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TRHCK THROUGH THTL RIRLR
“By G. CAMPBELL MORGAN, Westminster Chapel, London, England.
NUMBERS—THE BOOK OF WANDERING.
A. On the Margin of the Land. B. Exclusion and Wandering. C. On the Margin of the Land,
i.—x. xi.—xxv. xxvi.—xxxvi.
■' —————■ w
I. The Order of the Camp. i.—iv. I. Discontent. xi., xii. I. The Census. xxvi.
i. The Census. i. i. Against God. xi. 1-3
ii. The Encampment. li. ii. Against circumstances. 4-35 The lnheritan ce of Women.
iii. The Levites. iii., iv. iii. Against Moses. xii. xxvn. 1-11
11. The Purity of the Camp, v., vi.il I. Disaster. xiii., xiv. ~L The Summons to Moses.
i. Purification from Pollution, v. i. Fear. Spies sent. xiii. xx ™"
ii. Special Dedication. vi. ii. Rebellion. xiv., 1-35 (Note-The sequel is in Deut.
iii. Presumption. xiv. 36-45 xxxiv.)
111. The Worship of the Camp. 111. Discipline. xv.-xxv. 'V. Repetition of Laws, xxviii.-xxx.
vii. ix. 14 i. Domestic. xv. xx. 13 y. war with Midian. xxxi.
i. Offerings of the Princes, vii. ii. Foreign. xx. 14 —xxv.
ii. Order of Worship. viii. VI. Settlement of 2'/ 2 Tribes, xxxii.
iii. Passover and Purification. x ■
• x VII. List of Journeyings.
IV. The Movement of the Camp. xxxiii. 1-49
i A- VIII. Repetition of Laws.
xxxiii. 50 —xxxvi.
.
NUMBERS;
' HE book of Numbers deals with the
wilderness. It is principally the story
of a long discipline due to disobedience
The national idea moves forward, for
God ever protects His own purposes
against the failure of His chosen instru
ments. In the book of Exodus we saw
the emergence and consolidation of thie
nation which God had chosen to be the
T
channel of communication between Himself and the
world at large. In Leviticus we considered the
laws of its worship. In Numbers the movement
toward actual possession of the land commences.
This movement, however, was hindered for nearly
forty years, and the book is principally occupied
with matters relating to that period. It closes with
the account of the return of the people to the bor
ders of the land.
Thus it naturally falls into three parts, the first
dealing with the preparation for entrance (chs.
i-x); the second giving the story of the exclusion
and wandering (chs. xi-xxv); while the last gives
the account of how. after the long discipline they
were brought back and prepared for actual posses
sion (chs. xxvi-xxxvi).
A. ON THE MARGIN OF THE LAND.
In this division we watch the final movement of
the chosen people in preparation for coming into the
land, and in doing so observe the order of the
camp, the purity of the camp, the worship of the
camp, the movement of the camp.
By the command of Jehovah the men from twen
ty years and upwards were numbered. This was
the first movement in preparation not merely for
their entrance to the land, but for their carrying
out of the Divine purpose. That purpose was first
punitive. In the interests of purity corrupt peo
ples were swept out. Definite instructions were
given concerning the relative positions to be occu
pied by the tribes, both in the time of encampment,
and on the march. At the centre of everything was
the tabernacle. The Levites were encamped rouad
the two sides, and at the back thereof. Moses and
th priests occupied the fourth side, close to the
courts of worship. Outside the enclosure the tribes
of the nation were grouped under their standards
according to the Divine command. The service of
the Levites is described in detail. Their sacred
work was carefully apportioned both for the march
and for places of encampment. All these provis
ions solemnly impressed upon the people the su
preme importance of worship, and revealed to them
the orderliness of Jehovah.
On the eve of the coming of the people into the
land the necessity for the purity of the camp was
emphasized. All who were unclean were put out
side, This, of course, does not mean that
Appearing Ebery Week During 1907. {Copyright American Serial “Rights applied Tor by The Golden Hge Publishing Co. All Rights ReserbedA
The Golden Age for February 14, 1907.
they were left to perish, but that they were not al
lowed to march in their proper place with the
tribes of the people. For the time being they were
camp followers only. Moreover the necessity for
moral rectitude was insisted upon, and such as had
in any way sinned against others, made restitution.
Having provided for the purity of the camp by
the exclusion of the unclean special instructions
were given concerning cases of peculiar and special
devotion to a life of separation to God. There is
absolutely nothing monastic in the order of the
Nazarites. These men did not separate themselves
from their fellow men, or from their ordinary avo
cations, but remained in the midst of their fel
lows, and prosecuted their daily calling, though
yet- maintaining an attitude of special consecration.
