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Numbers and Deuteronomy

Numbers and Deuteronomy. NUMBERS. Book of Numbers traditionally called “In the Wilderness” in Hebrew Bible – we get our name from the Greek title, arithomoi ; Latin numeri. General structure of Numbers: Chpts . 1-10 – First census and preparations for travel in the wilderness

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Numbers and Deuteronomy

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  1. Numbers and Deuteronomy

  2. NUMBERS Book of Numbers traditionally called “In the Wilderness” in Hebrew Bible – we get our name from the Greek title, arithomoi; Latin numeri. General structure of Numbers: • Chpts. 1-10 – First census and preparations for travel in the wilderness • Chpts. 11-25 – Wilderness stories (more expansive than in Exodus) • Chpts. 26-36 – Second census, end of wilderness travels and preparations for entering the land of Canaan

  3. TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL Numbers 1: 1-47 – First Census All Israelites were members of one of twelve tribes (sons of Jacob). Significance would remain throughout Israel’s history. Reuben Simeon Judah Issachar Benjamin Zebulun Dan Asher Naphtali Gad Manasseh* Ephraim* *Tribes of Joseph are subdivided into these two, his sons. Tribe of Levi omitted in the censuses of Numbers

  4. NUMBERS 11-20 – ISRAELITES IN KADESH An oasis about 50 miles south of Beer-sheba Probably where they spent most of their time in the wilderness.

  5. KADESH

  6. HIGHLIGHTS OF TIME IN KADESH: Num. 11: 1-23 – Another version of manna story (“murmuring” in vss. 4-6) Num. 14 – “Murmuring” when spies brought back word that Canaan would be hard to capture. Num. 16 – Rebellion of Korah, Dathan & Abiram Num. 20: 2-13 – No water. Compare with Exodus 17: 1-7. Similarities? Differences?

  7. NUMBERS 21-24 – BALAAM A Mesopotamian holy man – a “seer of the gods.” Not an Israelite. King Balak of the Moabites summons Balaam to curse the Israelites so Moabites could defeat their armies. 22:22-35 – Balaam’s donkey sees an angel of the Lord in his way. Balaam, the seer, does not! Donkey veers off road. Happens two more times. Balaam takes frustration out on donkey, which then speaks to him (!) God speaks through donkey. Perhaps a “parable” for the Israelites – to listen to God even when they want to do something else.

  8. DEUTERONOMY Name comes from Greek name of the book & means “second law;” written perhaps in 7th century B.C.E. Presented as three “sermons” by Moses to the Israelites while they were encamped in Moab. • 1:1-4:43 – Moses recounting wilderness after leaving Horeb/Sinai • 4:44-28:68 – Legal material • 29:1-31:30 – A covenant enacted based upon previous legal material • 32:1-34:12 – Final words from Moses

  9. TWO MAJOR CONCERNS OF DEUTERONOMY: 1. Command for a single place for worship - Deu. 12: 5, 11, 18, 26 - Probably referring to either Shiloh or Shechem, major worship center. 2. Concept of Holy War - Hebrew word “cherem,” means “the ban.” - Deu. 20: 16-18 – justification for holy war. Those who are not Israelites would “corrupt” God’s chosen people. Believed to be a matter of national survival. - Thoughts?

  10. SIX THEMES OF THE PENTATEUCH (GENESIS – DEUTERONOMY)‏ The Lord is the creator of the heavens and the earth, including humankind, to whom God has given Lordship over the earth both to use and preserve. Humankind violated the Lord’s trust by rebellion and sinned, provoking the Lord’s judgment.

  11. SIX THEMES OF THE PENTATEUCH (GENESIS – DEUTERONOMY)‏ 3. Israel’s connection to the Lord, creation, humankind, & sin was through the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph). 4. The Lord made a covenant with Abraham, the first patriarch, that demanded loyalty to the Lord on Abraham’s part. The Lord, in turn, promised that Abraham’s descendants would be a people who would receive a land, if they kept the covenant.

  12. SIX THEMES OF THE PENTATEUCH (GENESIS – DEUTERONOMY)‏ 5. The material from Exodus through Deuteronomy describes the fulfilment of the first part of the promise – the creation of a people & how their story is intertwined with the Law. 6. The Pentateuch ends with the anticipation of the fulfilment of the second part of the covenant – the giving of the land.

