Numbers 2 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes

Numbers 2 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Numbers 1:1 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:

• THE ORDER OF THE CAMP OF ISRAEL (2:1-34):

  • God gave Moses specific instructions as to how the Israelites were supposed to set up their camp in relation to the Tabernacle (tent of meeting).

  • The people of each tribe were to camp together, surrounding the Tabernacle on every side.

  • On the east side, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, a total of 186,400 people.

  • When the camp of Israel moved, these tribes were the first to set out.

  • To the south of the Tabernacle were the camps of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad, a total of 151,450 people.

  • When the camp of Israel moved, these tribes were to set out second.

  • After the tribes to the east and south set out, the Levites followed them with the Tabernacle.

  • The Levite camp surrounded the Tabernacle.

  • To the west of the Tabernacle were the camps of Ephraim, Gad, and Benjamin, a total of 108,100.

  • When the camp of Israel moved, these tribes were to set out third, behind the Tabernacle.

  • To the north of the Tabernacle were the camps of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali, a total of 157,600.

  • When the camp of Israel moved, these tribes were to bring up the rear of the procession.

  • The total of all the people, excluding the tribe of Levi, was 603,550.

DIAGRAM OF THE CAMP OF ISRAEL:

APPLICATION:

• The camp of Israel was centered around the Tabernacle and God’s presence.

• God was literally at the center of their lives.

• Even when travelling, the Tabernacle was the middle part of the procession.

• Israel physically illustrated a principle that ought to govern our lives.

• God ought to be at the center of our lives and everything we do.

• Whether at home or on the road, God needs to be kept in the proper place as the One around whom all other things revolve.