Numbers 19, 20, 21 Commentary by Mark Dunagan

NUMBERS CHAPTERS 19-21 Chapter 19 This chapter is concerned with defilement caused by contact with a corpse. In the immediate preceding chapters the theme of death has been prominent.

14,700 had just recently died of the plague in chapter 16:49. As in the rest of His legislation, God will only accept the best (19:2). Once again, the NT endorses the details and information found in the OT as being accurately translated and historically true (Hebrews 9:11-13). This chapter also emphasizes that all of life was essentially religious, i.e. everything that one did had religious or spiritual consequences. In like manner, every aspect of our lives is to be dedicated to God and under His rule (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 1:15 “be holy yourselves also in all your behavior”). “The purpose of Numbers 19 is to explain how contamination could occur and what must be done in each case to effect ceremonial cleansing” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 237).

19:2 “red heifer”-i.e. a reddish-brown cow. “The fact that it was to be unbroken suggests that it must be well and whole, strong in every way---a pure and pristine animal” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 237).

19:3 “Eleazar”-Aaron will die in the next chapter, thus Aaron’s successor as high priest is anticipated.

19:4-10 Everyone involved in making this water for purification purposes was rendered unclean until the evening, even the supervising priest. Be impressed that the animal wasn’t offered as a sacrifice, rather it was burned outside the camp, and not on the altar. Normally the animal’s color did not matter in all the other sacrifices, but in this case the cow had to be a red heifer. Besides the ash of the heifer, various cleansing agents were thrown into the fire, cedar, hyssop (marjoram) and scarlet wool. The same ingredients (cedar, hyssop, and scarlet material) were involved in the recipe for the cleansing of a leper (Lev. 14:4-6; 49ff).

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Point To Note: We are never told God’s reasoning behind the above recipe. One writer notes, “the red heifer, which has not been in contact with anything profane; the red blood, the medicinal cedar wood and hyssop; the scarlet wool; and the living (fresh) water. Everything here speaks of the restoration of life” (Noordtzij p.

170). Another says, “Cedar was chosen because it is evergreen and aromatic, the hyssop because of its application of the blood at the Exodus (Psa. 51:7; Ex. 12:22), and the scarlet wool because it symbolizes the blood itself” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 237).

Another writer feels that their might also be a medical reason behind the rules in this chapter: “The sweet-smelling oil of marjoram plant that grows is still used in perfumes, and it contains about 50 percent carvacrol. Carvacrol is almost identical to thymol, an antifungal and antibacterial agent that is still used in the practice of medicine. Anyone who had touched a dead person was required to remain separate from the people for a whole week. If the dead person had died from an infectious disease, this week of quarantine would usually allow ample time for a person contaminated by contact to come down with the disease.

Thus, these regulations prevented rampant spread of disease among the Israelites” (None Of These Diseases, p. 26).

19:11-22 Points To Note: 1.

Lest anyone attempt to argue that the so-called “ceremonial” parts of the Law weren’t that important. Be impressed that the person who ignored the regulations in this chapter, was to be cut off from the people (19:13). 2.

While we are tempted to rank or classify sins—God doesn’t. Rebellion to a law that we might not fully understand concerning why it was given—is still a grievous sin. 3. We aren’t told exactly why death was viewed as so defiling.

There are the obvious hygienic reasons as to why all the people who were in a room when a person died should be quarantined. Death might also have been treated as defiling because it was human sin which brought death into the world. Death was one of the penalties imposed upon mankind because of Adam’s disobedience (Genesis 3:19). 4. “The Lord is the Great Teacher.

