The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

by John MacArthur

  24:9 Blessed is he who blesses you. These words refer to Gen. 12:3. The ultimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant centers around the coming Messiah. It is the one who blesses Israel who will ultimately reap God’s blessing in the future.

  24:14 in the latter days. Lit. “at the end of days.” This term is rightfully used in the OT for the distant future. Balaam’s fourth oracle takes the truth communicated in the third and applies it to Moab.

  24:15–19 Balaam’s fourth oracle predicted the future coming of Israel’s king, who would “shatter the forehead of Moab” (see marginal note, v. 17) and conquer Edom. He will have total dominion.

  24:20–24 Balaam’s final 3 oracles look at the future of the nations. First, Amalek will come to an end (24:20). Second, the Kenites, identical to or a part of the Midianites, will be carried away by Asshur, i.e., Assyria (24:21, 22). Third, Assyria and Eber, probably Israel herself (Gen. 10:21), will be afflicted by Cyprus, (this name came to represent the Mediterranean region W of Palestine and in Dan. 11:30 refers to Rome), until Cyprus comes to ruin.

  Numbers 25

  25:1–18 The final failure of Israel before the conquest of Canaan occurred in the plains of Moab. According to 31:16, the incident was brought about by the counsel of Balaam. Failing to be able to curse Israel, he gave the Moabites and Midianites direction in how to provoke the Lord’s anger against His people.

  25:1 Acacia Grove. The region across the Jordan River from Jericho where Israel invaded the land of Canaan (see Josh. 2:1).

  25:3 joined to Baal of Peor. Israel engaged in acts of sexual immorality with the women of Moab. Since this was part of the pagan cult that was worshiped by the Moabites, the Israelites joined in these idolatrous practices. The Israelites yoked themselves to the false god of the Moabites and the Midianites, referred to as Baal of Peor. This was a violation of the first commandment.

  25:6 Cf. vv. 14, 15.

  25:9 twenty-four thousand. This is to be differentiated from the plague over the golden calf where 23,000 died (cf. Ex. 32:1–14, 28; 1 Cor. 10:8).

  25:10–13 Because of Phinehas’ zeal for God’s holiness, the Lord made “a covenant of an everlasting priesthood” with him so that through his family line would come all future, legitimate High-Priests (cf. Ps. 106:30, 31). This promise will extend even into the millennial kingdom (cf. Ezek. 40:46; 44:10, 15; 48:11).

  25:17 Harass the Midianites. Because the Midianites had attacked Israel by their schemes of sexual and idolatrous seduction, the Lord called Israel to attack them in return. This attack is recorded in 31:1–24.

  Numbers 26

  26:1—36:13 The final major section of Numbers records the renewed obedience of Israel. God continued to speak (26:1, 2, 52; 27:6, 12, 18; 28:1; 31:1, 25; 33:50; 34:1, 16; 35:1, 9), and the second generation of Israel obeyed. Most of the commandments in this section related to Israel’s life after they entered the Land.

  26:1—32:42 These chapters begin and end speaking of going to war (26:2; 32:20, 29, 32) and the ensuing inheritance of Canaan (26:52–56; 32:32). Israel was being prepared for the conquest of the Promised Land.

  26:1–51 This second census, like the first taken over 38 years earlier (1:1–46), counted all the men 20 years of age and older, fit for military service.

  26:5–51 The numbers for each tribe with the net gain or loss were as follows:

  • Reuben 43,730 (v. 7) -2,770

  • Simeon 22,200 (v. 14) -37,100

  • Gad 40,500 (v. 18) -5,150

  • Judah 76,500 (v. 22) +1,900

  • Issachar 64,300 (v. 25) +9,900

  • Zebulun 60,500 (v. 27) +3,100

  • Manasseh 52,700 (v. 34) +20,500

  • Ephraim 32,500 (v. 37) -8,000

  • Benjamin 45,600 (v. 41) +10,200

  • Dan 64,400 (v. 43) +1,700

  • Asher 53,400 (v. 47) +11,900

  • Naphtali 45,400 (v. 50) -8,000

  • Total 601,730 (v. 51) -1,820

  The great decline in the tribe of Simeon might be due to its participation in the sin of Baal of Peor (see 25:14).

  26:9 Dathan and Abiram. These were singled out for special mention because of their part in the rebellion recorded in 16:1–40. Mention of them was a reminder of God’s judgment against rebellion.