At the close of this section dealing with the purity
of the camp, we find the specific form in which the
priestly blessing was to be pronounced upon the
people.
Immediately following are the arrangements con
cerning the worship of the camp. This section
opens with an account of the voluntary offerings
on the part of the princes. It is first to be noticed
that the giving was voluntary, and next that it was
equal, thus precluding the possibility of a spirit
of rivalry, and indicating a great unity of purpose.
While all the story might have been told in few
words, it is set forth with elaborate detail. Every
man is named, and every gift is chronicled.
In the final arrangements concerning worship, be
fore the moving forward of the people, the one
symbol referred to is that of the light which was
the type of the witness bearing of the nation. In
the consecration of the Levites no anointing oil
or blood was used, neither was any specific dress
provided. The sign of their cleansing was the sim
ple one of water. Finally the great Passover feast
was observed. A month later a special observance
of the same feast was arranged for such as through,
defilement were precluded from taking part in the
first.
At last everything was ready for the march, and
the hosts waited only the Divine will. The people
were to follow the moving of the cloud and to ans
wer the blast of the trumpet. Careful instructions
were given concerning the use of these trumpets.
Different notes suggested different meanings to
those who listened. On the twentieth day of the
second month the actual movement of the camp
commenced. The division ends with the suggest
ive words which Moses used at the commencement
and close of each successive movement of the hosts.
They indicated the profound recognition on his
part and on that of the people that everything cen
tered around the presence and government of God,
both in regard to the victory of Israel, over her
enemies, and her own safety and wellbeing.
B. EXCLUSION AND WANDERING.
In this second division of the book is revealed
the failure of man. Its general movement may be
indicated by the words Discontent, Disaster, Dis
cipline.
The discontent manifested itself first against
God. At the beginning there was no open revolt
against authority. The people were, however, in
all probability conscious of the irksomeness of re
straint. They were learning that liberty was not
license, and so throughout the camp the Lord heard
the tone of murmuring and discontent. His judg
ment was sudden and swift. Moses became an in
tercessor, and the fire abated.
A second time discontent manifested itself, and
this time it was expressed against circumstances.
Influenced by the mixed multitude which had ac
companied them, the people hungered after the
things of Egypt apparently forgetting the cruelty
of its bondage. Moses was perplexed and perturbed
and he poured out his complaint into the ear of
God. In infinite patience 'God talked with him, and
to the murmuring people He sent quails and through
them the punishing plague. As the Psalmist aft
erwards sang, “He gave them their request, But
sent leanness into their souls.”
A third time there was a manifestation of re
bellion. Miriam and Aaron, in whose hearts there
was evidently an undercurrent of jealousy, made the
marriage of Moses to a Cushite woman the occa
sion of protesting against his exercise of authority.
It was punished immediately," and pardoned in
answer to the earnest cry of Moses.
The hour had now arrived when the people
should have gone forward. The story of the send
ing of the spies as told in Numbers indicates that
it was done in obedience to a Divine command. The
comparison of this, however, with Moses’ account
of it in Deuteronomy, will show that this command
of the Lord was the sequel to a determination on
the part of the people to do so. This was in itself
an act of suspicion and unbelief. The spies were
sent, and in forty days returned, bringing with them
a majority report, and a minority report. All were
agreed as to the desirability of the land. The ma
jority, however, had seen the difficulties of posess
ing, and beyond this had seen nothing. The minor
ity had seen first Jehovah, then the excellencies of
the land, and finally the difficulties. The essen
tial difference was that of the vision of God. The
people were influenced as alas, men too often are,
by the majority; and in unutterable folly they de
clared that it was preferable to return to Egypt.
One of the most magnificent pictures in the Old
Testament is presented to us as Moses interceded
with God on behalf of the people. His plea, how
ever, was not based upon pity in his heart for the
sinning people, but upon that deeper passion for
the honor of the name of God. The people were
pardoned, but they must be excluded from the land.
They had themselves rejected the land toward
which God had brought them, and their punishment
was that they should not enter it.
This decree of Jehovah was followed by an in
stance of false repentance. The men came to the
consciousness of their unutterable folly, and then
resolved to go up and possess the land in their
own strength. The result was defeat and disaster.
Then began the long years of discipline. It is a
story full of sadness. At first we follow the peo
ple through a period in which the results of their
failure were manifest in their internal life. The
Sabbath was violated, and the guilty one was pun
ished. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram led an organ
ized opposition against Moses, and were summarily
dealt with. After this new arrangements were
made, and old laws repeated. Then as the people
toward the close of the forty years were led back
into the neighborhood of Kadesh-Barnea, Miriam
died, and was buried. In this neighborhood, more
over. Moses and Aaron both failed in simple alle
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