Eden to Eternity Vol. 1, Numbers 1-9

Mar 13, 20247 min read

Come along with me as I complete The Daily Grace Co.’s Eden to Eternity study!

This chronological Bible study requires us to dive into the 66 books of God’s Word while encouraging self-reflection and application. In the following posts, I intend to discuss the content, existing themes, and perceived messages throughout the Bible so we may dwell in scripture together.

I hope we can approach God's word with an open heart and fall more in love with Christ, who had our eternal salvation in mind all along!

4/66 | Author: Moses | Old Testament | Pentateuch/Torah | 1445-1406 B.C. (estimated)

1. The Census of Israel and the Duties of the Levites

"The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting..." (1:1, emphasis mine)

God tells Moses to take a census of the Israelites based on males aged 20+ years
The tribes were organized by the founding fathers of the Israelites and served as defensive personnel
- Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: 46,500 (1:20-21)
- Simeon: 59,300 (1:22-23)
- Judah: 74,600 (1:26-27)
- Issachar: 54,400 (1:28-29)
- Zebulun: 57,400 (1:30-31)
- Ephraim: 40,500 (1:32-33)
- Manasseh: 32,200 (1:34-35)
- Benjamin: 35,400 (1:36-37)
- Dan: 62,700 (1:38-39)
- Asher: 41,500 (1:40-41)
- Gad: 45,650 (1:24-25)
- Napthali: 53,400 (1:42-43)
Total: 603,550 (1:46)
These families were "recorded and registered" in the Wilderness of Sinai (1:18-19)
Levites were not registered in this consensus but were assigned to supervise different parts of the Tabernacle (1:51, 53)

2. Organization of the Camps

Israelites were to camp near their corresponding signage, surrounding the Tent of Meeting, but not positioned directly next to it.
- Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun were on the east, totaling 186,400 (2:3-9)
- Reuben, Simeon, and Gad were to the south, totaling 151,450 (2:10-16)
- Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin were west, totaling 108,100 (2:18-24)
- Dan, Asher, and Naphtali were north, totaling 157,600 (2:25-31)

3. Aaron's Sons and the Levites, The Levitical Census, and the Redemption of the Firstborn

Aaron's sons consisted of Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. They were all anointed as priests, along with Aaron. They formed the Levite tribe, responsible for tending to the Tabernacle.

As seen in Exodus 13:2, God asked for firstborn Israelite males to be dedicated to Him, which is now fulfilled in Numbers 3:11-13,

"The Lord spoke to Moses, 'See, I have taken the Levites from the Israelites in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to me, because every firstborn belongs to me. At the time I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated every firstborn om Israel to myself, both man and animal. They are mine; I am the Lord.'"

The family lines that derived from the Levites, which were recorded when recognizing males aged 1 month or older, were:

Gershon (3:21-26)
- Formed the Libnites and Shimeites
- Totaled 7,500
- Positioned west
- Leader: Eliasaph
- Focused on the coverings and hangings of the Tabernacle and tent
Kohath (3:27-32)
- Formed the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites
- 8,300
- South
- Leader: Elizaphan
- Responsible for the ark, altars, and sanctuary pieces
Merari (3:33-37)
- Mablites and Mushites
- 6,200
- North
- Leader: Zuriel
- Responsible for the architectural reinforcement of the Tabernacle

Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons were positioned on the east, near the tent of meeting. The total number of Levite males, aged 1 month or older, was 22,000 (3:39).

Firstborn male sons (aged 1 month and older) among Israelites were accounted for and compared to the Levites. Since the Israelites surpassed the Levites by 273, a fee of 5 shekels per person was collected (3:46–47). "So Moses collected the redemption amount from those in excess of the ones redeemed by the Levites. He collected the silver from the firstborn Israelites: over 34 pounds" (3:49–50).

4. Duties of the Kohathites, Gershonites, Merarites, and the Census of the Levites

The populations of the Levite tribes were calculated. When considering men between 30-50 years old,

The Kohathites numbered 2,750 and were responsible for the holy objects within the tent of meeting
The Gershonites numbered 2,630 and were responsible for the transportation of the tent of meeting and tabernacle pieces
The Merarites numbered 3,200 and carried the equipment that was to be used by priests

5. Isolation of the Unclean, Compensation for Wrongdoing, and the Jealousy Ritual

Anyone unclean due to a skin ailment or contact with death in any way was to be removed from the community.