  26:11 the children of Korah. These sons of Korah were spared judgment because they separated themselves from their father’s house (see 16:26).

  26:19 Er and Onan. These two sons of Judah did not receive an inheritance in the Land because of their great evil (see Gen. 38:1–10).

  26:33 Zelophehad. The mentioning of Zelophehad having no sons, but only daughters, laid the basis for the laws of inheritance stated in 27:1–11; 36:1–12.

  26:52–56 These census numbers would be used to decide the size of each tribe’s inheritance in the Land. The exact locations would be determined by lot (see Josh. 13:1–7; 14:1—19:51 for the outworking of these words).

  26:57–65 As in the first census (3:14–39), the Levites were counted separately. The total number of Levites was 23,000 (v. 62), an increase of 1,000 over the previous census (see 3:39).

  Numbers 27

  27:1–11 The coming distribution of the land of Canaan presented a dilemma for the family of Zelophehad since he had no sons. His 5 daughters boldly asked that they inherit their father’s name and his inheritance (vv. 1–4). The Lord’s decision that the daughters should receive his inheritance became the basis of a perpetual statute in Israel governing inheritances (vv. 5–11).

  27:3 he died in his own sin. Zelophehad had not been involved in Korah’s rebellion. Instead, he had died under God’s judgment in the wilderness, like the rest of the faithless Exodus generation.

  27:8–11 The following is the order of inheritance: son, daughter, brother, paternal uncle, and closest relative in the family. This same order (with the exception of the daughter) was followed in Lev. 25:48, 49 dealing with the various cases of redemption of the Land in the Jubilee year.

  27:12–14 God reaffirmed that Moses could not enter the land of Canaan, although he was able to see it from Mt. Nebo, across from Jericho (see Deut. 32:49).

  27:15–17 Moses’ greatest concern was that Israel have a good leader who was like a shepherd. The Lord answered his request in the man Joshua.

  27:18 lay your hand on him. Joshua already had the inner endowment for leadership. He was empowered by the Holy Spirit. This inner endowment was to be recognized by an external ceremony. Moses publicly laid his hands upon Joshua. This act signified the transfer of Moses’ leadership to Joshua. The laying on of hands can accompany a dedication to an office (see Num. 8:10).

  27:20 give some of your authority. Moses was to pass on some of the “honor” or “majesty” that he had to Joshua. See Josh. 3:7.

  27:21 Eleazar…shall inquire before the LORD for him. Moses had been able to communicate directly with God (12:8), but Joshua would receive the Word from the Lord through the High-Priest. Urim. See note on Exodus 28:30 for this part of the High-Priest’s breastplate (Ex. 39:8–21) as a means of determining God’s will (cf. Deut. 33:8; 1 Sam. 28:6).

  Numbers 28

  28:1—29:40 Instructions concerning the regular celebrations in Israel’s worship calendar had been given previously. Now, poised to enter the Land, Moses gave an orderly reiteration and summary of the regular offerings for each time of celebration, adding some additional offerings.

  28:3–8 See Ex. 29:38–42.

  28:9, 10 These were newly revealed offerings for the Sabbath.

  28:11–15 These were newly revealed offerings for the “beginning of the month.”

  28:16–25 See Lev. 23:5–8.

  28:26–31 See Lev. 23:18.

  Numbers 29

  29:1–6 See Lev. 23:23–25.

  29:7–11 See Lev. 23:26–32.

  29:12–38 See Lev. 23:33–43.

  Numbers 30

  30:1–16 This chapter added clarification to the laws regarding vows given in Lev. 27:1–33. The basic principle for men
is restated in v. 2. Then, it was asserted that a man was also responsible for the vows made by women in his household (vv. 3–16). A father or husband could overrule the vow of a daughter or wife, but a man’s silence, if he knew of the vow, meant it must be accomplished.

  30:2 a vow…some agreement. A promise to do something or a promise not to do something. Christ could have had this text in mind (Matt. 5:33).

  30:9 a widow or a divorced woman. These were not viewed as being under a man’s authority, so the word of the woman alone sufficed.

  Numbers 31

  31:1–54 This chapter has many links with previous passages in Numbers: vengeance on Midian (vv. 2, 3; 10:2–10); Zur the Midianite (v. 8; 25:15); Balaam (vv. 8, 16; 22:2—24:25); Peor (v. 16; 25:1–9, 14, 15); purification after contact with the dead (vv. 19–24; 19:11–19); care for the priests and Levites (vv. 28–47; 18:8–32). This battle with the Midianites modeled God’s requirements for holy war when Israel took vengeance on His enemies (see Deut. 20:1–18).

