Studying the book of Numbers
by koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD)
Sangju Campus
cojoint lecturer of
23 October 2009
There are people who say, do not give me the Old Testament, I just read the New Testament since it tells me of Jesus who died for me. Fair enough, but John the Baptist said in 27 CE when Jesus came to the banks of the river
Hebrews
Paul wrote about the sanctuary of the Old Testament and its fulfillment in the life and work and function of Jesus Christ in the past and as an ongoing process.
1. In fact, the book of Numbers are cited or referred or hinted at at the following places in the book of Hebrews:
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews 7:5* Numbers 18:21
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews
* These are cases that are supported also by the Greek edition lowest register cross-references.
What is the result? Without a proper understanding of the Sanctuary Message of the Old Testament, one cannot understand Jesus work of Atonement at the Cross and His ongoing work of Atonement one our behalf in the first apartment and later since 1844 (based on the year day principle of Daniel
2. So in brief the Millerites or precursors of the Advent movement thought Christ would come in 1844 and they sold all they have, probably much to the admiration of Heaven onlookers to expect Christ to come on October 22 1844. But, they made a mistake. Through their disappointment and tears of the next morning they discovered the Sanctuary Messsage indicating that Christ did not come but moved priest between 31-1844 to the second apartment court scene as described in Daniel 7 at the end with the Son of Man coming with clouds of angels to God the Father as the Ancient of Days. Jesus does not come to earth but to His Father in Daniel 7. Although Stephen saw Jesus sitting in 34 CE at the right side of the Father on His throne, it appears and is clear from the Bible that Jesus did not sit stationary for 2000 years next to His Father. There is even the possibility that the Father's throne is dynamic and not stationary and that it move all along with Christ participating in the Salvation of souls throughout.
Adventists then understood that Jesus went into the Most Holy place to function in the investigative judgement aspect of the Atonement to remove the stigma of sin from the minds of the heavenly unfallen beings [thus creating a space for us as He promised in John
3. That makes an understanding of Numbers so valuable for us as Seventh Day Adventists knowning the Sanctuary Message and its value. It is one of the least developed theologies among other denominations, Protestants, Orthodox churches or Catholics included. It is the unique contribution to Protestant theology that the Adventists made through God's leading with this understanding, even though a bitter experience initially.
4. The book of Numbers was written by Moses. Moses and the people of
There is a difference of opinion between William Shea that places that date in 970 BCE and Edwin Thiele and Siegfried Horn that place that date in 967/966 BCE but taken as a whole: Eupolemos data, Greek sources data, biblical data [also used by Thiele and Horn], as well as a synchronization with various possibilities in the sliding scales of Egyptian chronology as outlined by authoritative Egyptian chronographers, one can find Thutmosis III as pharaoh, dying exactly in the year of 1450 BCE as the best candidate for this date 970 BCE as well.
5. Moses wrote the book probably in 1412/1411 BCE just before he died. In Numbers 31:2 [the book has 36 chapters] Moses got an instruction from the Lord to do something and it is said that "afterward you will be gathered to your people". It is another way of saying that Moses will die. We know that Moses could not enter
6. Moses wrote the book of Numbers by making a compilation of various sources. How do we know that? Moses said it himself: in Numbers
a. Book of the Wars of the Lord (Numbers
b. Geographical Map and indexes of all camping sites (Numbers 33).
c. Border division description documentation (Numbers 34).
d. Census lists (Numbers 1)
e. Topographical ordering and arrangement of the camps (Numbers 2-4) almost like surveilance maps describing the location of everyone.
7. In between all these compiled data we find Moses giving instructions in chapters on offerings and tithes and how they should be brought. These offerings played a part in the plan of Salvation of the Trinity and therefore is relational to tasks that Jesus is doing or did (Numbers 5).
8. There is the Nazarite laws in Numbers 6 spelling out the taboos for this function. Nothing from grapes and the explanation can be that in those days they did not have refridgerators. We know that they used ice to make cold drinks and that from the Mount of Hermon, ice were sometimes brought for this delicacy. Their method of saving grapejuice was to place storagejars under the ground or in caves where it is cold or very cool. This served as their refridgerators and was not always as effective as in modern times. They sometimes placed ice in it as well. Since the Nazarite was to avoid alcohol or anything that is like yeast or in the process of heading to alcohol, anything to do with grapes had to be avoided. Even dried grapes are to be avoided as well. Even fresh grapes are to be avoided as well (Numbers
9. William Shea in the DARCOM series has draw our attention to a very important aspect of the book of Numbers: those chapters that deals with the Investigative Judgement and Executive Judgement typology.
10. In this reader's understanding, the tabernacle is the place where God met
Let us look at some verses just saying that:
a. Numbers
i) We have Accusation of the Adversary in Numbers
ii) We have the Summons to the Supreme Court [tabernacle = tent of meeting] in Numbers
iii) We have Jesus or Christ our Advocate pleading in Numbers
iv) We have the Executive Judgement carried out with justice and mercy kissing each other in perfect harmony in Numbers
b. Numbers
i) Accusation of the Adversary [Satan's type] in Numbers
ii) Conscience role of the Holy Spirit type in Moses and Aaron's deeds in Numbers
iii) Planned Executive Judgement announced Numbers
iv) Advocate Moses interceding for
v) Mercy kissed Justice in Numbers
c. Numbers
i) Accusation in Numbers
ii) Summons to the Supreme Court Numbers
iii) Crime explained in Numbers
iv) Executive Judgement in Numbers
d. Numbers
e. Numbers
ii) Accusation in Numbers
ii) Executive Judgement of snakes biting the people to die (Numbers
iii) Advocate Moses intercedes for them like Christ for us in Numbers
iv) Mercy and Justice kissed each other and God provided a way of escape so that if they look at the raised up serpent on the standard, they will live. Look and live in Numbers
11. The history of the events with Bileam the seer in Numbers 22-24 is placed by Moses also in the book of Numbers since Moses wants to demonstrate what happen when a servant of God, or minister of God goes his own way despite God's clear instructions and command to the contrary.
12. When Moses compiled the book of Numbers a number of Egyptianisms or Egyptian loanwords also slipped in. These are near-hapax legomena that are found only limited in the Bible and mostly in Moses' other book, the book of Job. One example is Numbers
13. Another interesting point is the appearance of the root
Satan in the book of Numbers, the root. It is used in Job
Dear God
The book of Numbers bring us to the realization that You care so much for us that You do not want anyone to be lost but that all should come to an understanding of Yourself and the role of the Trinity in the plan and program of salvation. We thank You for this. May justice and mercy kiss each other on our behalf as well.
Amen
End item.