Daily reading

Today’s reading is: Num. 25-26

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Numbers Chapter Twenty-Five

  1. Even as the Lord was protecting Israel from Balaam’s curses, Israel was beginning to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab (Num. 25:1-3).
    1. Playing the harlot involves idolatry & worship of false gods (Num. 25:2).
    2. Playing the harlot involves sinful sexual activity (Num. 25:6).
    3. Both elements were mentioned in the Lord’s address to Pergamum (Rev. 2:14).
    4. The daughters of Moab, were another “mercenary” force that Balak brought in to use against Israel (Num. 25:1).
    5. The primary seductresses were Midianite women (Num. 25:6,15; 31:15,16).
  2. Although Balaam could not curse the nation of Israel, he could influence them to abandon the Lord (Rev. 2:14).
  3. Moses and the leaders/judges of Israel are charged by the Lord with executing the Baal worshippers (Num. 25:3-5).
  4. Even with the execution of so many Baal worshippers, plague was sweeping through the camp, and Israel was weeping.  The plague continued as Zimri the Simeonite had the audacity to flaunt his defiance of the Lord (Num. 25:6-15).
    1. The man’s name was Zimri, the son of Salu, a leader of a father’s household among the Simeonites (Num. 25:14).
    2. The woman was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, a leader of a father’s household among the Midianites (Num. 25:15).
    3. Phineas takes immediate, zealous action for the Lord, and brings the plague to a stop (Num. 25:7-13).
  5. The result of the Peor incident is a hostility against Midian (Num. 25:16-18; 31:1-3; Jdg. 6-8), and an object lesson for all future generations (Deut. 4:3; Josh. 22:17; Ps. 106:28-31; Hos. 9:10).

Numbers Chapter Twenty-Six

  1. Nearly 40 years have passed since Kadesh, and a new military muster is required for those who will go forth to war (Num. 26:1,2).
    1. Once again, 20 years of age and up, fit for military service.
    2. Once again, Levi was not numbered with the other tribes (Num. 26:62).
  2. This muster includes clan breakdowns for each tribe, reconstructed TO&E {and unrevised traditional numbers} (Num. 26:5-51). Red numbers indicate a decrease from chapter one. Note: the unrevised traditional numbers have significant text-critical problems.
    1. Reuben (vv.5-11) 42 ’eluphiym (chiefs) & 17.3 mē’owth (battle units) i.e. 2 battalions with 9+8.3 companies {43,730}
    2. Simeon (vv.12-14) 50 ’eluphiym (chiefs) & 22 mē’owth (battle units) i.e. 3 battalions with 8+7+7 companies {22,200*}
    3. Gad (vv.15-18) 39 ’eluphiym (chiefs) & 15 mē’owth (battle units) i.e. 2 battalions with 8+7 companies {40,500}
    4. Judah (vv.19-22) 74 ’eluphiym (chiefs) & 25 mē’owth (battle units) i.e. 3 battalions with 9+8+8 companies {76,500}
    5. Issachar (vv.23-25) 52 ’eluphiym (chiefs) & 23 mē’owth (battle units) i.e. 3 battalions with 8+8+7 companies {64,300*}
    6. Zebulun (vv.26-27) 58 ’eluphiym (chiefs) & 25 mē’owth (battle units) i.e. 3 battalions with 9+8+8 companies {57,400}
    7. Joseph
      1. Manasseh (vv.28-34) 31 ’eluphiym (chiefs) & 15 mē’owth (battle units) i.e. 2 battalions with 8+7 companies {32,500*}
      2. Ephraim (vv.35-37) 51 ’eluphiym (chiefs) & 17 mē’owth (battle units) i.e. 2 battalions with 9+8 companies {52,700*}
    8. Benjamin (vv.38-41) 34 ’eluphiym (chiefs) & 15 mē’owth (battle units) i.e. 2 battalions with 8+7 companies {45,600}
    9. Dan (vv.42,43) 62 ’eluphiym (chiefs) & 24 mē’owth (battle units) i.e. 3 battalions with 8+8+8 companies {62,700}
    10. Asher (vv.44-47) 42 ’eluphiym (chiefs) & 14 mē’owth (battle units) i.e. 2 battalions with 7+7 companies {53,400*}
    11. Naphtali (vv.48-50) 44 ’eluphiym (chiefs) & 14 mē’owth (battle units) i.e. 2 battalions with 7+7 companies {45,400}
  3. The reconstructed Table of Organization {and unrevised traditional numbers}.
    1. Totals: 579 ’eluphiym (chiefs) & 226.3 mē’owth (battle units) i.e. 29 battalions w/ 7/8(9) companies {601,630}
    2. Tribal Ranges: 31-74 א (chiefs) & 14-25 מ (battle units) i.e. 1-3 battalions w/ 7/8(9) companies {32,500-76,500}
    3. Largest: Judah 74/25 א/מ {76,500},  Zebulun 58/25 א/מ {60,500}, Dan 62/24 א/מ {64,400}, Issachar 52/23 א/מ {64,300}.
    4. Smallest: Asher 42/14 א/מ {43,400}, Benjamin 34/15 א/מ {45,600}, Naphtali 44/14 א/מ {45,400}, Gad 39/15 א/מ {40,500}, Manasseh 31/12 א/מ {32,500}.
    5. Changes are obvious and comparisons with chapter one are interesting, yet difficult to lock down with precision because of the manuscript variants that plague the MT & LXX of chapter 26.
  4. The larger and smaller tribes will receive larger and smaller inheritances in the land (Num. 26:52-56).
  5. The Levites are also enumerated, from 1 month of age and upward (Num. 26:57-62).  The numbered Levites for service total 23,300 (cf. 22,000 Num. 3:39).
  6. Three men are left of those who were 20 years of age and older at the first census (Num. 26:63-65): Caleb, Joshua, & Moses.