  31:1–11 Israel was commanded by the Lord to take vengeance on Midian because they were responsible for corrupting Israel at Peor (25:1–18).

  31:2 gathered to your people. A euphemism for death (see Gen. 25:8, 17; 35:29).

  31:12–24 All the Midianites, except the virgin women, were to be put to death. Both the soldiers and the spoil needed to be cleansed.

  31:17 The execution of all male children and women of childbearing age insured the extermination of the Midianites and prevented them from ever again seducing Israel to sin. Reference to Midianites later (Judg. 6:1–6) was to a different clan. It was the Midianites living in Moab who were destroyed here.

  31:25–54 The plunder was divided equally between those who went and fought and those who stayed.

  Numbers 32

  32:1–42 The tribes of Reuben and Gad desired to live in the land already conquered because they possessed much livestock and the land was good for grazing. Moses gave them, along with the half tribe of Manasseh, portions of the land only on the condition that they would fully participate in the conquest of Canaan.

  32:3 Ataroth…Beon. The places mentioned here cannot be identified, but all lie between the Arnon River to the S and the Jabbok River to the N.

  32:8 Thus your fathers did. Moses feared that if these two tribes were comfortably settled, they would not join with the other 10 tribes in conquering Canaan, and that could be the beginning of a general revolt against entering the Land. As the 10 spies had dissuaded the people at Kadesh nearly 40 years earlier from conquering the Land (vv. 9–13; 13:26—14:4), the refusal of these two tribes could cause the people to fail again (v. 15).

  32:23 your sin will find you out. The two tribes committed themselves to provide their warriors for the conquest of the Land. This agreement satisfied Moses, although he added that non-participation would be sin and God would certainly find and judge the tribes for their sin.

  32:33 half the tribe of Manasseh. Once the agreement was reached with Reuben and Gad concerning settlement on the E side of the Jordan, the half tribe of Manasseh, also rich with flocks, joined in seeking land in that territory. However, vv. 39–42 indicate that Manasseh conquered cities not yet taken and settled in the northern area of Gilead.

  Numbers 33

  33:1–49 The Lord commanded Moses to write a list of Israel’s encampments between Egypt and the plains of Moab. Significantly, 40 places were mentioned (not including Rameses and the plains of Moab), reflecting the 40 years spent in the wilderness. Some sites recorded earlier are not listed and other sites are only mentioned here. The God who would lead the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan (33:50–56) was the One who had led them through the wilderness.

  Num. 33:49

  From the Wilderness to the Jordan

  The last phase of Israel’s wilderness wanderings placed them in the plains of Moab, looking across the Jordan to the Promised Land.

  33:50—36:13 The Promised Land had been Israel’s goal from the beginning of Numbers. This last part of the book anticipated the settlement of Canaan.

  33:50–56 God commanded that all of the Canaanites were to be exterminated, along with all their idolatrous symbols.

  33:52 their high places. Hills on which Canaanite altars and shrines were placed.

  33:56 I will do to you as I thought to do to them. If Israel failed to obey God, she would be the object of God’s punishment in exactly the same way as the Canaanites were.

  Numbers 34

  34:1–15 God gave precise instruction to Israel concerning the boundaries of the Land of Canaan. Sadly, the actual conquest of the Land fell far short of these boundaries.

  34:13 give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe. The land to be conquered was to be given to the 9½ tribes. The other 2½ tribes already had their inheritance in Transjordan (32:1–42).

  34:16–29 The Lord appointed the men who were to assign the portions of the land of Canaan: Eleazar the priest (20:25, 26), Joshua the commander (27:18–23), and the leaders of each of the 10 tribes which were to receive an inheritance. None of these men were sons of the leaders listed in 1:5–15.

  Numbers 35

  35:1–8 Forty-eight cities throughout the Land were to be given to the Levites. The tribe of Levi did not receive a tribal allotment, but lived among the other tribes. Joshua 21:1–42 gave the list of these 48 cities.

  35:2 from the inheritance of their possession. According to 18:23, the Levites were to have no land as inheritance in Canaan, so the Levites did not inherit these towns; they only lived in them. common-land around the cities. The Levites were also given grazing land around the cities so that their animals might feed.

  35:9–34 Six of the Levitical cities were to be established as “cities of refuge” (see Deut. 19:1–13). These cities were to be havens giving protection to any person who accidentally killed another person (manslaughter).

