling them to speak to the people. (v.1-2) This new commandment, like all the others before it, is directly from the mouth of God. We can also infer from verse 1 that this conversation takes place immediately following the one in the previous chapter since both Moses and Aaron are being addressed. For this new cleansing ritual, the Israelite is to bring a red heifer, perfect in appearance and health (Leviticus 22:20), and which has never been yoked, to Aaron’s son, Eleazar. (v.2) (Deuteronomy 21:3, 1 Samuel 6:7) He is to take the heifer outside the camp to a predesignated spot where the animal is then slain in his witness by the one bringing it. (v.3) (Leviticus 4:12, 21, Hebrews 13:11-12) Note that comparison in Hebrews 13 between this act and the suffering of Christ on the cross outside Jerusalem as the ultimate and final sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. Also take note of the many similarities between this sacrifice and cleansing ritual and that of the sin offering described in Leviticus 4. Eleazar will then take some of the blood, return to the tabernacle, and sprinkle the blood seven times before the door. (v.4) (Leviticus 4:6, Hebrews 9:13) Afterwards, he returns to the site of the sacrifice where the animal in her entirety – skin, flesh, blood, and bone – is burned. (v.5) (Exodus 29:14, Leviticus 4:11-12, 9:11) Because there’s no mention of any altar here, we can safely presume that this slaying and burning is done either on a temporary altar constructed for this purpose or on the ground in some form of a fire pit. As the animal is being consumed by the fire, Eleazar will add to the blaze cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet. (v.6) (Exodus 12:22, Leviticus 14:4, 6, 49, 1 Kings 4:33, Psalm 51:7) Afterwards, both he and the one that brought the animal will bathe themselves and wash their clothes, still outside the camp. (v.7-8) (Leviticus 11:25, 15:5, 16:26, 28) Both may return to camp but they will be unclean until sundown. Meanwhile, another “…man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer…”, storing them in a designated place outside the camp. (v.9) “The ashes were mixed with water to be used as water to remove impurity, that is, to symbolically purify from sin. The purification properties of this red bloodlike solution was reconstituted whenever water was added to these ashes and other agents, thus making a ‘ready-made’ mixture suitable for sprinkling purposes in this purification ritual.” (The Moody Bible Commentary) The one who gathers and stores the ashes must then also bathe himself and wash his clothes before returning to camp. (v.10) He, too, is unclean until sundown. The Believer’s Bible Commentary has this to say regarding the red heifer: “The one historical record of the use of the ashes of a heifer is in Numbers 31. Mantle says that: ‘… the ashes were regarded as a concentration of the essential properties of the sin offering, and could be resorted to at all times with comparatively little trouble and no loss of time. One red heifer availed for centuries. Only six are said to have been required during the whole of Jewish history; for the smallest quantity of the ashes availed to impart the cleansing virtue of the pure spring water.’ ” This new addendum to the purity law will remain in effect for all generations, for both the Israelite and the gentile that chooses to abide with them. (v.10) Curiously, there is no reason given in this chapter for why Eleazar is named specifically as the priest performing the sacrifice of the red heifer instead of Aaron. We know from the previous instructions in the law that any priest can perform any of the sacrifices and offerings. The only specific stipulation regarding the high priest is that he is the only one allowed in the holy of holies on the Day of Atonement. None of the other priests may perform that specific cleansing. So it seems especially odd here that God calls out Eleazar by name as the one who is to perform this specific sacrifice and ritual. The most logical explanation is that Eleazar is the oldest son of Aaron because of the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, and therefore he is next in line for the role of high priest after Aaron’s death. We also know from Numbers 33:38-39 that Aaron dies in the fortieth year of Israel’s wandering in the desert. He’s one hundred and twenty three years old, which means at the time of this instruction from the Lord in chapter 20 Aaron is approximately eighty-three. So perhaps Aaron has already begun to train his son for the role of high priest, and God takes this into account when giving this instruction regarding the sacrifice of the red heifer. Or perhaps Eleazar will be the one who is assisting Aaron the most with all these purification rituals due to the many deaths that will be occurring in the next forty years. Whatever the case, the text doesn’t give a reason for naming Eleazar and, ultimately, it doesn’t matter. What matters is the sacrifice and the ritual itself. Verses 11-16: This section of the passage is a reminder and review of the previous