  13. JOSHUA & JUDGES

  14. Both books chronicle the Israelites’ conquest of the Promised Land, in two phases.

  15. JOSHUA Joshua divided into two halves: • Conquest of the Promised Land (Joshua 1-12) • Preparations for the conquest (1:1-5:12)‏ • Conquest campaigns (5:13-12:24)‏ • Battle of Jericho (Joshua 6)‏ • Allotment of the land (Joshua 13-22)‏

  16. CONQUEST OF THE PROMISED LAND Israelites moved from south to north; Jericho to Hazor Took over a century Joshua appointed to lead in Moses’ place after his death

  17. INVASION OF JERICHO (1:1-6:27)‏ • One of world’s oldest cities, dating back to 7000 B.C.E. • 2:1-24 - Rahab in Jericho – • Helped Israelite spies gather info about the city, hides them from king. • God works through people we’d least expect (remember Balaam?)‏ • 3:1-5:1 – Jordan parts again, this time for the Ark of the Covenant (3:15b-17)‏ • Erected twelve-stone monument for 12 tribes of Israel (4:1ff)‏

  18. INVASION OF JERICHO (1:1-6:27)‏ • 5:2-6:27 – Walls of Jericho tumble down. • First six days, Israelites march around once with Ark of Covenant • Seventh day, march around seven times with Ark of Covenant, & then all people shout • Everything inside was destroyed, as was custom of holy war – except Rahab and family (6:17-25)‏

  19. Achan & Punishment for breaking ban (7:1-26)‏ • Achan takes “booty” from Jericho, against holy war laws. • Israelites lose next war and don’t know why. God tells Joshua why and Achan’s family/ possessions burned as punishment. • Afterwards, the Israelites went on to win the battle they’d been fighting & losing. • Corporate personality – in ancient times a person was not seen just individually but part of a larger group. Although one person was unfaithful, all Israel was responsible.

  20. DIVIDING UP OF THE LAND 13:1-21:45 Promised Land (Canaan) divided up among twelve tribes of Israel

  21. THE COVENANT RENEWED (24:1-28)‏ • After reminding them of Lord’s blessing, Joshua calls everyone to accept obligations of the covenant. • Famous verse: 24:15 Choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. • Direct challenge to Canaanite worship of Baal – would forever be a problem for Israelites.

  22. JUDGES Structure of Book: • Death of Joshua & failed pattern of tribe-by-tribe warfare (1:1-3:6)‏ • Cycle of various judges (3:7-16:31)‏ • 17:1-21:25 – Three stories depicting chaos in Israel. Ends with writer pitching idea of monarchy.

  23. Thirteen judges in all. Six main ones: Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson • Not kings – Judges were military leaders (“charismatic chieftans”) • Raised up for a particular purpose/ battle. Once they completed their job and Israel persevered, they were no longer in power.

  24. ISRAEL’S CYCLE OF DISOBEDIENCE: (2:11-19)‏ • “The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord…and they abandoned their Lord..” • “The anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over….” • “The Lord raised up a judge, and they delivered Israel…” • “Whenever the judge died, Israel would relapse…”

  25. EHUD (3:12-30)‏ • Enemy was Eglon, King of Moab. • “cool roof chamber” ??? DEBORAH (4:1-5:31)‏ • An Israelite prophetess • Enemy was Canaanites • Prose version of story in 4:1-24; poetic version in 5:1-31 • Stands out being a female judge in an era when women had little cultural or political power.

  26. GIDEON (6:1-8:35)‏ • 7: 2-8 – God didn’t want a huge army to defeat Midianites - why? • So God commanded Gideon to do two things: • Vs. 3: Send home fearful & trembling (22,000 left; 10,000 remained)‏ • Vs. 5-6 – Water drinking test (9,700 left, 300 remained). Reason? • 300 defeat large Midianite army • Very popular after victory – people tried to make him king, but he refused

  27. SAMSON (13:1-16:31)‏ • Born to barren mother who made a promise that her son would become a Nazirite (Hebrew: means “separated, consecrated”) Could not cut hair or drink wine. • Very strong – tied up in the length of his hair. • Grew arrogant and wanted to marry a Philistine woman, the hated enemy.

  28. A series of conflicts between Samson & Philistines: • 14: 1-20 – Riddle of honey & lion carcass. Philistine wife betrays him & shares answer with wedding guests. Samson responds by killing 30 men. • 15: 1-20 – Samson lets himself get captured & then breaks free & kills 1000 Philistines with jawbone of an ass.

  29. A series of conflicts between Samson & Philistines: • 16: 1-31 – Philistines use Delilah to seduce Samson & find out where strength comes from. He finally tells her it’s the hair. While he’s sleeping she cuts it; he loses strength & is captured. • Chained to temple of Philistine god Dagon. Prays for strength to return so he can wreck temple, which he does, and then dies.

  30. NEXT WEEK: • SAMUEL, SAUL, AND DAVID

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