  35:12 the avenger. The meaning of this term is “near of kin.” It refers to the person chosen by a family to deal with a loss suffered in that family. Here the close relative of a homicide victim would seek to avenge his death, but not until proper judgment was made.

  35:19 Swift retribution according to the law of Gen. 9:5, 6.

  35:24 the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger. The congregation was called to decide the motive of the killer, whether it was with or without hostility. If there was evil intent, the killer was turned over to the avenger to be put to death. If, however, hostility could not be proven to exist between the killer and the victim, then the killer was allowed to remain in the city of refuge.

  35:25 until the death of the high priest. The manslayer without evil intent was to remain in the city of refuge until the death of the High-Priest. The death of the High-Priest marked the end of an old era and the beginning of a new one for the manslayer.

  35:30 witnesses. No one could be judged guilty of death on the testimony of only one witness. Two or more witnesses were required in all capital cases (cf. Deut. 17:6; 19:15).

  35:33 blood defiles the land. Though murder and inadvertent killing polluted the land, murder was atoned for by the death of the murderer. Failure to observe these principles would make the Land unclean. If the whole Land became unclean, then the Lord would no longer be able to dwell in their midst.

  Numbers 36

  36:1–13 The issue raised here stemmed from a decision regarding female inheritance in 27:1–11. Since a tribe would lose an allotted inheritance in the year of Jubilee if an inheriting woman had married into another tribe, the woman of any tribe who inherited land must marry within her own tribe.

  36:12 They were married into…Manasseh. The daughters of Zelophehad exemplified the obedience to God’s commandments that should have been practiced by all of Israel. Their inheritance was a direct result of their obedience to the Lord—a basic lesson stressed throughout the whole book of Numbers.

  Numbers 1

  1:1 a Ex. 19:1; Num. 10:11, 12

  1:1 b Ex. 25:22

 
1:1 c Ex. 40:2, 17; Num. 9:1; 10:11

  1:2 d Ex. 30:12; Num. 26:2, 63, 64; 2 Sam. 24:2; 1 Chr. 21:2

  1:2 e Ex. 30:12, 13; 38:26

  1:3 f Ex. 30:14; 38:26

  1:14 g Num. 7:42

  1:14 1 Reuel, Num. 2:14

  1:16 h Ex. 18:21; Num. 7:2; 1 Chr. 27:16–22

  1:16 i Num. 16:2

  1:16 j Ex. 18:21, 25; Jer. 5:5; Mic. 3:1, 9; 5:2

  1:16 2 called

  1:17 k Is. 43:1

  1:17 3 designated

  1:18 l Ezra 2:59; Heb. 7:3

  1:20 m Num. 2:10, 11; 26:5–11; 32:6, 15, 21, 29

  1:22 n Num. 2:12, 13; 26:12–14

  1:24 o Gen. 30:11; Num. 26:15–18; Josh. 4:12; Jer. 49:1

  1:26 p Gen. 29:35; Num. 26:19–22; 2 Sam. 24:9; Ps. 78:68; Matt. 1:2

  1:27 q 2 Chr. 17:14

  1:28 r Num. 2:5, 6

  1:30 s Num. 2:7, 8; 26:26, 27

  1:32 t Gen. 48:1–22; Num. 26:28–37; Deut. 33:13–17; Jer. 7:15; Obad. 19

  1:34 u Num. 2:20, 21; 26:28–34

  1:36 v Gen. 49:27; Num. 26:38–41; 2 Chr. 17:17; Rev. 7:8

  1:38 w Gen. 30:6; 46:23; Num. 2:25, 26; 26:42, 43

  1:40 x Num. 2:27, 28; 26:44–47

  1:44 y Num. 26:64

  1:46 z Ex. 12:37; 38:26; Num. 2:32; 26:51, 63; Heb. 11:12; Rev. 7:4–8

  1:47 a Num. 2:33; 3:14–22; 26:57–62; 1 Chr. 6:1–47; 21:6

  1:49 b Num. 2:33; 26:62

  1:50 c Ex. 38:21; Num. 3:7, 8; 4:15, 25–27, 33

  1:50 d Num. 3:23, 29, 35, 38

  1:51 e Num. 4:5–15; 10:17, 21

  1:51 f Num. 10:21

  1:51 g Num. 3:10, 38; 4:15, 19, 20; 18:22

  1:52 h Num. 2:2, 34; 24:2