He is the one who uses teaching aids. Inadvertent contact with a dead person is a time for a reminder of the ultimate, life and death, sin and forgiveness, cleanness and uncleanness” (Gaebelein p. 862). Such a period of isolation gave a person a chance to think about their own morality and relationship with God. It made people slow down following the death of a friend or loved one, or an enemy or fellow soldier after the battle was over (19:16). 5. Note the responsibility that God expected of His people. The person who was contaminated had to initiate the action (19:12). If he or she didn’t then they could contaminate the whole community (19:22). A holy God 2

demands holy people, and those who refuse to conform, must be removed for the good of the whole (19:13; 1 Cor. 5:5). 6. Carefully note, none of this is magic, there were no magical properties in this mixture. Just like there isn’t any magic in the water in which one is baptized, or in the bread and fruit of the vine served during communion. God often has used ordinary things when dealing with tremendous realities and truths.

Chapter 20 20:1 “in the first month”-the year is not given. And yet the next dated event is the death of Aaron (20:27-28), which occurred on the first day of the fifth month of the 40th year after the Israelites came out of Egypt (Numbers 33:38). Hence, from the context it would appear that Miriam died in the first month of the 40 th year.

Some 38 years after wandering in the wilderness, it appears that Israel once again returns to the oasis at Kadesh, the place from which the spies had been set out (12:16; 13:26). The wilderness of Zin is adjacent to Kadesh and covers much of the northern Negeb. The death of Miriam serves as a reminder that none of the generation who came out of Egypt would enter Canaan, and foreshadows the similar fate that was to befall her brothers, Aaron and Moses (20:12; 24-29; Deut. 34).

20:2-3 “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord!”What a horrible attitude, the Israelites avowed that they would rather have died when their relatives were struck down by the Lord’s anger (16:32-35). Here they are on the verge of the promised land (if those grumbling are the second generation), and yet they wished they were dead!

20:4 Compare with Exodus 17:3. The Israelites are always complaining, “Why did you ever deliver us from Egypt?” Much like the miserable and ungrateful Christian who complains that learning the truth has ruined their chances to enjoy a carefree life in sin. That knowing the truth doesn’t bring freedom (John 8:32), rather, it is a curse instead.

20:5 They expected the wilderness to be the promised land like some Christians expect this life to be heaven.

20:6 Moses and Aaron once again seek to intercede for the people and or seek God’s counsel.

20:7 Note the patience and mercy of God—the Israelites grumble and complain, yet they aren’t wiped out.

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20:9 This rod had been before the Lord, i.e. placed in the tabernacle. Probably the same rod that had been used in the presence of Pharaoh during the plagues and which was used when parting the Red Sea (Exodus 14:16).

20:10-12 “Because you have not believed Me”-Many commentators are completely puzzled as to why God is so harsh with Moses or why his actions were viewed as being so bad on this occasion. The reason for this failure to comprehend is that most people, even religious people, don’t understand what it means to believe in God. 1. Failure to carry out God’s orders exactly is a lack of faith. Moses had been told to speak to the rock (20:8), yet he struck it two times (20:11). 2. Many religious scholars attempt to contrast faith and obedience, or argue that a careful adherence to the text is legalism, but this distinction is unknown in the Scriptures. “Faith is the correct response to God’s word, whether it is a word of promise or a word of command….The opposite of faith is rebellion or disobedience…Thus Moses’ failure to carry out the Lord’s instructions precisely was as much an act of unbelief as the people’s failure to trust God’s promises instead of the spies pessimistic reports (Numbers 14:11).

Both were punished by exclusion from the land of promise” (Wenham p. 150).

Compare with John 3:36; Hebrews 3:18-19; and 1 Samuel 15:22-23. 3.

Disobedience is also failing to treat God as holy (20:12). We are indeed treating God with disrespect, and we are treating His word equal with the word of anyone, when we ignore, change or add to what He has said. 4. When we allow our anger, frustrations, disappointments, and human opinions to overrule Scripture, we are detracting from the glory of God. 5. Harrison notes, “they (Moses and Aaron) acted as though they possessed the power to produce water from the rock (“we”) (2:10)” (p. 267). 5. God will later point out that the words of Moses on this occasion were rash (Psalm 106:32-33).

