Numbers 1 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes

Numbers 1 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• The first verse of Numbers tells us these events began on the 2nd month, in the 2nd year after Israel left Egypt, which would place the date at approximately 1490-1489 B.C.

• The entire book of Leviticus covers only about 1 months’ time. Numbers will cover almost 40 years.

CHARACTERS:

• Israelites (Hebrews) – The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God granted them freedom after several hundred years in slavery in Egypt. In the book of Numbers, they were travelling through the wilderness to the land of Canaan.

• Moses – Moses was selected by God to lead the Israelites to Canaan. God spoke directly to Moses and Moses communicated God’s words to the people.     

• Aaron – Moses’ brother. He was a Levite and the High Priest over the nation of Israel. 

WHERE:

• According to the book of Leviticus and Numbers 3:1, the Israelites were camped in the wilderness of Sinai, near Mount Sinai.

OUTLINE:

• GOD CALLS FOR A CENSUS OF THE FIGHTING MEN OF ISRAEL (1:1-46):

  • On the 1st day of the 2nd month, a little over one year after the Israelites left Egypt, God told Moses to take a census of the men of Israel.

  • This census was specific to men over 20 years old who were “able to go to war.”

  • Twelve men, who were chiefs of their tribes, were selected to help Moses and Aaron.

  • The totals from each tribe are listed below:

  • Reuben – 46,500

  • Simeon – 59,300

  • Gad – 45,650

  • Judah – 74,600

  • Issachar – 54,400

  • Zebulun – 57,400

  • Ephraim – 40,500

  • Manasseh – 32,200

  • Benjamin – 35,400

  • Dan – 62,700

  • Asher – 41,500

  • Naphtali – 53,400

  • Total Number of Fighting Men in Israel – 603,550

• THE EXEMPTION OF THE LEVITES (1:47-54):

  • The men from the tribe of Levi were excluded from the census because God set them apart for a special purpose.

  • The Levites were to take care of the Tabernacle, the holy tent in which God’s presence dwelt.

  • The Levites were responsible for transporting the Tabernacle when God directed the Israelites to move camp.

  • They were also instructed to camp around the Tabernacle when they set up their tents to guard it.

APPLICATION:

• The book of Numbers begins by telling us the Israelites had grown into a large nation with a sizeable fighting force.

• Their size was a result of God’s blessing on their nation.

• He promised Abraham, several hundred years earlier, He would make his family into a large nation.

• The fulfillment of this promise should have given the Israelites confidence that God was with them and would fulfill His other promises to them… we will find out later if that was the case.

• For application, look back at your life and the times God has kept His promises, and let that embolden you to move confidently into the future knowing God will help you overcome the challenges in your future.