laws regarding uncleanness. Anyone that touches a dead body is unclean for seven days. (v.11) (Leviticus 21:1, 11, Numbers 5:2, 6:6, 9:6, 10, 31:19, Lamentations 4:14, Haggai 2:13) He must purify himself on the third day, for if he doesn’t then he’s not considered clean on the seventh day, even if he isolated himself away from the camp. (v.12) The one who doesn’t follow this command will be guilty of defiling the tabernacle and, by extension, the holiness of God. That person shall be cut off from the community. (v.13) (Leviticus 22:3) Anyone that enters a tent where someone has died will be considered unclean and must undergo the prescribed cleansing ritual. (v.14) Any open vessels within the tent are also labeled as unclean. (v.15) (Leviticus 11:32, Numbers 31:20) Anyone that touches a corpse on the battlefield or assists in the burial of a body will be considered unclean. (v.16) (Numbers 31:19) Verses 17-22: The mixture of water and the ashes of the heifer are to be used to purify the tent where the death occurred. (v.17) Anyone who is clean may perform this ritual of sprinkling the water, not just a priest. (v.18) The tent, any contaminated vessels within it, as well as anyone else that was in the tent at the time of death are all to be sprinkled with the water of purification. The water is also to be used to purify the ones who assist in the burial of the corpse. The clean person will then sprinkle the water on the those that are unclean on the third day of their isolation away from camp. (v.19) On the seventh day the unclean will bathe themselves and wash their clothes. (Leviticus 14:9) After sundown they are considered clean and may return to camp. The one who sprinkles the water is to use hyssop to do the actual dipping and sprinkling, for to touch the water itself will cause that person to become unclean until sundown. (v.21) He, too, must wash his clothes. Anything and anyone that is touched by an unclean person immediately becomes defiled and is considered unclean until sundown. (v.22) (Leviticus 15:5) Anyone that refuses to undergo the proper ritual for cleansing “…shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the Lord…”. (v.20)
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CHAPTER 7: Numbers 7 is the second longest chapter in the whole Bible. (Psalm 119 is the longest with a total of 176 verses.) These 89 verses describe the gifts brought by the twelve tribes to the Levites immediately following the erection and dedication of the tabernacle. As stated earlier, the events described in this book are not arranged chronologically. (See the table below, courtesy of the Moody Bible Commentary) The sacrifices and offerings described in this chapter take place just before the census described in chapter 1 and immediately following those described in Exodus 40. Each of the representatives of the twelve tribes named here are the same ones named in chapter 1 who assisted Moses with the census. Verse 1-9: All twelve tribes bring forth six covered wagons and twelve oxen. (v.3) These are for the Gershonites and the Merarites (v.5, 7-8) so that they can store and transport their portion of the tabernacle safely and efficiently when it’s time to move camp, as described in chapter 4. But the Kohathites have no need of oxen or carts because the pieces and furnishings that they are responsible for are to be borne on their shoulders. (v.9) (Numbers 4:15) Verses 10-88: A detailed and repetitive list of each of the twelve sacrifices and offerings is described here. To modern readers, the repetition of many of the verses of this passage – some of them literally word for word – seems dull and unnecessary, and even somewhat boring. But to the successive generations of Israel this chapter is a celebration of the participation and obedience of each tribe. To the peoples of the ANE, repetition of this sort was a standard writing style, especially for any kind of record keeping, and it’s important we keep this in mind when we read these passages throughout the Bible. God includes them in this way as part of His holy word, and while it may be somewhat tedious for us today to read, we must acknowledge that this is God’s word as He laid it out for us. That alone should be reason enough for us to take our time while reading it and not try to rush through it just because of the repetitive style in which it’s written. This is what each of the twelve representatives brought forth as their offering and sacrifice for the dedication of the tabernacle:
Verse 89: As noted earlier, Moses speaks directly with God within the tabernacle. (Exodus 33:9, 11, Numbers 12:8) This is testimony that all the law written down in these first five books of the Bible is the true and living word of God, spoken by God directly to His servant Moses. God always speaks from the mercy seat, from between the cherubim that sit atop the ark of the covenant. The tabernacle is not an empty tent, but it is the house of Almighty God, filled with His holy presence! What an honor and privilege for the man of God to enter and commune with his Lord!  CHAPTER 8:
This chapter picks up the narrative thread regarding the Levites which was left off at the end of chapter 4. (See table above) The purification and consecration of all the eligible adult males of the tribe of Levi is described here, which takes place in the two days between the twelve days of offerings and sacrifices described in chapter 7 and the second passover that is described in chapter 9. Again, Moses’ arrangement of these chapters is to highlight Israel’s complete obedience to all of God’s laws and ordinances. It’s also clear from the description of events in these early chapters that the focus of Numbers is on the tribe of Levi. Verses 1-4: God gives a specific instruction to Moses for Aaron regarding the lighting of the golden candlestick. (v.2) (Exodus 25:37, 40:25, Leviticus 24:2) This instruction here makes sense given that the tabernacle has just been erected and dedicated to God as described in the previous chapter. All seven lamps of the candlestick are to be kept burning continually day and night (Exodus 27:20-21) and its position inside the tabernacle will illuminate the table of the shewbread and the altar of incense. Another brief description of the lampstand is given in verse 4 which, again, highlights the obedience of Moses and the craftsmen that constructed the candlestick. They followed precisely the pattern that was given to Moses by God. (Exodus 25:18, 31, 40, Acts 7:44) Verses 5-19: God gives instruction to Moses regarding the purification and consecration of the Levites. It’s important to note that these instructions are not for Aaron and his sons. Though similar, some of the steps of this cleansing ritual are different from those prescribed for the Levitical priests. This purification ritual is for the other men of the tribe of the three clans that were named in chapters 3 and 4, the ones who will be assisting the priests. Verse 7 is the only place in scripture where the phrase “Sprinkle water of purifying upon them…” is used. (Psalm 51:2, 7, Hebrews 9:13-14) Chapter 19 gives some more detail about how the water used here is made pure. (Numbers 19:9, 13, 17, 20) After this, each man is to shave himself and wash his entire body as well as his clothes. (v.7) Then he is to bring two young bulls, as well as flour and oil, for a burnt offering and a sin offering. (v.8, 12) As with Aaron and sons when they were consecrated, so the rest of the Levites are also to be brought to the door of the tabernacle. (v.9) (Exodus 29:4, 40:12) The whole congregation of Israel is to lay their hands on them, and then Aaron is to present them before the Lord. (10-11) The last step is to have the Levites lay their hands on the young bulls before sacrificing them as the burnt and sin offerings. (v.12) (Exodus 29:10) This whole process is to set apart the Levites for their assigned tasks in the service of the priests and the tabernacle. (Numbers 16:9) They are then presented to Aaron and his sons, ready to begin their service. (13-15) As was already stated in chapter 3, the Levites are substitutes for the firstborn of all the tribes of Israel. (v.16) (Numbers 3:12-13) All of the Levite males between the ages of twenty-five and fifty are assigned exclusively to Aaron and his sons. (v.16, 24-26) (Numbers 3:9) The reason for their consecration and service to the tabernacle is to be an atonement and protection for all the children of Israel, hence the reason for the laying on of hands by the congregation and the tribe of Levi setting up their tents around the tabernacle. (v.19) (Numbers 1:53, 16:46, 18:5, 2 Chronicles 26:16) They are the buffer zone, so to speak, between the most holy dwelling place of God and the rest of His chosen people. Verses 20-22: Once again, the central theme of obedience is on display here. Moses, Aaron, and all the children of Israel do as God commands. The spectacle of at least 603,000 adult male Israelites laying hands on the 22,000 adult male Levites (refer back to chapters 1 and 3) must have been something to behold! And to accomplish all the steps of the purification ritual prescribed in this chapter in just two days must have also been an exhausting task, especially for Moses and Aaron who are directing and coordinating all of this. Verses 24-26: The age range of 25-50 for all eligible Levite males ensures that only those who are physically fit and in good health are serving in the tabernacle. This makes sense given the amount of physical labor that is needed to properly disassemble and reassemble the tabernacle each time that the Israelites move camp. (Numbers 4:3, 1 Chronicles 23:3, 24, 27) In chapter 4, the starting age of the Kohathites is given as 30. One possible explanation for the age range stated here in verse 24 is that the first five years are an apprenticeship, according to the Moody Bible Commentary. 1 Chronicles 23:25-26 states the reason the age for beginning service in the tabernacle was lowered to twenty for all eligible Levite males is because the tabernacle was then in a permanent location in Jerusalem, never to be moved again. |
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