This example gives us a clear picture of how we are to regard His instructions.

Every word is important. God doesn’t feel that we can take the text of Scripture too seriously (2 Timothy 2:15; Matthew 5:17-18). The world says that following the Scriptures carefully proves that the love of Jesus isn’t in your heart, God argues the opposite! (John 14:15; 1 John 2:3-5). The world argues that people who are doctrinally sound—must also be spiritually dead. But God argues that you can’t be acceptable with Him unless you are following His teachings.

20:13 “Meribah”-(MEHR ih bah) (contention, strife).

The Encounter With Edom 20:14-21 Moses acts as if the Edomites knew quite a bit about Israel’s past history, “your brother” (i.e. Jacob and Esau). They also had heard about how God had delivered Israel from the land of Egypt. Be impressed that Moses’ request is very fair and reasonable, and yet Edom refuses. While the Canaanites were to be annihilated, other groups were to be treated with extreme courtesy. Unlike some 38 years previously, Israel won’t enter Canaan from the

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south this time, rather they were burst in from the east. The nation planned to take the “king’s highway” (17), the major north-south highway east of the Jordan River, which runs from Arabia to Damascus. The first nation whose land they would cross to take this route was Edom. The Edomites were descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob (Genesis 36:1). Israel had been forbidden by the Lord to take even a foothold in the land of Edom (Deut. 2:4-6). The territory of Edom contained many narrow mountain passes, which could be easily defended.

And yet, one day Edom would be judged by God (Book of Obadiah). Moses even tries to make it easier for Edom to give Israel permission (20:17,19). In fact, the Edomites could have made quite a profit from the Israelites. Here is a good example of going the extra mile, trying to be a peace with all men(Romans 12:18). Carefully note, Israel turned away from Edom, not because they were afraid of a fight, and neither because they had only 60,000 troops instead of the biblical data which reads 600,000. But because they had been forbidden by the Lord to attack the Edomites. “Moses believes that the experiences of his people were well known to the other nations of the region (14). This is a part of a significant issue in the story of the Exodus, that the saving work of the Lord was not done in a vacuum or in a hiding place. The nations round about were expected to understand something of what had happened” (Gaebelein p. 871).

The Death Of Aaron 20:22 “Mount Hor”-“A tradition as early as Josephus’ identifies Mount Hor with Jebel Nebi Harun (Mount of the Prophet Aaron), a mountain near Petra” (Wenham p. 153). Others feel that this mountain is located about 15 miles NE of Kadesh (Jebel Madurah).

20:23-29 Aaron would be gathered to his people, a phrase first used of Abraham (Genesis 15:15), and interpreted by some as an early indication of life after death. Though Aaron isn’t allowed to enter the Promised land, his death isn’t violent. Aaron also knew that his son would carry on where he left off— there is a tremendous amount of grace and mercy in this episode. In a dramatic symbol of the transfer of power, Moses took the garments from his brother, and placed them on his faithful son (28). “With the death of Aaron, the story of the first generation is quickly winding down” (Gaebelein p. 872). Aaron was 123 years old when he died (33:39). And Israel legitimately honored him for his contributions. He wasn’t a perfect man, but he did have the desire to serve God even after committing some serious offenses. Hence, the right attitude towards our sins is what enables imperfect people to be saved (1 John 1:8-10). If Aaron could be saved, then what is our excuse for not continuing in the faith? What would it have been like to know exactly when you would die?

Chapter 21

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What we need to realize about this chapter is that the nations which attacked Israel on the east side of the Jordan, should have learned a lesson from what had happened to the Egyptians! They should have allowed Israel to pass by unmolested. But human pride, arrogance, lust and greed often plunges men into destruction (1 Timothy 6:9).

21:1 “Arad”-(A rad); “Atharim”-(ATH ah rim). Arad was an important Canaanite city about 20 miles east-northeast of Beersheba.

21:2 “utterly destroy their cities”-i.e. refuse to take any spoil and devote everything, including all the valuables to the Lord. Compare with Joshua 6:21.

21:4 “the people became impatient because of the journey”-This journey kept them away from further military confrontations, but this also involved them in a long journey south to approx. the north end of the Gulf of Aqaba. Having reached that area, they then turned east until they could see the wooded uplands of the Seir mountain range stretching to the north” (Harrison p. 275).

Apparently, the people were frustrated by this change in direction. “This detour made for unpleasant travel through hostile desert” (Smith p. 445). “Each step they made south and east, rather than north and west, seemed to be an unbearable back-tracking” (Gaebelein p. 875). How many times do we complain when it seems like God is leading us away from our goals, instead of towards them?

21:5 Once again, the people on the very verge of entering Canaan start murmuring! And yet, how many professed Christians have you known who have given up God late in life? Right on the verge of eternal life—and they opt out!

21:5 “we loathe this miserable food”-yet the manna had kept them alive! It had been a daily demonstration of God’s mercy and grace, it was one of God’s blessings! Do we complain about God’s blessings? Do we complain about the opposite sex, our mates (which we don’t deserve), our children, the church, the Bible, and so on? Do we view such blessings as making our lives miserable?

The Bronze Serpent 21:6-9 Many poisonous snakes are still found in this region. “it seems likely that the inflammation caused by this bite prompted them to be called fiery” (Wenham p. 157). The poison in these snakebites could have caused a horrible, agonizing death. Or the word fiery may refer to the actual color of the snakes.

Points To Note: 1.

Jesus clearly endorsed the historical truthfulness and accuracy of this account (John 3:14). 2. When God offers a cure, He doesn’t necessarily 6

answer all our questions concerning why this cure was selected. The person who was a skeptic, and who demanded that someone explain to them or prove to them the connection between looking at this serpent and a cure for snake-bite would have died! In like manner, the person who wants every possible question answered to their satisfaction before they believe in God, will end up lost! 3. The bronze serpent was never designed to be an object of worship, but the Israelites did worship it, and it wasn't destroyed until the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4).

“There is a pattern of complaining; it is habit forming. The tendency among people is to go beyond where one left off the last time, to become ever more egregious (extreme), ever more outspoken. Rarely does a complaining person become milder in his complaints” (Gaebelein p. 876).

21:10 “Oboth”-(OH bowth) 21:11 “Iyeabarim”-(igh ee AH burh rim) 21:12 “Wadi Zered”-a “Wadi” is a valley, ravine, or riverbed that usually remains dry except during the rainy season. This Wadi, marked the boundary between Moab and Edom.

21:13 “Arnon”-(Ar none). This river which flows from the mountains east of the Jordan and empties into the Dead Sea, served as the boundary between Moab and the Amorites. The territory of Moab, covered the fertile high ground on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. The Moabites were descendants of Lot (Genesis 19:37).

21:13 “Amorites”-(AM oh rites). Inhabitants of the land west of the Euphrates River, which included Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. Often in the OT, they were frequently used as a synonym for Canaanites in general (Genesis 10:6).

21:14-15 “Book of the Wars of the Lord”-like the “Book of Jashar” (Joshua 10:13; 2 Samuel 1:18), this was a collection of material (songs, battles?) which is also found in the OT. Lest anyone argue that here we have a “lost book” of the Bible. Be impressed that nothing has been lost. What is written here, is also found in this other source. The material that God wanted us to have that was found in this book, is written in the Bible. It is silly to argue that God could preserve 66 books, but He couldn’t preserve 67 or 68. The poem quoted above celebrated the Israelites successful journey through Moab. “Ar”-was a city in the northern part of Moab about 10 miles south of the Arnon.

21:16 “Beer”-(BEE ear) (well) Where God promised there would be water and a song was composed to commemorate the digging of the well.

