NOTES ON THE BOOK OF NUMBERS

Numbers 6:24 A scroll amulet has been excavated with these words on them from the 5th century

Cent. BC. Also a silver scroll from the late 7^th cent. BC. This represents the earliest quotation from a 

Biblical text yet known.

Numbers 7:89 explains the apparent contradiction between Leviticus 1:1 and Exodus 25:22.

Numbers 11:15 The pronoun used for God here is feminine (the only instance in the Bible). Perhaps 

Moses is appealing to the nurturing aspect of God. (H. Shanks)

Num. 11:29 This is like Paul's saying, “I wish you all would speak in tongues.”

Num. 11:33 A Chemical and Engineering News article attributes the “plague” to the effect of the quick-

acting alkaloid conine present in quail which have fed on grain from the island of Lesbos. The next 

major landfall for the quail is the northern coast of Sinai. It would be especially effective on the 

starving Israelites with low resistance.

Numbers 20:8-12 Moses' sin was: (a) the doubt expressed in his question, (b) his use of force instead 

of mere words to create the miracle, (c) the use of Aaron's rod to strike when it was to be preserved as 

a reminder of the people's rebellion, or (d) the angry words of Moses which enraged God (Psalm 

106:32-33).

Num. 20:13 See I Corinthians 10:4.

Numbers 21:6-9 See Genesis 3:1.

Num. 21:17 See I Corinthians 10:4.

Numbers 22 Kaiser's preaching outline on knowing and doing the will of God includes keeping the 

faith (1-7), obeying God's Word (8-22), and observing the obstacles (23-35).

Numbers 27:1-7 See Joshua 17:1-6.

Num. 31 William Albright has demonstrated from archeology that donkeys were used for caravans 

almost exclusively until about 1200 BC. This speaks to the antiquity of this passage (and rest of 

the Pentateuch, which is practically silent concerning use of camels). The situation had changed by the 

time of Judges 6-8.