Bilangan 3:11

3:11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses:

Bilangan 3:14

The Numbering of the Levites

3:14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai:

Bilangan 4:1

The Service of the Kohathites

4:1 ¹ Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron:

Bilangan 5:1

Separation of the Unclean

5:1 ² Then the Lord spoke to Moses:

Bilangan 6:1

The Nazirite Vow

6:1 ³ Then the Lord spoke to Moses:

Bilangan 6:22

The Priestly Benediction

6:22 ⁴ The Lord spoke to Moses:

Bilangan 8:23

The Work of the Levites

8:23 Then the Lord spoke to Moses:

Bilangan 13:1

Spies Sent Out

13:1 ⁵ The Lord spoke ⁶  to Moses:

Bilangan 15:1

Sacrificial Rulings

15:1 ⁷ The Lord spoke to Moses:

Bilangan 15:17

Rules for First Fruits

15:17 The Lord spoke to Moses:

Bilangan 15:37

Rules for Tassels

15:37 The Lord spoke to Moses:

Bilangan 16:36

The Atonement for the Rebellion

16:36 (17:1) ⁸  The Lord spoke to Moses:

Bilangan 17:1

The Budding of Aaron’s Staff

17:1 ⁹ The Lord spoke to Moses:

Bilangan 18:25

Instructions for the Levites

18:25 The Lord spoke to Moses:

Bilangan 25:10

The Aftermath

25:10 The Lord spoke to Moses:

Bilangan 26:52

26:52 Then the Lord spoke to Moses:

Bilangan 27:6

27:6 The Lord said to Moses:

Bilangan 28:1

Daily Offerings

28:1 ¹⁰ The Lord spoke to Moses:

Bilangan 34:1

The Southern Border of the Land

34:1 ¹¹ Then the Lord spoke to Moses:

[4:1]  ¹ sn The chapter has four main parts to it: Kohathites (1-20), Gershonites (21-28), Merarites (29-33) and the census of the Levites (34-49).

[5:1]  ² sn The fifth chapter falls into four main parts: separation of the unclean (vv. 1-4), restitution for sin (vv. 5-10), the jealousy ordeal (vv. 11-28), and the summary (vv. 29-31). There is a good deal of literature on the biblical theme of holiness (for which see the notes on Leviticus primarily). But with regard to this chapter, see (with caution), Mary Douglas, Purity and Danger; J. Neusner, The Idea of Purity in Ancient Judaism; and K. Milgrom, “Two Kinds of h£at£t£a„át,” VT 26 (1976): 333-37.

[6:1]  ³ sn This chapter can be divided into five sections: The vow is described in vv. 1-8, then the contingencies for defilement are enumerated in vv. 9-12, then there is a discussion of discharging the vows in vv. 13-20, and then a summary in v. 21; after this is the high priestly blessing (vv. 22-27). For information on the vow, see G. B. Gray, “The Nazirite,” JTS 1 (1899-1900): 201-11; Z. Weisman, “The Biblical Nazirite, Its Types and Roots,” Tarbiz 36 (1967): 207-20; and W. Eichrodt, Theology of the Old Testament (OTL), 1:303-6.

[6:22]  ⁴ sn This brief section records the blessing of the priest, especially the high priest after he emerges from the holy of holies to bless the people (see Lev 9:22). The two main elements in the oracle are “grace and peace.” It is probable that the Apostle Paul based his salutations on this oracle. For additional information, see L. J. Liebreich, “The Songs of Ascent and the Priestly Blessing,” JBL 74 (1955): 33-36; P. D. Miller, “The Blessing of God: An Interpretation of Num 6:22-27,” Int 29 (1975): 240-51; and A. Murtonen, “The Use and Meaning of the Words lébarek and bérakah in the Old Testament,” VT 9 (1959): 158-77.

[13:1]  ⁵ sn Chapter 13 provides the names of the spies sent into the land (vv. 1-16), their instructions (vv. 17-20), their activities (vv. 21-25), and their reports (vv. 26-33). It is a chapter that serves as a good lesson on faith, for some of the spies walked by faith, and some by sight.

[13:1]  ⁶ tn The verse starts with the vav (ו) consecutive on the verb: “and….”

[15:1]  ⁷ sn The wilderness wandering officially having begun, these rules were then given for the people to be used when they finally entered the land. That they would be provided here would be of some encouragement to the nation after their great failure. God still spoke of a land that was to be their land, even though they had sinned greatly. This chapter collects a number of religious rules. The first 16 verses deal with rulings for sacrifices. Then, vv. 17-36 concerns sins of omission. Finally, rules concerning tassels are covered (vv. 37-41). For additional reading, see G. B. Gray, Sacrifice in the Old Testament (Oxford: Clarendon, 1925); B. A. Levine, In the Presence of the Lord (SJLA); D. J. McCarthy, “The Symbolism of Blood and Sacrifice,” JBL 88 (1969): 166-76; “Further Notes on the Symbolism of Blood and Sacrifice,” JBL 92 (1973): 205-10; J. Milgrom, “Sin Offering or Purification Offering,” VT 21 (1971): 237-39; N. H. Snaith, “Sacrifices in the Old Testament,” VT 7 (1957): 308-17; R. J. Thompson, Penitence and Sacrifice in Early Israel; R. de Vaux, Studies in Old Testament Sacrifice.

[16:36]  ⁸ sn Beginning with 16:36, the verse numbers through 17:13 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), with 16:36 ET = 17:1 HT, 16:37 ET = 17:2 HT, 17:1 ET = 17:16 HT, etc., through 17:13 ET = 17:28 HT. With 18:1 the verse numbers in the ET and HT are again the same. But in the English chap. 17 there are two parts: Aaron’s rod budding (1-9), and the rod preserved as a memorial (10-13). Both sections begin with the same formula.

[17:1]  ⁹ sn Num 17:1 in the English Bible is 17:16 in the Hebrew text (BHS). See also the note on 16:36.

[28:1]  ¹⁰ sn For additional reading on these chapters, see G. B. Gray, Sacrifice in the Old Testament; A. F. Rainey, “The Order of Sacrifices in the Old Testament Ritual Texts,” Bib 51 (1970): 485-98; N. H. Snaith, The Jewish New Year Festival.

[34:1]  ¹¹ sn This chapter falls into several sections: the south (vv. 1-5), the west (v. 6), the north (vv. 7-9), the east (vv. 10-15), and then a list of appointed officials (vv. 16-29).