Sin was to be dealt with by:

Confessing
Paying the value of the sin + 1/5th to the victim, their relative, or a priest
Sacrificial ram to atone for the sin

Should a man suspect his wife of infidelity, she was to undergo a ritual to expose potential wrongdoings. The woman was to meet with a priest with flour. Revealing her hair before the Lord, the woman will place her hands in the grain offering. The priest would then concoct a mixture of dust and holy water for the woman to drink after taking an oath to receive a curse should she be lying. If the wife were lying, she would become infertile; if not, she would not be affected.

6. The Nazarite Vow and the Priestly Blessing

The Nazarite Vow was significant since it involved being consecrated to the Lord. Men taking this vow could not:

Indulge in wine or beer
Consume food grown from the grapevine
Cut their hair
Be near the dead
Alter their bodies for the dead

When their period of consecration had been completed without impurity, they were to present offerings to God, shave their heads at the opening of the tabernacle, and place their hair in the offering.

The priestly blessing is displayed in Numbers 6:24-26;

"May the Lord bless you and protect you; may the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace."

The priests used this prayer to bless the Israelites.

7. Offerings from the Leaders

When the Tabernacle was officially completed, the Israelite tribes made offerings and shared gifts. Moses took a portion of this and shared it with the Levites, who oversaw different parts of the Tabernacle.

"When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim. He spoke to Him that way" (7:89).

8. The Lighting in the Tabernacle and the Consecration of the Levites

God reiterated the importance of the seven lampstands in his holy place; they were to consistently provide light for the Israelites.

For the Levites to take the place of firstborn males and serve God in the Tabernacle, they were cleansed. This was achieved through holy water, manicured hair and beards, and washed clothes. The Israelites placed their hands on the Levites after they presented their grain, sin, and burnt offerings.

"The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes; then Aaron presented them before the Lord as a presentation offering" (8:21).

Levite males began working for God around 25 years of age and retired around 50.

9. The Second Passover and Guidance by the Cloud

Israelites observed Passover in remembrance of God protecting them in Egypt. The clouds covered them during the day, and fire accompanied them in the evenings. If the cloud stopped moving forward, so would the Israelites.

"Whether it was two days, a month, or a year, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud stayed voer the tabernacle. But when it was lifted, they set out" (9:22).

Daily Grace Reflection Questions (pgs. 129, 133):

In what ways does the listing of the tribes make you recall Genesis?
In reference to leading the Israelites by cloud or fire, what does this tell you about God?

The Book of Numbers solidified that God's word is active in being as He said it would be.

Acknowledging the vast number of groups within the Israelites is a great reminder of God's promise to make Abraham into "a great nation" (Genesis 12:2). Considering the 20+ requirement, there were over 600,000 men registered for the military groups alone! God kept His promise to multiply these people He set apart and make them fruitful. And now they are on their way to the promised land and experiencing God's holiness.

"Amid the record, we see a people who have been freed from the bondage of Egypt and now seek to serve God. We see the beginning of a kingdom" (Eden to Eternity, Vol. 1, p. . 128, 2022).

As the Israelites traveled through the wilderness, God was their personal tour guide, using clouds and fire. This fulfills God's declaration to Moses in Exodus 3:11, "I will certainly be with you." He never abandoned them, nor did He allow them to sit in confusion on which route to take. Which also tells me that God is a communicator. He asks for obedience with the expectation of remaining close by and actively engaging with us.

The dedication of Israelite firstborns in Egypt, or Passover, was recalled and reiterated. God made it so that the consecrated Israelites were given substitutes! Meaning, He doesn't forget, nor does He take our sacrifices lightly.

Lastly, the Tabernacle that held God's presence was symbolic. This location was the center of everyone, reminding them that God is their nucleus. And now, Moses was in the Tabernacle, which vastly differed from previous encounters! God made a way for sinners to be in His special place of worship, bringing the sentiment of residing among the Israelites in Exodus 29 to life!

"I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God" (Exodus 29:45).

Just like the Israelites, should we wish to access God and receive the gift of life, He must be the command center we constantly refer back to, from whom we gather strength and wisdom.

Gratitude List: