Numbers 26

It looks like the time of wandering - or more precisely of living outside the Promised Land - is finally over. Today's reading covers a second census, much like the one back in Numbers 1, but this time after those who refused to go into the Promised Land have died off (with a couple of special exceptions). It is interesting to note that the population of men above the age of 20 has decreased, which would normally be the opposite of what would be expected - but several thousand have died in various plagues and other tribulation brought on by their disobedience.

When one looks at the breakdown of the tribal populations, most either gained or lost a few thousand - but there are exceptions. A couple gained in excess of 10,000, and one tribe lost a massive number to offset those gains. The tribe of Simeon went from 59,300 to only 22,200; a loss of nearly two thirds the group's original size! It makes me wonder if they were some of the worst offenders at various points, and were therefore the hardest hit by God's wrath. No details are really given on that point that I can find, though.

I am hoping that soon we will get an account of the taking of the Holy Land, as I could use a bit of action :)

Numbers 25

Today's reading was quite short, but further reinforces two of the commandments God had given the Israelites: do not commit adultery, and do not have any gods before Yahweh. This is a theme we will see recur throughout the history of the nation of Israel - they will be tempted away by other peoples around them (whether sexually or otherwise) and then that leads to worship of foreign gods, which incurs God's wrath. On this occasion that resulted in over 24,000 deaths by plague; I suspect in the future the punishment may be even more severe.

Numbers 24

Today's chapter is the final one in the story of Balaam, and the third time he speaks mirrors the first two from yesterday - though he goes even further this time and prophesies the end of the nations who brought him forth to curse Israel.

One verse here stands out, and I think its sentiments are found in other locations in the Bible as well: "Blessed is the one who blesses you [Israel], and cursed is the one who curses you!" (verse 9, NET). Many people these days think we should keep our noses out of the conflicts in the Middle East, but even if nothing else in the Bible touched on the subject this alone would be enough for me to believe confidently that we should always be ready to support Israel and fight at her side.

Numbers 23

Today we get more of the story of Balaam, this time focusing on the words God gave him to speak about Israel. It is rather funny how many times King Balak tries to get him to curse Israel, despite the insistence of Balaam that he can only say what God has determined already - and furthermore that God does not change His mind. We are left with a bit of a cliffhanger at the end, as Balak asks for a third time that Balaam curse the Israelites; I assume that the outcome will mirror the first two attempts, but we'll have to see...

Numbers 22

This chapter contains the first half of the story of Balaam, including the popularly-known tale involving his donkey. I've always found this story interesting, as it is the only place I am aware of where we are told that God gave an animal the ability to talk. Such ability has been the topic of many movies and books, but here we have it in real-life! Also, the fact that before the donkey is given speech it acts in an intelligent manner does lend credence to the idea that some animals have a level of understanding we might not always appreciate.

It is also noteworthy that Balaam seems to revere God, though he is not from among the Israelites. I wonder why that is, and how someone from a different nation and people knew of Yahweh - and moreover had contact with Him!

Numbers 21

Ah, now this chapter is more to my liking! The middle half talks about the route the Israelites used in their journeys, and yet another minor rebellion on the way, but the beginning and end both cover battles in which they defeated other peoples and occupied their lands. What I found most interesting here was that they not only conquered people on their travels but they also occupied their enemies lands. I was under the impression that the time between the Israelites refusing to enter the Promised Land the first time and their eventual entrance was spent in constant wandering, but it seems I was wrong. I wonder how long they spent in each of the countries they took?

There were also two other interesting references in this section:

- Verses 24 and 25 contain an excerpt from "the Book of the Wars of the Lord"; I wonder if that is something that modern Jewish scholars have found, or if it has been lost to history. Sounds like it would have been an interesting read.

- The last verse, 35, notes that with at least one of the nations the Israelites conquered they left "no survivors" (NET). That level of total war is often looked down upon today, and considered barbaric, but I would argue that based on this and several other passages in the Bible it is sometimes appropriate. The trick is that in these wars the Israelites had God directing their actions, and telling them when and when not to spare their enemies - today we do not have the same level of divine guidance.

Numbers 20

Ah, yes, today we have the account of why Moses and Aaron did not get to enter the Promised Land. Moses disobeyed God's command, and so sealed his fate. What is most interesting here is that when God told them it was time for Aaron to die, and to pass the mantle of priesthood on to his son, Aaron went so willingly. How must it have felt to know the hour of your own death? Perhaps by his age, and with the things he had lived through, it was a blessing to die peacefully like that.