21:18 “Mattanah”-(MAT uh nuh) 21:19 “Nahaliel”-(nuh HAY li el); “Bamoth”-(BAY moth) 21:20 “Pisgah”-(PIZ guh). Probably refers to the entire ridge of mountains which extends from the Moabite plateau toward the Dead Sea. Nebo is the highest peak of this “pisgah”. Pisgah could also refer to a definite peak in this range.

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Victory Over Sihon And Og 21:21-24 Note, this battle wasn’t necessary, if this king had just listened to the evidence and news that had come out of Egypt, he and his people could have lived. But greed and selfishness often precede disaster. How many of our problems could have been avoided if we had simply been content with what we had?

“Jahaz”-(JAY haz). “Jabbok”-(JAB uhk)-a major river which ran east into the Jordan River, it entered the Jordan about 15 miles north of the Dead Sea. “So great was the Amorite defeat that the vanquished were driven north to the Ammonite border. Because this was a strong defensive barrier, the Amorites were trapped and slaughtered, whereupon the Israelites occupied their towns and villages” (Harrison p. 284). “Heshbon”-has been traditionally identified with Tell Hesban (HESH bahn). Located about 14 miles southwest of modern Amman, Jordan.

21:24 The Israelites stopped at the border with Ammon, for the Ammonites, descendants of Lot, were protected by God (Deut. 2:19).

21:25-26 Explains why Moabite territory was being occupied by Amorites.

21:27-30 The defeat of Sihon was poetic justice since all this land south to the Arnon River had originally belonged to Moab. Sihon’s former conquest had be immortalized in poetry (21:27-30). Now, this poem is used by Moses to describe Israelites destruction of the Amorites. “In other words a boastful Amorite song celebrating their victory over the hapless Moabites now was sung by Israel to celebrate her victory over the Amorites” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 240).

In like manner, all the various “taunt” songs that the world has composed against God and His standards, can be turned on the world by God. I wonder if John Lennon is now “imaging” if there is no God, or no heaven and hell!

“Chemosh” was the national god of the Moabites.

21:30 “Dibon”-(DIE bahn). The Moabite Stone was discovered here in 1868.

The town is now known as Dhiban. “Nophah”-(NO fuh); “Medeba”-(MED eh buh), now known as Madeba or Madiyabah. The very fact that we can identify many of the cities mentioned in the Scriptures is one more proof that we aren’t dealing with a fictional account.

21:32-35 “Bashan”-(BAY shan). The territory east of the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee. The kingdom of Og included 60 cites (Deut. 3:4; 29:7). Bashan is a rich fertile tableland 1600-2300 feet above sea level, with abundant rainfall and rich

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volcanic soil. This was the breadbasket of the region, wheat fields and livestock were abundant.

“Edrei”-(ED rih eye), modern Dera. Deut. 3:1-11 gives a much fuller account of this battle. Other books in the OT also mention this section as being historically true (Josh. 2:10; Neh. 9:22; Psalm 135:11; 136:19-20.

“Og, its ruler, was the last survivor of the giant Rephaim, one of the pre-Israelite races occupying Canaan. They were tall in stature, as were the Anakim (Deut.

2:11), and even in the early monarchy their unusual height and large weapons were still remembered (2 Samuel 21:16-22; 1 Chron. 20:6-8)” (Harrison p. 287).

“Thus chapter 21 of Numbers presents a remarkable shift in the fortunes of the people. They are still rebellious (and will continue to rebel—see chapter 25); but they are now on a victory march, not fearful of battle against the people of the land. At least they have learned this lesson from their parents: When God is for us, what can man do against us? (Psalm 118:6)” (Gaebelein p. 885).

“So Israel controlled and occupied all the Transjordan between Mount Hermon (Deut. 3:8) and the Arnon River and east as far as the land of the Ammonites.

This done, they moved unimpeded to the plains of Moab in preparation for the assault on Canaan” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 241).

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